Match Cut Director Consensus - Johnnie To

[Raiders]

Alrighty, so we're on to week six of the consensus. PLEASE review the rules and information contained in the main thread:

Results & Rules (http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?t=426)

Week Six: Johnnie To

http://www.cineaste.com/322images/to-1.jpg

[Raiders]

The Mission (1999) - 8.0
Fulltime Killer (2001) - 7.5
Exiled (2006) - 8.5

I really should see more, but like Miike, his filmography is so overwhelming and diversified, I never can decide where to go next and wind up going nowhere.

[dreamdead]

Breaking News - 6.5
Election - 7
Exiled - 8.5

He's gonna be one that I'll queue up throughout the year, I think.

[Sycophant]

Mad Monk (1993) - 7.5
A Hero Never Dies (1998) - 8.5
The Mission (1999) - 10.0
Needing You... (2000) - 7.5
Fulltime Killer (2000) - 7.0
PTU (2003) - 8.0
Running on Karma (2004) - 9.5
Breaking News (2004) - 7.5
Throwown (2004) - 8.5
Election (2005) - 10.0
Election 2/Triad Election/Harmony Is a Virtue (2006) - 10.0
Exiled (2006) - 9.5

I've also got copies of Love on a Diet, Justice My Foot! and All About Ah Long I'm going to try to prioritize this week/end.

[Qrazy]

Eighth Happiness (1988) - 6.5
A Hero Never Dies (1998) - 3
The Mission (1999) - 7
Love on a Diet - 3
Fulltime Killer (2000) - 5
Running on Karma - 3.5
Broadcast News - 7.5
Throwdown (2004) - 7
Election (2005) - 8.5
Election 2 (2005) - 8.5
Exiled (2006) - 8
Mad Detective - 7

[Rowland]

Interesting that the general consensus so far, between this thread and the discussion elsewhere, is that Fulltime Killer is his weakest. D'Angelo actually considers it his favorite To movie. I'll have to check it out.

[balmakboor]

Ok, here's my complete list with ratings:








I just queued up Election as my first To film. Decent choice?

[Sycophant]

Interesting that the general consensus so far, between this thread and the discussion elsewhere, is that Fulltime Killer is his weakest. D'Angelo actually considers it his favorite To movie. I'll have to check it out.
It was actually only my second or third To film and I liked it a good deal more than most seem to, especially at the outset, though I think the relentless negativity others express toward it has kind of weathered my opinion on it. I think I'll have to revisit it in the near future. It's based on a novel by my other other favorite Hong Kong director, Pang Ho-Cheung.

[D_Davis]

Interesting that the general consensus so far, between this thread and the discussion elsewhere, is that Fulltime Killer is his weakest. D'Angelo actually considers it his favorite To movie. I'll have to check it out.

I can't imagine FTK being ranked as the best To film. It's a total mess. It has some fun moments, sure, but over all it's really stupid, and not in a fun, over the top way, although it is really over the top, just not in a good way. It was made to be his Hollywood calling card, and I am glad he second guessed himself and decided to stay in Hong Kong. HK needs him, he is a lone voice, a beacon of light in a sea of contemporary mediocrity, and there is no way his Milky Way heritage would have prepared him for the Hollywood industry.

Does D'Angelo have a list of the To films he's seen and reviewed? I would be interested to see how his opinion stack up against my own.

[Rowland]

Does D'Angelo have a list of the To films he's seen and reviewed? I would be interested to see how his opinion stack up against my own.Nah, he doesn't have a To-specific list. Here is what he wrote about Exiled, anyway:

[Here's another one folks are raving about, to my intense bafflement. But then I've never cottoned much to To, with the minor exception of the goofy Fulltime Killer; I always flash on Geena Davis spitting out the steak that went through the telepod and saying "It tastes...synthetic." Jeff Goldblum needs to reprogram this dude and teach him about the flesh in my opinion. Anyway, Exiled is exciting enough when the bullets (and soda cans) are flying, but the rest is just hollow posing, and it's hard to be moved by the final image when you still don't have the foggiest idea who any of those people are. I will except Anthony Wong.]

