Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment
Subject: Anita Yuen Wing Yee Filmography (2/96)
Hope you all read the top 10 this week.
ok. Before I start, I have to thank a couple of people for their contributions
Christopher Fu, Stanley Chu and Alvin Law for the various Chinese titles,
Tatsumi hosokawa for his Japanese version of the filmography, Joseph Fierro
for providing the database, which gave me everyone's review (Too
numerous to name (Thank you all!), but if you see your review below and wants
credit, email me), Kerofaye for the original posting of the list from Yes!
Cards, Brandon S. Ou for being a pain in the @$$ by practically writing the
script instead of reviews, and Anita Yuen for bringing us so much joy and
happiness.
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*** The Anita Yuen Wing Yee Filmography ***
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Kept by Jerry M. Chan (jchan@eden.rutgers.edu)
http://remus.rutgers.edu/~jchan
Send comments, additions, suggestions, and corrections to the address above.
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"These thing are printed on one of Anita's Yes! cards, for the heck of it.
Here it goes. Sorry about the ? and inability to translate some of the items."
kerofaye
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Anita Yuen
Date of Born: 4-9-1971 "year of pig"
height: 5 ft. 7 in. Weight: 45 Kg
elementary school attended: "lui ming choy" primary school
high school attended: "Ching Yee lui ji" college
family: parents, older brother, younger sister
residence: Middle HK (?)
favorite singers: (HK) Alan Tam
(Foreign) Whitney Houstion
favorite actor: Fung Bo Bo
favorite movie: Sun Buut lil Ching (C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri)
favorite attire: casual (jeans)
favorite color: beige
favorite sports: running
Ok the filmography....
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Title
English
Cantonese
Mandarin
Literal Translation Cast
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(Information (1990-1991) from Next Magazine Online, issue 296)
1990 : Miss Hong Kong 1990.
1991 : Signed with HKTVB, series include:
1. Be My Guest (Thanks to *bewitched* for the English title)
Year: 1990
Can: Ngor Oi Mui Guai Yuen
Lit: I Love Rose Garden
2. Angel's Call
Year: 1991
Can: Ta Loi Ji Tin Tong
Lit: He is from Heaven
3. Source of Evil
Year: 1992
Can: Ngor Wai Chi Kong
Lit: I am Money Crazy.
Host of Jade Solid Gold and Even Animals are Crazy.
1992: Beginning of Film Career.
1. Days of Being Dumb Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Year: 1992 Jacky Cheung Hok Yau
Can: Ah Fei Yu Ah Gei Eric Tsang Chi Wai
Man: Ya4 Fei1 Yu3 Ya4 Ji1
Producer: Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Cheung Kwok-Chung
Lit: Ah Fei and Ah Gei [names of two characters]
Director: Blacky Ke Hsu Hang
Writer: Peter Chan Ho-San
Parody of "The Days of Being Wild". Silly mindless comedy about two guys
trying to make it in the triad world. Anita Yuen won the Best New Artist
of 1992 Award for her role as a model from Singapore who is also a potential
prostitute.
BSO - (**1/2) A pretty mindless movie about two guys who are trying to decide
which "big brother" to join. Aftering being dumb for a long time, they
finally obtain enough money to create a so-called "model agency" in which
Anita Yuen was supposed to be the first model. FYI, Anita played a very
limited role in a really dumb movie.
JMF - I thought it was pretty funny. Jacky Cheung and Tony Leung
Chiu-Wai are two morons cursed with bad luck. Little Tony really
shines in an all-out comic performance.
JY - (**) Jacky Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu Wai in a somewhat funny, if
inconsistent, and overall a bit unfulfilling, parody of Triad-as-hero
flix. Best bits: opening scenes, with Jacky and Tony as cowardly Triad
wannabe losers, particularly a scene where weapons are being issued and
Jacky ends up with a fork and Tony a can opener. :) Worst bit: Anita arriving,
apparently as Jacky and Tony's mail-order prostitute from Singapore (that's
what they think, not what SHE thinks. "She's not that kind of girl," etc.) The
endgame of the plot revolves around some bit of Taoist mysticism that I
just didn't understand. Nice fight scene at the climax, but the finale, which
I won't give away, bit the big salami.
1.5. Talk to Me Dicky Alfred Cheung Kin Ting
Year: 1992 Chan Wai Mun
Can: Sie Low Sik Gong Yeh Ng Yi Lei
Man: Xi4 Lao3 Shi2 Jiang3 Ye3 Tung Ling
Lit: Little Brother Can talk
Directed, Produced, and Written by: Alfred Cheung Kin Ting
Note: brief cameo by Anita.
>From Stanley Chu: (Stanley.Chu@ott.isac.ca)
There is a movie that Anita was in that you seem to have
missed. She didn't play a major role in it. She was the
main guy's girl friend.
JC - Stumbled upon it at the video store's "historic museum" section. Didn't
rent it yet, but looking at the cover, Anita still has long hair. [shrug]
2. Handsome Siblings Andy Lau Tak Wah
Year: 1992 Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia
Can: Chuet Doy Sern Gil
Man: Jue2 Dai4 Shuang1 Jiao1
Lit: Legendary Twins
Laser Disc: MA/2D/CAV/LBX/Bil/ECsubs
Andy Lau plays the son of Eva/Yee Fa (Cheung Man), who was raised by eight of
the Ten Untouchable Villains after Eva's husband divorces her and becomes a
vegetable in the ensuing fight. Andy goes off to become the Supreme of the
Martial World and to prove the people who raised him innocent by catching the
Twin Villains who really committed the crimes. Lots of good flying people
action, decent comedy and plot. Major loose ends, though, so watch for a
sequel.
RFC - During the Tang Dynasty, a kung fu tournament was held once every 18
years, with the winner declared the leader of the land until the following
tournament, as long as he showed himself to be an uprighteous person. But a
tournament with such high stakes brings out far from uprighteous behavior from
most of the perspective leaders.
IS - Yet another early-1990s wuxia pantomime based on a Gu Long novel. Not too
bad, but not too great, either. Anita Yuen's role is very minor (it's her
second movie).
3. Tom, Dick, and Hairy Tony Leung Ga Fai
Year: 1993 Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Can: Fung Chun Sarm Hub Cheng Tan Sui
Mandarin: Feng1 Chen2 San1 Xia2 Athena Chu Yun
Lit: Wind Dust Three Heroes Ann Bridgewater (Park On Ney)
Producer: Gordon Chan Car-Suong, Claudie Chung Chun, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
Director: Peter Chan Ho-San, Lee Chi-Ngai
Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai
Cameo Appearance: Vivian Chow Wai-Mun
Plays: Tony Leung Kar Fai's "Late Late show"
JMF - A light-hearted look at the romantic lives of three bachelor roommates in HK. Kind of goofy, but still appealing. Marked by
good performances, especially by Anita Yuen.
BSO - (****) I wanted to laugh just from looking at the title, what's up
with "Hairy?" True enough, this was a very entertaining movie consisting
of both comedy and some drama. It is about the lives of three bachelors and
their respective girls, or rather, the girls they are trying to get, and
the wild orgies they participate in. With a few brief touching moments,
the movie concludes with a happy ending, and a cameo appearance by Vivian
Chow. Both Anita and Athena looked really cute. Nominated for the best
picture in 1994.
JY - (***1/2) A pretty good "buddy flick" featuring both Tonys and some
nerdball whose name I don't really recognize as Hairy. Tony Chiu Wai is
quite good as a man who's riding on rails toward a loveless marriage;
Tony Kar Fai is also good as a man who's unable to keep his thingie in
his pants, panting after every woman in sight; even the other guy's pretty
funny. Anita Yuen's role is as the cute, not very spunky, "other woman"
screwed over by fate, who's really in love with Tony KF but whom he overlooks
consistently. Worth a watch.
4. The Incorruptible Ray Lui Leung Wai
Year: 1993 Simon Yam Tat Wah
Can: Lee Lok Foo Kei On Waise Lee Gi Ho
Man: Qing2 Ren2 Zhi1 Ji3
Lit: Lee Lok Foo Case
Laser Disc: ULV
JC - I should take this film off of the Anita Yuen list because all
she does is being a decoration, a "flower vase". Otherwise, with Ray
Lui and Simon Yam, this was a pretty good pic if you are bored.
5. Legend Of Liquid Sword Aaron Kwok Fu Sing
Year: 1993 Gloria Yip Wan Yi
Can: Siu Hap Chor Lau Hern Winnie Lau Siu Wai
Mandarin: Xiao4 Xia2 Chu3 Liu2 Xiang1 Chingmy Yau Suk Ching
Lit: comic Hero Chor Lau Hern Deric Wan Siu Lun
Producer: Wong Jing Loletta Lee Lai Chun
Director: Wong Jing Wong Wan Si
Cameo: Sharla Cheung Man Fennie Yuen Kit-Yung
LEH - Another swords-magic-and-comedy movie, but better than most. Worth a look
6. Last Hero in China Jet Li
Year: 1993 Sharla Cheung Man
Can: Wong Fei Hung Ji Teet Gai Dau Ng Gong Dick Cheung Wai Kin
Mandarin: Tie3 Ji1 Dou4 Wu2 Gong1 Leung Ka-Yan
Lit: Wong Fei Hung Iron Chicken vs. Centipede Gordon Lau Ka-Fai
Director: Wong Jing
Action Director: Yuen Wor-Ping
Running Time: 102 min
Plays: one of the prostitutes seeking Master Wong's help.
