STARRING:


    Takeshi Kaneshiro (Ho Chi Wu - Cop #223)

    Tony Leung (Chan Ye - Cop # 633)

    Brigitte Lin
    
    Faye Wong (Faye)

    Valerie Chow

      

This is the movie that launched Takeshi's Career and showed his good acting ability ! :)

Basically it is a story about two Hong Kong Cops and their love escapades. The first story centers on Ho Chi Wu, Cop # 223, played by Takeshi Kaneshiro. He is a man "In Love With Love".... He recently broke up with his girlfriend May on April 1,1994. As a one month joke to himself, he purchases canned pineapples (which is May's favorite fruit) all with the expiration date of May 1, 1994 (also his birthday), hoping that May comes back to him in a month or else like the canned pineapples, all will be expired. He frequently visited May at her workplace which is a small food stand called Midnight Express (??). (This is the same food stand that Faye works in and Tony Leung's character visits). He accidentally bumps into a woman who wears a Blonde Wig, Sunglasses and a Raincoat, played by Brigitte Lin, and after meeting her again in a bar, falls in love with her in the course of 57 hours. Later he goes back to the same little food stand and meets the new employee, Faye played by Faye Wong, however she falls in love with another man ...

The second story focuses on Chan Ye or Cop #633 played by Tony Leung. He goes to the little food stand where he meets Faye for the first time. She seems unattentive and doesn't make eye contact at him as she blasts the song "California Dreamin". He apparently is purchasing items that vary from Chef's Salad to pizza, for his current girlfriend, a stewardess played by Valerie Chow. Cop # 633 is more of a "player". He has a knack for seducing women, such as his stewardess. However things go wrong and there are misunderstandings resulting in breakup between him and the stewardess. The stewardess leaves his apartment key and a good-bye letter for him (#633) at the little food stand. He is heartbroken and doesn't take the letter right away. In the meantime, all the workers at the foodstand read the letter and commiserate with him, especially Faye. She takes his apartment key and "visits" him without his knowing. She cleans his apartment, rearranges things, etc. Faye sees Chan Ye (Tony) daily but he is never aware of whats going on until one day he catches her in the act... What happens ?? You have to watch the movie :P
Let's just say you won't be disappointed :)

I think that Chung King Express focused on how different people deal with love. Takeshi's character falls in and out of love easily and I think is "looking for love in all the wrong places". When he describes how he goes jogging after breaking up so that all his excess water is removed leaving no water for tears, I was moved. Poor guy! Eating 30 Cans of Pineapple because his ex loved the stuff !!! No wonder he hates pineapple in real life :P His character seemed like a sweet and sentimental guy. I love the scene with him and Brigitte Lin in the bar when he asks her in like 6 different languages whether or not she likes pineapple.. You feel bad for him but at least in the end not all is lost...

Tony Leung's character, who I believe is more of a 'player' also deals with love and loss differently. When he starts talking to the wet dish rag and why its 'crying' and to put itself together, apparently relating it to himself and his breakup with the stewardess, it made him seem more vulnerable. He had love right before his very eyes (with Faye) and didn't see it until it was too late ...

Faye's character, I believe, also dealt with love in a different way. It was more like a secret "crush". She choose more to love Tony's character from afar, getting near "him" by playing with his stuff, sleeping in his bed and affecting him by secretly rearranging his stuff, etc. However, she got caught in the act! ... All's well that ends well :)

Overall it was a good story. It got a little confusing in some parts, especially with the significance of Bridgitte Lin's character who was apparently a drug smuggler/dealer. I personally thought she looked attractive but quite silly in the blonde wig and raincoat. She should have been trying to draw less attention to herself being in her line of business rather than more... its pretty easy to spot a chinese woman in a blonde wig wearing a rain coat, sunglasses and white shoes as opposed to someone who "blended in with the crowd". :P

Rating : 1/2