A

ALL FOR THE WINNER (Stephen Chiau, Ng Man-Tat, Sharla Cheung) 7/10 HKD #252

AMSTERDAM CONNECTION (Jason Pai, Fan Mui-sang, Bolo Yeung) 2/10

AN AMOROUS WOMAN OF TANG DYNASTY (Pat Ha, Alex Man) 8/10 HKD #233

ANCIENT CHINESE WHOREHOUSE (Yvonne Yung, Kent Cheng, Ching Suet-ngan) 5/10 HKD #165a

ANGEL FORCE (Moon Lee, Hugo Ng) 5/10 HKD #166

THE ANONYMOUS HEROES (Ti Lung, David Chiang) 6/10 HKD #145

THE ASSASSIN (Zhang Fengyi, Rosamund Kwan) 5/10 HKD #139

THE ARCH (Lisa Lu, Roy Chiao) 6/10

ARMAGEDDON (Andy Lau, Michelle Reis, Anthony Wong) 4/10 HKD #114

AS TEARS GO BY (Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk) 7/10 HKD #138

ASTONISHING (Alex Fong Chung-shun, Christy Chung) 2/10
"Astonishing" is certainly the key word here. This film (about an affluent woman whose identity is stolen) manages to be astonishingly contrived, astonishingly predictable, and astonishingly dumb. Christy Chung gives her all in the role, and is moderately effective, but the movie would have been a lost cause even with a better performance at its core. Some movies have a bad ending; this one has THREE! Alex Fong co-stars in this Herman Yau effort, which represents a real backward step for the director, who was showing considerable improvement in recent years. (written December 2004)

THE AVENGING FIST (Stephen Fung, Kristy Yang, Gigi Leung, Sammo Hung) 4/10
Andrew Lau and Corey Yuen's overblown TEKKEN ripoff bombards the viewer with fewer CGI effects than THE LEGEND OF ZU but ends up seeming more gratuitous. Those not addicted to anime and video games will stop caring about the uninspired storyline a half hour in. Of the high-powered cast, only veterans Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, and Cecilia Yip manage to make an impression amidst all of the computer generated eyestrain. (written May 2002)

B

THE BASTARD (Lily Li, Lau Dan) 6/10
A lesser but still quite watchable Chor Yuen period effort that benefits from Lily Li's persuasive performance in a non-action role. Intercontinental's R3 is up to their usual standards. (written April 2003)

THE BATTLE WIZARD (Danny Lee, Tanny Tien) 6/10 HKD #250

BISHONEN (Daniel Wu, Terence Yin, Stephen Fung) 4/10

BEAUTY AND THE BREAST (Francis Ng, Daniel Wu, Michelle Lee) 4/10
All-too-typical HK romantic/comedy dreck partially salvaged by Francis Ng's game performance and a quality cast. (written April 2003)

BEIJING ROCKS (Daniel Wu, Hsu Chi, Geng Le) 5/10 HKD #95

BET ON FIRE (Sharla Cheung, Cherie Chung, Paul Chun) 7/10 HKD #204

BIG BROTHER CHENG (Chen Kuan-tai, Wong Yue) 5/10 HKD#155

BLACK MAGIC (Ku Feng, Lo Lieh, Tanny Tien) 6/10 HKD #219

BLACK MASK 2: CITY OF MASKS (Andy On, Traci Lords) 2/10
What a disaster! Over produced, over edited (the action is so ill-covered and jerkily cut together, it is a pain to follow), badly written and acted (in a cast consisting mostly of wrestlers, Traci Lords probably gives the most competent line readings), annoying comic relief (including a gwei mui equivalent of Karen Mok's character in #1 who freezes whenever she is touched by a man), and mind numbingly idiotic plotting. Tsui needs to give up on English language productions and start collaborating with someone that will help keep him focussed and reign in his eccentricities. He seems to be flailing around here, trying this, that, and the other thing, without a clue of what he really wants to do. The screen is constantly filled with people running and flying around amidst eyestraining CGI (most of which looks not so much fanciful as horribly unconvincing) but the film almost never engages one's interest. Dubbing this movie in Cantonese for the HK release is an excellent idea. With the talent involved, it should never have been produced in English in the first place. I haven't seen too many 2002 HK releases yet but, once you eliminate the DTV junk from that list, this is easily the worst movie of the year. (written January 2003)

THE BLACK PANTHER WARRIORS (Alan Tang, Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung Kar-fai, Carrie Ng, Simon Yam) 2/10 HKD #291

BLIND FIST OF BRUCE (Bruce Li, Simon Yuen) 5/10
Better than average Bruce Li effort, thanks mainly to the always welcome Simon Yuen as his blind martial arts teacher. Brentwood's DVD is fullscreen and has some sound problems but still ranks as one of their better products. (written May 2003)

THE BLOOD BROTHERS (Ti Lung, David Chiang) 6/10
Slightly draggy Chang Cheh martial arts entry could use some trimming but is still well worth catching. Incontinental's R3 DVD looks great, though the stereo re-mix often calls attention to itself.