[D_Davis]

[Here's another one folks are raving about, to my intense bafflement. But then I've never cottoned much to To, with the minor exception of the goofy Fulltime Killer;

So it's basically a back handed compliment from someone who doesn't really like the director's work.

Makes sense now.

:)

[Rowland]

So it's basically a back handed compliment from someone who doesn't really like the director's work.

Makes sense now.

:)He actually gave Fulltime Killer a pretty high score at the time of its release, so I'm not sure about the tone of his reference to it in the Exiled blurb.

[Raiders]

Fulltime Killer is a pretty interesting film, I think. I don't believe it is nearly as stupid as Davis makes out. It seems to me kind of like Bava's Danger: Diabolik! in making the style become the whole purpose to the film. Seems like a way of taking the general style-as-substance approach of HK action films and taking it to the cheesy, self-reflexive extreme. Not for those who actually want to care much about anything or anyone in the film, and that does make it somewhat weaker than the other two films of To's I have seen (particularly the surprisingly spartan The Mission).

[D_Davis]

I do like Andy Lau's crazy performance in FTK. Definitely the best part.

The worst part is all the terrible English used...ugh...it just doesn't make any sense.

"I got your shit money!" or something...

Throwing in random lines of bad English has always been hip in HK cinema and culture (Yes, Madam!), but beginning with FTK, they started to take it too far.

I remember back on the old board (maybe even the Axis), a while ago, Meg wanted me to suggest some To films. I told him to make sure to watch FTK. I then went home to rewatch it, and I was shocked at how bad it was. I was actually embarrassed at myself for recommending it!

:)

Crazy how opinions can change with time.

I can't remember what he ended up thinking about it.

[D_Davis]

The Enigmatic Case - 5
The Big Heat - 6
Justice, My Foot! - 6.5
Bare Footed Kid - 7
The Heroic Trio - 5
Mad Monk - 7.5
Executioners - 5
Lifeline - 6
A Hero Never Dies - 8.5
Where a Good Man Goes - 8.5
Running Out of Time - 8
The Mission - 9.5
Wu Yen - 6.5
Full Time Killer - 3
PTU - 9
Turn Left, Turn Right - 7
Running on Karma - 8.5
Breaking News - 7.5
Throwdown - 8
Yesterday Once More - 7.5
Election - 7
Election 2 - 6
Exiled - 10
Triangle - 7.5


I've seen a few more of his rom-coms, but not recently enough to score them.
(Needing You, Loving You, and some others.)

One of my favorite directors, and like Tsui Hark, he's also a hands on producer/writer, and has been responsible for a ton of good stuff.
(The Odd one Dies, Beyond Hypothermia, The Longest Night, Expect the Unexpected, Too Many Ways to be Number 1, ...)

[Watashi]

Election - 8
Exiled - 7.5

I would watch more, but I won't until they get a proper DVD release.

[DavidSeven]

Exiled - 7.5

I would watch more, but I won't until they get a proper DVD release.

Is there a problem with the Election DVD? I have it next in my queue.

[Rowland]

Exiled - 7.5

I would watch more, but I won't until they get a proper DVD release.Plenty of his movies have fine DVD releases. Just read some DVD reviews beforehand.

[D_Davis]

Exiled - 7.5

I would watch more, but I won't until they get a proper DVD release.

The Mission is the worst.

And with the way HK preserves its films, we're probably lucky to have anything at all.

[D_Davis]

Is there a problem with the Election DVD? I have it next in my queue.

No - it's beautiful.

[Sycophant]

Just wanna point out that Wai Ka-Fai co-directed a lot of these. Just for kicks.

[Yxklyx]

The Mission - 5

[D_Davis]

Just wanna point out that Wai Ka-Fai co-directed a lot of these. Just for kicks.

Yep. He and To worked in tandem on many projects. Their partnership is a lot like Tsui Hark's and Ching Siu Tung's.

