Siu lam juk kau (Shaolin Soccer) 2001

Hi guys, its been a long time since my last review. I was a bit stuck with my official activities.
Suddenly the Shaolin Soccer popped in to my mind while watching a European Soccer match. I haven't heard about "Stephen Chow" since the movie Shaolin Soccer. First i ignored it when i saw it in a local DVD shop assuming it to be some funny kungfu story.But it wasn't just a story on the importance of Kungfu but an admirable love story.
The film brings out the feeling of Stephen Chow that how Kungfu and our daily life is merged or tangled which each other that we just fail to see and treat Kungfu just as one form or martial arts. Thats just the reason for Chow to merge Kungfu i nto Soccer (an unlikely thought in the martial art movie saga).
Chow not only brings out the charisma of Kungfu but also the technology effects in kungfu movie that has just entered a new dimension. WOW what a visual treat.Its amazing to see the director cum actor/hero give this treat to us.
The movie goes like this...Chow (Sing) returns as a shaolin disciple "mighty steel leg",inspired by soccer Sing wants to enter in to the game to spread out the greatness of kungFu. He teams up with Fung (who was earlier called as famous Golden leg) betrayed by then and by now the evil Hung the manager of "Evil team" Fung's goal is to meet his old rival on the playing field, but first they have to get a team together.
The only way Fungs dream can come true is when Sing and his fellow Shaolin brothers group again and regain their lost powers. The team is supported by the beauty queen at their last minute golden goal.
Last but not the least its a fun with action loaded pack not to miss if your a sports fan specially soccer.

The New Police Story (San Ging Chaat goo si- 2004)

Hi all, Its been a long time since my last post. But i happen to see one of Chinese movie's emotional front through Jackie Chan. A very emotional movie involving family relationships and psychology through the life of SWAT cop.

Wing (Jackie Chan) is the Hong Kong police force's finest. Fung (Nicholas Tse) a disaffected youth, wants to follow in Wing's footsteps but his checkered background makes his dream of becoming a detective impossible.
When the ruthless Gang Of Five embark on a cop killing spree, Wing tracks them down only to be led into their trap. His colleagues, including the brother of his fiancée, are gunned down and Wing falls into an abyss of alcoholism and despair.
Fung finds Wing drunk in a gutter and masquerades as his new partner. Now guided by Fung's street smarts, the force's supercop sets himself on a no holds barred collision course with the most dangerous criminals in Hong Kong.

The film is fast-pased with action along with its human sentiments. Its a good treat for both action buffs as well as classic movie seekers. Worth to add in your home DVD collections:-).

HERO (2002)

An extraordinary story telling with the arrival of a nameless warrior (Jet Li) at the palace of King Qin (Chen Daoming). The warrior (or Nameless, as he is referred to in the film) is brought before the king to gift his extraordinary killing of (or as told to the king) the three King's would-be assassins, Sky (Donnie Yen), Broken Sword (Tony Leung), and Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung). Because of such heroic service, Nameless is allowed to sit within ten paces of the King and asked to provide the details of his victories. However, as Nameless begins to tell how he overcame the three assassins, Qin begins to smell something fishy in the narration, and senses that Nameless is not what he appears to be. (the story telling is done as we have seen in Akiro Kurosowa's Roshamon)

You can actually get the directors touch when the King identifies that nameless is one of the assassins and the others have helped him to reach 10 paces near the king (reason being Nameless can hit with surgical precision within 10 paces). The King gets to know this details due to the bad energy waving the candle lights apart (what a way to identify!!! i was wondering why 100s of candles have to be near the kings throne)

Broken sword educates nameless that the Kings step in uniting China with hard rules is very much required to form a nation and better not to assassin him, in the event broken sword and flying snow ends their life. Nameless finally understands the King and refuses to assassin the king even when the King volunteers to his death.

Nameless admits that the King has to live for a nation to form and volunteers to die as a martyr. The last scene with 1000s of arrows coming straight to the brave Nameless leaving just the mark of the HERO behind the fort doors is a remarkable directorial example.

The initial stunt scene with Nameless and Sky (Donnie Yen) is my favourite with visually stunning movements and cinematography. Donnie yen though comes for a brief time but leaves an everlasting mark in the film.

Its a spectacular Chinese movie released 2002 and came to hit the Hollywood around 2004 only, but still won all our hearts with its compassion and emotional story line.

Don't miss it.