Unofficial sequel to the Once Upon a Time in China movies (this is *not* Huang
Fei Hong part 4 as some people may call it). "Not quite as stylish as Tsui
Hark's movies - but very well worth watching. Some good comedy and lots of
high-flying kung fu - perhaps a little _too_ high-flying at times though!
There is also a glimpse of some "Drunken Master"-style kung fu.
SS - (***) Jet Li again plays the Wong Fey-Kong character, but with a
satirical bent. The Boxers are selling young girls to southeast-Asia as they
plot to overthrow British interests; Wong and his assistants Ah-Fu and Ah-So
stand in their way. It's the set-pieces that make this special. In the
lion-dance climax, he single-handedly battles a fire-breathing centipede while
dressed as a leaping, scratching chicken.
7. Two of a Kind Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Year: 1993 May Lo Mei-Mei
Can: Ching Yun Ji Gei
Man: Qing2 Ren2 Zhi1 Ji3
Lit: Lover Best Friend
BSO - (*1/2) Bottomline, senselessly booooooring...
A gang member tried to collect money from Tony Leung and they become best
friends. Sounds good? Think again. Ridiculous plots such as video game
playing, getting beat up by your dad, wearing all white and red, etc, turn
this movie into a sleeper. Get your fast forward button ready and just watch
the 5 minutes worth of Anita.
8. Sword Stained with Royal Blood Yuen Biao
Year: 1993 Wu Ma
Can: Sun Big Huet Gim Sharla Cheung Man
Mandarin: Xin1 Bi4 Xue3 Jian4 Danny Lee Sau Yin
Lit: New Royal Blood Sword/ New Azure Blood Sword - Bi4 Xue3 (azure or blue
-green blood) has a colloquial meaning of blood shed in a just cause (by a
martyr), so the title could also be "Sword Stained with Blood Shed in a Just
Cause," or "Martyr's Sword". "Royal" flows better, and may result from
mistranslating "blue blood" to mean royal. (Thanks to CF for the info.)
Director: Brandy Yuen
Based on a story by Jin Yong.
CF - A period sword fighting (Wu-xia) (`flying people') film set at the end of
Ming Dynasty (late 16th century) in Southern China. The story relates the
vendetta between a martial outcast known as Golden Snake Lord and Castle Wan.
A princess and a thief-catcher is caught in the midst. The action sequences in
this movie have a strong visual impact and made good use of some truly
spectacular scenery. Good casting, interesting characters and an intelligent
script made this the finest movie adaptation of a Jing Yong's work in recent
years. I would recommend this film without reservation to anyone with an
interest in this genre of Hong Kong movies.
SS - (***) In this martial arts fantasy, brave Constable Yuen Shing Chi (Yuen
Biao) arrests a petty thief (Cheung Man), but in the process gets involved the
a rivalry between the Golden Swordsman and corrupt Lord Wan; Anita Yuen is
great as duplicitous Jade Ho of the Poison Sect. The special thing here is the
script, which subtly addresses the theme of righteousness as it relates to just
ice and revenge.
BSO - (**1/2) Not much to say about it since I didn't like it at all, even
as it is based on a Jin Yong novel. The movie seemed to drag on and drag
and doesn't want to end, and when it finally does, it made no sense.
HO - Mixed up adaptation of a Jin Yong story. Has an all-star cast, but
doesn't make the best use of it. Some wild and imaginative special effects...
9. Prince of Portland Street Simon Yam Dat Wah
Year: 1993 Dicky Cheung Wai Kin
Can: Boot Larn Guy Dai Siu
Man: Bo1 Lan2 Jie1 Da4 Shao4
Lit: Portland Street Head Prince
Laser Disc: ULV
Plays: A loyal kerofaye hostess.
JC - Story of lives on Portland St. Young Pimps and Prostitute.
SS - (***) Scrappy streetfighter Brother Po (Simon Yau) and his best friend
Brother Biggie are 'pimps' who fight off triads as fiercely as they do serious
relationships. Po injures his head in a rumble and turns into a mental
ten-year old. Later, he injures his head again, and becomes normal in the nick
of time for the big fight. In the final scenes, both guys come to realize the
errors of their ways and have a big rooftop party to marry the girls in their
lives -- a touching scene -- just before a triad guy blows them all away. A
movie that really blows hot and cold, but mostly just blows.
10. C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri Lau Ching Wun
Year: 1993 Fung Bo Bo
Can: Sun But Lil Ching Carrie Ng Ga Lai
Mandarin: Xin1 Bu4 Liao3 Qing2 Carina Lau Ka Ling
Lit: New Endless Love Paul Chun Pui
AKA: Endless Love (in Singapore)
Director: Derek Yee Tung-Sing
Writer: Derek Yee Tung-Sing
Note: Winner of Best Picture; Anita won Best Actress, 13th Annual Hong Kong
Film Golden Statue Award 1994.
EF - Dramedy (drama and comedy) about a free-spirited girl's relationship with
a down-on-his-luck musican. The first half detailing their courtship is funny
and interesting (include some scenes of Hong Kong's night life); while the
second half is sad.
SS - (***) The big news about this HK Best Film contender is not so much the
film, which is little more than a well-made tear-jerker; it's classy,
photogenic Best HK actress nominee Anita Yuen. She's the sprightly Peking
Opera sweetheart whose romance with a pouty sax player (Ching Wan) trods
familiar territory, albeit with charm. In the final act of the movie, she gets
leukemia, a cheap ploy for audience emotions that isn't half as interesting as
her family conflicts and the saxist's unfinished business with 'the other
woman.' Love Story, Asian style.
HO - Tragic romance that swept the 1994 Hong Kong Film Awards.
BSO - (*****) A MASTERPIECE and my all time favorite!!! Magnificent
performances by everyone in this tragic melodramatic film, especially
Anita Yuen and Lau Ching Wan. Apparently the HK Films Academy agrees
with me as it grabbed eleven nominations (?) in the 13th HK Films Awards
and won 6 of them, including best actress (Anita Yuen), best supporting
actress (Fung Bo Bo), best supporting actor (Chin Pui), best screenplay
(Yi Dung Sing), best director (Yi Dung Sing), and of course best picture.
To avoid revealing too much of the plot, this movie is about a sweet and
captivating girl who slowly changes the life of a down-on-his-luck musician.
Halfway through the movie the table turns as she battles leukemia, we see
a dramatic change in her innocent and strong character as it starts to
break down. Now it's the musician who is giving her the very same strength
and support that she used to give him.A *MUST SEE* for all HK movie fans,
particularly those who enjoy romance. The uniquely melocholic milieu of
this film can be traced to its atmospheric cinematography, but more
importantly, the *absolutely beautiful* music, along with the superb
performances and the simple but unforgettable plot, "That's Life, My Love"
deserves a place all by itself in the history of HK moviemaking.
11. A Warrior's Tragedy Ti Lung
Year: 1993 Julian Cheung Chi Lam
Can: Been Sing Long Ji Frankie Chan Fun-Kei
Mandarin: Bian1 Cheng2 Lang4 Zi3
Lit: Edge City Wanderer
Director: Frankie Chan Fun-Kei
Note: Anita met her boyfriend Jullian Cheung Chi Lam on the set of this film.
LEH - Unusual looking martial arts fantasy, kind of a Mongolian Dragon Inn. A
group of heroes gather in a small village, to settle the score for a tragedy
that took place 20 years before. Ti Lung is the troubled warrior out for
revenge. Some wirework looks a bit dated, but all in all this is an engaging
movie with many inventing and exciting action scenes. The vague spaghetti
-western feel, with the lonesome hero out for revenge, is a neat touch.
SS - (***) On China's freezing northern frontier, Fung Hu Suet is
the heavy-hearted, limping swordsman who meets up with a flashy kung fu
virtuoso as shadowy forces pit the most powerful martial artists
against one another. The plot is a hall of mirrors in which someone reading
ambiguous subtitles might very well end up seeing his own confused reflection
in the theater bathroom as he tries to make sense of it all. The numerous
imaginative fight scenes are especially welcome, as are the unexpected dashes
of humor.
JY - (***) Shades of "Love Story" and "Dying Young." A good film for the
performances--Anita is indescribably compelling when she's perky and "up,"
moving when she's dying and "down". Depressing, though.
12. He ain't Heavy, He's my Father Tony Leung Ga Fai
Year: 1993 Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Can: Sun Larn Hing Larn Dai Carina Liu Ka Ling
Mandarin: Xin1 Nan2 Xiong1 Nan2 Di4 Choh Yuen
Lit: New Troubled Brothers
AKA: Once Upon a Mid-Autumn Festival; He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother
Director: Peter Chan Ho-San, Lee Chi-Ngai
Cameo Appearance: Linda Shum Din-Ha
Running Time: 97 min
Laser Disc: MA/2D
Plays: Tony Leung Chiu Wai's girlfriend, present and past.
