--
>Subject: United Filmmakers Organisation Filmography (0.2)
>Date: Fri, 3 Nov 95 3:26:33 EST
>From: Wolverine 
>Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment

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, Tatsumi hosokawa for his Japanese version of the Anita
Yuen filmography, and 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). 

******************************************************************************
***             The United Filmmakers Organisation Filmography             ***
******************************************************************************
Justification for existence:  ???

*******************************************************************************
Kept by Jerry M. Chan (jchan@eden.rutgers.edu)
http://remus.rutgers.edu/~jchan
Send comments, additions, suggestions, and corrections to the address above.

*******************************************************************************

1.                       DAYS OF BEING DUMB, THE
     _________________________________________________________________
   Year: 1992
   Cantonese: Ah Fei Yu Ah Kei
   Mandarin: Ya4 Fei1 Yu3 Ya4 Ji1
   Literally: Ah Fei and Ah Kei [names of two characters]
   Producer: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Director: Blacky Ko Sau-Leung
   Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang, Chan Chi-Sing, MA WAI HO
   Cast: Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Anita Yuen Wing-Yee,
   Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Tong Chun-Yip
   
   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. After 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.

2.                             ALWAYS ON MY MIND
     _________________________________________________________________

   Year: 1993
   Cantonese: Cheung Chin Fu Chai
   Mandarin: Qiang3 Qian2 Fu1 Qi1
   Literally: Money Grabbing Husband and Wife
   Producer: Chung Chun
   Director: Julian Cheung Chi-Lam
   Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang
   Cast: Michael Hui Koon-Man, Josephine Siao Feng-Feng, Chan Siu-Ha,
   Choh Si-Pui, Lo Man-Kit, John Tang Yat-Kwan, Hoh Ho-Yuen, Lau
   Yuk-Tsui, Lui Yu-Yeung, Lai Wing-Hang, Lam Pui-Yi, Joe Junior
   Cameo Appearance: Julian Cheung Chi-Lam

   SS - (**) TV anchor Yan Wai's (Michael Hui, who also directed)
   daughter needs a dowry, his son suffers from love-sickness, his wife
   has spells, his toddler wants to know where babies come from, and now
   he has intestinal cancer? It's family comedy HK style, but at least it
   has down-to-earth humor and real characters. (And for once, no
   out-of-synch dialogue.)
   
   JMF - When news anchor Michael Hui discovers he has cancer and only
   has three months to live, he decides to play for all its worth on
   television for big ratings and lots of money, all the while convincing
   his family that it is all a big act. In a UFO production of a James
   Yuen script with Jacob Cheung directing and Michael Hui and Josephine
   Siao in top form, this is a can't miss movie. A perfect combination of
   intelligent humor, sappy drama, and societal relevence.


3.                           TOM, DICK, AND HAIRY
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1993
   Cantonese: Fung Chun Sum Hap
   Mandarin: Feng1 Chen2 San1 Xia2
   Literally: Three Travel-Weary Heros
   Producer: Gordon Chan Car-Suong, Claudie Chung Chun, Eric Tsang
   Chi-Wai
   Director: Peter Chan Ho-San, Lee Chi-Ngai
   Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai, James Yuen Sai-Sang
   Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui,
   Ann Bridgewater (Park On-Ney), Anita Yuen Wing-Yee, Athena Chu Yun,
   Lau Kam-Ling, Michael Chow Man-Kin
   Cameo Appearance: Vivian Chow Wai-Man
   Running Time: 98 min
   Laser Disc: MA/2D/

   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 Anita Yuen in a supporting role.
   
   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. 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.

4.                      HE AIN'T HEAVY, HE'S MY FATHER
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1993
   AKA: Once Upon a Mid-Autumn Festival; He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother
   Cantonese: Sun Larn Hing Larn Dai
   Mandarin: Xin1 Nan4 Xiong1 Nan2 Di4
   Literally: New Two of a Kind
   Director: Peter Chan Ho-San, Lee Chi-Ngai
   Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Cast: Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Anita Yuen Wing-Yee,
   Carina Lau Ka-Ling, Choh Yuen
   Cameo Appearance: Lydia Shum Din-Ha
   Running Time: 97 min
   Laser Disc: MA/2D

   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. Subtle performances by the Tony's make
   this a film that stays with you long after it is over.

   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.
          
   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!