Bo bui gai wak (ROB-B-Hood) (2006)

This is the latest Jackie Chans movie i have seen. But let me set a level that this is not the usual Jackie style of action movie. It has the typical Asian family touch with it having a very caring but poor family for never-do-well compulsive gambler Fong (Jackie Chan), We have another latest addition to Chinese movie reviews starting this new year 2007.

Fong has only one thing more fearsome than debtors at his doorstep - having to coax a crying baby. Its a accidental twist in the film. Jackie and his tech side kick saves a millionaire are baby from a crazy lover (who dies in that incident). Unfortunately the three thieve (Jackie, his side kick and Jackies house owner-who is a master lock breaker) plans to steal a huge money from a millionaire and gets to grab their baby instead.But what if the baby becomes his golden goose to fend off his debtors? Can he overcome his phobia of diapers, milk bottles, and cloying lullabies? They come to a deal for 30million dollars with the father and another billionaire of the dead crazy lover (who turns out to be his only son).

The villain wants to take the baby thinking that its his grand son, but when the DNA tests proves the other way he turns crazy and orders to kill the baby. Oops as usual our Jackie come s to the rescue.

The film is very sentimental involves the love and feeling of a father to son, a Lover to his boy friend and the love for the cute little baby.

Hope to see this move in English again ;-) as we still got only the Chinese dialogue.

Once up on a time in China II (1992)

I have seen the entire series of Once up on a time in china. The most admired chapter is the second one since it has all my favourites :-), Tsui Hark, Yuen Wo Ping, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen.Tsui Hark's interest in the legend of Wong Fei Hung (a real life hero in the later part of 19th century china gave us the martial art treat. Its a tribute from the Chinese movie industry to their legendary hero.

Though Hollywood fans may not agree to the above point but this series of film brought me the interest to learn martial art and get the passion on martial art movie from my childhood.

Coming to the film, it starts at the end of the 19th century, revolving around the legendary martial artist and doctor Wong Fei Hung (Jet Li) arrives in Canton with his loyal attendant Foon (Max Mok) and love interest Aunt Yee (Rosamund Kwan) to attend a Western medical seminar. But,the entire region is swelling with hatred against the British influence on China with members of the White Lotus Cult, a religious group of extreme nationalists whose seemingly all-powerful leader (Hung Yan Yan) is stirring up his flock to kick all foreigners out of Canton.

The medical seminar is interrupted by flaming arrows loosed from White Lotus members and Fei Hung decides to return home amid concerns over the growing violence. Yet, after hearing of trouble at a foreign language school, Fei Hung and his companions rescue the young children and gets himself caught into a confrontation with the cult's leader. Fei Hung also assists a pair of rebels sought after by a local Chinese official (Donnie Yen). My most favorite fight scene in this film with Donnie Yen using the cloth as a pole to fight against Li.

Finally Li helps the escape of the nationalist and also destroys the cult leader liberating China as usual through his martial art skills

Other recommended movie in

Once Upon a Time in China (1991)

Once Upon a Time in China III (1993)

Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993)

Once Upon a Time in China V (1994)

Once Upon a Time in China & America (1997)

Last Hero in China (1993)

Fearless (Jet Li)-2006

Yet another treat from Jet Li. I forgot to mention it in the beginning of my blog. After a long time you can watch out the real lively stunts just like Jet Li in his earlier films rather than the much used CG in recent films.

Not to miss that this movie is based on a real legendary master Huo Yuanjia, who founded the Jin Wu Sports Federation and rose to become the top fighter in early 20th-century China. Li Plays Huo Yuanjia,the real life legend. He's a big-ego martial arts master (as depicted in the film i am not sure in his real life) who gets a tragic break, and then he goes to a metaphor farm where they teach him all about life,love and honor and discipline.

The director gives a lesson to all through the legend that life is not about just proving the strength and at what cost (his own family). Being humble is your strength which the master learns during his tenure as a farmer on the unknown farm land after the tragic death of his cute little daughter (i wonder how come people get such vengeance to kill a child).

The pride and desire to be the number one fighter in his province has cost his daughters life.

The master learns his lesson and returns to his home town around early 20th century and finds that the Chinese martial arts form is under stake with the foreign fighting techniques.

He gets in to action once again in the rings and proves he is the best (but this time he is more humble after learning life and its spiritual side). But unfortunately he is poisoned to death since the competitors find its not possible for them to defeat in fight.

