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TAG
(Japan 2015)
Original Title: Riaru Onigokko
Directed by Sion Sono Produced by Masayuki Tanishima Action by Tak Sakaguchi Starring: Reina Triendl, Mariko Shinoda, Erina Mano, Yuki Sakurai, Aki Hiraoka, Ami Tomite, Mao Asou, Takumi Saitoh, Hinako Matsumoto Reviewing: Amazon Prime UK Release Genres: Suspense / Action / Horror
Rating - 4 / 5
Synopsis: Mitsuko is the sole survivor of a bizarre paranormal incident that kills all of her classmates. Running for her life, Mitsuko seemingly slips into an alternate reality, but death and chaos seems to follow her everywhere. As Mitsuko finds herself in increasingly surreal and violent situations, the true horror behind her nightmare is revealed.
Views: While on a peaceful field trip with her classmates, Mitsuko soon finds herself the lone survivor of an inexplicable disaster that sees both her coach, and the one in front, sliced in half – with the torsos of her classmates ripped from their seats and thrown through the air. As she makes a run for safety, Mitsuko must dodge an unseen force in the wind that continues to slice anyone in its way. Eventually escaping, the panic stricken schoolgirl is confused to find herself back at school with those she thought dead. Led to believe that it was all a dream, Mitsuko tries to continue with her day – supported by her friends who take her out of school to enjoy a pillow fight by the lake. But once back in the classroom, she soon finds herself in the midst of madness as her teacher mows down her classmates with a ratling-gun. Making another run for it, Mitsuko dodges bullets and bombs until she turns up at a police station – only with a whole new look and identity. The policewoman, who claims to know her, hurries the now-named (and extremely confused) Keiko to her wedding reception. Once again, she finds her dead classmates awaiting her – dressed for her special day. As it seems she may be losing her mind, best friend Aki tells her not to worry, explaining the situation to some degree as she breaks the bones, necks, and heads of the wedding party. Once again, Mitsuko finds herself in the middle of another horrific scenario – and an insane wedding party – that sees both her and Aki fight their way out against a host of manic guests, as well as the very same teachers that tried to shoot them up before. As Aki distracts the enemy, she sends Mitsuko running who soon finds herself altered from Keiko to Izumi – a popular school athlete who's in the middle of a cross country race. Once again confused, she just goes along with it and races for the finish line with her friends but soon finds herself being chased by her pig-headed husband-to-be and killer teachers. Hiding in an old mining facility, Izumi/Mitsuko is led by another classmate into the darkened tunnels, only to find herself face-to-face with 100 undead students who want her dead. She is saved once more by Aki who manages to pull the real Mitsuko back and manages to explain the surreal situation they have been stuck in. Only the tortured Mitsuko can help save them all from this constant nightmare, which all comes to a bizarre emotional conclusion that raises some questions about the fate of our future and society as a whole...
People used to say that my first film, Battle Of The Bone, had a lot of running. I mean, when you need to escape from zombies what else can you do? But after seeing Tag, I don't feel so bad for it because the girls in this film just run, and run, and run, and so on! The opening 10 minutes of Sino Sono's teen horror, is one of the wildest and most exciting I have seen in a long time. It's shocking and gripping, with a dash of dark humour thrown in for good measure. The thought of seeing two busloads of classmates sliced up and spread across the road is shocking in itself, but trying to escape a force that is determined to get you too, makes matters even worse. While many viewers will want to compare this to the Final Destination series, Tag proves to be a little bit more than just a couple of victims trying to trick death. Amid the bodies, bullets, explosions, and blood, the distraught Mitsuko finds herself lost in a parallel universe where the deadly force continues to give chase, and no amount of running (or pillow fights) are able to put a stop to it. It's a bizarre trip and a half that seemingly tackles many greater issues than the average horror or splatter-fest movie, dealing with themes of identity, fear, and reality as it takes us down the rabbit hole with Mitsuko, in a violent adventure that all becomes a little clearer by the third-act. Inspired by the novel Riaru Onigokko, by Yusuke Yamada, Sono manages to deliver a highly memorable piece that reminded me of the Netflix show Alice In Borderland, which was also based on a manga, as well as a few other films from Japan. But Tag still offers up something a little different, so it wouldn't be fair to just say that it's something we've all seen before!
The acting is pretty damn good and features a predominately female driven cast led by the beautiful Reina Triendl, an Austrian-Japanese actress popular in countless television shows, who also starred in Ju-On: The Beginning Of The End. Reina gives quite a believable and emotional performance as the confused and traumatised schoolgirl who tries to keep ahead of death. Her best friend is Aki, played by Yuki Sakurai, star of films such as Secret Love, Where Florence Sleeps, Shinjuku Swan, Call Boy, and television shows like Absolute Justice, The House On The Slope, Single Tokyo Man, and more. Whereas Mitsuko delivers the emotional drama in Tag, Aki delivers after the action – stepping up to the game to protect and help her best friend whenever needed. The gorgeous Takumi Saitoh gets a brief role at the end that brings in the twist of the story and offers fans the chance to see him sprawled out on a bed in just his tighty-whities. This model-turned-actor has appeared in many great films over the years including Takashi Miike's amazing 13 Assassins, The Prince Of Tennis, Robo-geisha, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl, Re:Born, Shin Godzilla, as well as hundreds of hours of television, and is always a treat to watch. A strong supporting cast backs them up with the majority of those involved getting to join in on some sort of gore and/or action. A few bouts of martial arts come into play, directed by popular actor and choreographer Tak Sakaguchi who shot to fame after his role in Ryuhei Kitamura's awesome, Versus, and while the fights aren't the most enthralling scraps we've ever seen, they are typical 'Tak' and limited to the skills of the actresses involved of course.
A few more things that stand out about Tag are the cinematography, the score, and the special FX. Mixing CGI with practical work, the team behind the gore effects do an amazing job in bringing plenty of violence and shock from its opening bus scene, to the classroom shoot-up and the crazy wedding scene – offering up enough shock and mess to put a smile on the face of the most hardened horror fan. The cinematography is handled by Maki Ito, a first time DOP who provides a very clean and very well shot production. Since Tag, Maki has went on to lens titles such as Anti-Porno and Tokyo Vampire Hotel for Sono, The Peers, and the series of Werewolf Game films directed by Shin'ya Ayabe – who, incidentally, was also the assistant director for this. The score was not what I expected for a movie like Tag, but in a surprisingly positive way. First-time composer Hiroaki Kanai joins Susumu Akizuki, who had only worked on the television series Dog Days, before this. Between them, both composers offer a score that adds to the production value of Tag, with a very classical taste that compliments the great cinematography of Mai Ito. And then, of course, there's Sion Sono himself – the writer and director of Tag. With almost 60 directorial credits to his name – at the time of writing – Sono has made quite the reputation for himself delivering memorable titles such as Suicide Club, Exte: Hair Extensions, Anti-Porno, the Tokyo Vampire Hotel film and television series, Tokyo Tribe, and the much loved and very lengthy, Love Exposure – a film packed with so much madness, it takes almost 4 hours to tell the tale. Of course, there's so much more to see from the man, but I think Tag is right up there with some of his finest. Engrossing, shocking, and quite memorable, this is one film that's well worth the watch and definitely not for the faint-hearted!
Overall: With shades of Final Destination and Battle Royale running throughout, Sion Sono's Tag is an exciting experience that offers plenty of gore, shock, and action!
TAI CHI 0
(China 2012)
Original Title: Tai Ji 1: Cong Ling Kai Shi (aka) Tai Chi Zero
Directed by Stephen Fung Produced by Zhang Da Jun, Stephen Fung, Daniel Wu Action by Sammo Hung, Andy Cheng Starring: Jayden Yuan, AngelaBaby, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Eddie Peng, William Feng, Stephen Fung, Shu Qi, Stanley Fung, Bruce Leung, Fung Hak On, Xiong Xin Xin, Stephen Fung, Andrew Lau Reviewing: Well Go USA Blu-ray Release Genres: Martial Arts / Fantasy / Comedy
Rating - 4.5 / 5
Blu-ray Synopsis: In legendary Chen village, everyone is a martial arts master, using their powerful Chen Style Tai Chi in all aspects of their lives. Lu Chan has arrived to train, but the villagers are forbidden to teach Chen Style to outsiders, and do their best to discourage him by challenging him to a series of fights. Everyone, from strong men to young children, defeats him using their Tai Chi moves. But when a man from the village's past returns with a frightening steam-powered machine and plans to build a railroad through the village at any cost, the villagers realize they may have no choice but to put their faith in Lu Chan... who has a secret power of his own.
Views: Stephen Fung's massive steampunk kung-fu comedy tells the tale of Yang Lu Chan, a young wushu fighter who was born with a mysterious horn on his right temple. If hit, the horn releases an unmatched power that makes Yang a force to be reckoned with – although always results in a heavy nosebleed and a blackout afterwards, shortening his lifespan every time his 'superpower' is used. To try and help his bizarre case, Yang is advised by a dying kung-fu master to go to Chen Village – a legendary place where everyone is gifted in the art of Chen Style Tai Chi. But this proves to be easier said than done, as the strict village rules forbid any outsiders from learning their kung-fu style, but the young warrior is more than determined. Taking on many of the villagers, from children to old men, Yang tries his luck at getting accepted but is continually defeated until he gains a little help from Master Chen himself. At the same time, Chen Village is infiltrated by Fang Zijing – an old resident who left to seek education in the west and is intent on helping the British forces exploit the forbidden land which includes building a railroad right through his old home. Now, with the help of their new superhero friend, the residents of Chen Village must stand up to Fang and his army as well as his monstrous steam-driven tank in the ultimate showdown of old versus new!
As a director, Stephen Fung has come a long way since Heroes In Love, Enter The Phoenix, and the awesome House Of Fury – although as an actor, I can take or leave him. Either way, the man has been doing very well for himself in front of and behind the camera, going on to produce and direct many hits like Tai Chi 0, Tai Chi 2: Rise Of The Hero, The Adventurers with Andy Lau, and martial arts television shows Wu Assassins and Into The Badlands with his old co-star and good friend, Daniel Wu who also served as one of the main producers here. With this dual project, Fung takes his film-making skills to another level and delivers a highly accomplished piece that parodies the classic kung-fu tale with a brave mix of comic book storytelling, strong CGI, explosive martial arts action, and huge production values! In fact, it's hard to find anything to really dislike about Tai Chi 0 if I'm to be honest, except perhaps in the case that it kills off too many legends and stars who have cameoed, far too soon. It's a minor gripe mind you, as Stephen Fung aims to fit in as many big names of stars past and present in a bid to appeal to kung-fu fans of all ages – and something he does hilariously, mocking the old Shaw Brothers style of character introduction on-screen. This time though, Fung breaks the fourth wall by letting his audience know some real-life information about the actor in question, such as when the character of Andrew Lau appears he is accompanied by a title card that mentions he's the director of Infernal Affairs – and then there's the large cartoon title cards that highlight certain moves, or flash up as 'K.O.' when someone is taken down. For me, Tai Chi 0 was hugely entertaining on many levels but I can understand why some viewers and critics felt it was a bit busy with its fancy visuals, slick editing, stylised graphics, and gorgeous production design (much of which was in place for the films 3D release). Another complaint I noticed from many other reviewers was that the script was overcrowded and didn't focus enough on the journey of the main character to learn Chen Style Tai Chi. I mean, seriously, did these people completely miss the whole point of Tai Chi 0 being a parody of kung-fu movies? Yes there is a hell of a lot going on, but it's so friggin cleverly done and often hilarious that it helps make such a generic kung-fu storyline incredibly exciting and refreshing to watch. I actually found it to be very similar in vein to the awesome Kung Fu Hustle, and often felt I was watching a live adaptation of a crazy anime such as One Punch Man, Cromartie High School, and even Naruto – and I haven't even got into the whole steampunk side of things!
