Playboy Cops (2008) Monday, May 26 2008 

Playboy Cops soccerzfan 6:23 pm

Casts:
Shawn Yue Man Lok
Linda Chung Ka Yan
Aloys Chen
Eric Tsang Chi Wai
Wong You Nam

Summary:
Aloys Chen is an ex-cop from China who comes over to HK to investigate the murder of his wealthy brother. He encounters Shawn Yue, a wealthy cop, who is on probation for using unnecessary means to capture his criminals. Linda Chung stars as Shawn’s love interest who he’s constantly trying to get back to but Linda refuses to give him another chance due to his immaturity. Shawn decides to give Aloys a hand in finding out the murder but Shawn’s other intention is to prevent Aloys from pursuing Linda.
As they step further into the investigation, they find out that Aloys is having some health problems result from the fact that a bullet is still stuck in his head due to an incident 3 years ago. It turns out that Linda dates Aloys at the time but because Aloys is injured, he breaks up with her. It is then that Shawn realizes he’s the third party in their relationship as Linda confesses her love to Aloys.
The evidence that they found seems to lead them in a circle but eventually they figure out the murderer is Aloys’ brother’s assistant. He had a hatred for rich people, especially Aloys’ brother, whom treated him badly and even raped his girlfriend. He captures Linda behind bars and forces Shawn and Aloys to fight against each other. They successfully break in to save Linda and both were fighting against the murderer. Shawn and Aloys are badly injured and Shawn in the verge of dying ask Linda if she ever love him to which she replies no. Shawn dies wishing them much luck together.

Comments:
The first time when I saw the trailer of this movie, I knew I wanted to watch it. As a matter of fact, I was hunting around waiting for its released. I actually saw this movie sometimes ago but didn’t want to write a review for it because the ending is disappointing that I wished I never watched this movie in the first place. After a while, I learned to let go of what happened and my previous presumption to appreciate it a little more. I initially wanted to watch this because of Aloys but due to the fact that I saw Invisible Target before this, I ended up rooting for Shawn. The trailer makes it seem that Linda and Shawn is a couple which is a false advertisement to which I took as for real so I had a fixed assumption that they will be together but unfortunately that’s not how the movie is. I was devastated to find out that Linda had feelings for Aloys all these time. It seems like Aloys had the best of both world – the love of the girl and wealth. Shawn loses everything, his wealth because his dad declares bankruptcy, and Linda, who he cares and loves a lot. I feel unjust for Shawn and even till the end when he is almost dying, Linda couldn’t even lie. He always uses his money to capture criminals such as using his own helicopter to pursue them, or using his own money as bait to capture robbers. His first time not using money in solving crime resulted in this death. I feel his character is a tragedy as he confesses to Aloys at the end that he never had any friends and the people around him only go for his money. His dad showered him with money but is never there for him so he never knew what is love before. Compare to Shawn, Aloys is a very fortunate guy minus his brother got murdered part.

I enjoyed this movie a lot in the beginning but the end really disappointed me. I can’t believe Shawn’s character is so tragic that ruins my mood after I finished it. But after I finish it, I think back to Aloys’ character and I realized it’s unfair to him that I blame him for everything happens to Shawn. I went from the state of hating Aloys to finally accepting him. But Shawn and Aloys looked really hot in here and Linda is very pretty too. This movie is filled with all good looking people.

 

The Mad Monk (1993) Sunday, Mar 9 2008 

The Mad Monk soccerzfan 5:40 am

Cast:
Stephen Chow
Maggie Cheung
Anthony Wong
Kirk Wong
Ng Man Tat
Anita Mui
Wong Yut Fei