BODY PUZZLE (Kent Cheng, Patrick Tam, Gigi Lai) 3/10 HKD#102

BODY WEAPON (Angie Cheung, Vincent Zhao, Elvis Tsui) 3/10 HKD #127

THE BOXER FROM SHANTUNG (Cheung Kuan-tai, David Chiang) 7/10 HKD #200A

THE BRAVE ARCHER (Alexander Fu, Tien Niu) 7/10 HKD #261

BREAKING NEWS (Nick Cheung, Kelly Chen, Richie Ren) 7/10
Kelly Chen is merely fair in a critical role as a no-nonsense police officer, but the highly variable Nick Cheung and Richie Ren are not bad at all in this Johnny To crime drama, which centers on how the media and technology effect a police standoff with some Mainland criminals. The opening action sequence (one long unbroken take) is especially well-staged. Mega Star's R0 DVD looks and sounds quite good. (written February 2005)

BROTHERS FROM THE WALLED CITY (Chin Siu-ho, Phillip Ko, Kwan Hoi-shan) 6/10 HKD #294

BROTHERHOOD (Alex Man, Danny Lee) 6/10 HKD #210

BRUCE LEE'S SECRET (Bruce Li, Tang Pei, Hsia Ling-ling) 3/10
Also known as STORY OF THE DRAGON, this Bruce Li vehicle is a lame, outright laughable revamp of THE CHINESE CONNECTION set (but clearly not shot) in San Francisco. (written 2003)

THE BUDDHIST FIST (Yuen Shun-yee, Tsui Siu-ming) 6/10 HKD #130a

BUDDHA'S PALM (Alex Man, Derek Yee, Cho Tat-wah) 8/10 HKD #174

BULLETS OF LOVE (Leon Lai, Asaka Seto, Terence Yin) 5/10

BURNING PARADISE (Willie Chi, Carman Lee) 7/10 HKD #141

BURY ME HIGH (Chin Kar-Lok, Moon Lee, Yuen Wah) 6/10 HKD#132

BUTTERFLY & SWORD (Michelle Yeoh, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Joey Wang) 8/10 HKD #153

THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS (Michelle Mai Suet, Lau Siu-ming, Wong Shu-tong) 7/10 HKD #258

C

THE CASINO (Yueh Hua, Lily Ho) 5/10 HKD #248

CASINO RAIDERS (Andy Lau, Alan Tam, Idy Chan) 8/10 HKD #172a

CAT VS RAT (Alexander Fu, Adam Cheng) 8/10 HKD #258a

CAUSE WE ARE SO YOUNG (Leo Ku, Kathy Chow) 5/10
Intermittently effective but rarely truthful look at four young men and their relationships with a variety of women. (written April 2003)

CHALLENGE OF THE GAMESTERS (Patrick Tse, Chen Kuan-tai, Wong Yue) 7/10 HKD #172

CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS (Gordon Lau, Lau Kar-leung) 7/10 HKD #233a

CHICKEN AND DUCK TALK (Michael Hui Koon-man, Ricky Hui Koon-ying, Sylvia Chang) 8/10 HKD #279

THE CHINESE BOXER (Jimmy Wang, Lo Lieh) 5/10 HKD #242

CHINESE HEROES (Chin Kar-lok, Lee San-san, Ken Wong) 4/10 HKD #247

A CHINESE LEGEND (Joey Wang, Jacky Cheung, Sharla Cheung) 8/10 HKD #192

A CHINESE ODYSSEY PART ONE AND PART TWO (Stephen Chiau, Ng Man-tat, Karen Mok, Athena Chu) 8/10 HKD#141a

