My Favorite 50 HK Films of the 1990s

[D_Davis]

Haven't done a film thread in a long time, and I've been feeling a bit of nostalgia for the '90s lately.


My Favorite 50 HK Films of the 1990s

http://images.themoviedb.org/backdrops/19523/Once-Upon-A-Time-In-China_poster.jpg

The 1990s in Hong Kong were a second golden age of genre cinema; the only decade to match was the 1970s. The decade belonged to filmmakers like Tsui Hark, Ching Siu Tung, Ronny Yu, Stephen Chow, Johnnie To, Wong Kar Wai, Jet Li, Anthony Wong, Big and Little Tony Leung, Andy Lau, and others - filmmakers who helped define the HK new wave during the early '80s and moved into a more "mainstream" role making big, action packed blockbusters and beautifully shot romantic dramas and comedies.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. For while I've seen a ton of HK films from the decade, I haven't even come close to seeing them all. And as you all know, I do tend to gravitate towards the more action-orientated cinema. So it's not a best-of the decade, but rather a list of 50 of my favorites.

[Sven]

Awesome. I am only familiar, really, with the big names. This should prove informative.

[D_Davis]

50. Eagle Shooting Heroes - 1993 - Dir: Jeffrey Lau

http://www.tonyleungfanclub.com/images/1140174825/eagle.jpg

Word on the street is that while Wong Kar Wai was making his ultra-serious wuxia pian, Ashes of Time, the actors and crew got so thoroughly bored that they went and made Eagle Shooting Heroes during the down time. ESH couldn't be any more different than AoT. It is, as an easy comparison, the Airplane of HK cinema - it's a spoof of 1990's HK cinema and everything it stood for. Just look at the cast: Big and Little Tony Leung, Brigitte Lin, Jacky Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Joey Wang, and Veronica Yip. You'd be hard pressed to come up with a more stereotypical '90s cast. And the film is simply hilarious. It contains a slow-motion action scene in which the actors are just moving slowly, no over-cranking at all; it pokes fun at the gender-bending conventions of the wuxia pian; it lampoons the fantastical abilities of the flying swordsman archetype; and I guarantee you that you will never hear the William Tell Overture again without thinking of Little Tony Leung's massive ears and swollen lips. Eagle Shooting Heroes is one of the great comedies - up there with films like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and The Bride of Frankenstein. However, it does take a little bit of genre-knowledge to really get, and so it may not be for the genre-neophyte.

[Qrazy]

Accept for a couple Tsui Hark and John Woo films and WKW's efforts, I'm pretty much blank in this category. Which I'm sure doesn't come as a surprise.

EDIT: I can contribute that I consider It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World among the worst films I have seen.

It's no The Defiant Ones, that's for sure.

[D_Davis]

Woah - where did that Raider's quote come from?

[Raiders]

It's no The Defiant Ones, that's for sure.

Sorry I deleted the post. I was going to just list what I have seen to be mocked by Davis.

1. Days of Being Wild
2. The Blade
3. Fallen Angels
4. Chungking Express
5. Hard-Boiled
6. Happy Together
7. Once Upon a Time in China
8. Full Contact
9. Bullet in the Head

That's in order of preference, though I admittedly like them all.

[D_Davis]

Sorry I deleted the post. I was going to just list what I have seen to be mocked by Davis.

1. The Blade
2. Fallen Angels
3. Chungking Express
4. Hard-Boiled
5. Happy Together
6. Once Upon a Time in China
7. Full Contact
8. Bullet in the Head

That's in order of preference, though I admittedly like them all.

That's a damn solid list! Not a problem with any of them, and I totally agree on your #1.

[Raiders]

That's a damn solid list! Not a problem with any of them, and I totally agree on your #1.

#2 actually. I totally forgot my favorite WKW.

[lovejuice]

50. Eagle Shooting Heroes - 1993 - Dir: Jeffrey Lau

does it have anything to do with jin yong's ultra-classic wuxia of the same name?

[D_Davis]

does it have anything to do with jin yong's ultra-classic wuxia of the same name?

Yes. It's a spoof of that specifically, as well as (maybe the same thing?) Legend of the Condor Hero.

[D_Davis]

49. Young and Dangerous (Series) - 1996 - Dir: Andrew Lau et al.

http://www.hkfilm.net/yungcast.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6b1Nzc9d6ds/SUzvlE8qCNI/AAAAAAAAAk8/6IYZmjqKqUg/s400/young_and_dangerous_1.jpg

As a cinematogrpher, director Andrew Lau has worked with some of the best in the biz: Lau kar Leung, Wong Kar Wai, Sammo Hung, and many others. As a director, Lau injects his own films with his usual verve and style, creating a look that is quintessentially Hong Kong cinema. His films are the very definition of pop entertainment, and in a country that thrives on pop entertainment like no other (maybe Japan beats it), Lau's movies have enjoyed a great deal of success and mainstream popularity, none more so than the Young and Dangerous series. As of now, there must be a dozen or so sequels and spin-offs. The original gave birth to the entire "Young Triad" sub-genre of crime films; a genre populated by pretty young men posturing for power, fame, and wealth in the underbelly of the Hong Kong's streets. The films star a who's-who of young and old HK players: Nicholas Tse, Sam Lee, Francis Ng, Ekin Cheng, Chordan Chan, Simon Yam, and many others. The first three films in the series are the best, and make for a breezy, fun-filled weekend of HK crime cinema.

[lovejuice]

Yes. It's a spoof of that specifically, as well as (maybe the same thing?) Legend of the Condor Hero.
yes, it's the same thing.

i'm surprise, d, you haven't had time to actually taking up chinese and read the damn things. from what i have learned of your taste in book, you WILL love it.

[D_Davis]

i'm surprise, d, you haven't had time to actually taking up chinese and read the damn things. from what i have learned of your taste in book, you WILL love it.

Don't remind me. I would LOVE to read these books. More than anything. Why they've never been translated into English boggles my mind! I've had dreams of reading the great wuxia novels. But with all of my other hobbies, I just don't see me having the time to learn Chinese to read them.

What level are they written at?