SS - (**1/2) Unrepentant bigamist Tony Leung wins girls over with his puppy
-dog eyes, but can't seem to cement a relationship with his aged father (Leung
Ka Fai under a ton of makeup). One day, he drops a coin into a wishing well
during the mid-autumn festival, but accidentally gets knocked in and
transported into the past. He meets his father as a young man and comes to
understand him better, and does his family lots of favors. The sentimental
It's a Wonderful Life story line is winning; the awkward handling of time
-travel paradoxes is not.
JMF - But don't let that stop you. This was a very good movie about coming to
love people for who they are. It makes no attempt to be a realistic time
travel movie. Fine performances by the Tony's.
BSO - (****1/2) At first, this movie might seem like a cheap imitation of
"Back to the Future." But wait about 10 minutes and it gets good, really
good. Little Tony, who has never gotten along with his father (Big Tony),
accidentally gets transported back in time and comes to know his father as
a young man. And never mind the time-traveling mechanism, that is not the
point of the movie, was there any doubt at all that Little Tony will be able
to return to the present? In any case, for the first time, the son gets
to know his father, as a parent and as a friend. He comes to appreciate
why he does what he does, and along the way helps out the family and their
friends a great deal. Through a relationship with a girl who looked exactly
like his present-time girlfriend (Anita Yuen), Little Tony also starts to
cherish her. The story ends with a great twist, as Big Tony somehow gets
transported from the past into the present. Oh no! How will Little Tony
handle two fathers at the same time? Anita Yuen looked *really* *really*
beautiful in the end.
JY - (***) More Tony & Tony fun--this time in a not-so-loose reinterpretation
of Back to the Future. Tony Kar Fai does a decent job of playing old, old,
old in a bad prosthetics job as the little Tony's Dad; Tony Chi Wai is better
than Michael J. Fox could be in his dreams, which isn't THAT much of an
accolade; Carina Lau is just not very attractive, either in a huge "fat"
costume ("present day") or in her slightly slimmer normal look ("30 years in
the past"). Decent supporting cast, though, including...(drumroll) Anita!
13. It's A Wonderful Life Tony Leung Ga Fai
Year: 1993 Carol Do Do Cheng Yue Ling
Can: Dai Foo Ji Ga Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing
Man: Da4 Fu4 Zhi1 Jia1 Teresa Mo Shun-Kwun
Lit: Big Rich Family Raymond Wong Baak-Ming
Director: Clifton Ko Chi-Sum Lau Ching-Wan
Writer: To Kwok Wai Fung Bo Bo
Running Time: 94 min
Laser Disc: MA/2D
SS - (**) Chummy Kau Ann, played by Teresa Mo, is being pursued by two
suitors, while comic book writer Kwai (Leung Ka Fai) is having difficulties
stuttering his love to San Kit (Anita Yuen). The flick quotes, borrows, and
steals from Mrs. Doubtfire, Mr. Sunshine, and Once Upon a Time in China, and
has some lame farting and piss-drinking scenes (not to mention several fantasy
sequences in a museum of rubber dinosaurs). All the couples either reunite or
get engaged at a family reunion only a screenwriter could manufacture.
BSO - (***1/2) The members of a large affluent family have always had
trouble getting alone with each other. But through trial and
tribulation, fathers, sons, older brothers, younger brothers, sisters,
husbands, wives, boyfriends, and girlfriends all realized the true
meaning of "family." A heart-warming comedy with many laughs and tears
and a very happy ending.
AHM - I made the dreaded mistake of seeing this (for the first time)
right after watching "C'est la Vie, Mon Cherie." Don't ever do that.
Lau Ching-Wan is a loser who gets dumped in this film, and to make
matters worse, he wasn't even "paired up" with Anita Yuen. (And they
made another crack at him about being "dark.") And unfortunately, I
can't say too many more good things about the film itself. It's
mediocre, at best, and that's too bad considering its excellent cast.
Like many, the movie seemed like it couldn't decide whether or not it
wanted to be a comedy or drama, and the end result proved it to be
valuable as neither. As a drama, the relationships "developed" too
quickly, and therefore seemed superficial. And as a comedy, besides
Tony Leung stuttering 2-3 word phrases, the bloopers during the final
credits was about it. And this movie has nothing to do with the Jimmy
Stewart film the "same name." As a matter of fact, the only part that
even involved Christmas was the openning credits.
14. I've Got You Babe Lau Ching Wun
Year: 1994 Wong Chi Wah
Can: Bor Jung Ching Yun Lai Mei Han
Mandarin: Bo1 Zhong3 Qing2 Ren2 Annabelle Lau Hiu Tung
Lit: Sowing Seed Lovers
Director: Cheung Chi-Sing
Writer: Cheung Chi-Sing
Plays: Lau Ching Wun's girlfriend/finance/wife who wants to have his
child.
Another romantic comedy in the same vein as C'Est la Vie, Mon Cherie.
SS - (**1/2) Anita Yuen and Lau Ching Wan were so likable in the Love
Story-ish tear-jerker C'est La Vie Mon Cheri that they're back again. It
starts off as an edgy, minutely observed comedy-drama about a woman who
wants marriage and babies and a guy who just wants the woman, but the movie
turns ordinary all of a sudden -- not unlike their previous film.
15. I Will Wait For You Tony Leung Ga Fai
Year: 1994 James Wong Jim
Can: Neen Neen Yau Gum Yut
Mandarin: Nian2 Nian2 You2 Jin1 Ri4
Lit: Every Year like Today
Director: Clifton Ko Chi-Sum
SS - (**) An HK Same Time Next Year, here starring Leung Ka Fai as a meek,
apologetic salesman who hits it off with liberated Anita Yuen -- in spite of
the fact that they're both married. We get very mildly entertaining
misadventures from 1964 to the present, and one very funny gag in which Leung
runs around with his head stuck in a gigantic turkey.
BSO - (**) Two very strong actors in a very weak film. A married man
and a married woman have once-a-year affairs in a hotel continuously
for some 30 years.
16. Crossings Simon Yam Dat Wah
Year: 1994 Lindsay Chan Ling-Chi
Can: Chor Oi Ted Brunetti
Mandarin: Cuo4 Ai4 Monica Ha
Lit: Wrong Love Toshi Chan
Producer: Willy Tsao
Director: Evans Chan Yiu-Sing
Laser Disc: ULV
SS - (*1/2) Benny (Simon Yam) has been using Mo Yung (Anita Yuen), his
unsuspecting "girlfriend" from HK, to smuggle drugs to him in America. She
pursues him to NY, discovers his game, and finally gets pushed onto the subway
tracks by a roving maniac. Lindsay Chan plays Yuen's confidante. A real
depresso-fest, directed by Evans Chan.
JMF - It has the look and feel of an independent film. Actually filmed in New
York and featuring some white actors who can actually act.
BSO - (*1/2) One of the eeriest films I have ever seen. The movie felt
really strange from beginning to end, mixing a few seems-like-American
along with Chinese-but-not-so-Chinese elements, didn't feel like I was
watching a movie from HK, nor one from the US. Bizarre, chilly, queer,
weird, bewildering, need I say more? Anita Yuen goes all the way from
HK to NY to find her seems-like-but-not-quite-boyfriend, only to find out
he's a drugdealer. Not recommended except for diehard Anita fans like myself.
17. Crystal Fortune Run Simon Yam Tat-Wah
Year: 1994 Sharla Cheung Man
Can: Bo Fung Ngan Kirk Wong Chi-Keung
Man: Bao4 Feng1 Yan3 Lee Kin-Sang
Lit: Storm Eye Chow Su-Kei
Director: Lee Kin-Sang Suen Hoi-Hong
Action Director: Lai Sing-Kwong
Writer: Chau Ting
SS - (**1/2) Computer whiz Mo Kit (spritely Anita Yuen) forges an alliance
with Wind Yip (gorgeous Cheung Man), a near-superwoman with a bionic arm, to
burglarize the evil Tung Tik Group and possess the Diamond of Emperor Chen
(a key to a vault of hidden treasure), and show off their fab designer
outfits. Officer Kwong (Simon Yam) is after both of them, but his boozing
doesn't help. Idiotic as hell, but the characters are very appealing.
18. He and She Tony Leung Ka-Fai
Year: 1994 Lawrence Cheng Tan-Sui
AKA: He & She Ng Wing-Mei
Can: Ji Mui Ching Sum Annabelle Lau Hiu-Tung
Mandarin: Zi3 Mei4 Qing2 Shen1 Law Kar-Ying
Lit: Sisters Deep Love Sheila Chan Suk-Lan
Director: Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui Alex Fong Chung-Sun
Writer: Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui, Leung Chi-Wai
Laser Disc: OSV/2D
SS - (**) Minor romantic-comedy-drama stars Leung Ka Fai as a swishy clothes
designer who marries cute Anita Yuen when she turns up pregnant. A year later,
she's about to marry the unscrupulous lawyer who'd knocked her up and whom she
doesn't really love -- just as Leung falls for her. Everything turns out happy
in the cheesy courtroom finish. A few laffs. The photography makes the movie
look like an Xmas tree.