The legendary Sammo Hung gets the job of action director, aided by the wonderful Andy Cheng – a long time member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team who has starred in and choreographed a host of films including titles such as Angel Terminators 2, Saint Of Gamblers, Around The World In 80 Days, U.S. Seals 2, and more recently the Marvel box office smash, Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. Between the two of them and their team, we are treated to a wild ride of action scenes that mostly focus on stylized wire-work blended with the talents of the cast involved. As with a lot of Sammo's more recent outings – both as a director and actor – a lot of this is captured in glorious slow motion, and often to capture the more intricate moves involved as well as the power. There are many highlights of action throughout such as Yang Lu Chan's introduction on the battlefield which allows wushu champion Jayden Yuan Xiao Chao in his debut role, to show exactly what he is made of. The wonderful Bruce Leung gets to go up against the equally as wonderful Fung Hak On, and Clubfoot himself (Xiong Xin Xin) gets to kick-ass a couple of times as the protector of the village gate. Stephen Fung gets to join in the action in the beginning of the film as he joins Jayden Yuan in battle, and Angelababy – whom I've enjoyed in films like Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon, League Of Gods, and Rise Of The Legend (where she joined co-star Eddie Peng and Sammo Hung once again) – does a great job under Hung's watchful eye, as the daughter of Master Chen who is played by the brilliant Tony Leung Ka Fai. As the greatest fighter of the village, most of Leung's battles prove to be some of the best in the film and although there are certainly more accomplished martial arts actors out there, it was still great to see him in the role and in action. The rest of the cast is filled out with plenty of exciting actors such as the handsome Eddie Peng who stars as the antagonist of the piece, the great Stanley Fung from the Lucky Stars Trilogy, Shu Qi as Yang's mother, and the aforementioned cameo by director Andrew Lau who stars as Yang Lu Chan's father...
The film is gorgeously captured by a team of cinematographers, one of which is Peter Ngor Chi Kwan – the director of Erotic Ghost Story 2 and Legendary Couple, and an actor who has appeared in countless classics such as On The Run, The Blonde Fury, Ebola Syndrome, and many more. Ngor was also the man behind the camera on many Shaw Brothers hits like Dirty Ho, Clan Of The White Lotus, Return To The 36th Chamber, and Legendary Weapons Of Kung Fu, as well as modern classics like Mr. Vampire, Armour of God, My Lucky Stars, The Dragon From Russia, Sex & Zen, Full Contact, and many more. Along with a team of cinematographers, Ngor captures plenty of stunning scenes that make almost every frame beautiful to watch. All in all, Tai Chi 0 was a joy to watch and always has something new to catch with each repeated viewing. It was a bold move for Fung and his writers Cheng Hsiao Tse and Chang Chia Lu, with the latter being behind some great titles such as A World Without Thieves, the Detective Dee Trilogy, Mojin: The Lost Legend, and more. For those of you who have yet to catch Tai Chi 0, it's probably best to warn you that the film does end on a cliffhanger with some loose ends – all of which are tied up and continued in its entertaining sequel, Tai Chi 2: A Hero Rises (aka Tai Chi Hero).
Overall: Packed with plenty of easter eggs for fans of kung-fu cinema and hugely entertaining, Tai Chi 0 is wonderfully impressive with great comedy and strong action!
Blu-ray Extras: Behind The Scenes Feature, Music Video, Trailers
TAI CHI 2: RISE OF THE HERO
(China 2012)
Original Title: Tai Ji 2: Ying Xiong Jue Qi (aka) Tai Chi Hero
Directed by Stephen Fung Produced by Zhang Da Jun, Stephen Fung, Daniel Wu Action by Sammo Hung Starring: Jayden Yuan, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Eddie Peng, AngelaBaby, William Feng, Stephen Fung, Daniel Wu, Yuen Biao, Patrick Tse, Shu Qi, Stanley Fung, Xiong Xin Xin, Stephen Fung Reviewing: Well Go USA Blu-ray Release Genres: Martial Arts / Fantasy / Comedy
Rating - 3.7 / 5
Blu-ray Synopsis: Lu Chan (Jayden Yuan) is on the verge of acceptance in Chen Village, but the cozy hamlet still stands in the shadow of danger. A prodigal brother returns, Lu Chan brings a curse on the town, and Yuniang's scprmed fiancee has an appetite for revenge, as well as some new partners in crime. The second in a trilogy from the creators of IP MAN and DETECTIVE DEE,and action directed by the legendary Sammo Hung, TAI CHI HERO is a steampunk-infused kung fu throwdown that will knock you out of your seat.
Views: Continuing on from the previous chapter, Tai Chi 2 opens with the wedding of Yang Lu Chan to master Chen's daughter, Yu Niang. But it doesn't take long for things to get disturbed when the older brother of Yu Naing returns – forcing an old prophecy on the townsfolk that Lu Chan will be the true cause of their downfall. As each of them turns against the young hero, the motives of the prodigal son soon become clear, and sees the villagers preparing themselves for battle once more with the return of Fang!
Director Stephen Fung returns with the second part of the proposed trilogy (although even as I write ten years later, there's still no sign of a final chapter) and slows things down quite a bit to allow for more character development, a fuller storyline including the relationship of the newly weds, and more emotion overall. That's not to say it's any better or any worse than Tai Chi 0, but those who felt the latter was a bit too busy for its own good, will most likely appreciate the change of pace. While there is plenty of focus on the new character of Master Chen's son, Zai Yang, and his wife this is really all about Eddie Peng's character of Fang Zi Jing getting his revenge. Having joined forces with a corrupt official, Fang utilises the power of his army as well as his weapons such as cannons, guns, and more. This gives Eddie Peng the chance to flex his acting chops, shifting from the polished jealous lover of the previous chapter to a wicked general intent on bringing pain and destruction to Chen Village. Although he had starred in some great roles leading up to this, Tai Chi 0 and Tai Chi 2 no doubt helped elevate him a little more, that saw him go on to star in films such as Cold War 1 & 2, Unbeatable, Wu Kong, Operation Mekong, and worked again with Sammo Hung in Rise Of The Legend and Call Of Heroes – both of which were outstanding films.
The rest of the main cast return as before with the addition of the incredible Yuen Biao as Master Li, an advisor to the prince and head of the royal kitchens. Thankfully, he gets to trade moves with Jayden Yuan under the direction of his big brother and looks great doing so in what would be the final fight of the film. The wonderful Daniel Wu makes an appearance as the Mad Monk in a great action scene, and William Feng who starred in White Vengeance, Divergence, Painted Skin 2, Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon, Dragon Blade, and The Monkey King 2 & 3, stars as Chen Zai Yang – the estranged son of Tony Leung's Master Chen, whose story brings most of the emotion to the film as he tries to make amends with his father. I also thought it was interesting how Fung and his team gained the addition of Swedish-born actor and Hollywood veteran Peter Stomare – a highly recognisable face from films such as Armageddon, Constantine, John Wick 2, The Tuxedo, Windtalkers, and television shows like Prison Break and American Gods. Here, Stomare plays a role that would have been cast to someone such as Louis Roth, Mark King, or Steve Tartalia if this was made 30 years ago, although he seems to be enjoying his role as Duke Fleming. While doesn't get the chance to get in on the action, Stomare does bring the film to a close with one of the most intriguing shots in Tai Chi 2: Rise Of The Hero that makes me really want to see a third part from the team...
Sammo Hung returns as the action director although without the assist of Andy Cheng this time around, and provides a great selection of fun fight scenes. The comic book action seen previously is toned down somewhat, but it still proves to be as entertaining of course. Peter Ngor continues his duties as DOP along with the returning Lai Yui Fai who lensed Portland Street Blues, The Avenging Fist, Infernal Affairs, and Wu Xia (Dragon). It's definitely interesting how both of these projects almost came out as two totally different movies, and while I feel a lot of this was down to the main characters ascension on becoming a martial arts master and maturing, I still think there was some imbalance to the projects that could have kept the same flow throughout both chapters without them feeling so separate. Regardless, Tai Chi 2: Rise Of The Hero still makes for a very entertaining watch and I'm only disappointed that we didn't get to see more in a final film!
Overall: While more focused on the story and emotional content of the film, Tai Chi 2 still proves to be highly entertaining and worth the watch!
Blu-ray Extras: Making of Feature, Trailers
TAI CHI BOXER
(Hong Kong 1996)
Original Title: Tai Ji Quan (aka) Tai Chi Master 2; Tai Chi 2
Directed by Yuen Woo Ping, Cheung Sing Yim Produced by Stephen Wong Action by Yuen Woo Ping Starring: Wu Jing, Christy Chung, Sibelle Hu, Mark Cheng, Lau Shun, Billy Chow, Yu Hai, Ji Chun Hua, Darren Shahlavi, Tam Chiu Reviewing: Hong Kong Legends UK DVD Release Genres: Martial Arts / Drama / Comedy
Rating - 4 / 5
DVD Synopsis: An enchanting tale of love and heroism underpinned by Yuen Woo Ping's dazzling fight sequences, Tai Chi Boxer tells the story of a young fighter inspired by the teachings of his heroic father, to combat the violent excesses of an opium-smuggling ring and win the heart of the girl of his dreams.
Views: A loose sequel to the Jet Li classic, Tai Chi Master, Yuen Woo Ping returns to the story backed by new production company Film Can who were intent on making a host of films with the legendary director. Unfortunately, Tai Chi Boxer failed to ignite the box office and Film Can soon called it quits, leaving Woo Ping and his cast to continue their adventures on the small screen in a follow-up Tai Chi television series. Busy with bigger productions such as Doctor Wai & The Scripture With No Words and the awesome Black Mask (of which Woo Ping worked on as action choreographer), Jet Li was unavailable to return for the role so it was up to Master Yuen to set out to find a new wushu talent that could replace him, and soon found it in the shape of 18-year-old Jacky Wu Jing. Although the martial arts superstar needs no introduction today, Tai Chi Boxer would have been the feature film debut of Jing's and he doesn't disappoint. Handling both the drama and comedy sequences very well, the super cute martial artist excels in Woo Ping's action scenes which are the saving grace of this (seemingly) rushed production. While it offers nothing new in terms of story, Tai Chi Boxer really has no connection to its predecessor and actually recycles a few of its previous actors in new roles here. The production itself also feels quite different and is possibly down to mainland director Cheung Sing Yim handling the majority of the film's dramatic scenes, leaving the action to co-director and choreographer Yuen Woo Ping. Interestingly enough, Cheung was the very same director behind Jet Li's debut Shaolin Temple and its sequel Kids From Shaolin, as well as kung fu classics such as Yellow River Fighter and the brilliant Fist From Shaolin. His last project to date would come a few years later with the television show New Shaolin Temple, which saw him team up again with Yuen Woo Ping and Wu Jing – with the latter being one of the stars alongside the awesome Fan Siu Wong!
While there is a lot to love in Tai Chi Boxer, it's actually quite a different movie from Tai Chi Master, even though it was scripted and co-directed by Yuen Woo Ping. Perhaps it's the loss of bigger named stars such as Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Chin Siu Ho, but the film also feels quite different in its production values and visuals often coming across as if influenced more by Once Upon A Time In China than its previous chapter. Having worked with director Cheung Sing Yim on Shaolin Temple, Kids From Shaolin, Yellow River Fighter, and Fist From Shaolin, cinematographer Chau Pak Ling returns here to work with him for one last time and delivers some nice visuals, proving to have such a different eye to Tom Lau Moon Tong – DOP of Tai Chi Master who was actually shooting Doctor Wai & The Scripture With No Words with Jet Li at the time of this production. Regardless, the main attraction for such a movie is the kung fu action of course and Tai Chi Boxer does not disappoint, offering many fights throughout that highlights the amazing skills of the actors involved and the genius choreography of Yuen Woo Ping.
