Day 121 - Gallants (Hong Kong)

"Weedy office worker Cheung is sent to a remote village to secure property rights for his real estate company. Two martial artists run the village's teahouse, which was once the kung-fu school of their teacher Master Law. Law is in fact lying unconscious upstairs in a three decades-long coma, but he awakes when gym boss and local landlord Pong attempts to secure the teahouse for redevelopment. Law mistakes Cheung for a former student and starts training him in preparation for a martial-arts tournament at Pong's gym that will decide all their fates."- IMDb

A nice attempt to try to bring the old school effects of action films to the modern era. There were a few good moments present in the film but sometime it was over the top. The script needed to be better as did the pacing. At times it felt like the film was moving way too fast. Besides that the film was entertaining to watch. If you are interested in martial arts film then watch this one and be entertained

2.7/5

Day 116 continued - Out of Inferno (Hong Kong)

"On the hottest day in 50 years, a serious fire incident happened to a busy commercial tower, a gaggle of fire fighters with an indestructible enthusiasm are going to save lives."-IMDb

Not the worst film I have seen but it could have been much more better especially with the cast they had and the director of the film. I did not like most of the film as most of the characters didn't seem real. I felt like the side stories were not as well detailed as they could of been. The terror of the characters was predictable. I felt like the directors were trying to step in another genre as they tend to stick with the horror aspect which a lot of people like. 

Day 100 - King of Comedy (Hong Kong)

"Wan Tin-Sau (Chow) is an actor who cannot seem to catch a break, since his only professional jobs are limited to being a movie extra and is often tormented on stage. As well as being an actor, he is also the head of his village's community centre."

Another Stephen Chow film that borderlines on corny and comedy. I think this is one of his better ones to be honest. It was interesting to say the least. It could have been better as there were a few dull moments. I happen to enjoy this love interest, as I felt like she was a better actress than some of other love interests. The script was a tad bit weak this time but its kind of normal for a Stephen Chow comedy.

1.5/5

Day 97 - Out of the Dark (Hong Kong)

"Stephen Chow is Leo, a mental patient/ghostbuster who is a parody of the character Léon from the 1994 French film The Professional who talks to his plant for assistance, co-starring Karen Mok as Ah Kwan, a curious young girl who gets caught up with all the spooky situations. The pair are then joined by a brigade of quirky security guards in an attempt to get rid of the evil lurking in a supposedly haunted apartment building situated in Hong Kong."


Not the best Stephen Chow movie but it was still entertaining. I enjoyed the fact that his character and the heroine were parodies of two characters from one of my favorite films Leon: The Professional. There were a few nonsense laughing moments but besides that it wasn't as funny as his other works. I really love Hong Kong films, I fully would support their film industry if I could but for now I am just a fan. So as a fan I will say that anyone that likes Stephen Chows comedy style then this is the right film for you. Beware though, this is a darker role as it features blood, violence, and gore.

1.9/5

Featuring

Stephen Chow

 Film Appearances:
Fight Back to School
Tricky Brains
Shaolin Soccer
Kung Fu Hustle
Journey to the West (Director)

Day 95 - Tricky Brains (Hong Kong)

 

"A trickster-for-hire, known as the Tricky Expert, is hired to ruin the lives of a father and son by making them think that he's a part of the family."

One of Stephen Chows best movies and one of the better Hong Kong comedies I have seen. It also helps that Andy Lau also stars in the film which was a delight. The whole thing is really nonsense but it is entertaining nonsense that is interesting to watch. Stephen Chow has a way to not make lame jokes seem boring. He knows how to keep our attention and doesn't abuse it once he has it.

 

3/5

Day 90 continued - Fist of Legend (Hong Kong)

 

" In 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese."

Wow, seeing Jet Li like I have never seen him before. He is a little younger but virtually he hasn't changed in appearance all that much. His martial art abilities stand out in this film and I even like the addition of boxing footwork.  This film is a very good blend, I loved the interracial relationship between Jet Li and Shinobu Nakayama. That forbidden love made Jet Li's character more human in a way, in better words it made him more realistic. It really impressed me that they would allow that kind of relationship in the script. A good director was present during this film but where was he at during the action scenes? Don't get me wrong, the action scenes were pretty good but some of the effects were a bit too weak. I quite enjoyed this film a lot, so if you are a fan of Jet Li then watch this film and enjoy seeing this legend as a younger man. 

3.8/5

Side note 

The final fight scene was the inspiration for the dojo fighting scene in The Matrix

Jet Li played Chao Zen and he would later play his master, Huo Yuanjia, in the film Fearless

Bruce Lee also played Chao Zen

Day 88 continued - The Defender (Hong Kong)

"A corrupt businessman commits a murder and the only witness is the girlfriend of another businessman with close connections to the Chinese government, so a bodyguard from Beijing is dispatched to help two Hong Kong cops protect the witness. Complications arise when the bodyguard and the witness must confront their deep feelings for one another."