[Mysterious Dude]

Election 2 - 5.5

[soitgoes...]

The Mission (1999) - 7.5
Fulltime Killer (2001) - 7.5
PTU (2003) - 6.5
Breaking News (2004) - 6.5
Election (2005) - 8.0
Election 2 (2006) - 8.0
Exiled (2006) - 9.5
Mad Detective (2007) - 7.0

I still have Bare-Footed Kid, Triangle, and Linger in my possession. I will try my best to get to them by the end of the week.

FWIW, Breaking News has one of the best opening shots of any movie I've seen. Seriously. My score for that one is probably a little harsh, but an opening shot does not a movie make.
Also I watched the Election films out of order. They're good on their own, but I think my score for Election 2 suffers a bit because of it.

[Ezee E]

None yet. Two by the end of the week hopefully.

[D_Davis]

Election 2 - 5.5

Out of everything he has directed, all 30 some odd films, this has got to be the strangest one to start and end with.

For one thing, it is a direct sequel to another film, so much so that I would argue that the two films should be viewed as one long film.

:)

[Stay Puft]

A Hero Never Dies - 7
The Mission - 8
Fulltime Killer - 6
PTU - 7
Breaking News - 6
Election - 8
Election 2 - 8
Linger - 4.5

Might try to catch a couple more later this week.

[Sven]

Fulltime Killer - 4
PTU - 5
Election - 3

Is that all I've seen? It feels like I've seen more.

[Rowland]

FWIW, Breaking News has one of the best opening shots of any movie I've seen. Seriously.
I was disappointed by the shot. It was a good idea, but its execution was sloppy.

[Rowland]

Breaking News - 6.0
Exiled - 8.5

I'll try to see at least two more this week.

[Qrazy]

Bounced all my scores down a point because I realized I was harsher with the other director consensuses and want to remain consistent.

[Bosco B Thug]

Bounced all my scores down a point because I realized I was harsher with the other director consensuses and want to remain consistent. I can't decide whether it's deep frustration or intense satisfaction I feel when I make myself re-think and calibrate scores.

Exiled - 8/10

[Melville]

Exiled - 4.5

[EyesWideOpen]

The Mission - 8.5
Fulltime Killer - 8
Running on Karma - 6.5
PTU - 7
Exiled - 8

[Mysterious Dude]

Out of everything he has directed, all 30 some odd films, this has got to be the strangest one to start and end with.

For one thing, it is a direct sequel to another film, so much so that I would argue that the two films should be viewed as one long film.

:)
I saw it when I was trying to improve my top ten of 2007 with movies that were already available through Netflix at the time. It didn't work.

[Qrazy]

Running on Karma was just awful. Andy Lau's muscle suit has to be the worst costume design ever created. The film pisses all over Buddhism and common sense. What in God's name did some of you see in this film?

[Qrazy]

I saw it when I was trying to improve my top ten of 2007 with movies that were already available through Netflix at the time. It didn't work.

What did you dislike about it? It lacks the gravitas of the greatest gangster epics but the craft, set pieces and story are all there in my opinion. Character depth is dealt with OK but nothing spectacular, I can see that being an issue for many viewers. Yes, no?

[D_Davis]

What in God's name did some of you see in this film?

It's unhinged exuberance and genrebusting sensibilities.

Sure it's got some problems, but it also has character and charm and ton of a HK-patented WTF?! moments - moments that can only be found in a crazy HK film.

[Qrazy]

Exiled - 4.5

Give The Mission and the Election films a chance. If you don't like any of those you should probably abandon him. The Mission has the set pieces quality of Exiled without the over the top-ness of the action. The Election movies are simply excellent inner power struggle gangster films.

[Qrazy]

It's unhinged exuberance and genrebusting sensibilities.

Sure it's got some problems, but it also has character and charm and ton of a HK-patented WTF?! moments - moments that can only be found in a crazy HK film.