For his feature film debut, Jacky Wu Jing highly impresses on-screen with his wushu skills that easily help him adapt as a screen fighter. From his early fun fight sequences in town to the fantastic and highly impressive finale in the warehouse that sees him take on the late Darren Shahlavi, and it's easy to see why he has since went onto become the star that he has with films such as SPL 1 & 2, Wolf Warriors 1 & 2, Shaolin, and much more. Mainland actor Yu Hai, who starred as Jet Li's temple master in the previous chapter, returns to star as Wu Jing's father and gets to show off his kung fu skills a number of times throughout. Yu first started with Jet and director Cheung in the aforementioned Shaolin Temple and its sequels as well as Deadend Of Besiegers, White Lotus Cult, Man Of Tai Chi, and Shaolin for Benny Chan that saw him join Wu Jing once again on the big screen. Also returning is Lau Shun, this time playing the father of Christy Chung as opposed to a Shaolin priest like before, and the great Mark Cheng (previous husband of the wonderful Yukari Oshima) gets to show off his fighting skills as an official who learns a hard lesson from the young fighter, Wu Jing. I really like Cheng and Tai Chi Boxer gives him a great role to play with. Although Mark has starred in over 120 films to date, I've always felt that I've never seen enough of him and often go back to films like Peking Opera Blues, Midnight Angel, Godfather's Daughters Mafia Blues, Raped By Angel, and this when I'm in the mood for a piece of Cheng. The awesome Billy Chow stars as the great Northern Leg, a fighter that challenges Wu Jing's father on the day of his retirement from the martial world, then later goes up against the young fighter himself before setting things right and joining in the fight against evil. It's rare that one can be disappointed when Chow is on screen, and he has long been a firm villain of Hong Kong cinema for many years in classics such as Eastern Condors, Paper Marriage, Pedicab Driver, Dragons Forever, The Blonde Fury, Robotrix, and more. And finally, Brit-kicker Darren Shahlavi stars as the main villain of Tai Chi Boxer – getting to shine after a few years as a bit-part gwailo in films like Guns & Roses, Deadly Target, and Angel On Fire. He probably gets some of his greatest fight scenes in this – along with that in Bloodmoon and Ip Man 2 – and is backed by two henchmen in the shape of Kou Zhan Wen from A Warriors Tragedy, Fatal Move, Legendary Assassin, and SPL 2, and the mean looking Ji Chun Hua – another veteran of the Shaolin Temple movies, as well as Yellow River Fighter, Fist Of Shaolin, Fong Sai Yuk 2, New Legend Of Shaolin, and Tsui Hark's Vampire Hunters. The delightful Christy Chung and wonderful Sibelle Hu also appear, with the former as a love interest to Wu Jing and the latter, his mother respectively.
Although it has its flaws, Tai Chi Boxer keeps kung fu fans entertained with some fun comedy moments and lots of genuinely awesome fight scenes. It was an impressive debut for the (then) young star, but Yuen Woo Ping clearly made the right decision in bringing this new talent to the attention of Hong Kong cinema lovers. I've yet to see the follow-up television show, but I'd be keen to see it to fulfil my want for more Wu Jing after seeing this again. Unfortunately, due to the poor box office takings and a shift to television shows, Yuen Woo Ping would not return to the directors seat of a feature film for over a decade until the epic True Legend hit our screens – but that's not to say the man wasn't kept busy as Hollywood came calling for a few little projects such as The Matrix, Kill Bill, The Forbidden Kingdom, and the Oscar winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!
Overall: A lot of fun and full of some great fight action, Tai Chi Boxer was an incredible debut for Wu Jing and a great example of Yuen Woo Ping's choreography!
DVD Extras: Audio Commentary with Bey Logan, Behind The Scenes Footage, Photo Gallery, Cast Interviews, Trailers
TAI CHI MASTER
(China 1985)
Original Title: Tai Chi Chun (aka) Revenge Of The Tai Chi Master; Secret Of Tai Chi
Directed by Chik Ngai Hung Action by Chik Ngai Hung, Zhou Run Sheng Starring: Guo Liang, Lee Hoi Yin, Choh Chi Hung, Ko Ling San, Hong Tao, Zhang Xiang Hua, Zhang Quan Ren, Liu Ke Ming Reviewing: Soulblade/Dragon UK DVD Release Genres: Martial Arts / Drama
Rating - 3.5 / 5
DVD Synopsis: Despite its unknown cast, all the action are top level martial artist, as in the critically acclaimed 'Shaolin Temple Trilogy' starring Jet Li. Reassured as one of the best and most authentic of the Tai Chi Movie, it depicts the struggle between good and evil, YING and YANG. Breath taking fight scenes ensure this is a must for all collectors of quality martial arts films.
Views: After opening with a brief history and display of tai chi featuring a couple of older practitioners, Tai Chi Master immediately jumps into good old fashioned traditional-kung-fu-movie territory as we see a small army of soldiers, led by an evil Qing general, setting fire to a small village before trying to slain its residents. It's a great opening fight sequence and just a taste of what to expect throughout, as these honest-to-god martial artists show off their kicks and weapons work in an authentic display of kung fu. When the mother of a noble family is captured and beheaded, it's up to her husband and children to seek revenge. They soon meet a Shaolin monk and a family of tai chi masters, who agree to help the family by teaching them their art in a bid to put a stop to the Qing general once and for all. It all leads to a climactic and impressive showdown that sees the family lured into a trap, where they must then stand strong against the Qing's and fight for their lives!
Although the picture quality on this particular DVD isn't amazing, you can see that Tai Chi Master is still nicely shot and carries a score similar to that of older Hollywood movies – the type I would have watched with my grandmother on Sunday afternoon television. Like many productions of this era from mainland China such as the Shaolin Temple Trilogy, Arhats In Fury, and others, the story telling and overall production values come as standard, but the film is rife with the energy of its performers. Director Chik Ngai Hung, who also wrote the screenplay and aided in the fight choreography, has appeared in over 130 movies himself including a host of Shaw Brothers classics such as The Heroic Ones, King Boxer, Delightful Forest, and Heroes Two, as well as starring in others like Snake In The Eagle's Shadow, Dynamo, Enter The Fat Dragon, Sleeping Fist, Game Of Death 2: Tower Of Death and even Aces Go Places. His first film as a martial arts director was the fun Crack Shadow Boxers, soon followed by titles like Sleeping Fist, The Loot, Devil Fetus, and Mission Kill. Interestingly enough, Tai Chi Master would be Chik's one and only film as a director, as well as his final project as a feature filmmaker. Star of The Young Hero Of Shaolin 1 & 2, Guo Liang, leads the way as one of the vengeful sons. I quite like Liang as an actor and martial artist, so it's a shame that he only appeared in a handful of titles before quietly disappearing from the film world – although its very possible that he went on to star in many other films and television shows in the mainland. The impressive Hong Tao from Out Of Danger and Revenge Of Swordsmanship stars as the evil Qing general, but everyone else involved seems to be first time actors. It's quite possible that most of these guys were competitive wushu and tai chi performers hired for their fighting skills alone. There are moments throughout Tai Chi Master that boast a cast of hundreds, from the entertaining night festival for the general to the massive showdown in the finale. With no CGI on-hand, the amount of people you see on screen is the genuine thing.
While Tai Chi Master offers a story we've all seen a thousand times before and looks like any other kung fu film from the same era, it still proves to be an entertaining enough watch – saved by its nicely choreographed and highly energetic fight scenes. I certainly wouldn't say it's a film you need to rush out to buy, but it's worth a watch at least once if you ever come across it...
Overall: A great showcase of traditional kung fu in film, Tai Chi Master makes for a good watch and delivers on fight action!
DVD Extras: Trailers
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TAI CHI MASTER
(Hong Kong 1993)
Original Title: Tai Gik Cheung Sam Fung (aka) Twin Warriors; Tai Chi
Directed by Yuen Woo Ping Produced by Jet Li, Chui Po Chu Action by Yuen Woo Ping, Yuen Cheung Yan, Dee Dee Ku Starring: Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Chin Siu Ho, Fennie Yuen, Yu Hai, Yuen Cheung Yan, Lau Shun, Chow Gam Kong, Sun Jian Kui Reviewing: Dragon Dynasty US DVD Release Genres: New Wave / Martial Arts / Comedy
Rating - 4.7 / 5
88 Films UK 4K UHD Blu-ray Synopsis: Jet Li stars in this thrilling martial arts epic about two childhood friends falsely accused of cheating and expelled from their Shaolin Temple. As they grow up, their paths diverge, with one embracing the peaceful teachings of Tai Chi and the other seeking power and joining the military. Set against the backdrop of a civil war, their friendship deteriorates into betrayal, leading to a climactic showdown between the two. Michelle Yeoh co-stars as a resilient ally who helps the peaceful friend master Tai Chi’s true essence. Directed by legendary choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, the film showcases breathtaking fight sequences and captures the complex dynamics of friendship and betrayal. (95 Mins)
Dragon Dynasty US DVD Synopsis: Superstar Jet Li shows off his legendary speed, power, and agility at the peak of his martial arts prowess in this sweeping action epic. In an age of swordsmen and rebellion, two best friends and fellow martial arts students are expelled from the storied temple of Shaolin, only to meet again on the battlefield – one a power hungry general, the other a freedom-fighting rebel, both mortal enemies. Featuring Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Michelle Yeoh and directed by the celebrated Yuen Wo-ping (action choreographer of The Matrix films), Tai Chi Master is a quintessential martial arts classic.
Views: I absolutely love this movie! Tai Chi Master tells the tale of Jun Biao and Tian Biao, two best friends and Shaolin brothers who have grown up together since childhood. Although good children, the pair often find themselves in trouble with the temple elders but are well looked after by their caring master. As they hit their adulthood, the feisty Tian Biao soon finds himself in major trouble when he reveals a kung fu style that he had learned in secret. With his brother by his side, the pair take on the whole temple before finding themselves expelled and thrown out of Shaolin. The pair head into town where they join up with jilted lover Falling Snow and her band of rebels, and soon learn of their plans to overthrow the evil eunuch and his army to help bring peace to the land. In a turn of events, Tian Biao decides to leave and join the very army the rebels are trying to stop. As fate would have it, the brothers paths come to cross many years later on the battlefield, with Tian Biao now a vicious army general and Jun Biao a master of Tai Chi!
Mostly shot in the grand Beijing Film Studios in China, Yuen Woo Ping's martial arts-classic stills provides as much entertainment today as it did upon release over 30 years ago. The first time I ever saw Tai Chi Master was on a bootleg VHS in the mid-90s. I watched it so much, that I eventually wore out the actual tape and was left with nothing! Of course, the infamous Weinstein Company released their questionably dubbed, re-scored and slightly re-edited version – known as Twin Warriors – just as the DVD market was creeping in, but I actually couldn't handle it. Years later, when the Weinstein Company released their Dragon Dynasty label, they finally did the film some justice in releasing it with the option of it's original Chinese language track with English subtitles – so I was much happier and soon grabbed a copy of that particular release...
Also known as Twice Deadly in India, Tai Chi Master came out at the height of Hong Kong cinemas 90s New Wave period, joining the likes of Once Upon A Time In China (1991), Iron Monkey (1993), New Dragon Gate Inn (1992), Moon Warriors (1992), and many more in bringing a whole new audience to Asian movies with their fantastical settings, slick direction, and innovative fight choreography. Yuen Woo Ping himself would be one of the main leaders of this genre, both as a director or as an action choreographer, with titles such as the aforementioned Iron Monkey (1993), Hero Among Heroes (1993), Wing Chun (1994), Fire Dragon (1994), Last Hero In China (1993), Once Upon A Time In China 2 (1992), and Tai Chi Master, of course. Throughout the most of these movies, two actors would continue to work closely with him – Jet Li and Donnie Yen. Interestingly enough, legend has it that Donnie himself was offered the role here of Tian Biao opposite Jet Li, which would have seen a much quicker rematch between the pair only one year after sharing the screen in the awesome OUATIC 2 (1992) – as opposed to us waiting a good decade to see them once again in the outstanding and stunning, Hero in 2002.
As it stands, Donnie wanted to focus more on being an action hero and although his next few years proved to be quite questionable in terms of how his films were received, and even the decisions he was making – the man has more than made up for it now as he continuously takes-over the box office, appearing in hit after hit between Hollywood and China. Had Donnie taken on the role of Tian Biao, I'm sure we would not have been disappointed – but at the same time, I'm super glad that the incredible and handsome Chin Siu Ho got the chance to do so instead. I'm a huge fan of Chin's (brother to stuntman-supreme Chin Kar Lok); an amazingly talented martial arts actor that has just never been given the attention he deserves. From his appearances in many Shaw Brothers classics to the likes of House Of Traps (1982), Mr. Vampire (1985), The Seventh Curse (1986), Lady Reporter (1989), Visa To Hell (1991), New Kids In Town (1990), and soon after this with Jet Li and Yuen Woo Ping once again in the awesome Fist Of Legend (1994). The man can certainly bust a move and always looks great when doing so. His performance as Tian Biao is one of his best and gives him the chance to act across many levels as a young man who just wants to prove his worth. On top of that, the great Yuen Woo Ping and team put Chin through his paces and help him shine in some of his greatest action scenes ever.