5.                            I'VE GOT YOU, BABE
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1994
   Cantonese: Bor Jung Ching Yan
   Mandarin: Bo1 Zhong3 Qing2 Ren2
   Literally: Sowing Seed Lovers
   Director: Cheung Chi-Sing
   Writer: Cheung Chi-Sing
   Cast: Anita Yuen Wing-Yee, Lau Ching-Wan, Wong Chi-Wah, Lai Mei-Han,
   Lau Hiu-Tung, Law Ka
   
   SS - (**1/2) Anita Yuen and 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.

6.                              TWENTY SOMETHING
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1994
   Cantonese: Maan Gau Jiu Ng
   Mandarin: Wan3 Jiu3 Zhao1 Wu3
   Literally: 9 PM 5 AM
   Producer: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Director: Teddy Chan Tak-Sum
   Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang
   Cast: Valerie Chow Kar-Ling, Chan Ho, Cheung Yui-Ling, Jordan Chan
   Siu-Chun, Yau Chau-Yuet, Bak Ka-Sin, Yip Hon-Leung, Cheung Hung-On
   Running Time: 96 min
   
   "Very good because of the sensitivity and the more mature nature of
   the topic. With all the interviews interlaced between the storyline,
   it has a feel of a documentary and a sense of reality."
     
   JMF - Category III...UFO style. Follows the lives of a group of twenty
   somethings who hang out all night at the clubs, interchanging partners
   and engaging in casual sex on a regular basis. While there is a lot of
   gratuitous nudity and sexual situations--probably more than is
   necessary--it is all tastefully done. Overall, it is an effective
   movie, showing both the people who decide they can't be recklessly
   young all their lives and the people who can never change. Still, many
   of the characters remain one-dimensional and unexplored. I expected a
   bit more from a UFO production. However, like all UFO productions,
   this one had a great soundtrack, especially the Sandy Lam Song.

7.                          HE IS A WOMAN, SHE IS A MAN 
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1994
   AKA: He's a Woman, She's a Man
   Cantonese: Gum Gee Yuk Yip
   Mandarin: Jin1 Zhi1 Yu4 Ye4
   Literally: Golden Branch and Jade Leaf
   Director: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang, Lee Chi-Ngai
   Cast: Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing, Anita Yuen Wing-Yee, Carina Lau
   Ka-Ling, Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Law Kar-Ying, Lam
   Hiu-Fung
   Running Time: 107 min
   Laser Disc: FML/Stereo/Bil/ECsubs
   
   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.

8.                                RETURNING, THE
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1994
   Cantonese: Dun Jeuk Nai Guai Loy
   Mandarin: Deng3 Zhe Ni3 Hui2 Lai2
   Literally: Waiting for You to Return
   Director: Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung
   Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai, Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung, To Kwok-Wai
   Cast: Wu Chien-Lien (Ng Sin-Lin), Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Sandra Ng
   Kwun-Yu, Mo Chun-Fai

   JC - Tony Leung Chui Wai plays a book editor moving into a dead
   writer's house. Kind of like a modern version of "Chinese Ghost Story"

   BSO - I thought it seemed really long and really really boring... I
   only finished watching it because I was giving Wu Chien Lien face.
   
   KJ - I liked the script and the mood and I think if they'd had more
   time and money with which to make the movie they were *trying* to make
   that this would have been a great movie. As it was things like the
   house filled with blue light bulbs, the obvious gas jets in the
   burning house, and the scene at the playground that jumps from
   daylight to bad day-for-night with no passage of time between the cut,
   kept destroying my suspension of disbelief. 

9.                    OVER THE RAINBOW UNDER THE SKIRT
     _________________________________________________________________
     
   Year: 1994
   Cantonese: Gei Duck ... Heung Jiu Sing Sook Si II: Choi Luen Ching Yun
   Mandarin: Ji1 De2 ... Xiang1 Jiao1 Cheng2 Shu2 Shi2 II: Chu1 Lian4
             Qing2 Ren2
   Literally: Remember ... When Bananas Ripe II: First Love Sweetheart
   Director: Ma Wai-Ho
   Writer: Ma Wai-Ho
   Cast: John Tang Yat-Kwan, Lo Oi-Lun, Eileen Tung Oi-Ling, Eric Tsang
   Chi-Wai, Law Koon-Lan, Wong Wai-Nam, Yip Kwong-Kim
   Cameo Appearance: Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing

10.                              MACK THE KNIFE
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1995
   AKA: Doctor Mack
   Cantonese: Lau Mun Yee Sun
   Mandarin: Liu2 Mang2 Yi1 Sheng1
   Literally: Tramp Doctor
   Producer: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Director: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Lau Ching-Wan, Andy Hui Chi-On, Alex To
   Tak-Wai, Christy Chung Lai-Tai, Eileen Tung Oi-Ling, Hilary Tsui
   Ho-Ying, Gigi Leung Wing-Kay, Richard Ng Yil-Hon
   Cameo Appearance: Law Kar-Ying, Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Lawrence Ng
   Kai-Wah

   A loose adaptation of the Japanese manga by Sho Fumimura & Takumi  
   Nagayasu. Tony is of course the good doctor.

   ER - If you like sentimental romantic comedy (I do) this should be
   fine for you to see. I enjoyed it. Tony Leung is terrific as usual (I
   was reminded of his role in Chung King Express in this movie).
   Beautifully cinematographed, good direction and acting, sappy story
   and really terrific music (Monk, Ellington, Sonny Rollins). However,
   there are some rather unfunny racial jokes directed against Black
   people. Why this rather offensive display of racism is in the movie I
   don't know, but I find it disturbing particularly since this is the
   second HK film I've seen in recent weeks (the other being Don't Give A
   Damn, with Samo Hung, et al) to include gratuitously infantile,
   insensitive, and racist (not to mention not funny) jokes about Black
   people. I cringe when I hear these things, and I can't think of any
   reason to excuse them.
   
   KJ - A great movie! Easily one of the best of the year. It's a comedy
   about a seedy but brilliant doctor (Tony Leung) who practices in the
   sleazy section of town.

11.                                  HAPPY HOUR
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1995
   Cantonese: Foon Lok Si Guong
   Mandarin: Huan1 Le4 Shi2 Guang1
   Literally: Happy Times
   Cast: Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Andy Hui Chi-On, Julian Cheung Chi-Lam,
   Lau Ching-Wan
   
   JC - Even for a weaker effort from UFO, this film still surpass a lot
   of the recent films. It's about three guys who hooked up with this
   woman at a club, slept with her, and ended up getting arrested for
   rape. It's kinda like the plot from Disclosure, in a way. Lau Ching
   Wan, Andy Hui Chi On, and Jordan Chan Siu Chun continue to shine under
   UFO; Julian Cheung Chi Lam is even more stiff here than he was in  
   TVB's Legend of Condor Heroes 1994, though his character calls for it.

11.                             HEAVEN CAN'T WAIT
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Year: 1995
   Cantonese: Gau Sai Sun Gwun
   Mandarin: Jiu4 Shi4 Shen2 Gun4
   Literally: Save World "Holy Stick" [slang for religious hustler]
   Producer: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Director: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai, Peter Chan Ho-San, James Yuen Sai-Sang, Lam
   Oi-Wa
   Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Bowie Lam Bo-Yi,
   Karen Mok Man-Wai, Lam Hiu-Fung, Alex To Tak-Wai, Kent Cheng Juk-Si,
   Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui, Yip Kwong-Kim
   Cameo Appearance: Richard Ng Yil-Hon, Anita Yuen Wing-Yee, Law
   Kar-Ying, Dennis Chan Kwok-San, Bak Ka-Sin, Christy Chung Lai-Tai

   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.
   
   KJ - Good but not great. Tony Leung and Jordan Chan are great, but I
   found the story unclear at times. The plot is about a con man (Tony)
   who hires a stooge (Jordan) to act as a religious media idol in order
   to compete with a former partner who's been outdoing him in the same
   business. Worth seeing.
   
   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). At least this Moon Festival
   movie has a few clever takes on Chinese Moon symbolism and mythology.
   Rating: 6.0

   JC - For awhile now, the HK film industry has been in a depression,
   partially due to lack of originality and heart in a lot of work; but
   you can always count on UFO to do something entertaining to deliver a
   message -- that is, until now. In Heaven Can't Wait, the latest from
   UFO, the message is unclear, like much of the film. The story lacks
   focus and directions: it can't decide on rather focusing on the
   prodigal son bit with Tony Leung Chiu Wai or the savior of the world
   bit with Jordan Chan Siu Chun. Mr. Chan, who always shines in UFO
   films, appears to lack the skills and experiences to carry this film.
   The pleasant surprsie was Karen Mok Man Wai, whose stint as a selfish
   reporter was dead on. Otherwise, much like Da Da's followers in the
   film, this film is totally lost and clueless. Comparing to Mack the
   Knife, which did a much better job protraying evil realizing its evil
   ways and decided to change, this film is a dud. The most emotional
   scenes at the finale seems lacking. Overall, a film that is worth a
   look, but not recommendable; one of the lesser efforts from UFO.
   