[lovejuice]

Don't remind me. I'd would LOVE to read these books. More than anything. Why they've never been translated into English boggles my mind! I've had dreams of reading the great wuxia novels. But with all of my other hobbies, I just don't see me having the time to learn Chinese to read them.

What level are they written at?
i read thai translation, so i'm not sure. but since it's proclaimed to be national treasure, the original prose must be poetic and complicated. it sounds like that even in thai.

[D_Davis]

i read thai translation, so i'm not sure. but since it's proclaimed to be national treasure, the original prose must be poetic and complicated. it sounds like that even in thai.

If I ever get rich, can I pay you to come live with me and read/translate them to/for me?

[D_Davis]

48. Beast Cops - 1998 - Dir: Gordan Chan and Dante Lam

http://www.sogoodreviews.com/reviews/bc1.jpg

Coming late in the decade, Beast Cops injected new life into an industry that was starting to slow down. Given its title and Cat III rating, one might believe the film to be an ultra-violent action film, but in reality it is a deliberately-paced, hard-hitting, character-driven drama with powerful action-packed punctuation. While recently watching The Wire, I was reminded of this film, so that is quite a compliment. Anthony Wong gives what might be his best performance here, and in a career overflowing with amazing performances, that is really saying something. The film is slow, and takes its time, but the pay-off is more than worthy of the attention it demands of its audience. It's a very serious, dare I say gritty study of the nasty side of Hong Kong law enforcement and the criminal element they oppose.

[D_Davis]

47. Kung Fu Colt [sic] Master (aka Evil Cult) - 1993 - Wong Jing

http://www.gotterdammerung.org/film/collection/k/00000710.jpg

Based upon the legendary wuxia novel, Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, which was also made into a film by the Shaw Brothers, Wong Jing's Kung Fu Colt [sic] Master is the first of a planned trilogy. Unfortunately, the movie bombed at the box office and the other two parts were never made. And that really sucks. Really. If you're familiar with Wong Jing, then you know what to expect. Coming from the same absolutely-twisted mind as films like Holy Weapon, Flying Dagger, The Last Hero in China, The Chinese Torture Chamber Story, Raped by an Angel, Royal Tramp 1 and 2, and many, many others (a couple of which could appear on this list), KFCM is teeming with Wong's patented tomfoolery. Wong Jing is even more whacked out than Stephen Chow and Jeffrey Lau; his movies are messy, incomprehensible, wild, bizarre, and totally entertaining. And KFCM is one of the most of these. It's a total Cluster-F***. But dang is it ever fun. It stars Jet Li, Sammo Hung, and Francis Ng. It's about some crazy ass sword or kung fu power or something. To tell you the truth, I don't know what it's really about. However, the ultra-convoluted, makes-no-sense plot doesn't really matter; actually, it makes the film that much more bizarre and wild. It's like a Looney Tunes version of a wuxia pian, and I love it.

[Sycophant]

I have been aching to see Eagle Shooting Heroes for years. It looks like there's a UK DVD now?!

[balmakboor]

D's are always my favorite threads.

[Qrazy]

Been wanting to see Young and Dangerous for a while.

[D_Davis]

I have been aching to see Eagle Shooting Heroes for years. It looks like there's a UK DVD now?!

Really? I've got some ancient DVD. I think it might actually be a flipper, in those old HK cases that are really hard, with sharp corners. I love those things. So substantial!

[D_Davis]

Man - I just realized how hard choosing only 50 movies is going to be.

I could pick 50 movies from 5 directors that I love.

[D_Davis]

Been wanting to see Young and Dangerous for a while.

It's like Goodfellas meets N*Sync

;)

[balmakboor]

Man - I just realized how hard choosing only 50 movies is going to be.

I could pick 50 movies from 5 directors that I love.

Geez. What do you do? Make these things up as you go? :)

[Sycophant]

Really? I've got some ancient DVD. I think it might actually be a flipper, in those old HK cases that are really hard, with sharp corners. I love those things. So substantial!

I love those, too! It may have been available back in 2003 when I started getting into HK cinema and could buy nearly any film made between 1980 and 2002 for about $8. But so many films are out of print these days. It's a tragedy.

[Sycophant]

I saw Young & Dangerous VI: Born to Be King a couple years before I saw Young & Dangerous. I liked them both. I've got a copy of Y&D2 I need to get around to.

[Qrazy]

It's like Goodfellas meets N*Sync

;)

OK... maybe I don't want to see it that much after all.

[D_Davis]

OK... maybe I don't want to see it that much after all.

Well, you know, many of the HK movie stars in the '90s were also huge pop stars with the Canto-pop stuff. Even actors like Jackie Chan an Anthony Wong released albums. One of my favorite actors, Andy Lau, was one of the Four Heavenly Kings, along with Jacike Cheung and Leon Lai (can't remember the fourth). The only equivelent in the US would be if bands like N*Sync or The Backstreet Boys were also good actors who made great films. I guess Marky Mark is kind of similar.

[D_Davis]

I love those, too!

:pritch:

[D_Davis]

Geez. What do you do? Make these things up as you go? :)

What? Never! This list is scientically tested and created, thus assuring that it is entirely, 100%, factual and without error.

(although I can't account for the 50 other films that should be on here, but were overlooked)

[balmakboor]

What? Never! This list is scientically tested and created, thus assuring that it is entirely, 100%, factual and without error.

(although I can't account for the 50 other films that should be on here, but were overlooked)

I'm sure someone around here could help you bump the thread title up to 100. I don't think anyone would mind.

[D_Davis]

I'm sure someone around here could help you bump the thread title up to 100. I don't think anyone would mind.

I don't know if I have it in me to do 100 write-ups, even with them being short.

Maybe. We'll see, after the 50 are done.

[D_Davis]

46. Green Snake - 1993 - Dir: Tsui Hark

http://www.winonlyriders.net/thelostforum/cinema/GreenSnake.jpg

The first of a few (many?) Tsui Hark films on this list. I could probably include around 10 Tsui films in my favorite 50 of the decade, but I won't do that. That would be kind of boring and predictable; Tsui Hark's best films are the opposite of boring and predictable, and Green Snake is one of his best. At its heart, Green Snake is a romantic drama containing some fantasy and action elements. The Hong Kong film industry has a long tradition of these kinds of supernatural romance films, dating all the way back to the 1950s, and probably before that. Green Snake stars the queen of HK supernatural cinema, Joey Wong. I can't even tell you how many times she played a ghostly vixen; it happened so often that superstitions started about her being in cahoots with the spirit-world. Of course the film also stars Maggie Cheung, one of the all time great actresses, in an entirely erotic performance.

