Having lived in HK for some years now, I've developed a taste for some HK movies. Granted, many of them aren't so great quality-wise, but be persistent and you will discover some of them aren't just good, they are all-time classics, not just by HK film standard, but also by world movie watchers. Here are some of favourties:
1. Infernal Affairs (2002)
The movie about undercovered cops hunting each other, one working for the police (Tony Leung), the other working for the triads (Andy Lau). Martin Scorsese later adapted this flick to become the Oscar-winning "Departed". I remember the oscar announcer mentioned the film was based on a "Japanese" film, what an insult to the HK film-makers. The trailer:
Infernal Affairs - Trailer - HQ - YouTube
2. Triad Election (2006/7?)
Two-part story about internal power struggle between the triads for power. What distinguish this film from the sub-standard triad flicks is the more realistic (and less glorified) portrayal of the triads:
Triad Election Trailer - YouTube
3. Legend of the First (Jet Li)
Best action scene of Jet Li, a cut above his hollywood films:
Greatest Fight Scenes: Fist of Legend - Jet Li vs. Billy Chow - YouTube
4. Drunken Master 2 (Jackie Chan)
The best fight scene in Jackie's career, you won't see him doing this kind of action in his hollywood films:
Drunken Master 2 - (Jackie Chan) - Final Fight - YouTube
5. Once Upon a Time in China 1,2,3
The film series that launch Jet Li into fame:
Jet li VS Donnie Yen (Once upon a Time in China 2) - YouTube
So what are your favourite HK films?
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02-09-2011, 08:51 AM #1
What is your favourite HK movie?
Last edited by Watercooler; 02-09-2011 at 08:53 AM.
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02-09-2011, 08:58 AM #2
Is Kungfu Shuffle a HK movie? I would vote for that.
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02-09-2011, 09:26 AM #3
Don't know so many but I liked
A Better Tomorrow (I and II)
the Jackie Chan Police Story series - I am in awe of of Jackie, Maggie Cheung and Michelle Yeoh (yes I know she's Malay)
Hero (does that count? loved that)
Infernal Affairs (original and also the US remake)Last edited by Satay Sue; 02-09-2011 at 09:28 AM.
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02-09-2011, 09:35 AM #4
While the ending was a bit too much, I did like Echoes of the Rainbow: Echoes of the Rainbow - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Most of Wong Kar Wai's movies:
2046,
In the Mood for Love,
Chungking Express,
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02-09-2011, 09:50 AM #5
Days Of Being Wild
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02-09-2011, 10:08 AM #6
Kung Ku Panda
(What? it's not a Hong Kong movie you say?!)
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02-09-2011, 10:11 AM #7
As posted on another thread, I love Jackie Chan's movies from 80s. I also loved Echoes of Rainbow, Crossing Hennessey, Sparrow, The Protege etc. Recently I saw the silly comedy The Fortune Buddies and thoroughly enjoyed it, though I won't be watching it multiple times.
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02-09-2011, 10:37 AM #8
Election 2 is even better than Election IMHO. Johnnie To's done much of the best stuff in the last 20 years (he's also done a fair amount commercial nonsense as well to help pay for the good stuff of course) - PTU, Breaking News, Exiled, Throw Down, for example, are all worth seeing.
Pang Ho Cheung is usually interesting (although patchy) - Isabella is worth seeing
Fruit Chan did some good things early on before he disappeared up his own orifice - Made In Hong Kong for example.
Wong Kar Wai's films are worth seeing for Chris Doyle's cinematography but of recent years you're better off looking at some stills in order to appreciate the art direction and cinematography rather than sitting through the rambling tediousness which is the actual movie. He's become very popular in France which is always a worrying sign for any film director (Hi Mat
)
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02-09-2011, 10:46 AM #9
Does Enter the Dragon count? It is filmed in Hong Kong.
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02-09-2011, 10:50 AM #10
Ooh yes, one of my faves. I think it was a joint US-effort.
(trivia, Jackie Chan appears in the nunchucks (spelling?) scene very briefly as one of the villains men)Last edited by Satay Sue; 02-09-2011 at 10:51 AM.