Summary:
The Heavenly King wants to punish the earthly people when Stephen stands out to stop him. He points out that since human can only live for so long, their mistakes are forgivable. Anita Mui in the role of Guan Yin appears to start a bet between Stephen with the Heavenly King. The bet goes, if Stephen can change the fate of 3 people, he will win and will be reward, if he is to lose, the Heavenly King will strip him off his title. Anita gives Stephen a fan which enable him to use magic 3 times throughout a day. Each time he uses it, the fan will lose a piece. When Stephen descends down to earth, he forgets about the fan, so his best friend Ng Man Tat persuade Wong Yut Fei which is a heaven soldier to come down to earth to give the fan to Stephen.
Unfortunately Stephen cannot see Man Tat because human can’t see God. Wong Yut Fei transform Man Tat into a woman’s womb to be born to become human and he will blow Man Tat bigger into an adult form. Even though Man Tat is in the form of an adult, he still has the brain of a little kid therefore he can’t tell Stephen about the fan. However, when the sky becomes dark, Man Tat will regain his intelligence.
Stephen tasks is to find and change the fate of 3 people; a prostitute (Maggie Cheung), a beggar (Anthony Wong), and an evil person (Kirk Wong). When he first meets Maggie, a lighting strike him causing him to regain his heaven memory and hence he needs not Man Tat to tell him about his deed.
Several lives ago before Stephen becomes a God, he was a monk at a temple. After he passed away, his remain still at the temple to guard the devil’s born or else the devil will kill innocent people. After Stephen regains his memory, he returns to the temple to become a monk again and offends Kirk Wong by saving Anthony Wong. Kirk Wong hold grudges against him so he goes to destroy Stephen’s home. This result in the death of Stephen’s parents.
Anthony as well as his ancestors has been beggar, so he has no shame when it comes to beg for foods and eats left over. No matter how Stephen tries to persuade him, beat him, even give him the opportunity to become rich, he still acts as a low life beggar. Stephen also fails in his attempt to change the prostitute into a regular person because she has a promiscuous nature. However, she is in loves with Stephen and willing to give up her career as a prostitute to be his wife which Stephen declines.
The devil is coming back to get his born so he recruits Kirk to work for him lying that to Kirk that he has change Kirk’s heart to be invincible. Kirk kills Anthony and to rescue Anthony’s soul from being eaten by the devil, Stephen agrees to give the devil his remains. The devil goes back against his word so Stephen has lost his remains too. Maggie asks Stephen to marry her but he pretends to say yes although he really doesn’t want to. She sees it through him so she disfigures her face and sworn never to get marry.
Stephen goes find Kirk to get his revenge and Kirk is badly beaten. Stephen shows Kirk that the devil who he worships tricked him about changing his heart. The devil replaces his heart with a piece of rock. Stephen gives him a choice of either take the rock heart back and continue his mission to kill people or die. Kirk destroys the rock and ask not to be human in his next life.
Stephen goes battle against the devil and they both die together.
The Heavenly people are excited for they thought they’ve win the bet. However, Anita points out that Stephen successfully changes the fate of all 3 people. Anthony before he dies gain his confident as a human and not as a low life beggar by admitting his parent given name. Maggie keeps her promise and is no longer a prostitute but a tofu seller. Finally, Kirk regrets for the things he did before he dies and so he asks not to be human in his next life. Stephen is rewarded to become a Buddha.

Comments:
This is another classic from Stephen. Beside from all the funny scenes, the story also has its moral but yet it doesn’t sound too preachy. Once again, I love the chemistry between Stephen and Ng Mat Tat even though their scenes together are limited. The graphics, especially at the end, seem so real and scary. The devil looks really scary and the settings as well as background gives a gloomy and depressing feel to the overall plot.

 

Conman in Tokyo (2000) Saturday, Mar 8 2008 

Conman in Tokyo soccerzfan 9:06 pm

Cast:
Louis Koo
Nick Cheung
Athena Chu
Christy Chung
Lai Tai
Ben Lam
Yasuaki Kurata
Joe Cheng
Leung Ka Yan
Wong Tin Lam
Zuki Lee

Summary:
Nick Cheung is just a typical triad guy who hangs around bowling alleys and clubs with girlfriend, Christy Chung. Louis Koo is his idol who heard many stories of but yet to meet. On his trip to Japan with his girlfriend, they happen to come across a Chinese restaurant who owner is no one else but Louis. Since their first meeting, Nick is confirm that Louis is the legendary conman that he admires. Nick found out that Louis comes every morning to take a sneak peek from afar of Athena. From Louis, Nick realizes that the reason Louis disappear from the gambling world is much due the lost of his girlfriend, who is now in vegetative state. Apparently, Louis’ best friend is jealous of Louis’ success and was plotting to destroy Louis. He married to Athena to make Louis’ life miserable.
With much persuasion from Nick, Louis decides to kidnap Athena back to Hong Kong and come back to the gambling world. Fortunate enough, Athena woke up from her vegetative stuff and Louis is more happy than ever. Nick begs Louis to teach him all his skills which Louis agrees. In come the Japanese guy who is eager to challenge Louis in a poker match. Louis best friend kidnaps Athena and Louis has no choice but to comply which him – that is have a dual with the Japanese guy. However, it turns out to be a trap by his best friend to lure them together to kill them off.
When Louis rescues Athena, she without any hesitation stabs him. But Louis has predicted that she is going to do that because he knew that that is not the real Athena – she is Athena’s twin sister. He has his doubt since the first day she woke up so he sends Christy to Japan to find out and tis its true. Louis’ best friend kills the twin sister and plan to escape with a helicopter. Louis caught up to him and while they were fighting and they were caught up in the helicopter engine. Nick came to Louis rescue while the best friend died blowing up to pieces. Louis decided to go away with Athena to live quietly while Nick continues his usual ways.

