Magic Kitchen (2004)

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Posted on February 11, 2004 by Eugene

I’m scared.

Not exactly the stock-standard opening would expect from a review of a romantic comedy. Of course, this fear has nothing to with Magic Kitchen itself – if anything Magic Kichen is actually quite an enjoyably romantic comedy with nary a scary moment.

No, what is a cause of concern is my complete inability to recall a Sammi Cheng film that I did not like at all. Without it, I’m not sure whether the warm fuzzies that tend to … (read more)

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Jubei Chan, the Ninja Girl (2003)

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Posted on February 3, 2004 by Ching Yee

The cover of Jubei Chan looked harmless enough — what with the cute girl on a bike and the pink love heart designs you’d think it’s just another teen series like Ranma and the like: romantic hijinks with a samurai twist thrown in.

Hah… nothing will prepare you for the loopiness and the drama that is to follow!

300 years ago, Jubei Yagyu, Japan’s greatest warrior passes away, leaving his faithful assistant, Koinosuke to look for a successor and the … (read more)

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Fantasia (2004)

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Posted on January 26, 2004 by Eugene

Yeah! Chinese New Year! Fireworks, Lion Dancing, Dragonboating, the colour, the energy, the food… and of course the mandatory CNY films out of Hong Kong to give us a kickstart into the new year of the Monkey.

And yes, Fantasia is one of those films that gives us a kick. Unfortunately not exactly the kind of kick you want to start the new year with (unless of course you LIKE rolling around the floor in pain – but who am … (read more)

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Conman (1998)

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Posted on December 31, 2003 by Alison

Someone apparently thought that spraying Andy Lau’s hair silver would make him look old. Sorry, matey, but it just ain’t workin’. Lau Tak Wah looks totally delectable as ever, and just a smidge more elegant with a silver coiffure, if such is possible. And although the annoyingly wide-eyed Athena Chu scoffs at one point “You shouldn’t smoke too much. You’re getting old”, our Andy still retains sufficient sex appeal to engage Athena’s character in one of the better love scenes … (read more)

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Women From Mars (2002)

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Posted on December 30, 2003 by Alison

If you’ve been waiting for years to see three men looking into their boxers and screaming, then wait no longer: Women From Mars can fill that very specific need. If, like me, you’d managed to get this far in life without being bothered by such odd cravings, then you might still get a bit of a laugh.

For starters, it might satisfy your desire to see some sexist blokes get their just desserts. And while losing their willies might seem … (read more)

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Anna in Kungfu Land (2003)

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Posted on December 29, 2003 by Eugene

The opening sequence held so much promise. Cheesy animation evocative of Powerpuff Girls with all the various participants in their computer-generated alter egos in a five second animation that pretty told you all you really needed to know about the characters, aka their schticks. With the title Anna in Kungfu Land, there was the hope of a mindless but enjoyable farce of a live action cartoon.

Thankfully, a significant chunk of the film plays on this and milks it … (read more)

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Wing Chun (1994)

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Posted on November 27, 2003 by Penny

Yim Wing Chun (Michelle Yeoh) is a female martial arts expert who lives with her aunt, Abacus Fong (Yuen King Tan), a tofu-seller with a knack for saying exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong moment. Wing Chun’s unwomanly ways are the despair of her father, and local men keep trying to put her in her place. She deals with one such unfortunate by telling him that if he can destroy her tray of tofu she will do as … (read more)

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Lost in Time (2003)

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Posted on November 26, 2003 by Eugene

There is nothing quite like watching a performance from somebody you dismiss as just another pretty face. Yes that is right. It seems Cecilia is more of an actor than I ever gave her credit for previously. When I think of what I have seen her in it is really hard to get past the constant ham and overacting that seems so common in films from Hong Kong. Lost in Time is pretty much HER film and her dramatic abilities … (read more)

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