BSO - (****) An all-around nice guy Ah Gai (Tony Leung) marries an unwed
pregnant Ah Yee (Anita Yuen) to avoid abortion after her boyfriend dumped
her. The story and their relationship remains entertaining, until the
villain boyfriend suddenly returns and wants his daughter back, and just
as Gai falls for Yee (did I mention he was gay?). Unfortunately, this
matter had to be settled in court, but with a happy ending. I might add
that Gai turned into a "real man" in a hurry (watch the ending). Great
song by Dior Cheng.
JY - (***1/2) Anita Yuen in her almost stereotypical role as a cute, spunky
woman who's been kicked around by fate; Tony Leung Kar Fai as her best friend,
who happens to be gay. Well, "happens to be" is somewhat of a misstatement,
since it's his being gay that essentially drives the plot: Anita becomes
pregnant after an affair with a married man whom she doesn't know is married,
of course, because she's "not that kind of girl," as we Anita-pedestal-placers
all know. Tony, being a sweetie, marries her rather than see her have an
abortion or be forced to live with the shame of single motherhood. Er. Well,
anyway, despite the movie's rather insensitive interpretation of gayness--
apparently, in Hong Kong people are gay only if they've been cheated on by a
woman that they love, and not by choice--the movie is pretty...cute. Anita
is pretty AND cute. :) Tony is a fairly likable and not TOO stereotypical gay
man.
19. A Taste of Killing and Romance Andy Lau Tak Wah
Year: 1994 Waise Lee Chi-Hung
Can: Saat Sau Dik Tone Wah Mark Cheng Ho-Nam
Mandarin: Sha1 Shou3 De Zhong4 Hua4 Ng Wing Mei
Lit: Assassin's Fairy Tale William So Wing-Hong
Director: Veronica Chan Lai Chi-San
Writer: Cheuk Bing Tang Siu-Chuen
JC - Andy Lau and Anita Yuen are assassins working for a criminal organization.
Their romance blossoms but the work gets in the way.
RFC - Stylized and chic, this thrilling film stars heart-throbs Andy Lau and
Anita Yuen as killers-for-hire who accidentally meet - and unexpectedly fall
in love - amidst the hail of bullets and violence.
JMF - The movie takes itself too seriously considering the number of plot
holes and serious breaks with reality. However, it is made watchable by the
highly-stylized directorial debut of Veronica Chan. I especially appreciated
her unique use of extreme close-ups and odd camera angles.
20. He is a Woman, She is a Man Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing
Year: 1994 Carina Lau Ka Ling
Can: Gum Ji Yook Yip Chan Sil Chun
Man: Jin1 Zhi1 Yu4 Ye4 Eric Tsang Chi Wai
Lit: Golden Branch Jade Leaf Law Kar Ying
Director: Peter Chan Ho-San Lam Hiu-Fung
Writer: Yuen Sai-Sun, Lee Chi-Ngai
Running Time: 107 min
Laser Disc: FML/Stereo/Bil/ECsubs
Note: Anita won Best Actress, 14th Annual Hong Kong Film Golden Statue Award,
April 23, 1995.
JMF - Everyday person Wing (Anita Yuen) idolizes a superstar couple - popular
singer Rose and her brilliant manager Sam - so much, that she poses as a man
in order to meet them. But as can happen in the movies, she gets swept up into
their lives and soon learns all is not as it appears from afar. Very
entertaining with strong performances by Anita Yuen and Leslie Cheung.
BSO - (****1/2) A typical everyday HK music fan Wing (Anita Yuen) idolizes
the beautiful female singer Rose (Carina Lau) and her producer Sam (Leslie
Cheung) as the fairy tale couple. By chance she posed as an amateur male
singer and moves in with "his" new producer Sam. The no-nonsense Wing
develops a great friendship with Sam, but screws up Sam's love life with
Rose. Very original and entertaining plot with *excellent* music by Leslie
Cheung et al. Anita Yuen is cute even as a man (hmmm). Eight nominations
in the 14th HK Films Awards.
21. Wrath Of Silence Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo)
Year: 1994 Maggie Siu Mei Kei
Can: Chum Muck Dik Gu Leung Emily Kwan Bo Wai
Mandarin: Chen2 Mo4 De Gu1 Niang2 Kui Hoi Lun
Lit: Silent Girl Ha Ping
Director: Frankie Chan Fan-Kei Foh Sing
Writer: Frankie Chan Fan-Kei, Lee Bing-Kwong, Lan Wan-Hang
Plays: Victim of a stalker.
BSO - (**1/2) A mediocre horror/thriller with Anita Yuen playing a caretaker,
and as the victim of a perverted (and I mean perverted) stalker. The movie
does contain a few suspenseful moments.
22. Tears of Triumph Lau Ching Wun
Year: 1994 Lam Man Lone
Can: Jok Yeh Cheung Fung Miu Siu-Wai
Mandarin: Zuo2 Ye4 Chang2 Feng1 Chu Kit-Yi
Director: David Lam Tak-Luk
Action Director: Wong Sai-Cheung
Writer: Raymond Wong Bak-Ming
Lit: Last Night Long Wind
Plays: Unwed Mother whose old and new life begin to merge.
JC - Unwed mother (Anita Yuen) works as a manager in a department store.
When the store is the target of a takeover, her new life and her old life
begin to merge, as she discovers one of her new boss is also her child's
father (Lam Man Lone), who left her to marry into a wealthy family year ago.
Enters her other boss (Lau Ching Wun), the only son of the wealthy tycoon,
and the beginning of a film that moves like a soap opera. Average.
BSO - (****) A well-made copycat of "C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri," this one with
a happy ending. Anita Yuen is an unwed mother who struggles to survive in
a competitive company. The good news is, the boss of the company (Lau Ching
Wan) falls in love with her and helps her out any way he cans. The bad news
is, the second boss of the company is her ex-boyfriend who will stop at
nothing to get rid of her, her son, and the other boss while he's at it, in
order to protect his money and power. I thought this was a very sweet movie
with a live-happily-ever-after ending. Great theme song by Faye Wong in her
Cantonese remake of the Mandarin song "Yong Xin Liang Ku" by Zhang Yu.
23. The True Hero Simon Yam Tat-Wah
Year: 1994 John Tang Yat-Gwan
Can: Bo Yu Gil Yeung Derek Yee Tung-Sing
Mandarin: Bao4 Yu3 Jiao1 Yang2 Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui
Lit: Tyrant Storm Proud Sun Austin Wai Tin-Chi
Producer: Joe Cheung Tung-Cho John Ching Tung
Director: Joe Cheung Tung-Cho Wicky Hung Siu-Wan
Action Director: Tung Wai, Kong Do-Hoi
Writer: Joe Cheung Tung-Cho, Patrick Yuen Yeuk-Kwong, Jimmy Sin Chi-Wai
Cameo Appearance: Jacqueline Law Wai-Guen
SS - (**1/2) Reformed triad hitman Cheung Chi Wing (Simon Yam) takes a job
as a substitute teacher for a rowdy bunch of no-future high-schoolers, but his
girlfriend (Anita Yuen) is ambivalent about his change. That is, until he
saves some of his kids from a local triad gang looking for recruits. A little
gooshy (not to mention derivative), but at least it has some decent action
sequences, and of course Anita.
24. From China With Love Stephen Chow Sing Chee
Year: 1994 Law Kar Ying
Can: Gwok Chaan Ling Ling Chaut Pauline Chan Po-Lin
Mandarin: Guo2 Chan3 Ling2 Ling2 Qi1 Wong Kam-Kong
Lit: Country Made Ling Ling Chaut Cheng Cho
AKA: From Beijing with Love
Director: Lee Lik Chi, Stephen Chow Sing-Chi
Writer: Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Cheung Siu-Lun, Guk Tak-Chiu, Lee Lik-Chi
Note: (Made in China Ling Ling Chaut) Ling Ling Chaut sounds like 007 in Can.
Plays: Assassin hired by the man with the Golden Armor to kill Ling Ling Chai.
SS - (***) When high-ranking PRC official orchestrates the heist of a dinosaur
skull for an overseas buyer, he assigns an incompetent secret agent Ling Ling
Chai (007 in Chinese -- Stephen Chieu) to investigate; he's a master with
knives who runs a seedy pork stand in Beijing. (At HQ, they have the usual
parade of items in research. (My favorite was the solar-powered flashlight,
which only runs in full daylight.). Ling's contact is Siu Kam (ubiquitous
Anita Yuen), who's been assigned to kill him, thus terminally thwarting the
investigation; but of course, they fall in love. The laffs percolate just under
the Naked Gun standard, with the two stars pretty much carrying the show.