Comments:
This is a typical formulaic movie dealing with gambling. I have seen numerous other movies of the same genre dealing with similar storyline. What I like about this movie is the casting of Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, and Athena Chu. Louis Koo looks as hot as ever while Nick Cheung is excellent as a wacky sidekick. I just love his ridiculousness sometimes. I haven’t see Athena Chu in movies lately and the last time I watch her series was back in the Condor Heroes 94 with Chi Lam. She looks a lot older and it really shows on her face. This movie doesn’t require a lot of her acting so no comment on her. I don’t really see any chemistry between Athena & Louis or Louis & Nick for that matter. But I like this movie thanks majority to Louis Koo for looking so damn good.
What irritates me most is they didn’t dub the Japanese guy voice and the version that I saw have no English subtitles either so whenever he talks, I go huh. I have to listen to how other people respond to him to be able to guess what he’s saying. What I found weird is the Japanese man talks in Japanese while everyone else reply back in Chinese.

 

God of Gamblers 3: Back To Shanghai (1991) Saturday, Mar 8 2008 

God of Gamblers 3 soccerzfan 2:53 am

Cast:
Stephen Chow
Gong Li
Ng Man Tat
Ray Lui

Summary:
After Stephen Chow defeated the “slanted eye” guy in part 2 and became The God of Gambler’s disciple, Stephen is now live in a mansion with his 3rd uncle Ng Man Tat. However, the “slanted eye” guy finds a group of special magic train guys from China to kill Stephen. During the fight, they created a change in the time machine and all of them is taking back to the 1930s of Shanghai. Stephen wakes up not realizing that he is now back in time, he still able to receive a phone call from HK police station. He meets Gong Li whose beauty mesmerized him. As he goes further to figure out where he is, he saves a man who resemble his 3rd uncle. This is when he is convinced that he has travel back in time, and the person he saves is his grandfather. They go to the town but they are entangle in a gang fight; the red and the black gang. Stephen defeats the leader who the red gang and is honored by Ray Lui. Ray convinces him to stay in Shanghai to work for him which Stephen refuses but when he sees Gong Li, he agrees.
On the opening day of Ray’s casino, a Japanese general along with Ray’s rival and the “slanted eye” guy come in in hope of winning Ray out. Stephen asks the “slanted eye” guy to use magic with him to take them back but the “slanted eye” refuses. Stephen then battles with the guy and he able to win everything back for Ray. They ask to challenge again.
Stephen is unhappy that Gong Li ignores him and denies the fact that she met him before when he first arrives at Shanghai. It is then reveals that Gong Li has a mentally challenge twin sister who is the one that Stephen saw on day 1. The older sister is engage to Ray but Stephen still thinks they’re the same person.
The Japanese general and Ray’s rival kill Gong Li, Ray’s fiancee and force the father into lying that the mentally challenge Gong Li is Ray’s fiancee. Stephen is captured by them and is force to kill Ray for them. To save his grandfather, 3rd uncle, and Gong Li, he promised to kill Ray but Stephen can’t bare to kill Ray so together with Ray, they decided to fake his death.
On the day of the gambling challenge, Stephen rescues everyone from the prison and manage to return to the casino in time. To everyone surprises, Stephen’s opponent is not the “slanted eye” guy but a French gambler who is Stephen’s idol. Like Stephen, the French gambler also knows magic and on the first round both use all the special power. On the last round, Stephen realizes he has no chance of winning because the “slanted eye” guy can easily change his cards. Just then he remembers reading from a biography book of the French gambler and realized he loses to 1 person. Stephen is looking around for that person when Ray tells him that the person he is looking for is indeed Stephen. As everyone is confident that the french gambler will win, the “slanted eye” guy changes the french gambler’s card. Stephen is the winner.
Ray kills off his rival to revenge for Gong Li. The “slanted eye” guy use his magic to deliver Stephen back to the future. Unfortunately, Stephen can’t bring Gong Li because she is part of the past hence she cannot go to the future.

Comments:
I found this to be the funniest part of all three parts. I wasn’t use to the fact that Andy Lau is not in here but then the storyline is much better than the 2nd part. Like all of Stephen Chow’s movie, this is another classic from him. Although the theme of gambling is repeatedly use, it doesn’t get boring because it’s not about winning or losing that matter, what matters is how. I just love the chemistry between Stephen Chow and his “3rd uncle”. I realize that Stephen also uses his real name in most of his movies and Ng Man Tat always acts as his uncle.
Ray Lui looks extremely handsome in here and his classic look does resemble Shanghai in the 1930s which reminds me of The Bund.
I recommend this movie to anyone who hasn’t watch it. This is one of Stephen’s classic that a fan can’t miss out.