   JMF - Maybe it was all these negative reviews, maybe it was because I
   was in a good mood, maybe it was because I am a sucker for these
   movies where slick con-men work with simple, naive characters. For
   whatever reason, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I liked it at least
   as much as MACK THE KNIFE and more than TWENTY SOMETHING, two other
   UFO efforts. It was funny, touching, and made it's point in a
   reasonable and not over-stated way. Not to mention that Jordan Chan
   gives a great performance as the simpleton who has no idea that he is
   being used as a pawn by everyone. Sure, some of the digs against the
   media were too bitter and calculated, and some of the overt symbolism
   was distracting, but this film works on many levels. My advice is not
   to concentrate on what the message is (not worth it) or on the
   characterization (it is weak), but just enjoy the ride.

12.                       Whatever Will Be, Will Be
     _________________________________________________________________

   Year: 8/1995
   Cantonese: Sin Lok Piu Piu
   Mandarin: Xian1 Yue4 Piao1 Piao1
   Literally: Heavenly Music Floating in the Air
   Producer: Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung
   Director: Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung
   Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang
   Cast: Aaron Kwok Fu-Sing, Kelly Chan Wai-Lam (intro), Richard Ng Yiu-Hon, 
   Sing Mei-Ling, Hui Fan, Dolphin Chan Hoi-Hang
   Cameo Appearance: Nam Hung, Miu Kiu-Wai
   Type: C1/Children/Musical

   PI - Aspiring dancer Lee Ching Wan teaches at an elementary school while 
   practicing for an important audition (a part in the play 'Rats'). With 
   the help of gym teacher 'Shrimp Man' Lam she trains a group of reluctant 
   kids for a singing competition. Will she get the part? Will the kids win 
   the contest? And will Lee and Lam find love? I'm not telling, but it is a
   'feel good' movie. If you loved Aaron acting like a fool for love in 
   _Love is a Fairy Tale_ and you like kids, this is the perfect movie for 
   you. High UFO production values make this basic concept film enjoyable, 
   and the kids are a refreshing change from the _Shaolin Popeye_ series. 
   Just don't expect anything more than mind candy. 

   CF - In an industry where there are few wholesome movies for children, 
   this film is a rarity. While not exactly magical, it is decent 
   entertainment. An unexceptional film with heart. Rating: 6.0 

   MS - I was hoping to like this film but in vain. Although I was in the 
   mood for a "feel good" movie.  The best element of this film is Aaron 
   Kwok' s performance, beside that there is nothing else than a succesion 
   of cliches. Watch-out for a very unexpected (and embarasing) musical 
   number where Kelly Chan (a real life popular pop singer) is trying to 
   cheer-up one of her student. Definitily not my cup-of-tea. 

13.                         Age of Miracles, The
     _________________________________________________________________

   Year: 2/1996
   Cantonese: Ma Ma Faan Faan
   Mandarin: Ma2 Ma2 Fan1 Fan1
   Literally: The Grandmother and Faan Faan
   Producer: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Director: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Writer: On Sai, Lam Oi-Wa, Chan Bo-Wa
   Cast: Alan Tam Wing-Lun, Anita Yuen Wing-Yee, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, 
   Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Teresa Carpio (To Lai-Sa), Christine Ng Wing-Mei, 
   Roy Chiao (Kiu Wang), Wong Wai-Nam, Yuen Wai, Mehrdad Rad, Leonila C. 
   Gibson, Princesa Sonata E. Cuaton, Faith Kawuma
   Cameo Appearance: Kelly Chan Wai-Lam, Manfred Wong (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 Caprio 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. 

   UP - This is one wonderful film. Touching, sincere and not Spielbergian 
   mawkish. Anita Yuen took on an awfully big role and while I don't think 
   she nailed it 100%, I'm amazed that she did as much with it as she did 
   (especially at her very tender age). Here's a film that's truly universal 
   in it's themes and deserves to have a *much* bigger exposure. 