CHINESE ODYSSEY 2002 (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Faye Wong, Vicki Zhao, Chang Chen, Athena Chu) 5/10
The cinematography and costumes are gorgeous and the cast is uniformly good (especially Athena Chu, essaying a character quite unlike any she has ever played) but, outside of three or four genuinely inspired situations and sight gags, the laughs are just not there and the romance is unconvincing. Another disappointment from HK's most overrated director, Jeff Lau. (written May 2002)

CHUNGKING EXPRESS (Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Faye Wong, Tony Leung Chiu-wai) 9/10 HKD #262

CLAN OF AMAZONS (Liu Yung, Ching Li, Yueh Hua) 7/10 HKD #240

CLAN OF THE WHITE LOTUS (Gordon Liu, Lo Lieh, Kara Hui) 8/10 HKD #265

THE CLONES OF BRUCE LEE (Dragon Lee, Bruce Le, Bruce Lai) 1/10
This Dick Randall cheapie is as ridiculous as its title but, aside from a handful of unintentional laughs spread very far apart, it is mostly a chore to sit through. (written April 2004)

CODE OF HONOR (Chow Yun-Fat, Dick Wei) 5/10 HKD #145a

COLOR OF PAIN (Kenya Sawada, Raymong Wong Ho-yin, Josie Ho) 5/10 HKD #104

COLOUR OF THE TRUTH (Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Raymond Wong Ho-yin, Jordan Chan) 6/10 HKD #177

COMEUPPANCE (Patrick Tam, Jordan Chan, Sunny Chan) 8/10

CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE (Jet Li, DMX, Tom Arnold) 3/10
There is a fine line between stoopid and stupid when it comes to action movies and this Joel Silver misfire is firmly into the latter category by its final third, obliterating the little good will it built up before then. At least Warner's widescreen R1 DVD looks and sounds excellent. (written September 2003)

CRIME OF A BEAST (Samuel Leung, Natalie Ng, Grace Lam) 2/10 HKD #98

CRIME OF BEAST 2 (Grace Lam, Sophie Ngan) 2/10 HKD #132a

THE CRIMINALS (Shih Szu, Lo Lieh, Tanny Tien) 7/10 HKD #205

CRIPPLED AVENGERS (Chen Kuan-tai, Phillip Kwok, Lo Mang) 8/10 HKD #242a

CRYSTAL FIST (Billy Chong, Simon Yuen) 6/10
You know you're in for Old School fun from any movie featuring Simon Yuen in his "Ol' Dirty Bastard" persona and this Billy Chong vehicle delivers on most levels, though the climactic battle is a bit disappointing. Xenon's DVD (inexplicably retitled JADE CLAW) is partially letterboxed and better quality than usual for this label. (written June 2003)

D

DANCE OF THE DRUNK MANTIS (Simon Yuen, Hwang Jang-Il) HKD #236

DANGER HAS TWO FACES (Leung Kar-Yan, Paul Chu Kong) 6/10
Bloody HK action fare that entertains provided one does not taken it the least bit seriously. Intercontinental's R3 DVD looks great and the stereo re-mix is bearable. (written January 2004)

DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS (Lily Chung, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Hugo Ng) 3/10 HKD #287

DAYS OF BEING WILD (Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk) 7/10 HKD #138

THE DEADLY BREAKING SWORD (Ti Lung, Alexander Fu) 7/10 HKD #269

DEADLY CHINA DOLLS (Angela Mao, Carter Wong, Lung Fei) 6/10
A pretty good Angela Mao vehicle (aka THE OPIUM TRAIL) available only in English dubbed form on a crummy bootleg DVD derived from an incredibly worn MGM print. (written May 2004)

DEATH DUEL (Derek Yee) 8/10
First rate Chor Yuen period effort with Derek Yee (impressive in his film debut) as a world weary swordsman who cannot find peace even after staging his own death. A consistently engrossing mixture of what one would expect from this type of scenario and new, intriguing elements. Intercontinental's R3 DVD looks excellent and the stereo re-mix is bearable. (written February 2003)

DESCENDANT OF THE SUN (Derek Yee, Cherie Chung) 7/10 HKD #266

DEVIL TOUCH (Pinky Cheung, Iris Chai, Alex Fong) 6/10 HKD #101a

DIRTY HO (Gordon Lau, Wong Yue, Kara Hui) 8/10 HKD #273

DIRTY KUNG FU (Wong Yue, Wilson Tong, Kara Maka) 6/10 HKD #234

DISCIPLES OF THE 36TH CHAMBER (Gordon Lau, Hsiao Hou) 7/10 HKD #179a

DON'T LOOK BACK OR YOU'LL BE SORRY (Deanie Yip, Dayo Wong, Anita Yuen) 5/10

DOWNTOWN TORPEDOES (Jordan Chan, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Charlie Young) 7/10 HKD #260

