Change Your Image
wendy-knottcomer
Reviews
Jie mei qing shen (1994)
Sweet and funny
This film has gotten a bad rap! While it might not be politically correct in it's portrayal of gays, it is a wonderful film. Tony Leung Kar-Fai is eye candy and ALWAYS worth watching. He gives a terrific performance in almost every film he has been in, even if the film is a dog! If you watch this film for no other reason than that, you won't be disappointed.
However, this is such a dear love story. All of the characters are well played and the birth scene is great from beginning to end. When the Leung character holds the baby and starts to cry...I start sobbing. What a lovely moment.
Don't believe all you hear. This film may not be GREAT cinema, but it is a pleasant, funny romp with a touching core. See it.
Feng chen san xia (1993)
Boys will be boys!
This is one of the funniest and most charming "guy" films I've seen in a LOOOOOONG time!
It is a 90's look at three flawed (therefore REAL) guys sharing an apartment in HK.
Tony Leung Chui Wai is Tom, who has dated the same girl since high school and would like to know what he has been missing, but is too afraid to find out. Tony Leung Kar Fai is Dick - an aging womanizer who has never grown up and who is completely in the dark about his "regular" girlfriend's (Anita Yeun) love for and devotion to him. Lawrence Cheng (a real cameleon of an actor) is Giorgio - aka Hairy - who is a sensitive and clueless guy with effeminate characteristics.
The situations are crazy, the story line nuts, and the performances wonderful! These three have acted in films together, before. Who in HK has not? But, in this movie, the comraderie is so effective. You would swear that these guys really do live together and have known each other since childhood. Most of the goofiness is so spontaneous and natural that it often feels real.
I watch this film over and over (and not just to see the two Tonys - though that is reason enough!) just for the joy of seeing the interaction. I laugh so hard my face hurts. This is one of those films that just keeps getting better as you become more "friendly" with it.
This is a must see.
Huo shao dao (1990)
Not a Jackie Chan movie
First, let me state that Jackie Chan is NOT the star of this film. Nor are Andy Lau, or Sammo Hung.
Tony Leung Kar Fai IS the star and plays a policeman who is put in prison to find out why a vicious gangster was freed to wreak havoc on the world. In prison he finds a rats' nest of corruption and violence.
He is soon thinking of ways to avoid and/or alter the volatile atmosphere he finds there by befriending one of the Kingpins, and by becoming a "cheerleader" for more wholesome ways to let off steam (i.e. a race to see who can finish building a road first).
Jackie Chan has a tiny role as a man who accidentally kills the brother of mobster, Andy Lau, and is seen in sporadic bursts throughout the remainder of the film, trying to avoid death. In general, a forgettable role...and I'm such a Jackie fan that I even own most of the "dogs" he has done. I include this film in that category.
Andy Lau is seen so seldom, you almost forget he is in the film.
All of this is just fine with me as I watch the film for Tony Leung who is a real babe! He is a terrific and versatile actor who shines even in losers like this film. He is kind of like an Asian, male Bette Davis. His performance does not disappoint.
Nor does Sammo Hung, who is touching in his performance of a man who will do and risk anything to visit his young son.
The end of this film is a confusing gore fest which will thrill some and disgust others.
All in all, I gave the film a 5. It was worth seeing, but I may not revisit for some time.