14.                         Those Were the Days
     _________________________________________________________________

   Year: 6/1996
   Cantonese: Sei Goh 32A Woh Yat Goh Heung Jiu Siu Nin
   Mandarin: Si4 Ge4 32A He2 Yi1 Ge4 Xiang1 Jiao1 Shao3 Nian2
   Literally: Four 32A's and a Banana Teenager [32A as in a bra size]
   Producer: Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
   Director: Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
   Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang, Wong Yuen-Yin, Lam Oi-Wah
   Cast: Loletta Lee Lai-Chun, Amanda Lee Wai-Man, Karen Joy Morris (Mok 
   Man-Wai), Linda Wong Hing-Ping, Kong Lai-Na, Man Chung-Han, Choi Si-Man, 
   Ho Ka-Lei, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Julian Cheung Chi-Lam, Josie Ho Chiu-Yee, 
   Koo Kwai-Kwan, Hilary Tsui Ho-Ying, Ng Ka-Lok, Wong Pau-Lung, Tang 
   Lai-Ming, Bak Ka-Sin, John Tang Yat-Kwan, Poon Fong-Fong, Jacob Cheung 
   Chi-Leung, Tang Chiu-Chuen, Chin Kar-Lok, Cheung Chung-Dik
   Cameo Appearance: Jordan Chan Siu-Chun
   Type: C2A

   PI - On the night before her wedding, Minnie and her friends reminisce 
   about their teenage years. A companion piece to _Over The Rainbow Under 
   The Skirt_ (the film even trades in Leslie for Alan as the teen idol du 
   jour), Eric Tsang once again compiles a series of cute vignettes about 
   going through puberty, which taken as a whole doesn't quite make sense. 
   And as before, this just adds to the charm of the film. After all, who 
   can honestly claim to understand their teenage years ? One warning for 
   star watchers - the adult actors have very little screen time ; it's the 
   teenage unkowns, and even then Kong Lai Na (Minnie), who do most of the 
   work. 

   JC - Well meaning but overdone drama using pretty much the same idea as 
   Demi Moore's Then and Now. Four high school classmates got together for a 
   wedding of one of their own. Eric Tseng is amazing as Minnie's father, 
   whose pretty much is the mother of the household while the wife worked. I 
   applaud Julian Cheung's courage to play the teacher, as the character is 
   the 180 of his pop singer image. What troubles me though is Eric Tseng's 
   idea of how much the average HK teenager girls know about sex. 

15.                    Who's the Woman, Who's the Man
     _________________________________________________________________

   Year: 8/1996
   AKA: She's a Man, He's a Woman 2
   Cantonese: Gam Ji Yuk Yip 2
   Mandarin: Jin1 Zhi1 Yu4 Ye4 2
   Literally: Golden Branch and Jade Leaf 2
   Producer: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Director: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang, Lam Oi-Wah
   Cast: Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing, Anita Yuen Wing-Yee, Anita Mui Yim-Fong, 
   Theresa Lee Yi-Hung, Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
   Cameo Appearance: Carina Lau Ka-Ling, Emil Chow Wah-Kin, Wyman Wong 
   Wai-Man, Andy Hui Chi-On, Cheung Tat-Ming, Moses Chan Ho, Ann Hui On-Wah, 
   Edmond Leung Hon-Man
   Type: C2B

   PI - A sequel to _He Is A Woman She Is A Man_, the film picks up 
   immediately after the final scene of the former. Once Lam Chi Wing moves 
   in with Sam Koo Ga Ming, Sam realizes he may have more than his PR 
   department can handle. Things get more interesting when the great Fong 
   Yim Mui returns from a ten year absence and becomes a part of their 
   lives. There's no question that this is a film worth watching, but make 
   sure you've seen _He Is A Woman She Is A Man_ first. The sequel doesn't 
   make any attempt to recap the characters. This film wanders a bit at 
   first, while Peter Chan Ho San puts in all the obligatory references to 
   the original, before settling down into its own story and recreating the 
   magic. Once the film gets going, everything falls into place. Peter 
   reestablishes the subtly surreal mood and setting. Acting is first rate, 
   although it takes both Anitas a little while to get going, and Jordan and 
   Theresa are nothing more than comic relief. The only thing lacking is a 
   killer song like 'Jui (Chase)'. As before, knowing the current HK music 
   scene adds to the humor. And a little knowledge of Anita Mui Yim Fong's 
   recent gossip adds to the poignancy of one of her scenes. 