MRP - Stephen Chiao in a James Bond parody packed with as many jokes
as any Naked Gun movie, starting with a hilarious riff on the Bond
title sequence. Nothing and no one is spared in this wall-to-wall
parody which goes beyond mere Bond parody to take potshots at
everything from Canto pop stars to C'est La Vie, Mon Cherie.
RECOMMENDED.
JY - (****1/2) As far as I'm concerned, this is Stephen Chow's best
film, at least among the ones I've seen so far. Not only is it a
textbook-perfect, dead-to-rights parody of the Bond genre (right down
to an opening sequence that will make you laugh until whatever you're
drinking comes out of your nose), but it features Chow in that avatar
of comic personae, the guy-who-thinks-he's-a-superspy-but-is-
actually-very-lucky-and-very-stupid. Er, like Maxwell Smart. Also,
Anita Yuen (currently my favorite HK actress) is eminently cute and a
great comic foil for the suavely manic Chow. A must-see.
25. Whatever You Want Christy Chung Lai Tai
Year: 1994 Michael Wong Mun Tak
Can: Ju Guong Bo Hey Jordan Chan Siu Chun
Mandarin: Zhu1 Guang1 Bao3 Qi4 Woo Fung
Lit: Pearl Light Treasure Vapors Sheila Chan Suk-Lan
Director: Wong Jing Chu Mi-Mi
Action Director: Law Lai-Yin
Writer: Wong Jing
Cameo Appearance: Law Kar Ying
Plays: Daughter of millionaire, half sister to prodigy, and big fan
of HK Director "Wong Jing Wai".
JC - Run of the mill Wong Jing picture with its moments. Among the
highlights are Wong Jing's trademark parody of SPEED and Wong Kar Wai's
films. Anita plays a daydreamer who works for her superwoman half sister
(Christy Chung). When she is asked to find jewels for her sister's ad
campaign, all she found are three pearls with a magical genie (Michael Wong
Mun Tak) inside.
KJ - Although the overall plot--about a genie (a topless Michael Wong)
coming to live with a woman who's obsessed with movies (Anita Yuen
Wing Yee)--is a mess, the humor is very funny and makes the movie
worth seeing. The movie contains priceless parodies of Wong Kar Wai
and Ashes of Time and even makes fun of Wong Jing! Recommended.
26. The Chinese Feast Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing
Year: 1995 Kenny Bee (Chung Jun Tol)
Can: Gum Yook Moon Tong Law Kar Ying
Mandarin: Jin1 Yu4 Man3 Tang2 Zhao Wen-Zhou (Chiu Man-Chuek)
Lit: Gold Jade Full Hall Xiong Xin-Xin (Hung Yan-Yan)
AKA: Can: Moon Han Chuen Jik (in Taiwan)
Producer: Raymond Wong Baak-Ming, Li Ning
Director: Tsui Hark
Plays: Rebellious Punk daughter of a restuarant owner.
Robin Laws: THE CHINESE FEAST -- Way Fun! 19 Mar 1995 15:19
Hong Kong film fans shouldn't miss the newest Tsui Hark flick, THE CHINESE
FEAST. It's not an action movie, but a wonderful screwball comedy with a
sports movie structure. Our heroes: a proud restaurant owner with a heart
condition, his rebellious daughter, and a former loan shark who wants to go
straight (Leslie Cheung) look for China's greatest chef after the
restauranteur is challenged by an evil chef to the ultimate cooking contest.
If he loses the contest -- to cook the Han Qing Imperial Feast for only the
third time in history -- he loses the restaurant. The cooking sequences are a
riot, set up with all of the energy and tension of a climactic kung fu battle
or Western shootout. And, like Tampopo, don't see it on an empty stomach!
JY - (****) Leslie Cheung as a Triad juvie turned wannabe chef! Anita Yuen
as the rebellious daughter of a brilliant restaurateur! A cooking contest
like you've never seen, featuring the dishes of the fabulous Qing Han
Banquet--elephant trunk, bear paw, monkey brain, and a host of grotesque
sounding appetizers! When Anita's dad falls ill, she and Leslie must find
the greatest chef in the world--played by Kenny Bee--to fill in for him in
cooking the contest banquet, or see her dad's restaurant stolen by an evil
rival. GREAT cooking scenes, some very, very funny physical humor, and
Anita in a stellar cute, spunky performance. A must-see, and apparently
quite a successful flick in its HK release.
27. Tricky Business Lau Ching-Wan
Year: 1995 Gott Man-Fai
Can: Jing Goo Wong Lam Hoi-Fung
Mandarin: Zheng3 Gu3 Wang2 Law Kar-Ying
Lit: Prank King Cheung Lan-Ying
Producer: Wong Jing
Director: Lee Lik Chi
Plays: A "Blind" Girl who turns out to be...[I am Not going to give it away]
JMF - Lau Ching-Wan is the "King of Pranks" with high moral standards who must
square off in a battle against the "Emperor of Pranks", the leader of an
opposing prank faction who has no pity. Although there are some pretty funny
moments, there is a lot of dead time. Not nearly as funny as its predecessor
TRICKY BRAINS. This is a film best saved for when there's nothing else at the
video store.
KJ - A total waste of time. It looks like it was turned out in a weekend, with
sets made of painted cardboard and a script that was made up on the spot. Don't
bother seeing it in the theatre; don't bother renting it on video. The worst
thing I've seen Yuen Wing Yee in since Prince of Portland Street. What's
surprising is that they managed to make a really good trailer out of this.
Don't be fooled. The trailer is 10 times as entertaining as the movie.
28. Just Married Emil Chow Wah-Kin
Year: 1995 Linda Shum Din-Ha
Can: Wan Man Dole Pet Nau Man Chai Man Jun
Man: Heng2 Wen2 Dao1 Pi1 Niu3 Wen2 Chai2 Ng Wing-Mei
Lit: Horizontal Tattoo Sabre Chops Naughty Firewood Yuen King-Tan
Director: Tam Lang-Chang Joe Junior
Plays: A newlywed/Ad executive who a mouth to boot.
Cameo Appearance: Julian Cheung Chi-Lam
RH - The Mother-in-Law From Hell. OK, so that's not the English title,
but basically summs up yet another horrible film with Anita Yuen Wing-Yee.
With all the awards she's won lately, I think she could afford to pass this
one up.
29. 01:00 AM Veronica Yip Yuk-Hing
Year: 1995 Tsui Kam-Kong
Can: Ye Boon Yat Dim Jung Jordan Chan Siu-Chun
Man: Ye4 Ban4 Yi1 Dian3 Zhong1
Lit: Midnight 1:00 O'Clock
Producer: Andy Chin Wing-Keung
Director: Yip Wai-Shun
Type: Hor/Thriller
Plays: Psych student in an university who searches for a ghost for her term
paper.
"I really enjoyed it, it's three ghost stories, none of which are very
scary, but alot of fun. It's a pretty strange film and it's hard to
explain what I liked about it, as the stories are so simple, but the
style and humour keep you watching."
SK - Three mild ghost stories, all set in Hong Kong at various
locations, all based to a certain extent on "real" stories, and all
taking place at 1:00 AM. Veronica Yip, as a spunky nurse in a haunted
hospital, made the first story watchable. But then things began
seriously to drag, through 2) Anita Yuen as a stranded motorist, and
3) Jordan Chan and Tsui Kam-Kong as befuddled traffic cops.
CF - Three 'urban-legend ghost stories' set in HK. Despite the title,
not all happened precisely at 1.00 AM. The stories were meant to be
humorous rather than scary. Mildly entertaining film due to efforts of
the stars. First story (Coma patient) - A reluctant night-duty nurse
(Veronica Yip) tried to help a 'snarled' soul. Veronica is quite good
but the rest of the characters weren't very interesting. Second story
(Pony-tail girl) - Fong Siu-Yen (Anita Yuen), a marginal psychologist
student was challenged to interview a ghost. The highlight of the
story is Anita's extended monologue to a tape-recorder and her
uncooperative car. (The objects actually serve as characters in this
sparsely populated story). This is the only story of the lot with some
success of blending humour with suspense (but not much). Third story
(Speeding camera) - Traffic cop Jordan Chan and his senior partner
Tsui Kam Kong were the crew of a remotely located speed camera which
took 'ghostly' photographs. The duo have good chemistry together as a
comic team. However, two burly men with a somewhat benign ghost is
even less likely to scare than the first two stories. Rating: In order
of stories: (5.0+6.0+5.5)/3 = 5.5
30. Tragic Commitment Julian Cheung Chi-Lam
Year: 1995 Deanie Yip Tak Han
Can : Mut Yau Lou Kung Dik Yat Chi Josie Ho Chiu Yi
Man : Mei2 You3 Lao3 Gong1 De Ri4 Zi3
Lit : Days Without a Husband
Director: Frankie Chan Fan-Kei
"Anita is Julian's wife and they're the newlyweds. But Julian soon
dies :-) and he tells Anita at the death's door that Josie has been
made pregnant by him. Josie comes to live with Anita's family...."