Not feeling the charm. Everything about it from the central relationship to the storyline to it's central themes and premise struck me as entirely disposable.

[D_Davis]

That's cool that you like The Mission so much.

It is such a well crafted film, and exemplifies To's attention to detail while setting him apart from the bullet ballet his contemporaries were so infatuated with.

To's action scenes play out like calculated chess games, and are more concerned with the quiet moments between the gun shots than the shots themselves.

[D_Davis]

Not feeling the charm. Everything about it from the central relationship to the storyline to it's central themes and premise struck me as entirely disposable.

It's definitely not a film for everyone.

I don't think there is any way I can defend it, or convince someone to like it. I think it's either a film you like or you don't - it either gets you or it doesn't.

When I watch it, I just think, yeah, I can dig it.

[Qrazy]

That's cool that you like The Mission so much.

It is such a well crafted film, and exemplifies To's attention to detail while setting him apart from the bullet ballet his contemporaries were so infatuated with.

To's action scenes play out like calculated chess games, and are more concerned with the quiet moments between the gun shots than the shots themselves.

Yeah I recently described him to an intrigued friend as the Leone of the East, although I may have been giving him slightly more credit than his due. I really like the escalator scene.

[Qrazy]

It's definitely not a film for everyone.

I don't think there is any way I can defend it, or convince someone to like it. I think it's either a film you like or you don't - it either gets you or it doesn't.

When I watch it, I just think, yeah, I can dig it.

One thing I quite like about To is that he keeps his films really trim. Even the ones I've really disliked at least they clop along and I know they'll be over soon. So none of his work runs the risk of over staying it's welcome.

[Qrazy]

Why don't you like the Election films more D?

[D_Davis]

Why don't you like the Election films more D?

They bored me.

I probably liked the first a little more than my rating suggests, and I probably like the second a little less than my rating suggests.

I think they are well made, they look and sound great, but they really failed to engage me.

I am rarely bored with To, but on these I was.

I do want to rewatch them back to back, maybe they will click with me more.

[D_Davis]

One thing I quite like about To is that he keeps his films really trim. Even the ones I've really disliked at least they clop along and I know they'll be over soon. So none of his work runs the risk of over staying it's welcome.

Oh yeah. To is a master at taking a simple idea and constructing an engaging series of situations around it. He speaks only though concrete images, and paints his tapestries with the least amount of strokes necessary to complete the picture.

[Qrazy]

Oh yeah. To is a master at taking a simple idea and constructing an engaging series of situations around it. He speaks only though concrete images, and paints his tapestries with the least amount of strokes necessary to complete the picture.

Yeah... I was just gonna say he makes short films.

[Melville]

Give The Mission and the Election films a chance.
Will do.

[Boner M]

Election - 5
Exiled - 7.5

Really should give Election another chance, Davis convinced me last year that I'd missed out on something.

[Li Lili]

I watched Mad Detective a few weeks ago and it was great, also saw Triangle co-directed by Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark!
I've just got Linger, haven't watched it yet, and I'm so looking forward seeing The Sparrow!

Anyway, I like very much Johnnie To :P , and I even can handle his romantic comedies.


In chronological order :
The Enigmatic Case - 4
Justice, My Foot! - 6,5
The Heroic Trio - 4
Mad Monk - 6,5
Heroic Trio 2 - 4
Loving You - 6
Fireline - 6
A Hero Never Dies - 8
Where a Good Man Goes - 8,5
Running Out of Time - 8
The Mission - 10
Needing You... - 6
Wu yen - 6
Love on a Diet - 6
Fulltime Killer - 7,5
Fat Choi Spirit - 6
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts - 6,5
PTU - 8
Turn Left, Turn Right - 6
Running on Karma - 10
Breaking News - 7
Throw Down - 8,5
Yesterday Once More - 6
Election - 10
Election 2 - 10
Exiled - 9
Triangle - 8
Mad Detective - 9

I've got The Fun, the Luck & the Tycoon and All About Ah-Long, which I still haven't had time to watch.