Of course, the two biggest stars that have always headlined Tai Chi Master and graced any amount of artwork available, is the wonderful Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. Produced by Jet Li, who also stars as the leading man of the film and titular character, Tai Chi Master gave the superstar the chance to stay in that genre of wire-fu action-genre that he had helped bring to life only a year or two earlier with his portrayal of Wong Fei Hung in Tsui Hark's Once Upon A Time In China (1991) followed by its first two sequels and films such as Swordsman 2 (1992), Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2 (1993), and the aforementioned Last Hero In China (1993). Of course, some of these films had seen him work with Yuen Woo Ping already, with the pair going on to join forces on films such as the aforementioned Fist Of Legend (1994), Black Mask (1996), Fearless (2006), and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) to name but a few. As it turns out, 1993 would prove to be as busy a year for the star with six productions on the go including Once Upon A Time In China 3, Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2, Last Hero In China, Kung Fu Cult Master, and this – all falling into the same genre of wuxia-action that became a staple part of Jet Li's career. It should also be noted that, around this time, Jet Li was originally considered to play the role of Eddie Chan in Kirk Wong's Crime Story (1993). But after his agent was gunned down by triads, Li chose not to make a movie based on organised crime and instead began work on Tai Chi Master instead. It was a move that was considered the right one by many fans of his work, with this proving to still be one of his best and most entertaining works to date.
The beautiful Michelle Yeoh, who had made one hell of an impression in her big action debut Yes Madam (1985), Royal Warriors (1986), and Magnificent Warriors (1987), was hot off the success of Jackie Chan's Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992) and was about to get pulled in all directions with the New Wave directors that would see her move into the wire-fu genre with no less than six productions in 1993. These included the wild Butterfly & Sword, Heroic Trio 1 & 2, Holy Weapon, Tai Chi Master, and even Project S: Once A Cop – the sequel to her character from Police Story 3: Super Cop. Of course, Yeoh would hang around with Yuen Woo Ping soon after to star as the lead in Wing Chun (1994), alongside Donnie Yen, and would work with the director again on films such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000), True Legend (2010), Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny (2016), and Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy (2018), respectively. Both of these stars excel in what is probably one of their finest moments of the genre as Jun Biao and Falling Snow; from the more dramatic moments and comedic sequences, to the incredibly creative and amazing fight action!
While there's a cast of hundreds involved in Tai Chi Master, there are only a few that really join the aforementioned stars as the main cast. Fight choreographer and director in his own right, Yuen Cheung Yan, plays the hilarious role of Taoist Priest Ling – one of the rebel fighters whose character harks back to that of his role in his self directed Taoism Drunkard (1984). Brother to Yuen Woo Ping, this Yuen Clan member also assisted with the fight choreography of Tai Chi Master and is always a joy to see on-screen, having been doing so for over 170 feature films. The lovely Fennie Yuen stars as Falling Snow's companion, Little Melon – falling for bad boy Tian Biao but never losing her way. I've always enjoyed seeing Fennie in films such as classics like School On Fire (1988), Pedicab Driver (1989), Swordsman 1 & 2 (1990/92), Bullet In The Head (1990), Royal Tramp 1 & 2 (1992), and had just worked with Woo Ping on Hero Among Heroes (1993). As Little Melon, Fennie kicks ass and does a great job all over as she tries to stay out of the shadows of her larger co-stars. The fantastic Yu Hai joins Jet on-screen once again, having starred as his master in the Shaolin Temple (1982) series that first launched Jet Li in the early 80s. A true Wushu master, Yu Hai gets the chance to show off his martial skills once again, and looks pretty damn authentic while doing so. The great Lau Shun, who appeared in films such as A Chinese Ghost Story 2 & 3 (1990/91), Prince Of The Sun (1990), The Swordsman Trilogy (1990/92/93), Blade Of Fury (1993), and many more including Jet's own OUATIC 1 & 3 (1991/93); plays the caring sifu to Jun Biao and Tian Biao. And finally, Sun Jian Kui, who also made his debut in Shaolin Temple (1982), returns to battle his old co-star as the evil Eunuch Liu Jin. Interestingly enough, Sun would rejoin Jet again many years later for a role in Tsui Hark's Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate (2011) and the visually fun, League Of Gods (2016) which is worth catching.
Of course, aside from its amazing list of stars and directors, Tai Chi Master boasts some incredible martial arts action that helped secure Yuen Woo Ping's name as one of the top choreographers in the business. From the training sequences to the combat scenes, Woo Ping and his brother Yuen Cheung Yan were joined by the popular Dee Dee Ku; an actor and choreographer who has provided his services for many great titles such as Tiger Cage 3 (1991), Sacrifice (2010), Shadow (2018), 14 Blades (2010), Hitman (1998), The Four Trilogy (2012), Stone Age Warriors (1991), Iron Monkey (1993), House Of Fury (2005), Kung Fu Hustle (2004), and so much more! Between the three of them, and the late Tony Ling Chi Wah, the team create a host of amazing wire-enhanced fight sequences that burst with creativeness and energy, from one-one-one challenges to full-on battles that see one or two characters taking on armies that make you want to reach for the rewind button. It highlights both its director and stars at the prime of their careers, and does not disappoint – although it does make one wonder what could have been had Jet Li returned for it's sequel. Regardless, fans have enjoyed going back to this classic for over 3 decades already, and now – thanks to a new 4K restoration from 88 Films – they have the chance to see Tai Chi Master the best it's ever looked!
Overall: One of my favourite Jet Li and Yuen Woo Ping movies, Tai Chi Master is a classic slice of Hong Kong cinema and well worth a watch!
88 Films 4K UHD Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration, Interview with Chin Siu Ho, Featurettes with Brett Ratner, Featurette on the Birthplace of Tai Chi, Trailers
Dragon Dynasty DVD Extras: Audio Commentary by Bey Logan, Interview with Chin Siu Ho, Featurettes with Brett Ratner, Featurette on the Birthplace of Tai Chi, Trailers
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TAI CHI SHADOW BOXING
(Hong Kong/Taiwan 1980)
Original Title: Feng Shi Guai Tu (aka) Tai Chi Devil Dragons
Directed by Yu Han Hsiang Produced by Chen Wen Sen, Hsu Tsai Lai Action by Jacky Chen Shao Lung Starring: Jacky Chen Shao Lung, Hsiang Yun Peng, Yu Sung Chao, Chou Jui Fang, Lung Fei, Kam Kong Reviewing: YouTube Release Genres: Traditional Kung Fu / Comedy
Rating - 2 / 5
Synopsis: Two kung-fu brothers meet up with an old drunken boxer, who takes a liking to them. It's revealed that he is the famous Tai Chi Shadow master, a rare and deadly form of kung fu. He teaches the two and together they become Robin Hood's, fighting the rich and helping the needy. This doesn't sit well with the local warlord, who kills the Tai Chi master. Now it's time to avenge their master's murder.
Views: The great Jacky Chen Shao Lung and Hsiang Yun Peng star as a couple of kung-fu idiots who are lucky to be trained up by an old drunken master in the art of tai chi shadow boxing. There's really no reason for any of it, but the old man seems happy to have students and his daughter seems keen to have the guys around. It takes half the movie for us to understand why the old master wants to have some well-trained students around him and soon, the fighters reach a level that will help them take down and destroy their masters old enemy!
Actor and choreographer Jacky Chen returns for another kung-fu comedy, inspired by the success of Jackie Chan's Snake In The Eagles Shadow, Drunken Master, and even some of his funnier Lo Wei efforts. With characters similar to the likes of the great Simon Yuen and Dean Shek in the aforementioned titles, Chen does his utmost best to give kung-fu fans the same amount of excitement and entertainment as Chan the man had done before him – even to the point of using sausages as nunchucks like Chan had done previously with a wig in Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu. But while Jacky Chen's martial arts ability and comedic acting are pretty damn impressive, the film itself just doesn't have the same kind of energy as a Jackie Chan title. Personally, I preferred the previous years Jacky Chen project, Of Cooks & Kung Fu, which was a lot more fun. Regardless, you can't deny the skills of Chen, both as a kung-fu actor and choreographer, having starred in over 50 films since his début in King Hu's classic, A Touch Of Zen in 1971. From there, Chen went on to star or appear in a host of classics including a number of titles for the Shaw Brothers studio such as Spiritual Boxer, Clan Of Amazons, and The Vengeful Beauty, along with Lau Kaw Wing's He Has Nothing But Kung Fu and a brief appearance in Enter The Dragon. Chen's time in the film industry came to a close after two decades with a cameo and action director credit in China Dolls starring Amy Yip and as the action director of Moon Lee's awesome Angel Terminators 2. In Tai Chi Shadow Boxing, his partner in crime is played by Hsiang Yun Peng – a recognisable actor who starred in kung-fu movies such as 36 Super Kids, Brave Commando, and The Dynamite Trio that would see him work alongside Jacky Chen once again – with the latter choreographing the fight action. While he isn't as gifted a mover as his co-star, Hsiang makes the most of his role and gets to throw some cool shapes while under the watchful eye of Chen.
Popular actor Yu Sung Chao stars as the old master – although not as old as Simon Yuen's most famous characters nor quite as appealing, but he does a grand job throughout. Yu started his film career in the 1964 Shaw Brothers rom-com Black Forest and went onto star in almost 120 films including some classics such as One-Armed Swordswoman (which he also choreographed), One-Armed Swordsmen, Four Real Friends, One-Armed Boxer Vs The Flying Guillotine, Dance Of Death, Shanghai 13, and even Island Of Fire with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. The great Kam Kong, star and fan-favourite bad guy of over 60 films, returns once again for another villainous role as a bad monk. I've always been a huge fan of Kong's having watched him for years in many of the Jackie Chan 'Lo Wei' films, as well as others such as 18 Bronzegirls Of Shaolin, The Silver Spear, Shaolin Invincible Sticks, Iron Monkey, and more. A number of years before Tai Chi Shadow Boxing, Kong would have worked alongside Yu Sung Chao in Jimmy Wang Yu's aforementioned One-Armed Boxer Vs The Flying Guillotine and Four Real Friends, so it was a nice touch to have them back on screen here once again. A few more regular faces of 70s kung-fu cinema help fill out the cast such as Yung Shun Hing, Chang Chung Kui, and Cheng Sai Gang, along with actresses Chou Jui Fang and Wang Quen – from Jackie Chan films Snake & Crane Arts Of Shaolin and Magnificent Bodyguards – who appears for a fun fight scene against the guys...
The film was directed by Yu Han Hsiang and although he had helmed over 60 features in his lifetime, I have to say it's not a name I would recognise from the kung-fu cinema world – or a director I'd be looking out for. Apart from Tai Chi Shadow Boxing, the only other title I would have seen of his would be Burning Of The Red Lotus Monastery starring Pearl Cheung and Meng Fei – also known as Red Lotus Temple On Fire. If Jacky Chen's choreography wasn't here to liven things up, I'd say Tai Chi Shadow Boxing would have been a pretty boring film to be honest, with things only really heating up in the second half. As expected, all the fun is saved for the grand finale which sees Jacky Chen, Hsiang Yun Peng, and their master go up against Kam Kong and his crony in an impressive showdown with some great moves!
Overall: Not amazing and hardly fresh on ideas, Tai Chi Shadow Boxing passes the time and has some fun fight scenes that save it from being a complete waste!