Hope to see more such lively movie from Jet Li in future (but i heard that this could be his last :-( )Hope this aint true :-).

Warriors of Heaven and Earth

This is yet another war drama from china, the Warriors of Heaven and Earth, stunning epic set during the Tang Dynasty with a touch of the supernatural. Leading the movie is Jiang Wen and Nakai Kiichi.If you had like "Brave heart" and "Seven Samurai" then you are sure to like this piece

The film's is an adventurous story moving around the safe transit of a Buddhist relic (which we later come to know as the holy remains of the Sakiamuni Buddha (probably Bodhhi Dama's bone remains).In this case, Lieutenant Li, or 'Butcher' Li as he has been unfavorably dubbed is a soldier who values honor over loyalty and rebels when ordered to kill Turkish prisoners,mostly women and children. Joined by several loyal soldiers under him, he disappears into the wastes of the Gobi Desert, earning a living by guarding caravans from the constant threat of bandits and Turkish raiding parties. After parting with his followers, Li inadvertently hooks up with a beleaguered caravan transporting a Buddhist relic to the emperor. As he reunites with his comrades while looking to hire swordsmen, Li is confronted by a government agent named Lai Xi (Nakai Kiichi) who is ordered to kill him.

The fight scene involving Li and Lai is stunining with eye canny moves from both the sides resulting in a draw (i liked the two men fight brave and honestly).The two duel to a draw and vow to resume their fight once the caravan has been safely escorted to its destination. The caravan is soon beset by determined bandits led by a skilled swordsman named An (Wang Xueqi). A desperate flight across the desert ends in an abandoned fortress where a bloody standoff with the bandits and a Turkish army takes place.

Both men are reluctant warriors who develop a respect for each other that is never really lasting. The final standoff battle between the bandits and the resisting force amidst the ruined fortress is amazing. The battle scenes shows the bravery and loyalty of Li's men towards his mission. Finally we have the Buddhist monk coming to action after he too is slained by An (yes the Buddhist monk regains his life for a short span with the power of the relic and kills all who sort over to take the relic on the way).

we can feel the holy chi with in us when the relic is finally settled down at the royal palace in China

The film has excellent action, cinematography, sound track. one thing which pings us is the magical portion of the relic which makes this movie more of a fairy tale rather than the real fight for honor felt in "Brave Heart" or "Seven Samurai".

I feel still this is one movie worth watching. what do you feel :-)

The Promise (2005)

My passion for Chinese movies got me "The Promise". The film tries to follow the success of "Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon" in Hollywood. But i doubt it fails to impress many audience. The Promise promises to attract only hard-core Asian sword-and-sorcery fans.

Director Chen Kaige (Farewell, My Concubine) seems drawn by the small, human tale of a lovely concubine named Qingcheng (Hong Kong's Cecilia Cheung), cursed as a child by a goddess who promises her great wealth, but under the condition that she loose all the men men she loves until she can figure out how to reverse time.

The concubine attracts the attention of a warrior general (Japan's Hiroyuki Sanada) and Kunlun, his wily slave (Jang Dong-kun of Korea) who can outrun a stampede of bulls and perform other far-fetched feats.

The portion which attracted me is the epic battle scene where the Warrior general claims victory over 30,000 odd barbaric people with his 3000 elite troops (the picture in this post is a scene from the battle). During the beginning the slave gets the confidence of the general when he out beats the buffalo stampede. It seems that the slave comes from the land of Snow who can travel faster than light and hence do time travel. The slave himself gets to know his identity when he defeats the assassin from Snow land sent by the evil general who plots behind the King.Unaware of his plot Kunlun disguises himself as the victorious good general and kills an emperor who was going to dispose of Qingcheng, she mistakenly falls in love with the general. That is just the start of a plot full of mystical elements that get in the way of our emotional investment.

Finally how the slave overcomes death and time to gain the hands of Qingcheng is the rest of the story.Still, The Promise is often visually stunning, thanks to Crouching Tiger's cinematographer Peter Pau and maybe for some moviegoers that will be enough.

The films battle scene and gravity defying chases are visually stunning.