   JMF - Pretty much what you'd expect from an uninspired sequel. All the 
   gags and classic moments from the first movie are milked for all they're 
   worth here. Plenty of entertainment in-jokes and star cameos. There are 
   enjoyable moments to the movie, but don't expect too much. Most of the 
   time is spent trying to play games with everybody's sexual orientation. 
   At times, the movie veers uncomfortably close to tacky Category III 
   movies, where everybody ends up with everybody else sooner or later. 
   It's almost what you would expect from stars at the end of their careers. 
   Only Leslie Cheung looks like he was interested in more than just 
   collecting a paycheck. A real disappointment considering that the 
   normally dependable James Yuen was one of the scriptwriters. 

   SS - (**) This sequel to the immensely entertaining She is a Man, He is a 
   Woman definitely goes into uncharted territory for a mainstream HK film. 
   Sam Koo (Leslie Cheung) is the successful songwriter who fell in love with 
   his cute protege pop vocalist Wing (Anita Yuen); but everyone thinks Wing 
   is a guy (well, an effeminate one), which in public situations, makes Sam 
   look like he's gay. He has to put up with other annoyances as well: 
   continual redecoration of this apartment, her inability to give him any 
   breathing space, and the presence of her homely platonic pal (Jordan Chan).
   But the gender-bending becomes a bit knotty once bi-sexual pop-singer Miss 
   Fan Fan (Anita Mui) enters the picture. First, she accidentally seduces 
   Sam during a costume party (while wearing a duplicate of Wing's Whoopi 
   Goldberg get-up; he's Woody Allen); next, she fosters a trusting 
   relationship with Wing, who's heterosexual, or at least thinks she is, 
   especially after they hit the sack. In the meantime, Jordan Chan shaves 
   off all of his body hair and dresses in drag to win the attentions of Miss 
   Fan Fan's cute lesbian pal. You've gotta admire the, er, balls of these 
   filmmakers for taking their concept to the limit, but the concept is 
   considerably more elegant than the execution.  And in all my days of 
   movie-watching, I've never seen a more determinedly tightlipped kisser 
   than Yuen, even in the most passionate scenes; in the other scenes, she 
   can be chatty and annoying -- and I really like her in most movies. 
   Whatever your criticisms, this one sure is a novelty. 

16.                         Lost and Found
     _________________________________________________________________

   Year: 10/1996
   Cantonese: Tin Ngaai Hoi Gok
   Mandarin: Tian1 Ya2 Hai3 Jiao3
   Literally: Heaven Earth Cape
   Producer: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Director: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Writer: Lee Chi-Ngai
   Cast: Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing-Mo), Kelly Chan Wai-Lam, Michael Wong 
   Mun-Tak, Cheung Tat-Ming 
   Cameo Appearance: Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Henry Fong Ping, Maria Cordero, 
   Josie Ho Chiu-Yee, Moses Chan Ho, Hilary Tsui Ho-Ying, Ma Chun-Wai, Yim 
   Lei-Ming
   Running Time: 101 min
   Type: C1

   PI - Private detective Worm (Takeshi) is hired by Kelly to help her find 
   hope. Through flashback, we find out what she means. Not quite as strong 
   as Lee Chi Ngai's other UFO efforts, but still very enjoyable. The well 
   constructed narrative makes generous use of voiceovers to move the story
   along, making the audience feel like it's being let in on a secret, and 
   adds in just a touch of whimsey to the life affirming tale. Takeshi puts 
   in a great performance as always, and Michael does a pretty good job. I'm 
   still not sure how to rate Kelly's acting. She maintains a near poker face 
   throughout the film, which works well with the voiceovers, but it could 
   have just been wooden acting. 