30.5 Heaven Can't Wait Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Year: 1995 Jordan Chan Siu-Chun
Cantonese: Gau Sai Sun Gwun Bowie Lam Bo-Yi
Mandarin: Jiu4 Shi4 Shen2 Gun4 Karen Mok Man-Wai
Literally: Save World "Holy Stick"
(slang for religious hustler)
Producer: Lee Chi-Ngai
Director: Lee Chi-Ngai
Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai, James Yuen, Peter Chan Ho-San, Lam Oi-Wa
Cameo Appearance: Law Kar-Ying, Dennis Chan, Bak Ka-Sin
Note: Anita's appearance in only a cameo
SK - Another typical UFO product: designed to appeal to sophisticated
urban professionals. Nicely made, but it tries to be too smart: too
cleverly mapped out. There's no magic (in a movie ostensibly about
religion, magic, fakery, credulity, and the ways these are exploited
in a pressure-filled fin-de-siecle Hong Kong). It's not stirring, or
affecting, or really funny (as Mack the Knife managed to be,
intermittently): just sort of admirable. Good performances by Tony
Leung and Jordan Chan, who once again gets to show of his physical
screen magnetism. But things just don't light up.
"It's one of the best-made Hong Kong parodies. I hated it at first,
but left the theatre liking it so much! I think it's got promise for
some awards in the next HK film awards, especially best actor & best
screenplay. Chan Siu Chuen did a great job on Dat-Dat!"
"I find this movie and MACK THE KNIFE to have lots of
similarities...like religion, and the preachers that walk around
tellin' people that the world is 'bout to end. Chan Sil Chun was
great...definitely stole away the spotlight from Leung Chiu Wai. Out
of these two movies, I preferred MACK THE KNIFE."
CF - One of the more disappointing UFO products.
Producer/director/screenwriter Lee Chi-Ngai tries to put too many
things in one setting and in the process made the whole film
perfunctory. The story might have improved if it's not constantly
sidetracked by attempts at self-conscious sarcasm towards "negative
influence of mass-media" and modern Chinese materialistic attitude
towards magic (paying money for it). Despite good performances by the
cast (particularly Jordan Chan as Dat-Dat in a role against his usual
type), the leading characters are actually not very well-defined. The
story took a decidedly bizarre twist after Dat-Dat's gnosis (as a
result of saving the Tony character). The "soul metastasis" scene near
the end (after the burning scene) is particularly jarring. All this is
justified by the whimsical climax scene of how "magic" can exist in
"real world" (Hint: take note of what the young Tony character's
Taoist master [Ng Yil-Hon] said at the beginning). At least this Moon
Festival movie has a few clever takes on Chinese Moon symbolism and
mythology. Rating: 6
31. Thunderbolt Jackie Chan (Sing Lone)
Year: 1995 Micheal Wong Mun Tak
Can : Pik Lik Foh Lo Wai-Kwong
Man : Pi1 Li4 Huo3 Chin Kar-Lok
Lit : Thunderbolt Fire
Producer: Choi Lam
Director: Gordon Chan Car-Suong
Action Director: Jackie Chan (Sing Lung),
Samo Hung Kam-Bo, Frankie Chan Fan-Kei
Plays: Tabloid reporter Amy Ip who falls for Jackie in the process.
"It was awesome! The action and stunts in this movie will blow you
away. Jackie Chan is definitely at his best. This movie is similar to
Tom Cruise's "Days of Thunder" in that both movies deals with car
racing. Other than that, the two movies are very different. Jackie
even sings the theme song to this movie. Don't miss it!"
"It was awful... Okay, Jackie was in good form, performing a lot more
kicking but the whole film put together stunk. He spent HK$200 million
on it but unfortunately even the car racing sequences (although some
good stunts were done) didn't look real. Okay, we all know he speeds
his fights up, but now he was speeding the car racing up to such a
degree that it definately did not look real. I don't know, the end
racing was not really a race, but lots of cars crashing, with a very
anti-climatic ending. I guess I'm being very negative but I expected
more. It certainly has it's moments and Jackie's fighting is really
good, but that's about it."
32. I Want To Go On Living Sylvia Chang
Year: 1995 Emil Chow Wah Kin
Can : Ngor Yiu Woot Ha Hui Winston Chao Man-Hsuan
Man : Wo3 Yao4 Huo2 Xia4 Qu4
Lit : I Must Live On
Producer: Raymond Wong Baak-Ming
Director: Lee Wai-Man
Plays: Sylvia Chang's step-daughter.
JC - Based on a story by Leung Fung Yi. Sylvia plays Bui, a woman who
was in love with Emil Chau's character, but due to her maternal
grandmother's sickness, must marry someone in London to get money to
cure her. When she got to London, she found out that her husband is
impotent and abusive, and her step-daughter Yip (Anita Yuen) is
crippled by an accident and is bitter and abrasive. None of these
however stopped our Sylvia as she improves her relations with her new
family and turned the family business, a restaurant, around; just when
things started to look up, her husband mysteriously disappeared,
leaving both Bui and Yip a huge amount of debts. Both then decide to
go to try their luck in Hong Kong, where Sylvia runs into her long
lost paternal grandmother and gets swept into a legal battle over a
will. Just as Bui's character about to try her luck by marrying a
lawyer (Winston Chao), Emil Chau's character reappears in her life and
Yip falls for him...
KJ - This is a very good drama about a woman who gives up hope of marrying her
first love and makes a deal to marry an older man and go to England with him
if he will take care of her grandmother. Sylvia Chang (Jeung Ngaai Gah) is
excellent as the main character--if there's any justice, she'll get a best
actress nomination next year. Anita Yuen Wing Yee has a supporting role as
the man's invalid daughter. The production values are high and I was very
impressed by the composition of many of the shots. I liked this film a lot.
33. The Golden Girls Lau Ching Wan
Year: 1995 Ada Choi Siu Fun
Can: Saan Sui Yau Seung Fung Pauline Suen Kai Kwon
Man: Shan1 Shui3 You3 Xiang1 Feng2 Allen Fong Yuk Ping
Lit: Mountain and Water Eventually Meet Wong Yut Fei
Producer: Cheung Chi-Sing Cheung Tat Ming
Charles Heung Wa-Keung, Fok Hoi Bo Yeung Ping Lan
Director: Joe Ma Wai-Ho Pak Yiu chan
Writer: Joe Ma Wai-Ho
Cameo Appearance: Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Nancy Kwan, Michael (Wind, Fire,
Sea), Cheung Chi-Sing, Lee Lik-Chi, Man Jun, Vincent Kok Tak-Chiu
SK - This is the real thing: a terrific 1995 Hong Kong film. It's a comedy
-romance movie all about the movies. Lau Ching-Wan is a Chun Wai, screenwriter
involved with two actresses: he finds himself livinng with the glamourous Lulu
(Ada Choi) but he's in love with her best friend, the far more talented Mei
Ball (Anita Yuen). The actions follows this trio from 1965 to 1970, as the
young hopefuls become stars, win awards, and try to cope with "true love".
Out of this premise comes a goofy, sweet-silly movie that works on many
levels: it's a screwball romance that never quite resolves in the direction
you expect; it's a nostalgic celebration of movie magic; a satire of the the
Hong Kong movie business, star culture, and celebrity; and it's a dazzling
little exercise in post-modern irreverence. Which places it, I think, among
movies like Jeff Lau's '92 Legendary la Rose Noire. Anita Yuen is wonderful:
moving, funny, silly, complex: she can show you a whole range of emotions
crossing her face, in one simple close-up. And her chemistry with Lau Ching-
Wan is perfect (no surprise here). We're treated to a baroque parade of 60's
fashions, music, and hair: kudos to the art directors. The only relatively
weak link (and this is a small complaint) is in Joe Ma Wai-Ho's direction:
sometimes it felt a bit clunky, unfinished: not quite as accomplished or as
original as his brilliant screenplay. The movie is formally quite intricate:
scenes of film-making mix with and blur into scenes from fake old movies, and
scenes from the characters' "real lives". The movie world and "real life" get
jumbled up. We're inside a screenwriter's imagination: it could be the
screenwriter character, (Chun Wai), or the actual screenwriter of Golden
Girls (Joe Ma Wai-Ho). But it doesn't really matter: in some sense one stands
for the other. Like the perspective within an interlocking set of mirrors, we
sometimes watch the characters watching a movie in which they play actors
playing characters inside yet another movie! This all feels crazy, and it's
Hong Kong cinematic boundary-blurring at its best: by the end of the movie
(which is so entertaining that you don't really have time to think) the
distinctions between actual and fictive, representation and reality have
ceased to be all that meaningful. Golden Girls is a little gem: too much fun
to be saying as much as it does, but it works, and it's elating to watch.