Dragon Tiger Gate

I am a great fan of Jet Li and Donnie Yen, So once my cousin just gave a hint about this movie a week end. I couldn't get the DVD initially in my city but luckily i got a copy from my Aikido master. Wow this is another martial arts treat to fans like me. One of my favourite Chinese movie collection

The film has spectacular cinematography matching to Hollywood standards. Coming to the story part ,Welcome to the world of “Dragon Tiger Gate”, the fascinating world whereby highly skilled pugilists be they evil or good fight it out! Adapted from the legendary Tony Wong’s classic, must-read HK manga of all times, “Dragon Tiger Gate” popularity is comparable to Marvel’s X-men or Spider-man in the Chinese comics arena.

Three young men (“Dragon”, “Tiger” and “Turbo”) after going through life turmoil decide to band together to rid the country number one’s evildoer, Shibumi. Assuming the lead roles is Donnie Yen (who also served as action choreographer and producer), Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue. Accordingly, Tse and Yue have to undergo months of martial arts training to fully pull off the believable stunts onscreen. Both young actors put in a fair performance as “Tiger Wong” and “Turbo Shek”.

Apparently, little is known about this man-behind-the-mask’s motives, background, thus Shibumi ended up as a two-dimensional character. Doubtfully we have a question here how come Shibumi kills the master of the gate , if he is so powerful how did Dragon defeat him so cool? except for this question the film still stands for its spectacular action scenes and cinematography.

Directed by Wilson Yip, the man behind last year’s hard-hitting “SPL”, “Dragon Tiger Gate” is part fantasy, part action and adapted from a well-known comic and most of all, a fitting showcase of what the flagging HK film industry is capable of pulling off.

(Chat Gim) Seven Swords

Note: Watch this movie trailer from the trailer menu ABOVE.

The film is another must watch movie for all martial art fans.A master piece from the creator of "Once upon a time in china" - Tsui Hark Set in the period of Ching dynasty when the martial art practise was outlawed.

But there is one village which still practise it secretly until they are besieged by the emperors army, lead by a tyrant general.

The villagers have only one chance left.... the seven extraordinary swordsmen who comes to the rescue lead by Fu QingZhu (a retired executioner, who returns to the village to repent his sins) and kills the evil general. Later it seems the villagers persuades the empire to follow martial. Lucky we are now other wise we would not have got to know about such a wonderful art.

Donnie Yen and Leon Lai are the star characters in this movie. And the action scene are extremely well done (though the there are violent and blood spill in most scenes). It is worth watching.

Note: Recommend not to allow your kids to watch this movie due to violent action.

Note: The pictures are origially obtained from Honhkong film log

sensreview@yahoo.com (sensreview)

(Sha Po Lang) Dragon Dynasty -Kill Zone

Note: Watch this movie trailer from the trailer menu ABOVE.

Are you a Donnie Yen Fan? or at least a fan of action movies? then this movie should be a part of your DVD collection.Originally called as "Sha Po Lang" in Chinese and i guess its also dubbed as "Dragon Dynasty - Kill Zone"

This is more a violent movie i have ever seen. The movie deals with the story of 5 cops who are trying all possible ways to get "Wang pu" which is Samo hung (he plays a baddy in this movie) behind bars.

The turning point lays when the cops try a crooked method to get the evidence made artificially and put Samo hung. All 4 cops are killed by an excellent assassin (Jing Wu - the hero in Drunken Monkey).

Finally our Donnie yen comes to the rescue and save the inspector at the last moment.

The film is violent in action but is packed with sentiments from the inspector side for his adopted cute daughter and the sentiments from Samo hung for his new born baby.

sensreview@yahoo.com (sensreview)

The Curse of Golden the Flower

Note: Watch this movie trailer from the trailer menu ABOVE.

Another epic drama from the east. A tribute to the Hollywood movie saga. I wonder the east is far advanced in story telling and the usage of technology. The "Curse of Golden the Flower" is a period high drama. It includes a balanced combination of power between the King and the Queen and his three sons, which entails betrayal, deceit and passion, leading the King against Queen and father against sons.

The movie is also called as "The City of Golden Armor", i guess mostly due to the grand armour wore by the soldiers who guard the city. The limelight of the movie being our well known "Chow yun Fat" (the famous anti hero from "Replacement Killers"). The movies is worth watching as includes sentiment and action taking us to the golden age of China. Produced by Elite Group Enterprises, Edko Films, Beijing New Picture Film Co, Film Partner International and distributed by Sony pictures the film is soon gonna hit your nearest theater.

Note: The picture in this blog is originally from Curse of Golden Flower Gallery

sensreview@yahoo.com (sensreview)