   SK - I completely enjoyed watching this beautiful, sad, rich and deeply 
   satisfying movie: it may turn out to be the finest of 1996. It is a 
   revisiting, perhaps, of the Derek Yee hit "C'EST LA VIE MON CHERI" (Xin 
   bu liao qing, 1994). But quite a departure from that movie, too, without 
   its sentimentality and melodrama. The basic premise is the same: a
   beautiful woman (Kelly Chan) has leukemia, but learns how to live and with 
   whom to fall in love, (Takeshi Kaneshiro, or Michael Wong). This sounds 
   excessively sad, but L&F isn't. It has a graceful, lively, kind of witty 
   tone that supports the story, about loss and death, without undue 
   melancholy. Some wonderful things in it: the screenplay, also by Lee 
   Chi-Ngai, which is smart, precise, fresh, and has a "written", thoughtful 
   feel to it, for a popular HK movie: one could almost believe that it had 
   been composed in its entirely, and then polished, ahead of time, before 
   the actual shooting (not typical HK practice). Fine, graceful 
   cinematography, by transplanted-Torontonian Bill Wong, who does HK 
   arthouse films. A striking score, featuring Leonard Cohen's "Dance me to 
   the end of love", a beautiful Celtic folk tune, and a couple of Kelly Chan 
   Wai-Lum current Cantopop hits (believe me, they all work together,
   improbable as that might sound!). And speaking of Kelly Chan: the cast is 
   very fine. She has a striking screen presence, and can really act. Her 
   narration (in a Wong Kar-Wai derived style that everyone, even Tsui Hark, 
   seems to have picked up recently) was particularly moving. Takeshi
   Kaneshiro gives another sensational performance, extending the work he has 
   done in CHUNGKING EXPRESS and FALLEN ANGELS. And Michael Wong manages to 
   create a sweet, rather soft-spoken and gentle Scottish sailor whom Kelly 
   falls for at the beginning of the film.  Among the many fine secondary 
   roles (a Lee Chi-Ngai specialty), Cheung Tat-Ming is a stand out as 
   Takeshi Kaneshiro's disabled and philosophical assistant. 

17.                   Comardes, Almost a Love Story
     _________________________________________________________________

   Year: 11/1996
   Cantonese: Tim Mat Mat
   Mandarin: Tian2 Mi4 Mi4
   Literally: Sweet [The title of a popular song from the late Teresa Tang]
   Director: Peter Chan Ho-San
   Cast: Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Leon Lai Ming, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Kristy 
   Yeung Kung-Yu
   Cameo Appearance: Christopher Doyle (To Ho-Fung)

   PI - March 1, 1986. Two mainland Chinese immigrants arrive in Hong Kong. 
   Over the next ten years their lives will intersect while they chase their 
   dreams. It's great to see Maggie in a leading role again after nearly
   three years away, and Leon holds up his end pretty well too. Peter Chan 
   crafts a nice subtle (almost) love story, coloring it with lots of 
   nostalgia (Teresa Teng is featured prominently) and his trademark 
   camerawork, whimsical touches, and quaint locations. The end drags a bit, 
   but the closing shot makes it worthwhile.

   KJ - An excellent drama, filmed in a realistic art-movie style, about the 
   relationship between two mainland immigrants in Hong Kong, with an 
   underlying tribute to Taiwanese superstar singer Teresa Teng (the Chinese 
   title "Teen Mut Mut" ("Like Sugar") is one of her songs). I was impressed 
   by how well-made the movie was and throughout the showing kept thinking, 
   "Why couldn't Peter Chan have done AGE OF MIRACLES this well?" Maggie is 
   a joy to watch throughout the film.  Christopher Doyle (Wong Kar Wai's 
   cinematographer), is amusing in a small part as an English teacher. Lai 
   Ming is quite effective as a clueless immigrant, but the later scenes 
   where his character is supposed to develop would have benefited from 
   someone with stronger acting skills. The ending is a bit of a surprise 
   and very satisfying. The movie is something of a tear-jerker that left me 
   feeling emotionally drained afterward. 

18.                         
     _________________________________________________________________

   Cantonese: Ji Sau Nui
   Literally: Self Comb Women
   Director: Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung
   Cast: Carina Lau Ka-Ling, Charlie Yeung Choi-Nei, Cher Yeung Suet
   Yi, Chin Kar Lok  

19.
     _________________________________________________________________

   Cantonese: Yuen Chuen Git Fun Sau Chat
   Literally: Complete Marriage Handbook
   Director: James Yuen Sai Sun
   Cast: Anita Yuen Wing Yee, Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Charlie Yeung Choi
   Nei

20.
     _________________________________________________________________

   Cantonese: Sei Gor 32A Siu Nui Juk Jap
   Literally: Four 32A Young Girl Sequel
   Director: Jacoub Cheung Chi-Leung
   Cast: Daniel Chan Hiu Tung

21.
     _________________________________________________________________

   Cantonese: Sun Da Gung Wong Dai
   Literally: New Working Emperor
   Director: 
   Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Jordan Chan Siu Chun
 
That's it for now.  
I hope you saw every one of these films.  I didn't.

Jerry.

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/1823

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