[Ezee E]

I watched Mad Detective a few weeks ago and it was great, also saw Triangle co-directed by Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark!
I've just got Linger, haven't watched it yet, and I'm so looking forward seeing The Sparrow!

Anyway, I like very much Johnnie To :P , and I even can handle his romantic comedies.


In chronological order :
The Enigmatic Case - 4
Justice, My Foot! - 6,5
The Heroic Trio - 4
Mad Monk - 6,5
Heroic Trio 2 - 4
Loving You - 6
Fireline - 6
A Hero Never Dies - 8
Where a Good Man Goes - 8,5
Running Out of Time - 8
The Mission - 10
Needing You... - 6
Wu yen - 6
Love on a Diet - 6
Fulltime Killer - 7,5
Fat Choi Spirit - 6
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts - 6,5
PTU - 8
Turn Left, Turn Right - 6
Running on Karma - 10
Breaking News - 7
Throw Down - 8,5
Yesterday Once More - 6
Election - 10
Election 2 - 10
Exiled - 9
Triangle - 8
Mad Detective - 9

I've got The Fun, the Luck & the Tycoon and All About Ah-Long, which I still haven't had time to watch.
you rock.

[D_Davis]

Looks like I was dethroned as the King of To!

:)

I'll have to rewatch the rom-coms so I can properly score them to bring this back up to a tie.

...

I don't think that's gonna happen, especially with my recent movie viewing habits.

:)

[BirdsAteMyFace]

Fulltime Killer - 7

[Qrazy]

Ok I'm going to check out Where a Good Man Goes, Running Out of Time, PTU and his new stuff post-Exiled and then judging by people's scores and my last three very disappointing viewings, I'm done with the guy.

[Watashi]

Saw Election.

Great film that actually brings something fresh to the underground mafia/triad genre with its traditional vs. modernization approach. Big D was a bit too buffoonish sometimes, but man, there was a lot of interesting faces spread out amongst the cast.

Especially this dude:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/3760/electionhg9.jpg

Holy crap, that guy has a skinny head!

[Rowland]

Great film that actually brings something fresh to the underground mafia/triad genre with its traditional vs. modernization approach.Maybe I'm mistaken, but I was under the impression that this was a common theme in the genre.

A particularly interesting movie that comes to mind when considering said theme is Hsiao-hsien Hou's Goodbye South, Goodbye.

[Ezee E]

Yep, a good Triad movie indeed. I'm looking forward to Exiled now.

[Ezee E]

Election - 8

by the way

[Stay Puft]

A Hero Never Dies - 7
Fulltime Killer - 6
PTU - 7
Breaking News - 6
Election - 8
Election 2 - 8
Linger - 4.5

Might try to catch a couple more later this week.

Adding:

The Mission - 8

Edited the original post, too. Not sure how/when this is being tabulated.

[MacGuffin]

Breaking News 4

[Llopin]

The Heroic Trio - 5
A Hero Never Dies - 6
Running Out of Time - 7.5
The Mission - 9
Fulltime Killer - 7
PTU - 8
Breaking News - 7
Election - 8
Election II - 8
Exiled - 9
Triangle - 6.5
Mad Detective - 8.5

[Raiders]

I'll have these results up by tonight.

[D_Davis]

Adding:

The Mission - 8

Edited the original post, too. Not sure how/when this is being tabulated.

So you really liked The Mission, eh?

It's really good.

I like how strategic and calculated the action sequences feel. They are almost inaction scenes.

[Stay Puft]

I like how strategic and calculated the action sequences feel. They are almost inaction scenes.

Yes!

The scene in the mall is incredible. The majority of the scene is simply each of the characters frozen in place, waiting for something to happen. It is one of the best action sequences I have seen To direct. Absolutely thick with tension, to the point that the camera finally tracking behind the pillars to show two more guys is basically a release, letting you finally know what you had already been suspecting, even though, again, nothing has happened yet. And then the janitor appears, and we ramp up again, etc.

