(beijing weekend)
Updated: 2007-06-29 10:08

In the mood for movie magic, Hong Kong style? Check out these classic flicks as reviewed by www.lovehkfilm.com. Following are edits of what the critics had to say about some of the best-known Hong Kong films.

Police Story

The execution of this police thriller more than compensates for its formula plot. Jackie Chan's first Police Story film doesn't impress with its story or acting, but the action, stunts and comedy all combine for one of the best Hong Kong Cinema - or any cinema - experiences around. Eschewing any need for a back-up story, Jackie Chan's classic Police Story kicks off with its first installment. Intrepid policeman Chan Ka-Kui (Chan) and his comrades attempt to take down evil crime boss Chor Yuen, and manage to snag his girlfriend Selina (Brigitte Lin) as their key witness. Contracts are put out on them both, so Chan must protect Selina from a mob-style rubout. Meanwhile, his loyal girlfriend Maggie Cheung gets jealous and pouts like Maggie Cheung did in all her earlier films.

Police Story set the benchmark for all of Chan's films to follow introducing numerous trademarks such as undertaking his own stunts and the infamous closing credit outtakes. It also gave Chan a chance to bring his directorial skills to the forefront and prove to the audience that he could not only be responsible for action but also craft and mould an entire film production to meet his needs.

The film has won the Best Picture at the 5th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards in 1985.

A Better Tomorrow

If you don't know this movie, you don't know Hong Kong cinema. A Better Tomorrow is a little gangster film that became nothing less than a phenomenon - a multiple award-winning box-office smashing tour-de-force from John Woo that single-handedly changed Hong Kong cinema forever.

John Woo established himself as one of Hong Kong's premier action directors with this ultra-hip, ultra-violent action classic.

The film centers around the complex relationship between two brothers: Sung Tse-kit (Leslie Cheung) is a recent graduate of the police academy while Tse-ho (Ti Lung) runs a massive counterfeiting ring along with his gangland associate, Mark Lee (Chow Yun-Fat). When Ho gets out of prison, he wants to start a new life, free of crime. Unfortunately, he is haunted by his past, with the crime bosses leaning on him and Mark encouraging him to return to a life of crime as his partner. In typical Woo fashion, the various factions clash and our protagonists engage both the police and the gangsters in a bloody bullet-fest.

Chow Yun-Fat won the Best Actor award at the 6th Hong Kong Film Award, and the film won the Best Picture in 1986.

Comrades, Almost a Love Story

Destiny brings two people together, but they aren't sure if they're meant to be friends or lovers in this romantic comedy-drama. In 1986, Xiaojun (Leon Lai) arrives in Hong Kong from Chinese mainland, full of dreams about life in the big city and determined to make enough money to send for his fiancee and marry her. Xiaojun decides to get lunch at a McDonald's, which he's heard about but never seen. He is waited on by Chiao (Maggie Cheung), a pretty girl who has also moved to Hong Kong from the mainland to seek her fortune. One night, on New Year's Eve, the two find themselves alone together and end up making love. The next morning, both Xiaojun and Chiao are certain they've made a mistake; Xiaojun goes on to marry his sweetheart from home, while Chiao opens a flower shop and becomes involved with a kind man who has ties to organized crime. As the years pass, however, Xiaojun becomes convinced that his mistake wasn't sleeping with Chiao, but letting her go, and eventually he decides he must find her and win her heart.

Directed by Peter Chan, Comrades: Almost a Love Story was a runaway success in Hong Kong, where the film won nine trophies at the 1997 Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress.

   1 2   

   1 2