Master Q 2001 (2001)

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By sharonapple (Kiasukid) on Sunday, May 06, 2001 - 09:43 am: Edit
 
 
Herman Yau's "Master Q 2001"
 
- Master Q 2001 (a.k.a Lao Fu Tze)
The script is credited to 4 different people, two of which are Herman Yau and Tsui Hark which might account for why it seems to be a script created during a brainstorming session. Tsui Hark is also the producer for this film. Being a Tsui Hark produced film, one knows that Tsui Hark probably also retained a lot of say in the direction of the film.
 
The film uses characters from the extremely popular and well known Chinese comic books Lao Fu Tze. It's also a combination of life action and computer animated comic characters. I don't think the animated characters fit seamlessly with the life action but it's still pretty good.
 
The film also reaffirms Tsui Hark's commitment to trying out new technology and attempting to bring HK cinema to new technological heights. He did that with "Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain," did it again with "Xiao Qian" (the animated Chinese Ghost Story) and now "Master Q 2001."
 
The film moves along very quickly as is typical of a Tsui Hark film. It's also fairly enjoyable and funny and full of nutty characters but isn't as good as some of Tsui Hark's classics.
 
The story is also a little weak partly because there is a tendency to meander a little. Although some of the little asides are funny, it doesn't make for a very complete whole. Basically, Nicholas Tse's cop and Cecilia Cheung's Mandy are involved in an accident where they lose their memories and a myriad of characters including gangsters, mothers etc take advantage of that. Lao Fu Tze and Potato Head try and help the two. No prizes for guessing the ending.   
 
Nic Tse and Cecilia Cheung don't have to do much acting here so I guess they are okay. It was fun watching Wayne Lai and Michael Chan (at least I think that's his name) be silly gangsters. The wonderful Law Koon Lan also plays a small but significant role as Cecilia Cheung's mother. And it was great seeing Emily Kwan again on the big screen... she's Law Koon Lan's assistant.  
 
The film will also be fun for the HK film fan because there are a number of well known HK stars that have small roles or cameo appearances throughout the film. They include Alfred Cheung, Helena Law Lan, Tats Lau, Joe Junior and Lam Shuet.
 
Also, it might interest you to know that a large portion of Herman Yau's filmography is in HK horror not HK comedy. He's the director of The Untold Story I and III, Taxi Hunter, Ebola Syndrome, Walk In (which also stars a rather young & very cute Ada Choi  ) and 1-6 of the Troublesome Night series.