CF - They are many references on HK film industry in this film and it is
somewhat fun to spot them if one is knowledgable. Make no mistake however
that it is but a fictional film history. Perhaps the producers are afraid to
offend anyone (many old-timers are still working and respected) so they
invented characters and events which are vague familiar but one couldn't
exactly pin them to actual persons or events. That might partly explain why
the story and characters fail to raise above the ordinary. Despite the
(English) title the principle prespective of the movie is from a man
(Chun Wai) who might be an imaginary alter-ego of director/writer Joe
Ma. (Ma also used Lau Ching-Wan to voice-over his previous film.) On
the whole, a rather average film with a few evocative moments. Rating:
6.0
34. The Age of Miracles Alan Tam Wing Lun
Year: 1996 Jordan Chan Siu Chun
Can: Ma Ma Faan Faan Eric Tsang Chi Wai
Man: Ma2 Ma2 Fan1 Fan1 Teresa Carpio (To Lai Sa)
Director: Peter Chan Ho San Christine Ng Wing Mei
Cameo Appearance: Roy Chiao (Kiu Wang), Kelly Chan Wai-Lam, Man Jun
Running Time: 97 min 100 min
Type: C1/Family/Fantasy C1
CF - Anita Yuen plays psychic widower Mei Fan who exchanged ten years
of her life to save her second son. She won't hear of separating from
him for the next thirty years. When Mei turned 68 years old, the
"higher powers" mean to have her fulfilling her end of bargain. Mei's
son meanwhile has decided that piety has limits and is opting out by
migrating. In either case, it seems that this would be Mei's last
Chinese New Year celebration. Yuen's old lady make-up was overhyped
before screening (it isn't very convincing). Yuen is better in scenes
where she plays the middle-age Mei Fan without the benefit of special
make-up. The computer effects in this film ranges from pretty good to
quite distracting. This film itself is somewhat uneven, with a lot of
messages and typical UFO humour to make it go down easier. There is
also more thought into this production than the average HK film (I
noted the detail design for the flat set; how Anita Yuen put on a Tai
Shan accent in the film; likewise many of the old people "lapse" into
their native dialect from time to time.) For a HK family movie, the
running time is a bit longer than the norm, but it gets more evocative
and involving as the film progresses. Rating: 7.4
JC - uh, this was a Peter Chan Ho San film? Sure, all the heart and
soul trademark of an UFO film is there, but where is the spirit? Like
a lot of HK films of late (for example, UFO's last effort Heaven Can't
Wait), this has so many subplots in this film that would have made
this film much better if the filmmakers just decided to let them
run. Instead, we got a halfhearted effort in all of the stories in the
entire film. Anita Yuen's acting is passable as the Grandmother, but
her makeup wasn't. Alan Tam is flawless as the son who has to carry
the weight of the entire family on his back (Fan Club Rules, can't
write a bad thing about him), and Jordan Chan continued to muddle
through as the slacker third son (apparently still clueless from
Heaven Can't Wait). Roy Chiao just can do no wrong all year as the
angel, and Teresa Carpio stole the show from everybody just by merely
appearing in the film. Like Fan in the film, UFO may be carrying too
much weight their backs before they all lose it. May be there is just
too much expectation out of UFO, maybe it is because this film is so
rushed, or maybe it is because the film kept on being pushed back on
the release date, but this film isn't that great. It is good, but not
great; better than Heaven Can't Wait, but no way can be listed on the
list of UFO classics like Tom, Dick, and Hairy, He Ain't Heavy, He's
My Father, or to a lesser extent, He is a Woman, She is a Man. On the
other hand, out of the four films that was dealing with the subject of
death at the time period (Full Throttle, Somebody Up There Likes Me,
and What a Wonderful World), the film tops them all (beating What a
Wonderful World by a nose). Of course, I am talking about
entertainment value. A passable film.
35. Tristar Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing
Year: 1996 Lau Ching Wan
Can: Dai Saam Yuen Catherine Hung Yun
Man: Da4 San1 Yuan2 Chan Kam Hung
Lit: Big Three Round (Winning hand in Mah Jong?)Alvina Kong Yan-Yin
Producer: Raymond Wong Bak-Ming, Tsui Hark Xiong Xin-Xin (Hung Yan-Yan)
Direcotr: Tsui Hark Fung Wai-Hung
Action Director: Xiong Xin-Xin (Hung Yan-Yan) Moses Chan Ho
Writer: Tsui Hark Chung King-Fai
Cameo Appearance: Raymond Wong Bak-Ming, Paul Fornoroff (Fong Bo-Lo),
Kwan Bo-Wai
Type: C2B/Comedy
KJ - From the posters, lobby cards and cast (directed by Tsui Hark, starring
Anita Yuen Wing Yee, Leslie Cheung and Lau Ching Wun) this looked like it
would be a great movie. Instead, it's a total mess, with much of it looking
like the script was made up on the spot. However, Yuen Wing Yee is very sexy
(yes, really!) and any male Yuen Wing Yee fans will at least enjoy that
aspect of the movie. (For all I know, Leslie's part may have the same effect
on his female fans.)
CF - This could be the last film directed by Tsui Hark in HK before moving to
Hollywood but he seems bored. Likewise the leads seem to look forward only to
their pay-checks. The film start off well-enough but eventually become
unfocus and uninteresting. In this film perhaps to resurrect Cinema City, the
few better scenes might have been references to past glories of Tsui Hark and
Cinema City productions: e.g. the car chase [Aces Go Places series], mistaken
identity [All the Wrong Clues/Spies] and one perhaps from A CHINESE GHOST
STORY (the nocturnal prositutes' reaction to sunlight). If you have no
objection on a film marketed mainly on its cast (the producers made no
pretense about this) then this film is probably fine.
Rating: 5.9
JC - If no one told me Tsui Hark directed this, I wouldn't know. The beginning
scenes are somewhat reminiscent of the late 80's Cinema City Clifton Ko films.
I actually liked Leslie in this film. Anita seems to be getting back SOME of
her magic. The oddball cop pair of Lau Ching Wan and Chan Kam Hung (fresh off
of a similar character with Felix Wong Yat Wah on TVB's Criminal Investigator)
has potentials. For all the good intentions, the effort was wasted again by
lack of focus. A lot more could have been done with Shing Fui On as the
priest. Need a rewatch for a final verdict.
SS - (**) Bai Xuehua (Anita Yuen) has it tough: she's a whore, her boyfriend
has just ditched her (but not before dropping a one million dollar debt and
some loan sharks into her life), and a gang leader wants to rent her off to
the Arabians for five years. And she has no tits. As do-nothing cop Lau
Ching Wan watches from his car, a Catholic priest (Leslie Cheung) sets out to
redeem the poor girl and her three call-girl buddies by getting them to be
Afga film store girls...and start a rock band. Meanwhile, the gang mistakes
the priest for a mainland triad chief, the priest and hooker start to fall
for one another, and the cop is in the hands of Bai's mentally-unstable
sister, who's been sworn to secrecy about.... Gadzooks, these HK movie plots
sure can get complicated! The plot gets so unwieldy that it starts to sag
under the force of gravity (something Anita Yuen need never worry about),
causing a certain amount of audience indifference. In the final scenes,
the movie turns into a HK version of Sister Act, only adding to its burden of
unwatchability.
36. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Natalis Chan Bak-Cheung
Year: 2/1996 Christy Chung Lai-Tai
Can: Wan Choi Ji Lek Sing Michael Wong Mun-Tak
Man: Yun4 Cai2 Zhi4 Le4 Xing1
Lit: Fortune Most Talented Star
Director: Wong Jing, Yip Wai-Man
Cameo Appearance: Alan Tam Wing-Lun, Francis Ng Chun-Yu
CF - Name after lead actor Natalis Chan's popular TV game show. Most of the
cast have also appeared as guests at the show.
NEXT - Lucky Fortune God Ah Leck (Chan Bak Cheung) has a crush on the Nine
Heaven Fairy (Christy Chung Lai Tai), unfortunately she is in love with the
"Gwailo" Angel Michael (Michael Wong Mun Tak). When the Jade Emperor (Alan
Tam Wing Lun) finds out the two's affair, he exiled both to the mortal realm.
Leck made up his mind to go onto Earth as well to seek his love. Upon arrival,
Leck meets thinny girl Len (Anita Yuen Wing Yee) and discovers that the Fairy
has now reincarnated as an American casino Public Relations manager, who is
hosting a "God of Gamblers" competition in Hong Kong. Leck reveals his
identity to her, but to no avail. The only hope Leck has to win the Fairy's
heart is through the gambling competition...
JC - Out of all the recent crop on video, I had the most fun with this one. Ah
Lek plays a character usually specizalied by Stephen Chiau Sing Chi. Anita is
great as his sidekick on Earth. There is enough cameo by Ah Lek's friends to
make your head spin. Story sort of reminds me of Whatever You Want. Wong Jing
once again signs his name early with another shot at Wong Kar Wai. Ah Lek in
the beginning constantly made reference to his game show on TV. I saw it twice
already.