Green Snake is, if anything, an erotic, supernatural romance.

If Tsui is known for anything, it's for imbuing his films with amazing visuals utilizing razor-sharp editing and fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants special fx. Green Snake exemplifies this particular Tsui-ism better than just about any other film. It truly is a sight to behold. The romance is made all the more romantic and poetic because of Tsui's handling of the otherworldly element of the narrative; he really does create another world here. While not a perfect film - few Tsui films are - it is often because of his somewhat hazardously execution that many of his films are so memorable. No one makes films like Tsui Hark. He is the definition of an auteur, and Green Snake masterfully captures his unique vision.

[D_Davis]

What I would've done to be part of this class...

http://www.indiewire.com/images/uploads/iw9/ots/TsuiHarkPusan.jpg (http://www.indiewire.com/article/dispatch_from_korea_pusan_fest ival_opens_huge_event_but_sees _the_sky_fallin/)

[Sycophant]

He is so Hong Kong cool, it is murdering me.

[D_Davis]

He is so Hong Kong cool, it is murdering me.

http://www.subwaycinema.com/tsui2001/images/people/tsui3.gif

[number8]

Awesome so far. I love Young & Dangerous. That is how you do a teen-girl-drawing crime movie.

[D_Davis]

Awesome so far. I love Young & Dangerous. That is how you do a teen-girl-drawing crime movie.

It's like the Twilight of crime films.

:sad:

[D_Davis]

The sad thing is, if I were to make a favorite 50 films of the '00s, I'd probably have to include 20 or so films that are only mediocre.

[Sycophant]

Yeah, Hong Kong just isn't as AWESOME or HONG KONG as it was 10 years ago.

[D_Davis]

Awesome so far. I love Young & Dangerous. That is how you do a teen-girl-drawing crime movie.

You're right though. I do wonder...

Am I more able to stomach the pop-stars and pop-cinema of Hong Kong because I am a foreigner, and thus removed from the bombast of HK pop-culture? This is something that has always been on my mind. I think it is impossible for an "other" to truly evaluate the cinema of another country in a totally fair way - be it negative or positive. Even though I would like to think I am immune, I'm positive there is a bit of orientalism drawing me to this cinema; I don't think I can ever divorce myself entirely from the exotic nature of HK cinema.

If, for instance, N*Sync or The Backstreet Boys were in a crime movie here, would I even give it the time of day?

Or could a movie like Young and Dangerous even be made outside of Hong Kong?

The crime world of Hong Kong is different than it is here, I think it is more a part of the daily lives of its citizens. Is this correct? I mean, I'd bet a large portion of the films on this list were partially funded by triad money. Wong Jing definitely had some run ins with them. Apparently Anita Mui did as well.

[megladon8]

This is such a great thread, D. Reminds me of your top 100, from which I found SO many great HK films.

I really, really hope The Bride With White Hair appears on this list (and preferably very high up). That's still one of my very favorites.

[number8]

You're right though. I do wonder...

Am I more able to stomach the pop-stars and pop-cinema of Hong Kong because I am a foreigner, and thus removed from the bombast of HK pop-culture? This is something that has always been on my mind. I think it is impossible for an "other" to truly evaluate the cinema of another country in a totally fair way - be it negative or positive. Even though I would like to think I am immune, I'm positive there is a bit of orientalism drawing me to this cinema; I don't think I can ever divorce myself entirely from the exotic nature of HK cinema.

If, for instance, N*Sync or The Backstreet Boys were in a crime movie here, would I even give it the time of day?

Or could a movie like Young and Dangerous even be made outside of Hong Kong?

The crime world of Hong Kong is different than it is here, I think it is more a part of the daily lives of its citizens. Is this correct? I mean, I'd bet a large portion of the films on this list were partially funded by triad money. Wong Jing definitely had some run ins with them. Apparently Anita Mui did as well.

Excellent question. The difference is that the Western world doesn't have the same "Idol" culture as Asia, where being a celebrity means having your fingers dipped in every aspect of entertainment. We have crossover artists like Will Smith or Jennifer Lopez, certainly, but they're more treated as anomalies rather than the "package" that those type of artists are seen as in Asia. If you're a huge star in Hong Kong or Japan, you are just naturally expected to be singers, actors, fashion models, etc. So it's not as strange to have boybands star in big movies, even gangster films. There's no way you can pull that off with American pop culture. You're always either "actors trying to sing" or "singers trying to act."

[Sycophant]

I don't think any movie anything like any movie made in the nineties in Hong Kong could ever be made outside Hong Kong.

[Sycophant]

I'm pulling for Viva Erotica!

[Sycophant]

And there's goan be at least a little Stephen Chow, I do hope.

[D_Davis]

Excellent question. The difference is that the Western world doesn't have the same "Idol" culture as Asia, where being a celebrity means having your fingers dipped in every aspect of entertainment. We have crossover artists like Will Smith or Jennifer Lopez, certainly, but they're more treated as anomalies rather than the "package" that those type of artists are seen as in Asia. If you're a huge star in Hong Kong or Japan, you are just naturally expected to be singers, actors, fashion models, etc. So it's not as strange to have boybands star in big movies, even gangster films. There's no way you can pull that off with American pop culture. You're always either "actors trying to sing" or "singers trying to act."

Yeah, I pretty much agree.

[D_Davis]

I really, really hope The Bride With White Hair appears on this list (and preferably very high up). That's still one of my very favorites.

It will.


I'm pulling for Viva Erotica!

You know what? This is one of the ones I've never seen. I'll try to rent it next week.


And there's goan be at least a little Stephen Chow, I do hope.

At least one...

[D_Davis]

I don't think any movie anything like any movie made in the nineties in Hong Kong could ever be made outside Hong Kong.