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TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE
(Hong Kong/South Korea 1977)
Original Title: Jian Hua Yan Yu Jiang Nan 劍花煙雨江南 (aka) New Big Boss
Directed by Lo Wei Produced by Lo Wei Action by Jackie Chan, Chen Hsin I Starring: Jackie Chan, Hsu Feng, Shin Il Ryong, Yu Ling Lung, George Wang, Tung Lin, Lee Man Tai, Ma Chi, Chen Hsin I, Chen Hui Lou Reviewing: 88 Films 4K UHD Release Genres: Kung-fu / Drama / Adventure
Rating: 3.5 / 5
88 Films 4K UHD Synopsis: The year was 1977 and kung-fu fighting was still blasting out of discotheques, the spectre of Bruce Lee continued to haunt Hong Kong cinema and a young Jackie Chan was fast on his way to superstardom. TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE is undoubtedly one of the martial arts legend's finest moments – with confident direction from the legendary Lo Wei, who had given Bruce Lee his break with THE BIG BOSS in 1971!Shot in South Korea, TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE highlights a fast-paced tale of doomed romance and revenge that gives Chan's token stunts and chopsocky mayhem plenty of space to showcase themselves! Finally available to UK viewers, with a brand new 2024 4K restoration, one of Chan's most underrated motion pictures is ready to fight its way into your collection! (107 Mins)
88 Films UK Blu-ray Synopsis: The year was 1977 and kung-fu fighting was still blasting out of discotheques, the spectre of Bruce Lee continued to haunt Hong Kong cinema and a young Jackie Chan was fast on his way to superstardom. TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE is undoubtedly one of the martial arts legend's finest moments – with confident direction from the legendary Lo Wei, who had given Bruce Lee his break with THE BIG BOSS in 1971!Shot in South Korea, TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE highlights a fast-paced tale of doomed romance and revenge that gives Chan's token stunts and chopsocky mayhem plenty of space to showcase themselves! Finally available to UK viewers, in a new 2K scan, one of Chan's most underrated motion pictures is ready to fight its way into your collection of 88 Asia gems! (107 Mins)
Eastern Heroes UK DVD Synopsis: 'To Kill With Intrigue' is one of Jackie Chan's darker films, as he takes revenge after the slaughter of his family. Here, in a more serious role, we get to enjoy Jackie's acting skills as well as some wickedly fast set pieces of action. Highly underrated, but much more appreciated by today's audience. (95 Mins)
Trans Global UK VHS Synopsis: Jackie Chan stars as Siao lei, son of the Lord of Lei Mansion. Siao Lei is seriously injured by the 'Honeybee Plum Flower' gang who attack the mansion and kill everyone except him. Siao Lei loses his pregnant girlfriend Chien-chien and is attacked mistakenly by the 'Bloody Rain' gang. After a saddened Siao Lei has more skirmishes with the 'Bloody Rain' gang he is eventually reunited with Chien-chien. (102 Mins)
Views: If there was one name that defined pure determination in achieving their dreams, then that name would be Jackie Chan! After years of torturous training at his Peking Opera School and many appearances as a child actor alongside his acrobatic brothers, Jackie started to gain some credit as a talented stuntman and extra. With appearances in the Golden Harvest production The Blade Spares None and Shaw Brothers films such as Village Of Tigers and The Golden Lion among others, Chan gained a little more recognition after his stunt duties in Bruce Lee's Fist Of Fury in 1972. Over the next year, the young star would appear in around 15 movies – mostly in tiny bit-parts, but for a few movies that would give him a lot more screen time such as The Cub Tiger From Kwangtung, Not Scared To Die, Police Woman, and Kung Fu Girl, as well as returning to work with Bruce once again in his martial arts epic, Enter The Dragon, respectively...
After another few rocky years, the wanna-be martial-arts star got a second wind with a role in John Woo's Hand Of Death for Golden Harvest and a new contract with Lo Wei Motion Pictures. Having gave Bruce Lee his big break with The Big Boss and Fist Of Fury, prolific director Lo Wei saw the talent in the young Jackie Chan but, with the passing of Lee only a few years before, was still unsure as to where he wanted to take him. Harking back to his biggest hit with Bruce, Lo Wei kicked off his working career with Jackie by producing and directing New Fist Of Fury – a remake/sequel of sorts with aim of presenting Chan as the new Bruce Lee. While it wasn't a huge hit, Wei would push out two more productions starring Jackie such as the impressive Shaolin Wooden Men and underrated Killer Meteors that would see Chan play the villain of Jimmy Wang Yu's heroic swordsman. This would also be the first of three films that Lo Wei would adapt from a novel and screenplay by praised writer Gu Long, with the second being To Kill With Intrigue and the third, Magnificent Bodyguards, also starring Jackie Chan. While neither would prove to elevate Jackie to superstar status and tensions between him and Lo Wei were getting worse, the pair kept going for another few years giving us classics such as Snake & Crane Arts Of Shaolin, Spiritual Kung Fu, Dragon Fist, Fearless Hyena, and its hugely underrated and entertaining sequel that would eventually see them part ways.
Although many have heavily criticised their work over the years, it's only fair to say that each film definitely has their own entertaining qualities with To Kill With Intrigue proving to be the most lavish of them all – coming across as a Chor Yuen directed production from the Shaw Brothers studio with great costumes, wild characters, and fantastic cinematography. It's also worth noting that the film was presented by Hsu Li Hwa – Lo Wei's second wife and someone who Jackie himself held great respect for, having supported him throughout his troubled journey during his Lo Wei years. A joint Hong Kong and South Korean production, To Kill With Intrigue was filmed over the winter months in the latter where it is known as The New Big Boss. Oddly, in Japan, it is known to be called Becoming Dragon Fist where, once again, it was put out with a catchy new theme song and marketed quite differently to other Asian territories. It's also worth that noting that the character of Chin Chin had to be renamed for the Japanese release, with the term 'chin chin' known locally as slang for penis!
While many have criticized the film as having a convoluted plot – something quite common in many Gu Long adaptations and Shaw Brothers wuxia films – To Kill With Intrigue actually delivers a well crafted tale of doomed romance and revenge. The film tells the unfortunate story of Lei Shao Feng who reluctantly forces his pregnant girlfriend away from the family mansion in a bid to save her from an oncoming attack by the Killer Bee gang. During the attack, Lei's whole family is killed although he is spared by the gang's leader and forced to live with her where he is subjected to torture through training. Determined to fight for his true love and get her back, Lei does what he can to defeat the bandit leader and take revenge on a traitorous friend...
To many modern Jackie Chan fans, Jackie's role here as Lei Shao Feng seems out of place and miscast – perhaps, in hindsight, suiting the likes of Jimmy Wang Yu in a continued role from Lo Wei's previous Gu Long adaptation, Killer Meteors. But at the time, when Jackie wasn't known as the Clown Prince of Kung Fu, his jarring role here would have made no difference. In fact, it's fair to say that Chan does a pretty good job in both his dramatic performance and while in action. Starring alongside him, and often credited as the first lead in the film, is the wonderful Hsu Feng – a beautiful talent who had already been in the business a good decade before with an obviously stronger track record than her up and coming co-star. Since making her debut in King Hu's Dragon Inn, the Taiwanese starlet went onto star in his classics such as A Touch Of Zen, The Fate Of Lee Khan, The Valiant Ones, Raining In The Mountain, and Legend Of The Mountain. By the time she had starred in this, Hsu Feng had already appeared in well over 30 titles, eventually retiring from the screen in 1986 to focus more on producing and working behind the scenes to bring us titles such as the Kung Fu Kids film series, Runaway Blues, Farewell My Concubine, and Shanghai Story among many more. Korean actor Shin Il Ryong, who starred alongside Sammo Hung in The Double Crossers and Bruce Leung in The Dragon Lives Again, co-stars throughout while the brilliant George Wang (father of kung fu star Wong Tao) appears at the Master of the Dragon Escort. Fans should also keep an eye out for regular faces from the era of Jackie Chan's career such as Tung Lin, the prolific Ma Chi and equally busy Lee Man Tai also appear, while the enjoyable Chen Hui Lou guest stars.
Although delivered as a Shaw Brothers-style wuxia film, To Kill With Intrigue still has its fair share of hand-to-hand martial-arts action, wonderfully choreographed by Jackie Chan himself and action-director Chen Tin Yi who previously choreographed the fight action in Killer Meteors as well as Shaw Brothers titles such as Marco Polo, 7 Man Army, New Shaolin Boxers, and Shaolin Temple. Here, the pair create some exciting moments blending fantasy swordplay and neatly choreographed kick action that is sure to please, especially during its lengthy grand finale. While revered film-maker Frankie Chan handles the music that accompanies it, prolific cinematographer Chan Chung Yuen beautifully captures things, delivering some stunning shots and interesting angles – returning to work with Chan and Lo Wei after shooting all their previous outings, and going on to work his magic on films such as Jackie's own Dragon Lord, Yuen Biao's Iceman Comenth, and many more. While it may not be perfect, To Kill With Intrigue definitely has its moments and is absolutely one of the most polished productions from Jackie Chan's 'Lo Wei Era' – now delivered in a gorgeous 4K restoration from 88 Films. It just makes you wonder what direction his career would have went had he been moulded under the banner of the Shaw Brothers studio – but perhaps, given the incredible action classics he went onto give us that were born from his experiences and journey during this time, it actually isn't worth thinking about!
Overall: An underrated piece from an important era of Chan's career, To Kill With Intrigue is a polished wuxia adventure that deserves to be seen!
88 Films 4K UHD Extras: 4K Restoration, Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng & F.J. DeSanto, Rick Baker remembers To Kill With Intrigue, Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer, Japanese Trailer, Japanese Teaser, Japanese TV Spot, Japanese Theatrical Opening, Stills Gallery
88 Films Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restoration, Rick Baker remembers To Kill With Intrigue, Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer, Stills Gallery
Eastern Heroes DVD Extras: Jackie Chan Interview, Promotional Trailer
Get your copy HERE
Watch my unboxing video for this 88 Films release HERE
TOUGH BEAUTY & SLOPPY SLOP
(Philippines 1995)
Original Title: No Hoi Wai Lung
Directed by Yuen Bun, Alan Chui Produced by Chung Wai Shing, Lam Wai Action by Alan Chui, Lee Chi Kit Starring: Yuen Biao, Cynthia Khan, Waise Lee, Alex Man, Yuen Wah, Billy Chow, Peter Chan, Alan Chui, Monsour Del Rosario, Shum Wai, Tam Suk Mui, David Lam Wai Reviewing: YouTube Release Genres: Action / Martial Arts / Comedy
Rating - 3.5 / 5
Synopsis: A Chinese cop and Hong Kong cop go undercover in the Philippines to bring down the feared leader of a criminal organisation. (90 Mins)
Views: Often mocked as the low-budget rip-off of Jackie Chan's Police Story 3: Supercop with its similar story and action scenes, as well as its God-awful title, Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop may be a little rough around the edges but it still has plenty to enjoy! The film opens in the Philippines with Officer Wan (Alex Man) leading a police team into action to bring down a couple of known drug dealers. While it's a fun opening scene and offers a pretty cool introduction to Man's character, I was shocked to see him getting killed off soon after while enjoying a celebratory dinner. The film quickly shifts to China where we meet super lady cop Yiang (Cynthia Khan), who is leading her team on a similar mission – albeit with a bit more excitement and action. Drug dealers Yuen Wah and Peter Chan are interrupted by the female fury who shoots, kicks, and punches her way into taking down the baddies with a finishing move that sends Wah crashing down through some bamboo scaffolding in a painful (but impressive) looking stunt. Praised by her bosses, Khan is given a new mission that puts her undercover in a Filipino women's prison where she must get close to the wife of feared gangster, Wai (Waise Lee) who is behind a major counterfeiting scheme. Although she is backed by a Filipino cop called Sandos (Monsour Del Rosario) who is trying to bring Waise down from the outside, the pair also benefit from the support of Hong Kong super-cop Li Chin Tang (Yuen Biao), who is undercover as Yiang's lover. Between them both, Yiang and Li help Wai's wife return home where her husband offers to hire the young lovers to work for him. Of course, the pair agree and soon find themselves in a host of trouble when they are sent out to rescue criminals and commit crimes in order to gain Wai's trust. But one such mission pushes Li too far when he is ordered to assassinate his friend Sandos – catching the attention of Wai's big boss, which makes Wai himself jealous. A quick business deal with an old criminal almost blows Li's secret, and soon the undercover cop finds himself under the watchful eye of Wai once again who secretly arranges the execution of his new employees. Surviving the hit, Li and Yiang continue onto the big bosses compound where they try to take down every criminal in sight no matter what, resulting in an explosive showdown between the Philippines biggest gangsters and the heroic cops!
