A product of Tomas Tang's Filmark International, true to form their 1986 production is an assembly of their own shot ninja footage and an older, unconnected flick . In this case, the 1982 crime actioner Unreal Dream directed by Patrick Kong, starring Chan Lee-Lee, Michael Chan, Phillip Ko and Dai Sai-An. Senselessly Cobbled together with a ninja plot and dubbed into English for its international exposure and credited to director Larry Hutton (a pseudonym for... someone), Ko and Dai Sai-An both appear in the newly shot footage but no real attempt have been made to make the blend seamless (or good). Ko sports a ten times larger moustache than he had in 82 and Dai all of a sudden has the makings of one when he fights with a group of ninjas on the street (actually the best scene of the film). Plot is of no concern because it's messed up even more in Filmark's hands, with hints at the immigrants and robbery plot from the original being connected thoroughly to the crime syndicate of ninjas. Doesn't make sense, nor excites and the movie is therefore left to its own crazy devices. That's why it's in a way shameful to say that we need MORE of Tomas Tang's influence on the movie because coupled with the general poor filmmaking and hilarious English dubbing, all new scenes are classic camp stuff, popping up way too infrequently. The wonderfully funny and inept sights treats us to a fat bellied ninja leader that turns very slim come fight time (i.e. his stunt double enter) and two scenes with a Bruce Lee copy are inserted for no other reason than to have a Bruce Lee copy appear. Oh they knew their market alright. But to be balanced in my views, Unreal Dream deserves a chance to be judged on its own merits because it clearly flirts with insanity as well, especially so since a main character has rabies!

Here's a beast we've seen before, with Carter Wong as a Shaolin student out to revenge the death of his parents at the hands off government forces. He's gotta carry water and jump out of mud pits properly before being let out on his killing spree though. Director Sung Ting-Mei uses agony, both ways, as fuel for his simple-minded story and while it's A gory choice, it's not THE gory choice. The Traitorous therefore plods along like most low-budget vehicles of its kind, disappointing also in the fight department as little invention exists (only the pyramid of guards is a fun, crazy concept). Swingy arms, punching and blocking as a dominating factor isn't a beneficiary for the production, especially not since Carter Wong is less than ideal in the lead. Polly Kuan displays some much needed fury though, in particular in her opening fight scene against multiple opponents. Chang Yi plays our white haired villain while Sammo Hung also appear as one of his henchmen.

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Also known as From Here To Prosperity, the stage is very busy in Phillip Chan's conmen romp mostly set in Thailand. So much so, especially considering the print I got to see, that it's often tough to follow the quick laid out plans by conmen David Chiang and Richard Ng in their pursuit to avenge the death of Jenny's (Pong Chao-An) father. But the familiar cast and at times amusing antics of the leads does get you through proceedings. Ng has a wonderful bit where he bets that a lit cigarette will not become shorter. His winning tactic is simply lighting it at the middle. Ng and Chiang comparing battle scars but the former not showing signs of any because they've healed well goes down well and the re-imagining of the Indiana Jones-score is shamelessly fun to hear. During the gunplay ending, Ng injects more fun as he makes a bomb using a grilled chicken! Fans of Desperado will notice that Quentin Tarantino's piss joke from that film is entirely visualized in The Treasure Trap. Also with O Chun-Hung, Wu Ma, Melvin Wong, Tin Ching and Wu Fung.

A generic title like Triad Story should be very telling for anyone with a vague knowledge of the triad genre that was a mainstay during this period in Hong Kong cinema. Director Shum Wai injects some decent thoughts in the portrayal of the old time triads that tries to accept that time has run out for them but it lasts very shortly. Soon the gang conflicts escalate in the usual ways, sentimentality is high and another fault of the film is that it's way too talky when it should be trying to salvage itself with audience pleasing features. After several failed attempts at poetic and lyric imagery as lives are lost, Shum Wai instead wisely unleashes action director Siu Tak Foo. Decent brutality and fight action comes during the finale although there lacks a certain internal logic when we see who takes center stage. Billy Chow (in a rare good guy role) obviously is a fighter so that sets up his place in the finale but at this point, main characters are not even in the same room! Still, it's the best times of Triad Story. The rest is instantly forgettable.

Although poster arts feature Stephen Chow, it's merely a supporting, dramatic role he's given and frankly, he looks uncomfortable dealing with this kind of material (and to add on to that, Chow did not dub his own voice). His subsequent comedy co-star Ng Man Tat receives more screen time while O Chun Hung, Wu Ma, Shing Fui On, Shum Wai and Kwai Chung also appear.

Available is a Mainland vcd release under the title The Last Brother, featuring English subtitles and the Cantonese dub.

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Stephen Chow as the Tricks Master Jing Koo is a character ridiculously well suited for him as the sky's the limit when it comes to conjuring up gags. With Wong Jing directing and playing alongside Ng Man Tat and Andy Lau, he does so in his dry, low-key and highly excessive ways. Watch Chow sneakily destroy and fool people, done the legendary I Am Naked suit and feature the always great gag of large amounts of people beating up one. It's often hilarious and Andy Lau doesn't seem to mind being subjected to all kinds of silliness either. An early 90s joy that is disrupted a few times too many however when Wong Jing attempts to inject his humour into the film. Not only does it rank as distasteful and low but when he lifts a gag from Police Academy 2, you'll know who is the actual king of comedy in the production. Co-starring Rosamund Kwan, Chingmy Yau, Waise Lee, John Ching, Liu Fan, Shing Fui On, Charlie Cho and Wong Jing.

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HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com