I think you're right. There is something really special about the Hong Kong films of the '90s - fast, cheap, and out of control might describe them. They were messy, exciting, crazy fun, and wildly entertaining. You could almost say that '90s HK cinema is an entire genre into itself.

I'm watching The Swordsman right now. Love this movie. I've seen it many times, and I still can't really tell you what its about beyond the most basic plot. Like so many of the wuxia films from this period, you just have to go with it, especially as a foreigner lacking the assumed knowledge of many of the original novels on which these films are based. In this regard, it's hard to say definitively that these films are "good" films, at least in terms of their narratives appealing to a broad audience not willing to forgive their often incomprehensible narratives. But with The Swordsman, I'd dare anyone to honestly say they aren't impressed by the abundant energy and earnestness in the film. Like so many other Tsui productions, even the slow scenes of dialog possess a certain visual flair that you just don't see in any other film from any other country or era.

[D_Davis]

45. The Swordsman - 1990 - Dir: King Hu (who was fired, or walked off, and was replaced by Ching Siu Tung, Anna Hui, and a team of like ten writers, who all worked under Tsui Hark, and the film ended up being his. Or something)

http://www.subwaycinema.com/tsui2001/images/movies/swordsman1_11.gif

There is a scene in The Swordsman where an old master fights a band of flying swordsman using a young swordsman as a weapon. The old master grabs the youngster's belt and hurls him through the air like a human yo-yo. After dispatching all of his foes, cutting a few if them half, in both directions, the old man then waxes poetically about how all men are flesh and blood, and how more have died at the edge of the sword, and about how much turmoil and strife there is in the world. Then he laughs and bursts in the air twirling like a human tornado. It's that kind of film.

The Swordsman is a legendary HK production. It's like the Ben Hur of it's time; a huge, sprawling epic with hundreds of extras, extravegant costumes, highly detailed sets, and a plot teeming with political double-crosses and martial mayhem. While King Hu left the production less than half way through, his spirit is felt throughout. The film possesses class and an air of importance to it, although these traits are offset by Tsui Hark's and Ching Siu Tung's wild, anything-goes genrebusting enthusiasm. Jacky Cheung ended up winning a Golden Horse for his performance, and rumor has it that half of the writers and directors didn't even know he was in the film. That's just the way things were done at Film Workshop. The film also kicked off the resurgence of the flying-swordsmen films in HK. One might say that this ground zero for what we think of when we say "a '90s HK film."

[Qrazy]

But with The Swordsman, I'd dare anyone to honestly say they aren't impressed by the abundant energy and earnestness in the film. Like so many other Tsui productions, even the slow scenes of dialog possess a certain visual flair that you just don't see in any other film from any other country or era.

Yeah... while I haven't seen The Swordsman I can't really agree with you concerning Tsui productions in general. Although I definitely like Once Upon a Time in China and Shanghai Blues a lot.

[D_Davis]

Although I definitely like Once Upon a Time in China and Shanghai Blues a lot.

Both great films.

[D_Davis]

I also rewatched Green Snake last night. My god that film is gorgeous. So totally inventive and creative. The opening segment with all the deformed humans in the village is just stunning, and I love the commentary of the monk as he watches over them. I wonder if the humans really were deformed and disfigured, or if it was just the way that the enlightened monk viewed them? And the first scene with the snake women is gorgeously shot. The pagoda on the water, in the rain, with all the cherry blossoms floating in the air, and the lanterns drifting in the water, it all feels to tangible, as if the world has existed for hundreds of years before the film, and will continue to exist after the movie is over. In just a few brief moments Tsui does more world building than most films do in a trilogy. This is quality that many of Tsui's films possess. It's as if he is simply opening up a portal for us to view a world for a brief period of time. He allows his audience to catch a glimpse of a world through a door to which only he possess the key.

[D_Davis]

44. Untold Story - 1992 - Dir: Herman Lai-To

http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/images/docs/large/UntoldStory-AnthonyWong5_514939e58b2fb7ea6 6867b928a322f69.jpg

The Untold Story is half horror, half thriller, and all disturbing. While the CATIII rating is usually reserved for soft-core porn, here it is used for extreme violence, disgusting displays of depravity, and a general icky feeling. I mentioned before that Anthony Wong's best performance was in Beast Cops, but the one here gives that one a run for its money.

Anthony Wong can play any part well. From a gentle father-figure in Princess-D, and to a hired assassin in many Johnnie To flicks, Wong is capable of playing just about anything. In Untold Story he becomes a monstrous, cold-blooded serial killer totally devoid of humanity. The levels to which his character sinks to are abyssal. He also won best actor at the Hong Kong film awards for this. I just can't imagine this kind of character winning an equivalent award anywhere else but Hong Kong. They love to award the extremes, and Untold Story is extreme cinema at its best.

[D_Davis]

43. Where A Good Man Goes - 1999 - Johnnie To

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VZY4Y66PL.jpg

I could easily put at least 6 films from Johnnie To on this list, but I'll probably only pick a few. We'll see. Where a Good Man Goes is one of To's crime films, but it contains more drama and less gunplay. It is a very small and personal film, and highly character-driven. Lau Ching-Wan, a Milkyway alumni, plays a gangster struggling with the life he's led. While trying to find redemption he discovers that it is harder to leave the life behind than he ever imagined, especially when he falls in love with a woman he wants to protect. Johnnie To's films are often incredibly simplistic in nature, their narratives, while still somewhat absurd, are laser-focused. Where a Good Man Goes is an example of this quality. The film also stars one of my favorite character actors - Lam Suet. I just love this guy. While there are better To crime films, and better To romantic films, this film combines the two into something that is interesting and engaging.

[D_Davis]

42. God of Cookery - 1996 - Stephen Chow

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/GodOfCookery.jpg

Stephen Chow's The God of Cookery was released about 10 years too early, or you might say it was totally ahead of its time. It came out before Emeril became a house hold name, a time before the resurgence of the celebrity Chef, before Food Network really took off, and only a few years after Iron Chef came out in Japan. The God of Cookery was at the vanguard of the growing popularity of extreme cooking and brand name chef awareness. The film is silly to the Nth degree, and contains bucket-loads of Chow's endearing earnestness and goodwill. While Chow's films often poke fun at things, they rarely feel mean spirited; he would rather have the audience laugh with him and his characters than directly at them, or at least laugh with them at themselves. Chow's films are pick-me up movies, films that I throw on when I need to feel good, and God of Cookery is one that I can return to often.