I can't help but feel that Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop is somewhat underrated for what it has to offer, and I can't help but feel that something was lost in translation when it came to the English version of the title – perhaps meant to be Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Cop which would make more sense (if any). Personally, I think if the film had a bit of a clean-up and was released on Blu-ray under a far more superior title altogether, then this Yuen Biao and Cynthia Khan adventure would gain a whole new audience and actually be taken a little more seriously. Although it was made a few years after Jackie Chan's far superior Police Story 3: Supercop, it's quite obvious that this cheap Filipino-Hong Kong co-production was cobbled together just to cash in on the success of Chan's third chapter. From the tone of the film to some major plot points – and even certain set pieces – there's no denying that the producers of Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop were clearly inspired by the '92 hit film, although it was probably done on a quarter of the budget and in half the time but it reminded me of certain Hong Kong productions from the late 1980s with its exciting action sequences and rough-around-the-edges story telling. The film was produced by Chung Wai Shing and David Lam Wai, with the latter also providing a cameo as the chief of police. Having really only started in the industry in the early 90s, Chung Wai Shing worked as a planner and producer on films such as Live & Die In Hong Kong, Ghost Gambler, Sexual Devil, Gambler Vs Gambler and Moon Lee's Beauty Investigator. Chung also produced Sammo Hung's Painted Skin which would see Alan Chui handle the action – something he would return to do here as well as co-direct and make a cameo. As a producer, Chung's project before this would be the fun Moon Lee and Yukari Oshima flick, A Serious Shock! Yes Madam! which would also see him work with Cynthia Khan for the first time. Interestingly enough, Chung would go on to produce Yuen Biao's underrated action-thriller The Hunted Hunter a couple of years after working with him here, and finish his career with Leopard Hunting starring Jade Leung, Yukari Oshima, and Yuen Wah. Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop was directed by Yuen Bun and the aforementioned Alan Chui Chung San, and while Bun had made a name for himself as an actor and action-choreographer over the years, he had only just made his directorial debut a couple of years previous with Once Upon A Time In China 3 – a chapter of Tsui Hark's saga that proved to be a little weaker than its predecessors. And while Alan Chui followed a very similar path, this would prove to be his directorial debut followed-up with Bloody Secret about 5 years later. He is joined in the action department by Sammo Hung's younger brother Lee Chi Kit, a recognisable face from many of his brothers titles and action-director of films such as Vampire Vs Vampire, Magic Cop, A Kid From Tibet, Ip Man, and more – some of which he also worked on as the assistant director. While I'm sure that Yuen Bun also had a hand in the choreography, the 3of them manage to produce enough exciting martial arts action, shoot-outs and explosive action to save Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop from getting wrote off as just another worthless production.
At this stage of his career, Yuen Biao's light was starting to flicker with films such as Circus Kids, Don't Give A Damn, Hero Of Swallow, and Dragon In Shaolin (made either side of this) failing to move him onto the same success as that of his brother, Jackie Chan. Thankfully though, the loveable super-kicker proves to be one of the more exciting things about Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop as he delivers some impressive moves throughout, and seems to be having a great time playing the undercover lover to Cynthia Khan's stern mainland cop. Similarly, the mid-90s would prove to be a bit of stumbling block for the popular actress with titles such as Yes Madam, Angel On Fire, Ultimate Revenge, and others being so cheaply produced it would seem that the majority of Ms Khan's works were just slipping away into obscurity. Of course, for both stars, Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop would be one such title. It's fair to say that Cynthia would be the main lead of the film, getting the most screen time out of the two, although the pair of them share some great chemistry when on-screen together that only makes me wish that we had gotten to see more of their team-up in this or other movies – or that there had been a little more originality with the production. Regardless, the pair are supported by a pretty decent cast which includes Filipino star Monsour Del Rosario, who also starred in a host of Philip Ko flicks including Ultracop 2000, Lethal Panther 2, Guardian Angel, and Techno Warriors. I actually quite enjoyed him here as action-cop Sandos (possibly mistranslated from Santos), and felt that he had the moves and looks of Alex Fong – star of Iron Angels, Guns Of Dragon, and Storm Riders to name but a few. Supercop co-star and all-round film legend, Yuen Wah, delivers a memorable supporting role as a drug dealer from the mainland, getting to trade moves with Cynthia before offering up a painful looking stunt that has him crashing down to the ground through a bunch of bamboo scaffolding, and Peter Chan cameos as the another dealer who is shot in the back by Wah. Alex Man tricks his fans into thinking that he is actually the leading star before he meets his maker, in what would be his only film role in a 4 year gap from1993 to 1997 and the ever popular Waise Lee, whose career moved fast since his debut in John Woo's epic gangster flick A Better Tomorrow, stars as the main baddie of the piece. This would be 1 of 5 films Lee would star in that year, one of which was Angel On Fire alongside Cynthia Khan; a co-star he had shared the screen with many times over the years in films such as Forbidden Arsenal, Zen Of Sword, Pink Bomb, Avenging Quartet, 13 Cold Blooded Eagles, and more. But even he isn't the biggest threat to our heroes as a couple of bigger gangsters quickly put an end to his rule, one of which is played by Shum Wai in a fun cameo that harks back to his appearance in Police Story 3: Supercop, and the other by one of Hong Kong cinema's greatest bad guys – the wonderful Billy Chow. While the majority of his presence and martial skills are saved for the final battle, the hard-as-nails kick-boxer makes quite the impression once again. The grand finale is perhaps one of the biggest 'homages' to Chan's aforementioned Supercop, taking the Thai jungle setting of Chaibat's village and shifting it to the Philippines with Billy Chow channelling Kenneth Tsang's menacing characteristics, which prove to be a great challenge for Biao and Khan. Of course, it does allow for some wonderful martial arts-action which will keep true fans of all stars very happy.
While Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop may be flawed in many ways and carry a discouraging title that would drive many potential viewers away, it still delivers enough entertainment (intentional or not) to warrant a watch. And while the fights themselves are certainly not the greatest from the vast catalogue of Yuen Biao, Cynthia Khan, and Billy Chow films, the majority of them are still pretty good fun and often enough to keep you watching. Although the film has practically vanished from any and all good DVD suppliers listings, Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop is worth checking out if you are ever lucky enough to come across it!
Overall: Cheaply produced and flawed in many ways, Tough Beauty & The Sloppy Slop still has enough worth while moments to warrant it a watch!
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TRAGIC HERO
(Hong Kong 1987)
Original Title: Ying Hung Ho Hon 英雄好漢 (aka) Black Vengeance; China White 2
Directed by Taylor Wong Produced by Johnny Mak Action by Bruce Leung Siu Lung Starring: Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Alex Man, Shing Fui On, Pauline Wong, Carina Lau, Danny Lee, Ko Chun Hsiung, Peter Yang, Lam Chung, Alex Ng, Wai Chung, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong Reviewing: Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Release Genres: Heroic Bloodshed / Triad / Drama
Rating - 4.3 / 5
Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: A two-film saga influenced by The Godfather and Once Upon A Time In America, Taylor Wong's Rich and Famous and Tragic Hero tell a decades-spanning tale of brotherhood and betrayal with a heroic bloodshed twist. In Rich and Famous, brothers Yung (Alex Man) and Kwok (Andy Lau) enter a dangerous world of violent criminals in order to pay off a gambling debt. Crossing paths with the charismatic gangster Lee Ah-chai (Chow Yun Fat), the two brothers join his gang and quickly rise through the ranks. Then in the spectacularly action-packed Tragic Hero, the fortunes of all three characters have changed significantly, with one of the brothers now a violent Triad leader seeking revenge. Also starring Danny Lee (who would reunite with Chow Yun Fat two years later for John Woo's The Killer), Rich and Famous and Tragic Hero make their Blu-ray in the UK from new restorations. (104 Mins)
Vicol HK Blu-ray Synopsis (as Black Vengeance): Kok and Yung were raised up together and like brothers. They are assistants of Chai, a native of Chiu Chow, a leading man in the underworld. However a misconception broke out which overshadowed the relation amongst the three of them. It made Chai and Yung divergence, Kok went to Malacca and Yung went after Chu Lo Dai, the business partner of Chai. On attempt ofkilling Yung as he was no longer under control, Chu was failed and killed by Yung. On the other hand, Chai faced a seriesof betrayal by his friends and almost... (97 Mins)
MIA UK DVD Synopsis: JOHN WOO meets 'The Godfather' in Taylor Wong's ballistic sequel to the hugely successful 'Rich And Famous' which reunited CHOW YUN FAT (Bulletproof Monk, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), ANDY LAU and ALEX MAN in another perfectly crafted, bullet-riddled saga of three men struggling against all odds to free themselves from the living hell of a violent criminal past. Intense drama and outrageous action are expertly united in this genre classic. (88 Mins)
Made In Hong Kong UK VHS Synopsis: JOHN WOO meets 'The Godfather' in Taylor Wong's ballistic sequel to the hugely successful 'Rich And Famous' which reunited CHOW YUN FAT (Bulletproof Monk, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), ANDY LAU and ALEX MAN in another perfectly crafted, bullet-riddled saga of three men struggling against all odds to free themselves from the living hell of a violent criminal past. Intense drama and outrageous action are expertly united in this genre classic. (88 Mins)
Views: Ever since I bought them on the Made In Hong Kong VHS label back in the late 90s, I've always had a soft-spot for Taylor Wong's gangster epics Tragic Hero and its prequel, Rich & Famous. While this followed up with a decent DVD release a short number of years later, I've always felt that both films were hugely underrated against bigger films of the heroic bloodshed genre, such as The Killer, City On Fire, A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled, and others. Of course, this is not the case (in my opinion) with both films proving to fit right in with them all, offering some strong performances, great direction, and a storyline that was somewhat inspired by The Godfather. Thankfully, in the last few years, we have been lucky enough to see both films get multiple Blu-ray releases from different distributors around the world, so one can only hope that they find a new audience with the next generation of fans who have been supporting the boutique labels. The latest of these comes from Eureka Video, complete with a stunning new restoration that really knocks the film up a notch. While it's not without its flaws, Taylor Wong's gangster sequel continues the tale of brotherhood, love, betrayal, and gang-warfare, spread over many years which follows the lives of Yung, Kwok, and Wai-Chui. Having long been members of Ah Chai's gang, their lives start to divide as Yung proves himself to be their biggest problem yet with the aim of becoming the leading gang boss in the city. Filled with venom, he spares no-one in his mission to bring down Ah Chai and those close to him!
Also known as Black Vengeance in some places, both Tragic Hero and Rich & Famous still stand as some of Taylor Wong's most recognised works. Making his directorial debut in 1979 alongside the likes of Tsui Siu Ming, Raymond Lee, and David Lai, in the Johnny Mak produced television show, Reincarnated, Wong's first feature came in the shape of the awesome Return Of The Deadly Blade – a brilliantly made kung-fu adventure starring Norman Tsui, David Chiang, Yeung Pan Pan, Yasuaki Kurata, and many other great names. The film was written by Manfred Wong, who also scripted this gangster epic and his follow-up feature, the fun Buddha's Palm, which was made under the Shaw Brothers banner. Taylor would direct two more for the studio, such as Behind The Yellow Line and Pursuit Of A Killer, before making a splash with Rich & Famous/Tragic Hero in 1987. From there, he made many more with Andy Lau through to the mid 90s such as The Truth, Stars & Roses, Kung Fu Vs Acrobatic, No Risk No Gain, and The Three Swordsmen, as well as producing Don't Fool Me for director Herman Yau. Wong directed Chow Yun Fat in Spiritual Love, which was made the same year as this and also starred Pauline Wong, and again in Triads:The Inside Story in 1989. While he was never revered the same way John Woo or Ringo Lam were for their work, I firmly believe that Taylor Wong Tai Loi has proven himself time-and-time-again as one of Hong Kong cinema's great film-makers. Director of the equally entertaining crime-thriller Long Arm Of The Law, Johnny Mak, produces for Taylor Wong; a job he first did since his aforementioned television debut and again on Wong's titles like Spiritual Love, The Truth, and the sequel to this. The film falls under the banner of Win's Film Company, an earlier branch of the Heung brothers' successful production company now known as Win's Entertainment. Around this period, Win's also produced classic Hong Kong hits like Magic Crystal, The Crazy Companies, Handsome Siblings, Dragon Chronicles, From Beijing With Love, and Chow Yun Fat's underrated, God Of Gamblers Return, and have went on to deliver some of the finest films to date featuring Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Chow Sing Chi, and others.