DRAGON CHRONICLES: THE MAIDENS OF THE HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN (Brigitte Lin, Gong Li Sharla Cheung) 6/10 HKD #205a

DRAGON FROM RUSSIAN (Sam Hui, Nina Li, Maggie Cheung) 6/10 HKD #239a

DRAGON INN (Tony Leung Ka-fai, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk) 8/10 HKD #184

DRAGON ON FIRE (John Liu, Dragon Lee, Phillip Ko) 5/10
One of Godfrey Ho's goofiest movies, this Asso Asia production (aka THE DRAGON, THE HERO) boasts a solid cast of genre faves and some quality kung fu, and actually plays better with the ridiculous English dubbing (one fighter gets a look at apeman Bolo Yeung's substantial chest and exclaims "I'll pick your fruits!"). Xenon's dubbed version is cropboxed and okay quality but was derived from a UK release that is cut by about 3 minutes. (written June 2003)

DRAGON SWAMP (Cheng Pei-Pei, Yueh Hua) 8/10 HKD #234a

DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER (Brigitte Lin, Sylvia Chan) 7/10
I don't know the genre well enough to say how this Li Han-hsiang film compares to earlier Huangmeixi productions, but the pronounced theatricality never interfered with my enjoyment and the movie looks superbly colorful and detailed on Intercontinental's R3 DVD (which features the original mono audio). A definite must for Brigitte Lin and Sylvia Chang fans, both of whom are photographed in highly flattering fashion throughout. (written February 2005)

DRUNKEN MASTER (Jackie Chan, Simon Yuen, Hwang Jang-il) 8/10 HKD #214

DRUNKEN MONKEY (Gordon Lau, Lau Kar-leung) 5/10
While it is certainly nice to see a new Shaw Brothers kung fu film (particularly one directed by Lau Kar-leung and featuring Gordon Lau and Chi Kuan-chun), the results are barely adequate and offer only a marginal improvement over Lau's previous film, the infamous DRUNKEN MASTER III. Asia Video Publishing's R3 DVD is 4:3 letterbox but looks nice. The Cantonese track, however, is plagued by a number of dropouts. (written September 2003)

DRUNKEN TAI-CHI (Donnie Yen, Yuen Cheung-yan, Lydia Shum) 6/10 HKD #164

THE DUEL (Andy Lau, Ekin Cheng, Nick Cheung, Vicki Zhao) 6/10 HKD #116

DUMPLINGS: THREE ... EXTREMES (Miriam Yeung, Bai Ling, Tony Leung Ka-fai) 8/10 HKD #267

DYNAMO (Bruce Li, Ku Feng) 5/10 HKD #164

E

EASTERN CONDORS (Sammo Hung, Yuen Wah, Joyce Godenzi) 8/10 HKD #194

THE EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER (Gordon Lau, Alexander Fu, Philip Ko, Kara Hui) 9/10 HKD #214a

ENCHANTING SHADOW (Betty Loh Ti, Chao Lei, Yang Chi-ching) HKD #184a

THE ENCHANTRESS (Max Mok, Yung Jing-jing aka Mary Jean Reimer Lau) 4/10
Repetitive, disappointingly dull Shaw Brothers fantasy follows an all-too-familiar course and is further burdened by unfunny comedy relief. Some of the production design is nice, if a bit impoverished (this movie has mmore haze floating around than ten British mysteries), and the cast (including Liu Yung, Max Mok, Lo Lieh and Yueh Hua) is game, but you would be better off watching BUDDHA'S PALM or HOLY FLAME OF THE MARTIAL WORLD instead. Intercontinental's R3 DVD looks nice and includes the original mono sound. (written April 2005) Reviewed HKD #285

ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND (Sammo Hung, Chung Fat) 8/10 HKD #142

ENTER THE PHOENIX (Daniel Wu, Eason Chan, Karen Mok, Stephen Fung) 5/10 HKD #225

ESPRIT D'AMOUR (Julian Cheung, Loletta Lee) 6/10
This middling ghost anthology (based on a novel by the ultra-prolific Simon Lui) is low on scares but contains a number of fine performances that help to keep one engaged. (written July 2002)