[B-side]

Green Snake came to my attention a week or so ago on KG. I have it bookmarked.

I've only seen 1 Hark film. It was The Butterfly Murders. Wasn't particularly taken by it.

[D_Davis]

That's one of his first films, a place where he was really developing his voice and style, I really like it. He took King Hu's action editing techniques to the next level, and I love how he took a wuxia narrative and turned it into a strange kind of murder mystery, and at the same time added in some anachronistic technology. It's a very flawed film, but it is incredible well shot and inventive.

One of my favorite screencaps I've ever grabbed is from that film:

http://www.genrebusters.com/images/bm2.jpg

There are so many expertly composed shots in the film, and the use of color is great, another Tsui trademark.

It's a messy film, but one that I admire for showing the early development of one of the great filmmakers of our time.

[D_Davis]

Hey Brightside, if you want to see a really fantastic early '80s wuxia, check out Patrick Tam's The Sword. It's my favorite film of the HK new wave. It's absolutely gorgeous.

[D_Davis]

41. Bio Zombie - 1998 - Dir: Wilson Yip

http://www.genrebusters.com/images/bio4.jpg

(Please note - these films aren't in any particular order (except for #1). If they were, this would be much higher, as it originally appeared on my Top 100)


Woody Invincible and Crazy Bee are two wannabe coolies who sell bootleg VCDs at a video store in a mall. Woody and Crazy think they are cooler than Ekin Cheng and Takeshi Kaneshiro combined, but, in all actuality, they are not. Jelly and Rolls, two hotties, and the victims of Crazy's and Woody's flirtations, also work in the mall as hair-stylists. Unbeknownst to these four mall-rats, the government has entered into a shady deal with some low-life triad arms-dealers, and are about to unwittingly unleash a plague of the evil dead upon the city. It's Clerks, meets Dawn of the Dead, meets The Young and Dangerous in this Hong Kong genre mash-up.

[D_Davis]

40. Iron Monkey - 1993 - Dir: Yuen Woo-Ping

http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/images/movie/large/IronMonkey_wongFeiHung_aa0051a e27484551612aece9b8f2b903.jpg

While Donny Yen may star in this film, the main attraction is the young ass-kicker pictured above, Sze-Man Tsang, a young girl who plays the child prodigy Wong Fei Hung. She is absolutely stunning to watch, and she has a ton of charisma. By now I'm sure everyone has seen this film - it has become the poster-child for '90s wuxia, and is probably as popular here in the west as Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China, maybe even more so. It's a great film, and totally fun. And while the under-cranking is overdone in a few scenes, it is still a shining example of new-school, ware-assisted martial arts cinema.

[megladon8]

I found the undercranking very distracting in Iron Monkey. I actually never got through the film because of it.

And upon re-watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon a couple of years ago, I was horribly disappointed to find it's ridden with this as well. I had never noticed before, but now it's all I can see.

[Sven]

There are 41 better HK films than God of Cookery? I'm confused.

[soitgoes...]

(Please note - these films aren't in any particular order (except for #1). If they were, this would be much higher, as it originally appeared on my Top 100.


There are 41 better HK films than God of Cookery? I'm confused.

Don't be.

[Sven]

Don't be.

Whew. I did not retain that bit of information.

[Sycophant]

Yeah. Otherwise it's just nonsense.

Bio-Zombie was pretty tight, though.

[balmakboor]

40. Iron Monkey - 1993 - Dir: Yuen Woo-Ping

http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/images/movie/large/IronMonkey_wongFeiHung_aa0051a e27484551612aece9b8f2b903.jpg

This caught my attention, but the only version listed on Netflix is described as follows (which worries me considerably):

Hiyaaah! Quentin Tarantino (the writer-director behind Pulp Fiction) retranslated, rescored and subtitled an unintentionally campy Golden Harvest action movie that dates back to 1993. Tarantino's tampering makes the story easier to follow, and that's probably a blessing. But what's also a blessing is the great fight choreography and mind-bending wire-fu acrobatics, which remain intact.

[number8]

I don't believe it was Tarantino who did it...

[D_Davis]

I don't believe it was Tarantino who did it...

Yeah - it was not. I'd put money on it. Pretty sure it was the normal-doings of Mr. Harvey Scissorhands Weinstein; he screwed up just about every HK release from Dimension Home Video; changed titles, rescored, changed the stories, etc. Remember, QT is the one who fought tooth and nail for Hero's unedited release - a battle he eventually lost, but at least he got HSHW to release the damn movie after sitting on it for 2+ years.


Sorry for the lack of updates recently - this week is a hell week.

[balmakboor]

Yeah - it was not. I'd put money on it. Pretty sure it was the normal-doings of Mr. Harvey Scissorhands Weinstein; he screwed up just about every HK release from Dimension Home Video; changed titles, rescored, changed the stories, etc. Remember, QT is the one who fought tooth and nail for Hero's unedited release - a battle he eventually lost, but at least he got HSHW to release the damn movie after sitting on it for 2+ years.


Sorry for the lack of updates recently - this week is a hell week.

Any idea if that version is worth bothering with?

[number8]

I have this memory of watching the 2002 Taurus World Stunt Awards and seeing both Iron Monkey and Apocalypse Now Redux nominated for several stunt awards. I thought, how does that even work? The stuntmen involved must be pretty baffled at being nominated.

Oh yeah, Iron Monkey lost Best Fight to Rush Hour 2.

[D_Davis]

I have this memory of watching the 2002 Taurus World Stunt Awards and seeing both Iron Monkey and Apocalypse Now Redux nominated for several stunt awards. I thought, how does that even work? The stuntmen involved must be pretty baffled at being nominated.

Oh yeah, Iron Monkey lost Best Fight to Rush Hour 2.

Sounds typical.