So far it is my favorite Jet Li Hong Kong movie.  You had all of Jet Li's wonderful action scenes but the script was a bit poor. The film was quite predictable and almost had the feeling of being a comedy. Everything seemed so rushed and nothing really is as interesting as it could be.  Also I think they used the kid poorly, he was also a tab bit annoying. I will suggest this film to you if you are a Jet Li fan.

2.8/5

Day 87- The Enforcer (Hong Kong)

" An undercover cop struggling to provide for his son and ailing wife, must infiltrate a ruthless gang. But things turn sour when another cop blows his cover and he quickly finds himself battling for his life and the lives of his family."

This is the first time I have seen Jet Li in a Chinese movie. It wasn't as bad as I thought, I was thinking it might have a poor sound quality. It wasn't that bad to be honest, Jet Li had all the right moves. It was a little different to see Jet Li handle guns in a film as in American movies he usually just fights hand to hand. I did not like the direction of the film or the rushed romance present in the film. Nor did I like the kid's acting ability but he did an okay job. I would suggest you watch this if you are a Jet Li fan.

2/5

Little info

 Jet Li (Kung Wei) and Mo Tse (Johnny Kung) previously portrayed father and son in the 1994 film, "Legend of the Red Dragon

Day 84 continued - Fulltime Killer (Hong Kong)

"Two very different hitmen find themselves to be in each other's way. They use all their skill to solve the problem." IMDb

One of the worst Andy Lau and Johnny To movies I have seen. I have to say Andy Lau had the best performance in the film and is the only real reason to watch the film. I think the script could have been better, the main actress could have been better as well. I wished they used her in a different way, as she could have done more.

2/5

Day 82 continued - Traces of a Dragon (Documentary)

 

" The film explores the touching and history-filled background of Jackie Chan as we have never seen him before" - Wikipedia

This is a very poorly done documentary, it has a lot to do with Jackie Chan but its more about his father than anything else. I think it is a little weird as to why Jackie has not met with his elder siblings but his father has gone back to meet with them several times. I honestly no longer like Jackie Chan due to his political thinking and I don't wish to spoil the documentary for anyone. If you are a Jackie Chan then watch the film if not then skip it. 

1/5

Day 81 continued - Magic to Win (Hong Kong)

 

"The world consists of five elements: gold, wood, water, fire and earth. In the wizard world of 'Magic to Win', the story also revolves around the "Five Element Wizardry", portraying a story that surpasses our imagination. Kang Sengui (Raymond Wong), a university professor, is the Water Magician of "Five Elements Wizardry". Although he uses magic spells in his daily life, his superpower remains a secret. By accident, his power is transmitted to his student, Macy (Karena), who recklessly uses her newfound powers for personal gain and money-making"-Wikipedia

Another bad movie to review! The film was a bit of a joke, the acting was bad and comedy was a bit corny. The characters are mostly ridiculous, and you might laugh out of the sheer stupidity of a few of them. The worst thing about this film was its special effects which were on par with the special effects from the godawful live action adaption of Avatar the Last Airbender. The story was very easy to read, so this might be a good film to show children but I am sure many adults would be compelety bored if they watch this film.

0.5/5

Day 81 - Breaking News (Hong Kong)

The Hong Kong police force try to solve a few robberies in order to make themselves look good to the public eye.

A film from Hong Kong director Johnny To but it doesn't feel like it is. The action was okay but there was not a whole lot of it. The character development was bland with no real value. You  don't really get to bond with any of the characters nor can you really figure out who is the central character. The film was quite boring to be honest and most of the characters were unlikable especially the main actress. 

If you are a fan of Johnny To then watch the film, if not I would suggest you skip it.

1/5

Day 78 - Tales from the Dark (Hong Kong)

A 3 part horror movie with each part a different story and characters.


A very dull horror film that had the potential to be much more. It was slow at parts with no real build up and it was more boring than actually thrilling. I did laugh in the beginning but that was about it. I didnt enjoy watching this film despite the talented actors present in the film. This is a horrible horror movie to watch on any given day, so I suggest you skip it.

0/5

Little info

It was adapted from short stories by Lilian Lee
It was Simon Yam's first directing experience

Day 73 continued - Mr. Nice Guy (Hong Kong)

 

"A Chinese chef accidentally gets involved with a news reporter who filmed a drug bust that went awry and is now being chased by gangs who are trying to get the video tape"

 

Not as bad as I thought it was going to be, the action was there but the acting and script could have been better. I understand that its hard to work with actors that don't speak Chinese. Despite not liking Jackie Chan in his personal life, on the screen he doesn't say idiotic things. He was actually quite good in the film, his English wasn't that bad either I could clearly understand him. Some of the actors brought a sense of realism to the film yet it the film feels bad. Mainly due to the back up actors including the villain who didn't seem to act well. This is a good movie if you want to see a early Jackie Chan movie besides that its a movie you can skip.