Cool sound design, too. I loved the echo in the back alley shoot out.

[Qrazy]

Yes!

The scene in the mall is incredible. The majority of the scene is simply each of the characters frozen in place, waiting for something to happen. It is one of the best action sequences I have seen To direct. Absolutely thick with tension, to the point that the camera finally tracking behind the pillars to show two more guys is basically a release, letting you finally know what you had already been suspecting, even though, again, nothing has happened yet. And then the janitor appears, and we ramp up again, etc.

Cool sound design, too. I loved the echo in the back alley shoot out.

Although you do have to wonder why the janitor moved his cart there when he was also a hired killer and should've known he was essentially pushing a mirror in for the good guys. I guess we have to chalk that one up to his stupidity (the janitor's).

[Stay Puft]

Although you do have to wonder why the janitor moved his cart there when he was also a hired killer and should've known he was essentially pushing a mirror in for the good guys. I guess we have to chalk that one up to his stupidity (the janitor's).

Well, it's certainly possible that the guy simply didn't know the cart he was pushing was going to allow for that. Which, yes, would be an oversight on his part, but then I think the point is that these guys don't have the experience or teammwork of the protagonists. The important thing, for the bad guys, is that it serves as misdirection, and a mirror for them, too, to give them an edge. The protagonists act right away, and are confused when they discover that the two guys are gone (the camera purposefully holds on Francis Ng's reaction). Anthony Wong, of course, is too cool for school, and kills the janitor before he even gets his gun out, just as he anticipates the cop on the escalator. And that one main bad guy uses it as an opportunity to get away, realizing he is outnumbered. So I'd chalk it up to a combination of the janitor's lack of experience (he, too, is too slow to make a move) and Anthony Wong being too hot to handle.

[Qrazy]

Well, it's certainly possible that the guy simply didn't know the cart he was pushing was going to allow for that. Which, yes, would be an oversight on his part, but then I think the point is that these guys don't have the experience or teammwork of the protagonists. The important thing, for the bad guys, is that it serves as misdirection, and a mirror for them, too, to give them an edge. The protagonists act right away, and are confused when they discover that the two guys are gone (the camera purposefully holds on Francis Ng's reaction). Anthony Wong, of course, is too cool for school, and kills the janitor before he even gets his gun out, just as he anticipates the cop on the escalator. And that one main bad guy uses it as an opportunity to get away, realizing he is outnumbered. So I'd chalk it up to a combination of the janitor's lack of experience (he, too, is too slow to make a move) and Anthony Wong being too hot to handle.

That's true, the baddies do try to use it as a double misdirection.

[origami_mustache]

Election - 7.5
Election 2 - 5.5
Exiled - 8.5

[Raiders]

This still not tabulated? Who's responsible for this? Slacker.

[soitgoes...]

Um...

[Stay Puft]

Post any more ratings if you have 'em.

I'll tabulate this tomorrow.

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

Mad Detective - 5.5

[Qrazy]

Mad Detective - 5.5

Really? I thought it was quite well done if a bit disposable.

[Stay Puft]

RESULTS:
1. Exiled - 8.3 (15)
2. The Mission - 8.25 (10)
3. Throwdown - 8 (4)
4. Election 2 AKA Triad Election - 7.72 (9)
5. Running on Karma - 7.6 (5)
6. Election - 7.54 (13)
7. PTU - 7.31 (8)
8. Mad Detective - 7.25 (6)
9. A Hero Never Dies - 6.83 (6)
10. Breaking News - 6.55 (10)
11. Fulltime Killer - 6.32 (11)

