Kung Fu Hip-Hop 2 -- 精舞門 2

Kung Fu Hip-Hop 2 (精舞門 2) is a 2010 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Wilson Chen, Zhou Qiqi, Wang Zi, and Michael Tse. The movie is a non related sequel to the 2008 film.

Wilson Chen is the leader of a dance crew whom is seemingly unbeaten in its local urban circles. In its efforts to not "sell out", it refuses to join competitions or dance for money. Wilson is a dance instructor at a local dance gym and takes on a new student, Zhou Qiqi whom is there because her boyfriend told her to. Michael Tse plays Zhou's boyfriend that is both in control and manipulative. Zhou however finds escape in her new urban dancing and starts falling for Chen. Tse doesn't take lightly to this and forces his hand to show Chen his place in society. Zhou comes from money and how can Chen provide for her. Chen's group breaks up and is forced to join a competition to raise money for a member's sick mom. Let the dancing begin!

Man, I don't even know where to begin with this movie. Zhou Qiqi is amazingly beautiful. Stunning. That was worth the ride for me. Since I liked the first movie, maybe I had a little bit of higher expectation for this film. Which I shouldn't have. It was cheezy and the story was cliche all over. You knew what was going to happen a mile away. The dancing was a little better this time around. Mad prompts to the guys that can put this out and be proud. But they should keep it domestic to Zhong Guo and not let it get out.

Turning Point - Laughing Gor之變節

Turning Point (Laughing Gor之變節) is a 2009 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Felix Wong, Anthony Wong, Michael Tse, Francis Ng, and Fala Chen. The movie also has cameoes from Eric Tseng and Yuen Biao.

The film follows the life of Michael Tse as Laughing Gor during what seems like a 1 week period. Laughing Gor is an undercover cop. But Laughing was first sent to the police academy to be an undercover cop by the triad. But while at the police academy, Laughing is picked out to go undercover. What the?! Did you get all that. So, now, in a routine tip to the cops, Laughing is busted and caught. The bosses think he'll rat them out. So, there's a hit put out for him. Laughing can't go to the cops because the only cop that knows he's also a cop was injured and hasn't woken up yet. So, Laughing ends up running from both the cops and the triad guys.

The movie was a Michael Tse sighting for me. Tse seemed like he would also be a star in many HK movies after his Young and Dangerous years and his Storm Rider role. But he went MIA for me until now. Much older now and without the soul patch, Tse did what he could to make the role look young. But its a 40 year old making a movie about his early 20s. I had to close my eyes and believe. Fala Chen, the girlfriend look like she could have been his daughter.

But the movie was entertaining and a spin on a spin of the whole undercover cop and triad formula. Connected to a TVB drama that I'll never watch, the movie was enough.

The Storm Riders - 風雲之雄霸天下

The Storm Riders (風雲之雄霸天下) is a 1998 film out of Hong Kong starring Aaron Kwok and Ekin Cheng. Consider the first of a martial arts movie trilogy from Andrew Lau.

Based off a Hong Kong comic book called Wind Cloud (風雲), it follows Aaron Kwok as Cloud and Ekin Cheng as Wind. Cloud's special martial arts is to leverage water and Wind's is his kicking. Both obtain legendary weapons.

The movie's been around for a long time. Back in 1998 when it came out, it was considered amazing as it was a HK movie with heavy CGI. Before this, no HK movie had used this much CGI in a film. In a sense, it was a pioneer for HK films, back in 1998. Fast forward to 2009! CGI all over the place. But still not to the extent of The Storm Riders.

I had a chance to re-watch the Taiwan DVD recently while washing dishes and it was pretty good. I am a big fan of Aaron Kwok and thought he presented Cloud the way his character is. Emotionless until those dear to him are in danger. That emotion turns to rage.

But don't come here looking for classic HK martial arts. The CGI is heavy and the fights are fantasy based.