 

1/5

 

 

little info

 

Jackie Chan actually looked how to cook professionally in order to make his character believable.

Day 58 - Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (Hong Kong)

 

"A laborer moves to Shanghai in the hope of becoming rich. But ends up using his kung fu skills to survive."
Not bad for an action film but could have been a lot better. There are a few holes that could have been filled in order to make the film better. The action scenes were stellar, I wish the dramatic scenes could match them but sadly they couldn't. The climax of the film could have been better as it was predictable but the ending of the film was a lot of fun to watch. If you are bored and want to watch a good action film then this movie is perfect for you.

3/5

little info
It's a remake of Boxer From Shantung (1972) 

 

Day 50 continued - Mr. and Mrs. Player (Hong Kong)

"Chinese Feng Shui master, Carson was a real ladies' man, he had never been in a stable relationship. Carson was a "Natural Born Player", taking names and breaking hearts. Fate had it that he would meet his match, the hot veterinarian, Chi-Ling. It was love at first sight, but neither could stand the other's fickle nature lest the affair might have ended as soon as it began. So Chi-Ling invite Carson to move in with her and make him promise to have no sexual contact with any girls for 100 days"

I liked this movie somewhat but felt like it was really one sided. Love wasn't really that big in the movie until the end. I guess that is what they wanted in order to tell a more modernized version of the movie. I kind of wish that this movie was more serious and had more love present.

1/5

Day 35 - The Wesley's Mysterious File (Hong Kong)

"Wesley, a science specialist for the United Nations, encounters Fong, an alien who was stranded on Earth six hundred years ago. Wesley assists Double-X agents Sue and Pak in their search for the Blue Bloods, a race of aliens possessing nifty powers. Fong and her brother Tan were separated when they arrived on Earth and she wants to find the rest of his skeleton. The government actually has shady plans for the Blue Bloods, and there are alien baddies who show up to cause mayhem. "

Even with talent like Shu Qi and Andy Lau this film is a complete waste. The special effects are absolutely horrible, they look like they belong in a PlayStation 2 game and one of the cheap ones. The supporting cast was horrible, their skills in acting proved to be about zero. The script was really weak, some characters often repeated the same thing a few times. Shu Qi's English needed work, her ascent is a big thick and she often quickly said her lines. The best part of the film to me is the fact that the film is based in San Francisco that's about it. Don't watch this movie even if you are a fan of Andy Lau.

0/5

 

Little info

Andy Lau married in the United States secretly. He started out as a TV actor and is known to be one of the "Four kings of Hong Kong Pop"

 

Shu Qi is a Taiwanese actress, she was pulled out of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon by her manager to star in a commercial. She started her career doing soft-core porn.



Day 26 continued - Iceman (Chinese/Hong Kong)

"An imperial guard and his three traitorous childhood friends ordered to hunt him down get accidentally buried and kept frozen in time. 400 years later passes and they are defrosted continuing the battle they left behind"

The worst Donnie Yen movie I have ever seen, the whole thing was ridiculous. There is way too much forced comedy and not a very good plot. The special effects are so bad you have to try not to see it in order to see Donnie Yen perform. Even though this film has a lot of big talent in it, it fails horribly. It could be because of the director Law Wing-cheung who will not be considered a good director anytime soon. The ending will get you mad since it sets up like there is going to be a sequel which will probably be released later this year. I swear if you are not a Donnie Yen fan do not watch this movie.

1/5

Day 24 - As The Light Goes Out (Hong Kong)

"The firefighters of Hong Kong's Pillar Point division battle an out-of-control blaze that threatens to plunge the city into darkness"

 

A very impersonal film you really didn't feel for the characters even if you may respect what they do. I think it was directors failure to not make this film more personal by showing the lives of the main characters. You never see one firefighters wife and you only see the ex-girlfriend of one firefight once and then she's never mentioned again. It half do to this that this movie failures but its still not that bad of a movie. There is a lot of room for improvement in this film and I hope the director grows.

 

2.5/5

 

little info

Jackie Chan makes a cameo in the film

Day 19 - Forest of Death (Hong Kong)

 

"

Police detective Ha Chun-Chi (Shu Qi) is investigating a rape and murder that took place in a mysterious forest that has also been the scene of many suicides. The main suspect in the murder case is Patrick Wong (Lawrence Chou), but he denies committing the crime.

Ha's investigation leads her to botanist Shum Shu-Hoi (Ekin Cheng), who has been experimenting with plants from the forest. Shum's girlfriend, May (Rain Li), feigns interest in the forest to gain information for a tabloid television show she works for."

 

Not the best horror movie I've seen but its not that good of a movie. I did like Shu Qi but none of the characters had the right amount of depth. The plot was alright but the story just becomes unnecessary as time goes on. After the big case its quite easy to understand what is going to happen and what the forest will do next. I don't know what the pang brothers were thinking when they made this movie.

 

1/5