[D_Davis]

39. 2000 AD - 1999 - Dir: Gordon Chan

http://www.nautiljon.com/images/asian-movie/2000_ad.jpg

Probably the worst film on the list, and if you judge it by the first third you may think that the film totally sucks - and I would agree. But once the action kicks in, it gets really awesome, really fast. When I saw the first Borne film I thought that the filmmakers must have been inspired by this Gordan Chan film. 2000 AD is a kind of modern urban, technical thriller in which the combatants use the urban environment in all kinds of creative and destructive ways. The plot is totally ridiculous, and it suffers from the English-is-cool syndrome that so many HK films confronted during the late '90s into the early '00s. For some odd reason, filmmakers starting injecting their screenplays with characters that spoke really bad English - see Johnnie To's Fulltime Killer for a great example of this.

Anyhow, 2000 AD. Suffer through the first part to get to the second part. It's a lot of fun and the action is surprising and exciting.

[D_Davis]

38. The Executioner aka The Beheaded 1000 - 1993 - Dir: Shan-hsi Ting

http://i35.tinypic.com/2is1za.jpg

The first of a couple of lesser-known wuxia pians. This one is a Mainland/Hong Kong coproduction. It's the only film I've seen from the director, but now that he's on my mind again I want to check out more of his films. He seems to specialize in these kinds of supernatural, martial arts, action-adventures, and that's exactly what The Executioner is. Think of it as a Chinese Clash of the Titans or something, perhaps even echoing Tsui Hark's Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain. There are a ton of crazy special effects like cartoon ghost-spiders, walking headless corpses, a demon bursting out of a man's belly, and all kinds of wild magical powers. Overall, the action and the acting are pretty bland, but it makes up for this with oodles of charm and inventive situations. The film has a classic feel to it, more like early Chinese fantasy films than the typical '90s wuxia stuff, and that is something that I totally dig.

Oh yeah, and it also stars Joey Wong as, yep you guessed it, a ghostly vixen.

[D_Davis]

37. Deadend of Besiegers - 1991 - Dir: Cheung Siu Wai

http://www.fareastdvd.com/ebaypics/deadend%20of%20besiegers.jpg

Again, another lesser known wuxia pian, and another Mainland/HK co-production. I like these Mainland co-produced films because they often have far more location and outdoor shooting. This film definitely has the feel of an old classic, and reminds me in many ways of the early Shaw Brothers films, before they were more confined to shooting on sound stages. The action is, relatively speaking, grounded in reality, and thus there is very little wire work; it feels real, powerful, and dangerous. It also has a pretty cool story. It's about a Japanese warrior coming to China to learn kung fu. Unfortunately he gets mixed up with some evil Japanese pirates, and so he has to prove to the Chinese that he is not an evil, Chinese-child-hating, Japanese pirate. And trust me, those Japanese pirates really hate Chinese children.

[balmakboor]

46. Green Snake - 1993 - Dir: Tsui Hark

http://www.winonlyriders.net/thelostforum/cinema/GreenSnake.jpg

The first of a few (many?) Tsui Hark films on this list. I could probably include around 10 Tsui films in my favorite 50 of the decade, but I won't do that. That would be kind of boring and predictable; Tsui Hark's best films are the opposite of boring and predictable, and Green Snake is one of his best. At its heart, Green Snake is a romantic drama containing some fantasy and action elements. The Hong Kong film industry has a long tradition of these kinds of supernatural romance films, dating all the way back to the 1950s, and probably before that. Green Snake stars the queen of HK supernatural cinema, Joey Wong. I can't even tell you how many times she played a ghostly vixen; it happened so often that superstitions started about her being in cahoots with the spirit-world. Of course the film also stars Maggie Cheung, one of the all time great actresses, in an entirely erotic performance.

Green Snake is, if anything, an erotic, supernatural romance.

If Tsui is known for anything, it's for imbuing his films with amazing visuals utilizing razor-sharp editing and fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants special fx. Green Snake exemplifies this particular Tsui-ism better than just about any other film. It truly is a sight to behold. The romance is made all the more romantic and poetic because of Tsui's handling of the otherworldly element of the narrative; he really does create another world here. While not a perfect film - few Tsui films are - it is often because of his somewhat hazardously execution that many of his films are so memorable. No one makes films like Tsui Hark. He is the definition of an auteur, and Green Snake masterfully captures his unique vision.

I just watched this and I agree with everything you said. It's a beautiful and sexy film. I also realized that I've now seen five films by Tsui -- Once Upon a Time in China, We're Going to Eat You, The Blade, Dangerous Encounters: 1st Kind, and Green Snake -- and I've liked them all. You're on to something here D.

[D_Davis]

I just watched this and I agree with everything you said. It's a beautiful and sexy film. I also realized that I've now seen five films by Tsui -- Once Upon a Time in China, We're Going to Eat You, The Blade, Dangerous Encounters: 1st Kind, and Green Snake -- and I've liked them all. You're on to something here D.

When Tsui's on his game, there is no better filmmaker in terms of style and energy.

[megladon8]

http://i35.tinypic.com/2is1za.jpg


I like that artwork a lot.

[D_Davis]

I like that artwork a lot.

Me too. That old Chinese superhero style. Not sure what it's called. I used to read a bunch of crazy kung fu comics drawn in that style.

[megladon8]

Me too. That old Chinese superhero style. Not sure what it's called. I used to read a bunch of crazy kung fu comics drawn in that style.


The way it's been coloured with coloured pencils, it almost looks like a tattoo design.

[D_Davis]

The way it's been coloured with coloured pencils, it almost looks like a tattoo design.

Yeah, totally. There has to be a name for this style. Most of the old Hong Kong and Chinese movie posters were done in this style as well. And as I said, the film hearkens back to those classics, and so the art style makes a lot of sense.

[megladon8]

Yeah, totally. There has to be a name for this style. Most of the old Hong Kong and Chinese movie posters were done in this style as well. And as I said, the film hearkens back to those classics, and so the art style makes a lot of sense.


I wish today's movies used yesteryear's poster styles.

The style like you posted, and the genre posters of the '50s and '60s, are some of my favorites.