 

The Sting 2 (1993) Saturday, Mar 8 2008 

The Sting 2 soccerzfan 2:21 am

Cast:
Nat Chan Pak Cheung
Christy Chung Lai Tai
Victor Hon Kwan
Kwan Hoi San
Andy Lau Tak Wah
Anita Lee Yuen Wah
Tony Leung Ka Fai
Liu Kai Chi
Wan Chi Keung
Johnny Wang Lung Wei
Tommy Wong Kwong Leung
Kingdom Yuen King Tan

Summary:
Andy Lau is a conman who often goes around casinos to cheat for money. Together with girlfriend, Christy Chung and best friend Liu Kai Chi, they are after Wan Chi Keung at his casino for his money. On the poker able there are Andy Lau, Wan Chi Keung, Tony Leung, and Nat Chan. Tony Leung’s occupation is a warden at a local prison while Nat Chan is a Singaporean Chinese who both are into the game for big money. Unfortunately, they’re lost to Andy Lau who won the whole pot. Later that night Tony Leung met Andy, Christy, and Liu Kai Chi at a bar and realizes that they’re together to con money. Tony Leung is badly beaten up and swears to have his revenge once Andy is in jail.
Wan Chi Keung is no saint either. He found out that he is tricked by Andy Lau so he has his men beat up Liu Kai Chi and hold him as hostage. In exchange, Andy Lau has to go to prison to befriend an old man, Kwan Ho San, to trick him into telling the whereabout of 30 million dollars with a deadline of 1 month. Andy Lau has no choice but to agree to save his friend.
In prison, Tony Leung tries to has his revenge numerous times but each time fail because Andy gives money to prisoners to be on his side. Wan Chi Keung also has his men in there to constantly harass Kwan Ho San but Andy is always there to stop them. Wan Chi Keung who is impatiently waiting, killed Liu Kai Chi to warn Andy Lau. Upon the death of his friend, Andy Lau, swears to revenge so he sided with old man Kwan Ho San. Andy gets Tony to be his helper with the promise of giving him 30 million when they have the job finish.
Tony’s job is to woo Wan Chi Keung’s girlfriend Anita Lee and lures her into taking him to Wan Chi Keung’s house so Andy can find his way to the money which he believes is still hiding in the house. However, Wan Chi Keung and Anita exposes Tony’s plan and call the cops on him for intruding. Tony is then put in jail too. Wan Chi Keung knew Andy is no good so on his engagement day, he has people create chaos in the prison to kill Andy and the old man off. However, Andy, Tony, and the old man escapes during the chaos and sneak back to Wan Chi Keung’s house. However, Tony knocks both of them unconscious on the way there and find his way back to the house by himself thinking that the money is hiding in the pillows. When he arrives, Wan Chi Keung spots him and is about to kill him off when Andy walks in. He knocks Tony unconscious and shot Wan Chi Keung. Wan Chi Keung is wondering how he can sneak into the party when Andy has Christy dresses up as Anita to trick Wan Chi Keung into believing that it was Anita who has an affair him Andy and who led him in. With this Andy walks downstairs, gives a fake gun to Anita. Wan Chi Keung who regains his conscious, go straight downstairs to shoot Anita. The cops then arrive at the scene and arrest Wan Chi Keung for murder.
Kwan Ho San gets his money which he hides under the sand in the reptile tank in the house. Together, all 3 of them return to prison where the chaos is subdue by the cops. They get release from prison and Tony demands for his share of 30 million dollars. Andy tells him that he put all the money in a Swiss bank for interest so that in 4 years the 30 million will grow into 90 million son each one of them will get 30 million dollars.

Comments:
Andy Lau looks extremely handsome in here. I’m assuming that he is a very good looking guy back in the days and it is no surprise that he is a heartthrob to any young females and old females alike. I was basically drooling over him throughout and I admit Andy has a special charisma that no other actor can compare. I really enjoy watching this. I always thought Andy is only capable of serious role such as Infernal Affairs and other recent movies but I realize that he can be a comedian too. I have watch too many gambling movies during the early 90s so there is nothing spectacular about this one. There are occasionally funny scenes and the funniest character in here have to be Tony.
This is no Stephen Chow’s movie but it definitely worth watching. In fact, I recommend this movie to anyone who has not watch it.