ESPRIT D'AMOUR [1983] (1983; Alan Tam, Joyce Ngai, Cecilia Yip) 6/10 HKD #209

THE ETERNAL EVIL OF ASIA (Ellen Chan, Elvis Tsui, Ben Ng) 5/10 HKD #118

EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN (Lo Lieh, Lily Li, Chen Kuan-tai) 8/10 HKD #212

EXPLOSIVE CITY (Simon Yam, Alex Fong, Sonny Chiba) 3/10
This crime thriller (about a framed policeman trying to avenge the murder of his wife and save his kidnapped son) sounds promising on paper, but proves to be a major disappointment. Good performances by Alex Fong and Sonny Chiba do little to salvage an awful, first-draft level screenplay filled with glaring plot holes and ludicrous coincidences. Deltamac's R0 DVD is not bad, but the English subtitle translation is among the worst seen on a recent HK film. (written April 2005)

EXTREME CHALLENGE (Ken Chang, Yeung Chuen-ai, Jacqueline Li) 4/10 HKD #96

EXTREME CRISIS (Julian Cheung, Hsu Chi, Theresa Lee, Kenya Sawada) 6/10 HKD #129

THE EYE (Angelica Lee, Laurence Chou) 7/10
The Pang Brothers score again with this stylish and surprising variation on the "I Can See Dead People" premise found in so many horror movies these days. (written January 2003)

THE EYE 2 (Shu Qi, Jessdaporn Pholdee, Eugenia Yuan) 6/10 HKD #245a

F

FAIRY, GHOST, VIXEN (Tang Qing, Bai Bing, Chen Fang) 6/10 HKD #292

THE FAKE GHOST CATCHERS (Alexander Fu, Lily Lee) 5/10

FALLEN ANGELS (Leon Lai, Michelle Lee/Reis, Karen Mok, Charlie Yeung) 8/10 HKD #161

A FIERY FAMILY (Gordon Liu, Shallin Tse, Kwan Lai-Kit) 5/10 HKD #125a

FIGHTING ACE (John Liu, Kwan Young-moon, Lung Chun-er) 5/10
Decent old school fair notable mostly for John Liu's ever formidable kicking. Brentwood's dubbed and cropboxed DVD is pretty good. (written May 2003)

THE FINAL WINNER (Jackie Lui, Grace Lam, Michael Tse) 3/10 HKD #99

FIST OF FURY (Donnie Yen, Joey Meng) 2/10 HKD #151

FIST OF LEGEND (Jet Li, Chin Siu-ho, Ada Choi, Yasuaki Kuroda) 8/10
Jet Li is a bit too stoic in the lead, but this remake of Bruce Lee's FIST OF FURY/THE CHINESE CONNECTION features thrilling martial arts and a fine supporting cast (notably Yasuaki Kuroda and Ada Choi) that put it leagues above director Gordon Chan's other work to date. (written March 2005)

THE FIVE VENOMS (Chiang Seng, Lo Man, Ku Feng, Wei Pai, Lu Feng, Philip Kwok) 8/10 HKD #198

FLASH FUTURE KUNG FU (Ray Lui, Eddy Ko, Jimmy Wang) 6/10 HKD#224

FLYING DRAGON, LEAPING TIGER (Sammo Hung, Jade Leung, Fan Siu-wong) 5/10 HKD #152

THE FLYING GUILLOTINE (Ku Feng, Chen Kuan-tai, Frankie Wai) 6/10 HKD #207

FLYING GUILLOTINE II (Ti Lung, Ku Feng, Shih Szu) 7/10 HKD #213

FORBIDDEN CITY COP (Stephen Chiau, Carman Lee, Carina Lau) 8/10 HKD #196

FOX GHOST (Sophie Ngan, Ng Ting) 1/10 HKD #146

FREEDOM RUN Q (Alfred Cheung, Lawrence Cheng, Yvonne Yung) 6/10
Action and stunts take precedence over credibility in this entertaining buddy comedy featuring Alfred Cheung and Lawrence Cheng as policemen out to destroy drug smugglers operating from inside a travelling Mainland acrobatic group. Yvonne Yung co-stars, and her fans should enjoy seeing her in an action-oriented role. Deltamac's budget-priced DVD looks quite nice. (written April 2003)

FRUGAL GAME (Miriam Yeung, Carol Cheng, Eason Chan, Eric Tsang) 6/10 HKD #121

FULL ALERT (Lau Ching-wan, Francis Ng, Monica Chan, Amanda Lee) 8/10