Between them, they've managed to pull together a fantastic cast for these gangland classics with superstars Chow Yun Fat and Andy Lau headlining the piece – with the wonderful Alex Man playing an equally important role through to the very end. Interestingly enough, Chow had made his acting debut in the aforementioned television show, Reincarnation, that saw some episodes directed by Taylor Wong himself. Although it had been a good decade before they joined forces again for this, Chow had been working his magic on over 30 other titles including The Bund 1 & 2, Postman Fights Back, Hong Kong 1941, 100 Ways To Murder Your Wife, The Seventh Curse, and John Woo's incredible hit-film, A Better Tomorrow, which would crown Yun Fat as the king of the heroic bloodshed genre in 1986. Of course, just a year later, Rich & Famous/Tragic Hero would come into play, but they were only 2 of 11 films Chow would be starring in that year. Aside from these two flicks, Chow would also star in the highly entertaining Spiritual Love for Wong as well as Ringo Lam's City On Fire and Prison On Fire, the fun Scared Stiff, Flaming Brothers, Brotherhood, and A Better Tomorrow 2 – which was even wilder than the first. With Chow's star continuously rising, Taylor pulled a top move in getting the star on-board – I mean, he is the coolest actor in the world – with the popular actor proving to be the perfect choice for gang-boss Ah Chai, before going on to fast become one of Hong Kong's biggest names with films such as City War, The Killer, God Of Gamblers, Once A Thief, Hard Boiled, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and so much more; eventually jumping between Hollywood and home with hit after hit continuing to come out to this day. While Chow had a good decade already behind him, Andy Lau had only been acting for about 4 years since his debut in 1982's Once Upon A Rainbow and Boat People, and would only have around 10 films behind him before being cast here. These also included the Shaw Brothers film On The Wrong Track and Chang Cheh's Shanghai 13, Sammo Hung's Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars and Lucky Stars Go Places, and Wong Jing's brilliantly entertaining Magic Crystal. Of course, even after 170 films today, Andy Lau Tak Wah (who looks like he's never aged a day) has held his place as one of Hong Kong cinemas most beloved stars and soon went onto become one of the hardest working actors in the business throughout the 80s and 90s; much like his charming co-star. Of course, the pair would join forces again just 2 years later for the incredible God Of Gamblers, and almost 20 years later for the spin-off/remake, From Vegas To Macau 2 & 3, but I really love the relationship they have together here in both movies. Andy plays Kwok, the youngest of Papa Yung's children (although adopted) who grows up to stick to the path of righteousness and protect his family, even when he knows they are in the wrong. His biggest pain is his brother, Yung, played with menacing glee by the great Alex Man. This wonderful actor started his career around a similar time as Chow Yun Fat, making his debut in the wuxia television show Dragon Strikes which was also produced by Johnny Mak. Films such as The Secret, The Daring Age, and Avengers From Hell would follow before Man bagged his first Taylor Wong project with a role in Buddha's Palm. Over the years leading to Rich & Famous, the actor would star in films such as Bastard Swordsman 1 & 2, Prince Charming, Misfire, Brotherhood, Journey Of The Doomed, and Hong Kong 1941 alongside Chow Yun Fat. His role here as Yung, in both Rich & Famous and Tragic Hero, is one of my favourites from him with Alex proving to be a villain you love to hate, and a nasty piece of work who shows no hesitation in taking down those closest to him. While still going strong today, Alex has starred alongside Andy Lau a number of times over the years including As Tears Go By, China White, Gangland Odyssey, Crocodile Hunter, Casino Tycoon 1 & 2, and The Conmen In Vegas; and is one of the highlights of these great Taylor Wong films...
The trio are joined (once again) by a collection of Hong Kong greats including the prolific Ko Chun Hsiung; an actor who racked up a crazy 250+ film credits to his name before his death in 2015. Making his debut in 1963, this Taiwanese star went onto become a hugely recognisable talent that starred in over 120 titles within his first decade of acting, eventually appearing in Hong Kong films such as A Queen's Ransom with Jimmy Wang Yu, My Wacky Wacky World, Queen Bee 1 & 2, Code Of Honour with Chow Yun Fat, Burning Ambition with Frankie Chan, The Dragon Family and Island Of Fire alongside Andy Lau and Jackie Chan, and played Tiger Lo in Miracles with the latter. With such a strong on-screen presence, Ko was the perfect choice to play Chow Yun Fat's biggest rival, Boss Chu, and does a fantastic job as the triad who now allies Ah Chai to bring a stop to Yung's madness. The lovely Pauline Wong, recognised mainly for her role as the ghostly maiden in the superb Mr. Vampire, plays the sister of Kwok and Yung – again, making a great job of her role. Like most actresses of her generation, Wong spent a string decade in the film business and delivered some wonderful performances in films such as Night Caller, The Funny Vampire, Spooky Family, Split Of The Spirit, Her Vengeance, The Peacock King, The Beheaded 1000, and Blue Jean Monster alongside the late Shing Fui On – another one of the Rich & Famous cast members. Over the years, Wong starred alongside many of her co-stars a number of times such as The Missed Date, The Greatest Lover and Taylor Wong's Spiritual Love with Chow Yun Fat, The Story Of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and Long Arm Of The Law 2 with Alex Man, No Compromise with Danny Lee, Lucky Stars Go Places, China White, Romancing Star 2, and Last Eunuch In China with Andy Lau, and films like Profiles Of Pleasure, Four Loves, and Love Of The Swindler with the wonderful Carina Lau – here, playing the unfortunate wife of Chow's Ah Chai. This was pretty much Carina's second main role to date since making her debut in the Jackie Chan produced Naughty Boys alongside Kara Hui, not forgetting her appearance as one of the members of The Losers band in his legendary Armour Of God. After both Taylor Wong films, Lau would join Jackie once again for another memorable role in his fantastic Project A 2 before becoming one of the most highly regarded actresses in the industry with further roles in films such as City Warriors, She Shoots Straight, Days Of Being Wild, Centre Stage, Lord Of East China Sea 1 & 2, Ashes Of Time, Eagle Shooting Heroes, Deadful Melody, Forbidden City Cop, 2046, and a number of Andy Lau/Chow Yun Fat movies including Saviour Of The Soul, Infernal Affairs 2 & 3, From Vegas To Macau 2 & 3, Let The Bullets Fly, and Detective Dee & The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame (as well as it's sequels) to name but a few.
It's also worth noting that the fantastic Danny Lee, whose a superstar in his own right, continues his cameo-role from Rich & Famous as a cool-headed cop that aims to put Ah Chai in jail, although in the most respective manner. Praised actor Peter Yang Kwan, who had been acting for over 30 years before this came about, returns to star as the loving father to Andy, Alex, and Pauline's characters and delivers another strong performance that shines towards the end of Tragic Hero. The always entertaining Shing Fui On, who passed in 2007 with a whopping 230 (plus) credits to his name, continues his role as one of Ah Chai's toughest men and goes down in a blaze of glory in one of my favourite scenes from the film. Shing had shared the screen with his co-star many times over the years from A Better Tomorrow 1 & 2 to Prison On Fire, Tiger On The Beat to Diary Of A Big Man, and The Killer to God Of Gamblers among many more, and his role here in both films prove to be as brilliant as always. Also returning is Alex Ng; an odd choice of a man to cast, but a great one nonetheless. Here, Alex plays Chuan; chauffeur to Ah Chai and one of his most trusted aids. While he might be handy for a lift when needed, Chuan also proves to be a fearless brother when it comes to getting in on the action. Better known as Switch Blade in Johnny Mak's Long Arm Of The Law, Ng also starred alongside Chow Yun Fat in films such as 100 Ways To Murder Your Wife, City On Fire, Flaming Brothers, Spiritual Love, The Greatest Lover, and Triads: The Inside Story, among many other great Hong Kong titles.
Bruce Leung Siu Lung – martial-arts legend from films such as The Dragon Lives Again, Broken Oath, Kung Fu Hustle, and Gallants – returns as the action-choreographer, upping the ante with even more action than before, delivering a wild mixture of realistic punch-ups and gun-fights. From relentless shoot-outs and explosions strewn throughout, to the explosive and brutal showdown of the grand finale, fans of Hong Kong action-cinema with love what's on offer here. Part-time actor and cinematographer, Johnny Koo Kwok Wah, once again captures this chapters of Taylor Wong's saga and does another beautiful job with the visual style. Having got behind the camera in the late 70s, Koo captured films such as Avengers From Hell, The Club, New Mr. Vampire, Aces Go Places 2, Long Arm Of The Law 1 & 2, Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars, The Iceman Cometh, and many more including Jet Li's Once Upon A Time In China & America for director Sammo Hung. With so much talent involved and less melodrama than its prequel, Tragic Hero proves to be another genuinely well made and entertaining piece of Hong Kong cinema which almost nails the perfect blend of emotional drama and gritty action, wrapped up in plenty of lavish visuals and terrific performances that bring this classic saga to an intense close!
Overall: Crammed with even more action and backed with strong performances from all involved, Tragic Hero still stands strong today as one of Hong Kong's best gangster films from the late 80s!
Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng, Documentary with Dubbing Voice Actors Simon Broad & Russell Wait, Interviews with Manfred Wong & Michael Mak, Trailers
Vicol Blu-ray Extras: Trailer
Nova Media Blu-ray Extras: Trailer
MIA DVD Extras: Biographies, Filmographies, Stills Gallery, Trailer
Watch my unboxing video for this Eureka Video release HERE
Buy your copy HERE
TRILOGY OF LUST
(Hong Kong 1995)
Original Title: Huet Luen 血戀
Directed by Julie Lee, Mou Tun Fei Produced by Chua Lam, Julie Lee Starring: Julie Lee, Chan Wai Dik, So B,Chan Wai Laan, Lam Yue Fei, Wan Seung Lam, Hau Woon Ling, Cheung Kwok Yuen, Jimmy Wong Reviewing: German DVD Release Genres: Erotica / Thriller / Drama
Rating - 3.5 / 5
German DVD Synopsis: An unscrupulous businessman buys the innocent and inexperienced Lee (Julie Riva) in the provinces and makes her his slave object of desire. A nightmare of the most perverse exploitation begins for the young girl until she gets to know and love Lin, who is the same age. Together they increase their initially tender relationship into the highest sexual ecstasies. But their games do not go unnoticed and something terrible happens... (85 Mins)
Views: Never in all my days of watching movies and being a self-confessed cinephile, have I ever witnessed anything quite like Trilogy Of Lust. I mean, I really thought I had seen it all – even titles such as Ebola Syndrome, The Untold Story, Men Behind The Sun, and Run & Kill, which are often considered some of the toughest Category 3 films to sit through, have nothing on this! I first viewed this with my close friend Marc (also a gay film fanatic) while recording a visual-audio commentary for my Invincible Asia YouTube channel. So on a side note, if you want an honest reaction to what we witnessed during this project, by all means go and check it out to witness the shock, hilarity, and horror on our faces as we go in blind to take on Trilogy Of Lust!
While the film will always be known for its extreme sexual content and brutal violence, I must first give kudos to the one and only Julie Riva/Lee Yuet Wah who, almost, single-handedly brings this project to fruition. Although she was only in the business for three years (although possibly more before hand in the porn industry as some internet sites state), Lee managed to appear in 17 feature films, most of which were labelled as Category 3 titles aside from her debut role in Anthony Chan's comedy, My Americanized Wife. That same year would see her appear in the infamous Dr. Lamb with Simon Yam, and Prostitute for director Lam Yi Hung. Roles in Body Lover, Love To Kill, Emotional Girl, and Jet Li's Last Hero In China would follow in 1993, but it would be her eye-opening role in Herman Yau's classic, The Untold Story, the same year that would be her most memorable. Working as a waitress for psycho slasher Anthony Wong, Lee finds herself battered and sexually abused as Wong flings her around his restaurant before raping her with a fistful of chopsticks until she dies. It's a pretty disturbing scene, and I was highly impressed with what she let them put her through as an actress. 1994 would be her busiest year though with no less than five films on the go including Water Tank Murder Mystery, Portrait Of A Serial Rapist, A Chinese Torture Chamber, Sex And The Emperor, and 1941 Hong Kong On Fire – and no, not the classy Chow Yun Fat one. But it would be, perhaps unknowingly, 1995 that would prove to be Julie Lee's final year in the industry with roles in Tragic Commitment and The Eternal Evil Of Asia, as well as her two biggest ever projects, Trilogy Of Lust 1 & 2, really proving to be the swan songs of her career. I have to admit that I was a little saddened when I read online how Julie died (in 1997) after overdosing on her medication due to relationship problems after, although that turned out to be internet rumors eventually revealing how Julie had faked her suicide. The daughter of a wealthy millionaire Hong Kong businessman, it turns out that Julie has led quite a lively and illustrious life with a sexual energy which matched that of her character here and saw her (quite literally) fuck her first husband to death on their wedding night with the man having a heart-attack during sex. She would marry two more times and went on to appear in a 2001 American production called The Ghost, alongside popular actors Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa and Michael Madsen, although this time, under the new stage name of Chung Lai - quite possibly trying to separate herself from the filmography of Julie Lee in the hopes of a new start after her exploits in Trilogy Of Lust 1 & 2 put an end to her Hong Kong film career.