37. Hu-Du-Men Josephine Siao Fong-Fong
Year: 1996 Daniel Chan Hiu-Tung (intro)
AKA: Stagedoor Waise Lee Chi-Hung
Can: Fu Doe Moon David Ng Dai-Wai
Man: Hu3 Du4 Men2
Lit: Tiger Crosses Gate
Director: Shu Kei
Writer: Raymond To Kwok-Wai
NEXT - Cantonese Opera troupe master Lan Gim Sum has been around
the scene for 30 years and is very popular; but secretly, she
struggles with immigration and children problems and clashes with
her husand. Seung Lan, an actress from a Singapore troupe and her
father come to Hong Kong to join up. Later Seung's boyfriend Chun
also comes to Hong Kong. During opening night, Sum's "sister" for
over 20 years Lan Yee suddenly appears and tells her that her
illegimate son, Chun, is also in the audience! Sum once agreed
that she will never admit that she has a child, at this instant
halfheartedly steps into "Fu Doe Moon" (Tiger Crosses Gate).....
JC - Entertaining and beautiful art film about a top Cantonese
Opera star whose past and present begin to collide. The proper
balance of each side in the film is rare in this year's crop.
The film has a decent story and overall it is held together by
great performances from the legendary actresses. Sure, the
appearances of Lee Si Kei and Tam Sin Hung make the film look
like TVB's A Kindred Spirit (Jun Oi), but the film has a full
tank of gas until the cop-out ending. All and all, it is at
least worth a look to watch Josephine Siao's performance.
BTW, Anita Yuen was in this movie? And where is that kiss scene
that was the reason Nadia Chan Chun Ling declined the role on?
What the hey...
JMF - Muddled attempt to please everyone by being both
intellectual and melodramatic, dramatic and humorous. However,
terrible editing, huge plot holes, and a total lack of focus
make it hard to comprehend what the movie is even about.
Characters are introduced for no reason, issues are raised which
are never again addressed, and questions are left unanswered. If
not for another solid performance by Josephine Siao, the movie
would be wholly unsatisfying. I just wish Josephine would stop
wasting her tremendous talents on movies like this and SUMMER
SNOW, which seem geared only to manipulate the audience and get
Josephine more acting awards.
38. Who's the Woman, Who's the Man Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing
Year: 1996 Anita Mui Yim-Fong
AKA: She's a Man, He's a Woman 2 Theresa Lee Yi-Hung
Can: Gam Ji Yuk Yip 2 Jordan Chan Siu-Chun
Man: Jin1 Zhi1 Yu4 Ye4 2 Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
Lit: Golden Branch and Jade Leaf 2
Producer: Peter Chan Ho-San
Director: Peter Chan Ho-San
Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang, Lam Oi-Wah
Type: C2B
NEXT - The cross dressing fan Lam Chi Wing stumbles into the music
scene and actually won the Most Popular Male Singer award. Wing now
has a heck of a time getting off the ride and her true sex could not
be revealed any time soon. Under the influence of the media, Ka Ming
becomes the record producer who relies on young male singers to make
a living and his popularity declines. On the other hand, the Chameleon
Superstar Fong Yim Mui returns to the scene, her glamour steals the
thunder from Wing, as Ka Wing suddenly discovers that he and she was
once his partner during a one night stand......
39. Till Death Do Us Laugh Gigi Lai Chi
Year: 12/1996 Hsu Chi (Shu Kei)
Can: Gwaai Taam Hip Wooi Liz Kong Hei-Man
Man: Guai4 Tan2 Xie2 Hui4 Lo Hiu Fai
Lit: Strange Tales Associations Cheung Tat-Ming
Director: Joe Ma Wai-Ho, Chin Man-Kei, Yip Wai-Man
Running Time: 90 min
Type: C2B
NEXT - "Office Strange Tales": after the death of a mean supervisor
Vincent, new supervisor GiGi replaces him. Ming feels GiGi is
possessed by the ghost of Vincent, returning to seek revenge......
"Household Strange Tale": after Yi's cousin Kei arrived in Hong
Kong from China, she continuously imitate Yi's appearance and behavior,
even pretends to be Yi to get close to Yi's boyfriend......
"Schoolyard Strange Tale": University Medical School upperclassman
shows the new student Gei around the campus. Upper classman Peter
takes Gei's hand to touch the cursed "4 But Jeung" (4 Not Alike)
statue. The next day, Peter dies and being run over by a car......
KJ - I went to this movie with a friend soley because after VIVA
EROTICA, we wanted to see more of Shu Kei (so to speak). I fully
expected this trio of stories (with a fourth framing story) to be
dumb Hong Kong horror-comedies and for the most part, this was
true. The third story, however, was pretty good. Since it might get
overlooked in this otherwise forgettable movie, I thought I should
point it out. I liked the central idea of the story (which I can't
reveal without spoiling the story) and watching Yuen Wing Yee and Shu
Kei together for 30 minutes was not particularly painful. Perhaps not
quite worth going to the theatre just to see this segment, but certainly worth
renting and skipping the other stories.
40. God of Gamblers 3 - The Early Stage Leon Lai Ming
Year: 12/1996 Jordan Chan Siu-Chun
Can: Do San 3 Ji Siu Nin Do San Gigi Leung Wing-Kei
Man: Du3 Shen2 3 Zhi1 Shao4 Nian2 Du3 Shen2 Francis Ng Chun-Yu
Lit: God of Gamblers 3: Young God of Gamblers Cheung Tat-Ming
Producer: Wong Jing Tsui Kam-Kong
Director: Wong Jing
Action Director: Deon Lam Dik-On, Fung Hak-On(?)
Writer: Wong Jing
Cameo Appearance: Ngai Chun, Moses Chan Ho, Ho Ka-Kui
Running Time: 102 min
Type: C2B
PI - 1969. Young Ko Chun is saved from life as a crippled street
beggar by a mysterious godfather. 1986. Ko Chun is part of a three
person team of professional gamblers. Meanwhile, Sister Seven has
just recruited Vietnamese martial arts expert Lung Ng as her
bodyguard. A private card game brings the two together, leading to
events which will define Ko Chun as the God of Gamblers we know and
love in the first two films of this series. You'd think any film that tries to
put another actor in one of Chow Yun Fat's most famous roles is doomed
to fail, but this one came out pretty good. The story is similar to
the first two films - Wong Jing does whatever he wants for the first
90 minutes, then ties it all up with a clever explanation in the last
10. Production values are high, providing for a nice polished look to
the film. Jordan Chan takes on the role of an action star quite well,
and Anita does a good job with her role too. Other performances are on
par; Leon doesn't add anything new to the character, but doesn't
embarass himself either. Trivia buffs take note; this film explains
everything about Ko Chun, from his predilection for chocolate to why
he wears a jade ring on his pinky to why he gels his hair.
40.5 A Queer Story George Lam Chi Cheung
Can: Gei Lo Sei Sup Jordan Chan Siu Chun
Lit: Gay Man Forty Christine Ng Wing Mei
Producer: Clifton Ko Chi Sum Meg Lam Kin Ming
Direcotr: Shu Kei Francis Ng Chun Yu
Cameo: Kristy Yeung Kung Yu, Hsu Chi (Shu Chi), Chow Yeung, Alfred
Cheung Kin Ting, Chan Kwai Fun, Chow Chi Fai, To Yin Go, Yip Ching,
Joe Cheung Tung Cho, Lo Hung, Chan Kwok Sun, Ivy Leung Si Man
Guest Appearance: Tam Sin Hung, Waise Lee Chi Hung
Rating: IIB
Note: Anita Yuen Wing Yee only has a guest appearance in the film
NEXT - From a conservative family background and an unhappy childhood
experience, Law Ka Sing decisively hides his homosexual identity and
spends his life which on the surface is no different than ordinary
people. Sing's partner of 8 years, young boyfriend Sunny is just the
opposite, he has never minded publicly revealing his identity.
Although he deeply loves Sing, he is unwilling to part with the
colorful night life, an extreme contrast with Sing. With Sing's
father constantly rushing him to marry, and Sing's "girlfriend" since
childhood Chuen returning to Hong Kong from Canada and requesting him
to make a choice in love, thus increasing the pressure on Sing greatly......
41. Up For The Rising Sun George Lam Chi Cheung
Can: Po Yung Chiu Yeung Poon Hung
Lit: Embrace the Sun Lam Ka Tung
Director: Tam Long Cheung Kenneth Tseng Kong
Rating : I Jessica Hester (Suen Huen)
Length : 92 min William Cho Wing Lim
Adapted from a novel by Leung Fung Yi
NEXT - Hong Ji Yi, 20 something, in order to save her late father Hong
Hoi Fong's Hong's Industry, marries the 50 year old super wealthy man
Tung Pak Lim. Another wealthy merchant Yik Cho Fun knew Hong Hoi Fong
because of his betrayal committed suicide. He also knows Tung Pak Lim
has enough power to oppose him, so he marries his son Yik Kwan Yuen to
Tung Pak Lim's daughter Tung Ching in order to save himself. Yik Kwan
Yuen and Hong Ji Yi were lovers since childhood, he wants to enter the
Tung family to be with Hong Ji Yi......
That's it for now.
I hope you saw every one of these films. I didn't.
Jerry.
(
geocities.com/tokyo)