DID NOT QUALIFY:
Where a Good Man Goes - 8.5 (2)
Running out of Time - 7.83 (3)
Triangle - 7.33 (3)
Mad Monk - 7.17 (3)
The Bare Footed Kid - 7 (1)
Needing You... - 6.75 (2)
Yesterday Once More - 6.75 (2)
The Eighth Happiness - 6.5 (1)
Justice, My Foot! - 6.5 (2)
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts - 6.5 (1)
Turn Left, Turn Right - 6.5 (2)
Wu Yen - 6.25 (2)
The Big Heat - 6 (1)
Fat Choi Spirit - 6 (1)
Lifeline AKA Fireline - 6 (2)
Loving You - 6 (1)
The Heroic Trio - 4.66 (3)
The Enigmatic Case - 4.5 (2)
Heroic Trio 2: Executioners - 4.5 (2)
Linger - 4.5 (1)
Love on a Diet - 4.5 (2)

DIRECTOR RATING:
7.42

BIGGEST FAN: Sycophant
BIGGEST HATER: iosos
MOST DEDICATED: Li Lili
MOST WATCHED: Exiled

[Sycophant]

The Election films below Throwdown. I never would've guessed.

[Rowland]

I really need to see a good copy of The Mission.

[Qrazy]

I know the scores are already up for reference but someone recommend me which to watch and which to stay away from out of these... if any...

# Justice, My Foot! (1992)
# Casino Raiders II (1993)
# The Bare-Footed Kid (1993)
# The Mad Monk (1993)
# The Heroic Trio (1993)
# Executioners (1993)
# Loving You (1995)
# A Moment of Romance III (1996)
# Lifeline (1997)
# Running Out of Time (1999)
# Where a Good Man Goes (1999)
# Needing You... (2000) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai)
# Help!!! (2000) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai)
# Wu yen (2001) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai)
# Running Out of Time 2 (2001) (co-directed with Law Wing-Cheong)
# Fat Choi Spirit (2002) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai)
# My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai)
# Love For All Seasons (2003) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai)
# Turn Left, Turn Right (2003) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai)
# Yesterday Once More (2004)
# Triangle (2007) (co-directed with Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam)
# Linger (2008)

[Sycophant]

The Mad Monk is awesome. His other Stephen Chow collab, Justice, My Foot! isn't liked much by anybody (I fell asleep during it).

Needing You... is a goofy-ass, cheesy romantic comedy that worked for me more than it should have. I'm hesitant to recommend it outright because of how hazy my memory is, but it certainly helps round out a picture of Mr. To.

Running Out of Time is widely considered awesome. I disagree. Probably my least favorite of his films that I've seen.

Word has it that The Heroic Trio is his best film of that era.

[Qrazy]

The Mad Monk is awesome. His other Stephen Chow collab, Justice, My Foot! isn't liked much by anybody (I fell asleep during it).

Needing You... is a goofy-ass, cheesy romantic comedy that worked for me more than it should have. I'm hesitant to recommend it outright because of how hazy my memory is, but it certainly helps round out a picture of Mr. To.

Running Out of Time is widely considered awesome. I disagree. Probably my least favorite of his films that I've seen.

Word has it that The Heroic Trio is his best film of that era.

I haven't liked any of his romcoms so yeah I think I'll avoid... I'll check out Mad Monk and Running out of Time and then maybe Heroic Trio much later but I find that era of his career pretty lackluster. He's doing his best work right now imo.

PS We have to put a stop to this Election films backlash that's breaking out across the site (Boner, D, Iosis)... I suggest slitting their throats while they sleep.

[Sycophant]

PS We have to put a stop to this Election films backlash that's breaking out across the site (Boner, D, Iosis)... I suggest slitting their throats while they sleep.
Election 2 gave me some ideas about how to win over support.

Arf.

[D_Davis]

I'll give you a +, =, or - rating, with = being, okay

# Justice, My Foot! (1992) -
# The Bare-Footed Kid (1993) +
# The Mad Monk (1993) ++
# The Heroic Trio (1993) -
# Executioners (1993) -
# Lifeline (1997) =
# Running Out of Time (1999) =
# Where a Good Man Goes (1999) ++
# Needing You... (2000) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai) =
# Wu yen (2001) (co-directed with Wai Ka-Fai) =
# Yesterday Once More (2004) +
# Triangle (2007) (co-directed with Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam) =