[D_Davis]

I wish today's movies used yesteryear's poster styles.

The style like you posted, and the genre posters of the '50s and '60s, are some of my favorites.

Oh yeah. Posters used to be works of art - now they just plain suck. I'd argue that modern movie posters and DVD covers have some of the worst graphic design and art direction of all time.

[megladon8]

Oh yeah. Posters used to be works of art - now they just plain suck. I'd argue that modern movie posters and DVD covers have some of the worst graphic design and art direction of all time.


Agreed.

I'd love to own and frame some of the old Italian horror posters...


http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5295/bavaposters011.jpg

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7667/baronbloodposter01.jpg

[D_Davis]

36. Knock Off - 1997 - Dir. Tsui Hark

http://www.playtime-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/knockoff-212x300.jpg

Is this really a Hong Kong film? Well, it was made by Tsui Hark, with Sammo Hung as action choreographer and second unit director, and it was the only foreign film allowed to be made in Hong Kong during one of the most important times in Hong Kong's history: the 1997 handover to China. So yes, I'm counting it.

Tsui Hark is a director often praised for his ability to inject pop-entertainment with a subversive message — and that might be what makes him a bit dangerous. His best films are politically and socially charged, as well as incredibly entertaining. In Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain (http://www.genrebusters.com/film/top100_81zuwarriors.htm), the main enemy is represented by a giant red flag, symbolizing the Chinese mainland; Once Upon a Time in China (http://www.genrebusters.com/film/top100_19china.htm) touches upon the British occupation of Shanghai, and the violence introduced by this clash of cultures; Don’t Play With Fire (http://www.genrebusters.com/film/review_dangerous.htm), a gritty urban thriller brimming with nihilism, looks at a similar situation set in post-Vietnam War era Hong Kong ; Peking Opera Blues (http://www.genrebusters.com/film/top100_22peking.htm) and Green Snake both present feminism in interesting and challenging ways; even We’re Going to Eat You (http://www.genrebusters.com/film/top100_41eatyou.htm), Tsui’s kung fu-cannibal-comedy, contains commentary about the dangers of mainland China’s control looming over Hong Kong.

Many of his films are thinly veiled analogies offering thoughtful commentary on Hong Kong society and pop-culture. So why do so many people often forget this particular Tsui-ism when discussing Knock Off, Tsui’s second of two English-language films? Set on the cusp of of the 1997 handover, Knock Off is overflowing with Tsui’s subversive nature, and in this film he lambastes and lampoons Jean-Claude Van Damme’s egotistical persona, John Woo’s and Ringo Lam’s special-cams, the ridiculous nature of contemporary HK action cinema, conventions that he helped to create, and the proliferation of Orientalism in the West. Knock Off is a prime example of Tsui Hark being Tsui Hark — this film simply could not have come from any other director. And for these reasons I think it is an important film in a the director's filmmography, as well as a film that is simply to fun and ridiculous to ignoe.

[D_Davis]

35. A Hero Never Dies - 1998 - Dir: Johnnie To

http://www.loadmovieseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/A-Hero-Never-Dies.jpg

Lau Ching Wan and Leon Lai shoot a bunch of guns and look AWESOME doing so in Johnny To's macho, heroic-bloodshed film, A Hero Never Dies. It's a classic story used many times by Cheng Cheh, John Woo and other HK directors: two life-long rivals develop an uncanny bond and come together to thwart an evil threatening them both. It's the better bad guys versus the badder bad guys. You can tell who the badder ones are by their lack of honor. Of course the film has To's trademark style and charm, and it also has a great original score; one of my favorites in any HK film.

Not as good as The Mission or Exiled, but still pretty dang good.

[D_Davis]

And it has Lau Ching Wan in a cowboy hat, thus proving its awesomeness.

[balmakboor]

Really good piece on Time and Tide (and Dangerous Encounter - 1st Kind). I plan to watch Time and Tide soon. It's on Netflix Instant.

Has there ever been talk of DE - 1st K being released in a restored cut? Highly doubtful I would think.

[D_Davis]

Really good piece on Time and Tide (and Dangerous Encounter - 1st Kind). I plan to watch Time and Tide soon. It's on Netflix Instant.

Has there ever been talk of DE - 1st K being released in a restored cut? Highly doubtful I would think.

Oh man - that review of Time and Tide was the first I ever wrote for Genrebusters. It's a total mess! :) So freaking loooooong!


Makes sure T&T isn't the dubbed version. It's pretty bad. The DVD also has an English-language commentary with Tsui. It's great.

So many of his films have never been remastered or properly released on DVD. There still isn't even an official HK release of The Blade on DVD, nor is there one for Don't Play With Fire. Blows my mind.

[balmakboor]

That was pretty silly of me. I forgot the link in my prior post.

http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/01/17/time_and_tide.html

[Sycophant]

Holy shit, I loved A Hero Never Dies when I watched it.

Best peeing on a tree I've ever seen, hands down.

[D_Davis]

That was pretty silly of me. I forgot the link in my prior post.

http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/01/17/time_and_tide.html

Ah - OK.

That makes more sense. :)

Yes, I've read that review many times. It's great.

[D_Davis]

Holy shit, I loved A Hero Never Dies when I watched it.

Best peeing on a tree I've ever seen, hands down.

Isn't that awesome? The music swells and the camera starts panning across a field. It's grand and epic, and utterly hilarious when you realize it's setting up a scene where a bunch of dudes are peeing on trees. Love it.

[D_Davis]

That was pretty silly of me. I forgot the link in my prior post.

http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/01/17/time_and_tide.html

Stephen Teo's books are totally worth reading. Next to David Bordwell, he's my favorite commentator on HK cinema.

[D_Davis]

Time and Tide, and Don't Play With Fire are Tsui's two most urban films. Each is a distinct product of its time, and each displays the Tsui's unique vision of urban-action in different light. In many ways, I almost wish that Time and Tide was actually his very last film. It would have been an absolutely perfect way to cap off a career, and it makes a perfect matching book end for his earlier films, namely Don't Play With Fire.

[D_Davis]

And another totally awesome thing about Knock Off is the theme song by Sparks, "It's a Knock Off." Totally rad. They're huge fans of Tsui as well, and have a song named after him.

