Mark Au's Top Ten Hong Kong Movies
FIST OF LEGEND
Set in a very chaotic time in China's history and just before a very dark period
(the Japanese occupation in the 1930's). Jet Li is studying in Japan. He learns of the
death of his "sifu", killed by a Japanese martial arts master. He immediately
returns to his homeland. His goal, to avenge his master's death, set us up for some of the
greatest martial arts action on film. Choreographed by Yuen Wo-Ping, the fights are fast,
deadly and brutal. Particularly the finale with the Japanese general (Billy Chow). This is
Jet Li at his best and probably one of the best martial arts movies to date.
SWORDSMAN 2
Jet Li is the wine-loving hero who was planning to retire, if he can. Bridget Lin is Asia
the Invincible, who castrates himself to acquire supernatural powers and gain the support
of the Emperor. Tsui Hark has produced the goods again. This movie is rapid fire with so
much going on it constantly amazes, with characters like Kiddo (Michelle Reis), Uncle Asia
(Rosamund Kwan) and Blue Phoenix (Fennie Yuen). The fight scenes are at frenetic pace and
wonderful to watch. The plot has so many twists and turns, I could fill a page.Just see
it!
THE KILLER
If Jet Li is the ultimate in style and grace, Chow Yun Fat is Mr. Cool. He is a
hitman but no ordinary one, he has a moral code. Accidentally blinding a singer, he is
setup by triad leader, Shing Fui-On, on his last contract to make money to pay for
treatment to give back her eyesight. Not only Shing Fui-On is after him, he is also being
hunted by Danny Lee, a cop. Lee realises that this is no ordinary contract killer, but a
man of honour. They team up to fight the triad. There is the characteristic John Woo
touch, action and hails of bullets. See what the The Replacement Killers wasn't.
CITY ON FIRE
This predates The Killer. Ringo Lam is giving us a modern day police
drama as opposed to Woo's action of The Killer. Chow Yun Fat is an undercover cop
after a gang who murdered another cop. He infiltrates the gang, becoming friends with
Danny Lee. There is the robbery that goes wrong and the famous "stand off" scene
(imitated by Tarrantino in Reservoir Dogs). For me the chase through Hong Kong as
Chow Yun Fat is trying to meet Lee is fantastic. This is probably one of Chow Yun Fat's
best roles, he received an award for it.
THE BLADE
This is dark, realistic and grim. The hero is a sword factory worker with a
broken sword, Ting On (Chiu Man Cheuk) who leaves his home to look for his father's
killer. He loses his arm in an amazing scene but is found and nursed back to health. While
this is going on Ling (Sang Ni), daughter of the workshop's owner and Iron Head (Moses
Chan Ho), On's buddy, go looking for him. A trip through a land of robbers, rapists and
killers. On finds a half burned swordsman training manual and trains to avenge his
father's death (the One Armed Swordsman legend). The fight scenes are fast and furious.
The backgrounds are dusty and depressing. The Blade is one of Tsui Hark's finest
yet. It leaves you drained as you travel with the characters.
HARD BOILED
Chow Yun Fat is a cop. Tony Leung is a cop, undercover in the triad. Anthony Wong
is the triad leader they are hunting. Another great movie by John Woo. The action scenes
in this movie is just unreal. It was the follow up to The Killer. The scenes in
the Hospital and the Warehouse are characteristic Woo style, while Chow Yun Fat shows us
how many bad guys you can take down and in how many different positions you can shoot a
gun. Tony Leung's plays to perfection the undercover cop walking the fine line.
DRAGON INN
Yau Mo-Yan (Bridget Lin) is the swordswoman girlfriend of Chow Wai-On (Tony
Leung) a government official. She is sent to rescue two children kidnapped by the evil
Eunuch Tsao (Donnie Yen). After rescuing the children they meet up at a lonely inn run by
Jade King (Maggie Cheung). Trapped by storms they are now sitting targets for the Eunuch
and his men. The fight scenes are violent and beautifully choreographed (action directors
Ching Siu-Tung and Yuen Tak). There are magnificent shots of large armies, Donnie Yen
shows his underrated martial artistry and of course the striptease fight. Another great
period action movie by Tsui Hark.
POLICE STORY 3
I have never been a great fan of Jackie Chan. Although I respect his talent, he has always
been a little too slapstick for me. For all that Police Story 3 is a well paced and
entertaining movie. Michelle Yeoh and Jackie Chan are really good in this chase across
Asia. This time Chan is tracking drug dealers, Yeoh is assigned as his partner. The stunts
are amazing by both leads, helicopters, moving trains and motorcycles. The usual outtakes
are fun too. If I wanted to introduce someone, fed on a Hollywood diet, to HK movies this
would probably be the one.
WING CHUN
Yes I like period action movies. In this one Michelle Yeoh runs a shop (she sells
tofu) and fights bad guys during her off time. Donnie Yen is her boyfriend. Lots of wire
action really well done. The fight while balancing on the spear is amazing. This is a fun
movie, with no real blood (except for one very painful scene, especially for male
viewers). Lots of fun and who can resist Michelle Yeoh.
IRON MONKEY
This would probably not make many lists of greatest HK or Tsui Hark movies. It's
in for the same reason Wing Chun is. This is over the top wire fun. Donny Yen is the hero
who teams up with the Robin Hood character Iron Monkey (Yu Rong Kwong) alias Dr Yang, when
his son Fei Hung (yes the Wong Fei Hung) is captured by an evil renegade shaolin trained
governor. The fight scenes are fast paced, with the characters giving you a running
commentary on what techniques they are using. No Shadow Kicks feature prominently. You
also get flying sleeves, super pressdowns and Buddha's fist. Great fun and even another
mix of the theme from Once Upon a Time in China. Not a Tsui Hark masterpiece but
great viewing. Yuen Wo-Ping is the action director.
27 Jan 2000 © Mark Au
MARK AU lives in Central
Victoria, from where he maintains the Jet Li Australia
website.