It must also be known that Julie was also the writer, co-producer, and co-director of the film and, in doing so, managed to gain the support of two men who were no strangers to the Cat.3 genre to help her bring this to life. The first was prolific producer Chua Lam, the very same man behind Hong Kong classics such as The Seventh Curse, Robotrix, Story Of Rikki, The Peacock King, the Erotic Ghost Story Trilogy, City Hunter, Crime Story, Mr. Nice Guy, and The Imp – the 1996 Category 3 film starring Diana Pang and Mark Cheng that has often been released as Trilogy Of Lust 3, oddly. Her other major supporter, apart from her third husband who would go on to appear in the sequel, was the late Mou Tun Fei – the infamous director of the disturbing Men Behind The Sun and its true sequel, Black Sun: The Nanking Massacre. Mou would co-direct Trilogy Of Lust which would be his first feature in 7 years after gaining harsh criticism for Men Behind The Sun, going on to direct Black Sun later that year which would be his last project as a film maker. They would both be assisted by the memorably named Whisky Yung, who worked as an assistant director on Hong Kong titles such as Prince Charming, Wits Of The Brats, Lucky Stars Go Places, Shaolin Kids In Hong Kong, and Sex & The Emperor. While it's not without its flaws, it's fair to say that Trilogy Of Lust was decently made. Given the subject matter and heavy content they had to film, albeit with a fractured script that could have been tightened, it certainly kept our attention for the most part and did impress on different levels. One such thing was the cinematography – often beautifully captured and well lit, I wouldn't say no to seeing Trilogy Of Lust get a Blu-ray release with HD restoration for this reason alone. This was thanks to cinematographer Kwan Chi Kan, a DOP that has captured films such as The Peacock King 1 & 2, Magic Cop, Thunderbolt, Gordon Liu's Shaolin Vs Evil Dead 1 & 2, and Chinese Heroes, as well as Sammo Hung's Osaka Wrestling Restaurant and Kung Fu Chefs, among many others including a number of Chua Lam's aforementioned titles.
While Julie Lee is most definitely the main star of the show, she is joined by only a couple of recognisable faces here such as So Kwok Chu – or So B as he is often known. Working for a decade throughout the 1990s as a props guy and bit-player, So first appeared in Erotic Ghost Story followed by roles in Kung Fu Vs Acrobatic and An Eternal Combat before going on to star in a number of Category 3 titles, eventually working on Portrait Of A Serial Rapist where he may have met Julie for the first time. In Trilogy Of Lust, So plays the horny fish doctor (you'll get it when you see it) that buys the sorrowful and innocent Lee as a wife and (ultimately) sex-slave. But when he gets her home, he soon realises just how inexperienced and naïve she actually is, eventually bringing in a hooker that he proceeds to have full-blown sex with in front of Lee while forcing her to take notes. While comedic to some degree and far from being a sex icon, So proves to be a hateful character that relishes in the rape and abuse of his wife – eventually getting what he deserves after getting into a fight with Zai Tse; Julie's young lover. It's worth noting that the majority of this film takes place on a houseboat/fish farm, anchored in a unknown bay of Hong Kong and surrounded by many identical floating dwellings. Zai Tse, a handsome young man who delivers vegetables to those on the houseboats. Enamored by his good looks and physicality, Julie wastes no time in getting it on with Zai, having all kinds of wild sex before going on the run after killing her sleazy husband. Thankfully, Zai is played by an actor who is a lot easier on the eye than So B, and clearly someone that doesn't mind swinging his erection about on camera or planting his face in Julie's vagina – even going as far as sucking an egg (yes, a real chicken egg) out of her! It's both eye-opening and disturbing, but as a full-blooded gay man I can't say I didn't enough his performance. Unfortunately, Trilogy Of Lust would be his only starring role.
A few other recognizable faces flesh the story out such as prolific actor Wan Seung Lam, kung-fu actor from many Shaw Brothers classics such as Flag Of Iron, Crippled Avengers, House Of Traps, The Lady Is Boss, going on to appear in modern hits such as Project A, Burning Ambition, God Of Gamblers, Bullet In The Head, Hard Boiled, Police Story 3: Super Cop, and so many more – racking up a strong 169 roles with his last in 2004 as a drug dealer in Derek Yee's brilliant, One Night In Mongkok. Here, Wan plays the feisty fish shop owner who gets to bust some moves when a fight breaks out between him and So B. Making an extended cameo as the abusive army veteran – who I mistook as the cruel father of Julie's younger self – is Cheung Kwok Yuen; writer and assistant director of classics such as Toothless Vampires, Holy Flame Of The Martial World, Return Of The Bastard Swordsman, and Secret Service Of The Imperial Court. The wonderful Hau Woon Ling, an actress who always makes me smiles when she appears on screen, stars as Zai's grandmother – keen to get her handsome grandson a girlfriend, even going as far as bringing him a local hooker who he has some twisted fun with. Before she passed in 2018, Woon Ling starred in over 150 films throughout her 40 year career, with her last being at the ripe old age of 95 in Shock Wave and Always Be With You, both of which were directed by the great Herman Yau. Notably, prolific Shaw Brothers actor Lam Fai Wong also makes an appearance, as does Johnnie To film regular Jimmy Wong Wa Wo...
If I haven't already made it clear enough, the sex scenes in this movie are 100% real and incredibly intrusive! If you were to watch this movie in a modern 4D cinema, you would come out soaking wet and incredibly sticky, no doubt smelling of fish, eggs, and blood with what goes on here. Full erections and penetration is there for all to see, with Julie's vagina spread open so wide in many scenes that I swear I saw a child waving out at one point! From getting fucked with a large cotton swab on a stick to (what looks like) her birthing a hard-boiled egg into her lovers mouth, and from masturbating the top half of an eel because it reminds her of a large penis to getting fucked on a cliff edge before throwing herself off, Trilogy Of Lust may not make a lot of sense in the long run, but it's certainly a film that will never leave you – and one that should only be viewed by those with a very strong stomach. It's both fascinating and disturbing, but one hell of an experience. I can't wait to see part two!
Overall: Practically a well made pornographic-thriller, Trilogy Of Lust is both shocking and impressive in what its star and director was brave enough to deliver. What an experience!
German DVD Extras: Trailer
TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS:
WALLED IN
(Hong Kong 2024)
Original Title: Jiu Long Cheng Zhai Wei Cheng 九龍城寨之圍城 (aka) Kowloon Walled City; City Of Darkness
Directed by Soi Cheang Produced by Wilson Yip, John Chong Action by Kenji Tanigaki Starring: Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Philip Ng, Richie Ren, Aaron Kwok, Raymond Lam,Terrance Lau, Kenny Wong, Tony Wu, Cheung Man Kit, Wong Tak Bun, Cecilia Choi Reviewing: Cineasia Private Link Genres: Martial Arts / Action / Thriller
Rating - 5 / 5
Synopsis: Set in Hong Kong during the 1980s, the story tells the tale of illegal immigrant and troubled youth, Chan Lok-kwun, who escapes the violence of a local crime lord by hiding in the infamous Walled City. After getting off to a rough start, Chan soon finds solace under the watchful eye of martial arts master Cyclone, and eventually gains some new friends while learning important life lessons along the way. But trouble isn't too far behind him, and soon, many Triad leaders and their armies of men descend upon the claustrophobic city to find him! (126 Mins)
Views: Hitting the big screens across the UK & Ireland courtesy of Cineasia just weeks after making it's hugely successful Hong Kong debut, Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In is an incredible action-packed adrenaline rush that features a top cast, gripping martial arts battles, stunning production values, and slick direction – proving to be one of the greatest Hong Kong action movies of the last decade!
After sitting in production hell for many years with names such as John Woo, Johnnie To, and Derek Kwok rumoured to direct, and the likes of Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong, Donnie Yen, and even Nicholas Cage, in line to star, the film eventually began production in late 2021 under the watchful eye of the hugely talented Soi Cheang – award winning director of hit films such as Dog Bite Dog, Shamo, Accident, SPL 2: A Time Of Consequences, Motorway, Limbo, and Mad Fate. Here, Cheang brings the pages of Andy Seto's popular manhua comic to life, originally known as City Of Darkness, with his usual dark flair that delivers a film I can only describe as Dragon Tiger Gate meets Election meets Limbo. In short, Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In is quite simply a stunning piece of film-making and proves once again just how talented he really is as a director.
The film boasts an incredible cast of stars including the legendary Sammo Hung who stars as the crime lord known as Mr. Big, and Soi Cheang regular Louis Koo who does an amazing job as the martial arts master known as Cyclone – protector of the Walled City. Richie Ren turns in a surprising role as a big boss within the city, with Kenny Wong starring as his cohort known as Uncle Tiger. And the wonderful Aaron Kwok appears in an extended cameo as a brutal swordsman known as the King of Killers, albeit in a vitally important role which was fantastic to see. But I would be lying if I didn't say that my focus was on the younger cast members of the film such as leading man Raymond Wong – seen in films such as The Sorcerer & The White Snake, Saving General Yang, P-Storm, and the New Kung Fu Cult Master 1 & 2. As Chan Lok Kwun, Wong proves to be a talent to look out for as he highly impresses on both a dramatic and physical level. He is backed by the handsome Terrance Lau, Tony Wu, and Cheung Man Kit, who all prove to be equally as impressive and entertaining in their own ways. Together, they join forces to take on the unstoppable right-hand man of Mr. Big, Wong Gau, played with style and brutality by the wonderful and hugely underrated Philip Ng. While this guy should have been a much bigger star over a decade ago, there's no doubt that his scene stealing role here as the iron-skinned martial-arts-killer will boost the career of this action hero, hopefully (and finally) elevating him to true leading man status with the right projects.
The phenomenal and violent fight action is directed by the amazing Kenji Tanigaki – the Japanese actor and choreographer who has appeared in films such as Once Upon A Time In China 5, Fist Of Legend, Fatal Contact, Legend Of The Wolf, SPL, Flash Point, and more. As an action director and long time member of Donnie Yen's action team, Kenji has blown audiences away with his work on films like Tokyo Raiders, The Twins Effect, SPL, Bodyguards & Assassins, The Lost Bladesman, Wuxia, Special ID, Raging Fire, Sakra, and the hugely popular Rurouni Kenshin film series to name but a few – making his directorial debut with the brilliant Enter The Fat Dragon starring Donnie himself. Here, Kenji delivers some of his finest work yet with a series of brutal martial arts battles that had me wincing at the violence (in a good way), gasping at the incredible moves on offer, and relishing at the intricate choreography I was witnessing. While I've never had the pleasure of reading Andy Seto's original work, I definitely knew I was watching a comic book adaptation as Tanigaki blends elements of 'superhero-like' moves with his choreography, although without ever going over the top and distracting from the real talent on-screen. It's worth noting that most of the cast have worked with both Soi Cheang and Kenji Tanigaki at some point in their careers, and it was great to see everyone involved getting the chance to bust a move – especially the incredible Sammo Hung. Although artfully doubled for some of his more athletic moments, I just adored seeing the big man back in action, proving that at the ripe old age of 72 he was still quite capable of handling himself!
Aside from John Chong and Peter Lam, Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In is produced by Cheang's regular film-cohort and renowned Ip Man director, Wilson Yip. The film also benefits from an incredible score courtesy of prolific Japanese composer, Kenji Kawai, who has worked with them before on films such as the aforementioned Ip Man Series, Dragon Tiger Gate, and the incredible Limbo, as well as on popular titles such as The Ring Series, Avalon, Ghost In The Shell, Princess Blade, Seven Swords, Death Note, Young Detective Dee, and many more. And finally, Cheng Siu Keng, director of films such as White Lotus Cult, Forbidden Arsenal, and Sea Wolves, returns as the cinematographer once again, having captured many of Soi Cheang and Wilson Yip's past productions as well as films such as Fight Back To School, Black Cat 2, Thunderbolt, Running Out Of Time, Full Time Killer, PTU, Election, and more. Here, Cheng beautifully frames the stunning production design of the film, enhancing the detailed work of every set piece with that's delivered with flawless art direction and lighting.
Without a doubt, Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In is one of the biggest cinematic events of the year, appealing to all fans of Hong Kong cinema and anyone looking for a solid and incredibly well-made action movie. The film was selected to play at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival where, I can only hope, its audience fell in love with Soi Cheang's dark and lawless Hong Kong of the 1980s – appreciating just how gorgeously shot, wonderfully acted, and violently exhilarating Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In really is...
Overall: One of the most gripping Hong Kong action flicks of the last decade, Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In is brutally entertaining, brilliantly directed, and highly recommended!