[number8]

This is a very good thread.

[D_Davis]

This is a very good thread.

Thanks, 8!

[D_Davis]

34. New Legend of Shaolin - 1994 - Dir: Wong Jing

http://www.loveandbullets.com/Pictures/nlshaolin/nloscover.jpg

Another Wong Jing Joint. This time with Jet Li as Shaolin rebel, Hung Si Kwun, and action direction by the incredible Corey Yuen. Like most Wong Jing movies, it has more sub-plots than it knows what to do with, but the film strikes a great balance of comedy and brutality. While wire-work was used extensively in the 1990s, no one made it look as great as Jet Li; he's the master of blending his own amazing physical talent with the wire-work to make the action more fantastic. There are two absolutely brilliant action sequences in the film. The first has Li fighting a dude who uses a giant flaming log as a weapon, and the last pits Li against an almost futuristic contraption in which the main villain uses lackeys with shields as a vehicle of destruction.

The film is also somewhat based on the Lone Wolf and Cub stories. It even has a scene in which Jet Li forces his baby son to choose between a blade and a toy to determine his fate.

[megladon8]

D, have you found most all of these movies through Chinatown trips, burns and torrents?

It seems rare that a movie on this list is actually available on R1 DVD :lol:

[balmakboor]

Instant Watched Time and Tide tonight. I think it'll take another viewing for me to really grasp the plot, but I loved how it was shot. There was also something about the tone of the final sequence with the birth of the baby that reminded me of Hard Boiled. I'll be watching it again in a week or so.

[D_Davis]

D, have you found most all of these movies through Chinatown trips, burns and torrents?

It seems rare that a movie on this list is actually available on R1 DVD :lol:

Got most of these from Chinatown, the rest through Ebay or HKFlix.

[D_Davis]

Instant Watched Time and Tide tonight. I think it'll take another viewing for me to really grasp the plot, but I loved how it was shot. There was also something about the tone of the final sequence with the birth of the baby that reminded me of Hard Boiled. I'll be watching it again in a week or so.

Took me a few viewings to really follow everything.

[D_Davis]

I also rented quite a few when Niche-flix was around. Man, they were the best. Bought quite a few from them when they went under.

And Scarecrow's selection of Asian cinema is unmatched. If I ever need anything, they have it,

[D_Davis]

33. White Lotus Cult - 1993 - Dir: Siu Keung Cheung

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VBADP5REL.jpg

The White Lotus Cult, or Sect, was a clan of pugilists, Chinese nationals who fought against foreigners, mainly the British, and used their power and the power of superstition to seize control from local government officials. They were, for lack of a better comparison, like a Chinese Al-Qaeda; urban terrorists not to be trusted who pretended to stand up for the Chinese people. Many films have been made with the White Lotus Cult, and it's two most popular leaders: Pai Mei and Pak Mei.

The White Lotus Cult is a relatively unknown film from the era. It's director wasn't popular, even in Hong Kong, and it doesn't star anyone of note, nor does it have a well-known action director. However, this unassuming film makes up for its lack of star power by simply being expertly made. From the costumes to the sets, and from the plot to the acting, everything in this movie is top notch. It has a consistent tone and doesn't dip into territories pocked with broad humor, and the attention to detail is remarkable. It also has some amazing action sequences.

[D_Davis]

32. Running Out of Time - 1999 - Dir: Johnnie To

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5159E1Y1Z3L.jpg

One of Milky Way's mores straightforward films. It starts Andy Lau and Lau Ching Wan as a conman and a detective respectively, and so you already know that the acting is going to be top notch. This is one area in which To excels; he consistently gets great performances from his actors, and Andy Lau ended up winning best actor for this.

Many people think this is one of To's best, and while it is, I don't love it as much as most people. This is mainly due to an absolutely terrible make up and costume decision during the film's key moment. As much as I love everything else about the movie, this one aspect pulls me out for too long. However, most people seem to be able to overlook this, and the rest of the film is excellent.

[D_Davis]

31. The Phantom Lover - 1995 - Dir: Ronny Yu

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4154/phantom1995mb1.jpg

Ronny Yu's film is loosely based on The Phantom Opera and an older Chinese film from the 1930s called Song at Midnight. It is easily the most melodramatic film on this list, and a great example of this kind of overly-sappy Hong Kong romance movie (another example from Tsui Hark is coming later). The film is absolutely gorgeous thanks to Peter Pau's cinematography. Through his camera Pau creates a world rich with atmosphere. The main attraction here though is the film's star, the late Leslie Cheung, in one of his most heartfelt performances. Like most Hong Kong starts, Cheung was a recording artist as well as being an actor, and he helped write and compose the music for the film, including it's main theme which he sings during the movie. While this may be a little to saccharine for some viewers, this is a genre in which the Hong Kong film industry excels, and it is totally worth checking out.

[megladon8]

Really want to see more of the list!!

[Sycophant]

I'm a big fan of Johnnie To's work from around the time he made Running Out of Time, but it did not sit well with me when I watched it. My memory's too hazy, but I remember severe disappointment and thinking the thing was kinda unforgivably goofy (and not in the good HK action drama way). I should give it another go some time.

[D_Davis]

Really want to see more of the list!!

It's coming. Just been super busy lately. I'll probably start up again this weekend.

[dreamdead]

You'd better finish this list. I didn't purchase a copy of The Blade last week and expect to not see analysis on this bad boy. I hope to get to it sometime in the next few weeks.

[D_Davis]

You'd better finish this list. I didn't purchase a copy of The Blade last week and expect to not see analysis on this bad boy. I hope to get to it sometime in the next few weeks.

I'll probably just end up posting my original review, from my top 100:

http://www.genrebusters.com/film/top100_3theblade.htm

And I'll finish the list! Promise. :)

[balmakboor]

Is Hong Kong Godfather good? I just saw a tweet about it being crazily entertaining and finally out in R1.

[D_Davis]

Is Hong Kong Godfather good? I just saw a tweet about it being crazily entertaining and finally out in R1.

Never seen it!

[balmakboor]

Never seen it!

:eek: