The Monkey King - 西游記之大鬧天宮

The Monkey King (西游記之大鬧天宮) is an 2014 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Donnie Yen. The other stars include Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Joe Chen, Peter Ho. Cameo appearances by Kelly Chen, Gigi Leung, and Faye Wang.



A heavenly fight between the Jade Emperor and the Bull Demon King sends the heavens into ruins. The the Bull Demon King is defeated, Nu Wa Goddess sacrafices herself to save the heavenly kingdom from ruin. All the while, her powers create Sun Wu Kong. When he is released, he's taken in by Pitu and learns to protect his monkey kingdom. When the Bull Demon King comes onto the scene, he tricks the Sun Wu Kong to attack the heavens. The Jade Emperor now has to take action again.



This movie had lots of special effects. Basically, everyone could fly. Everyone had powers. Nice. Let the party begin.



Faye Wang was listed in the credits but I recall seeing her in the film. I doubt I'll rewatch just to get a small glimpse. With that said, the movie was entertaining, but Sun Wu Kong isn't a particularly likable character. Sure he was created out of a sacrificial act and he wants to protect his clan. But he's proud, rude, and gets himself in trouble. I guess the story wouldn't have gotten anywhere without his troublemaker attitude. But you gotta have a likable purpose for doing it. In this case, it was just lame.



Donnie was in make up practically the whole time and I could barely make him out. I know the producers don't want to bring him back due to his large pay day. But the promotion was largely based on him and the story. What's stronger, the story or Donnie. Donnie is of course. He's the strongest in the universe!



The movie was released during Chinese New Years and enjoyed an epic run at the box office. Currently sitting pretty with around ~$175 million USD. The movie is scheduled stateside in the fall from the USA region distributor Global Star Productions. The fall time is pretty far away and the date could move. But from the trailer, it looks like an English dubbed version. That'll be interesting.

The Last Tycoon - 大上海

The Last Tycoon (大上海) is an 2012 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Chow Yun-Fat, Sammo Hung, Francis Ng, and Huang Xiaoming. The gals in the film include Yuan Quan, Monica Mok, Tong Fei, Yuan Li, and Feng Wenjuan. The movie is based on the high life of Shanghai-ers from the fall of the Qing Dynasty to its occupation by the Japanese.



Chow is the man in charge in Shanghai, outside of the military, no one else has more influence. We flashback to his country bumpkin days played by Huang Xiaoming. We also see that he has a crush on his neighbor sweetheart who will end up as one of the most famous opera performers in Zhong Guo. We see the tycoon, how he earned his strips and how he maintains his power. Along the way, there are women that enter their lives and it comes to a hedge on the heels of the Japanese's war into the Shanghai area.



This movie was long and sort of boring. It's like a drama of how Chow's character of Cheng Daqi rise to power from country bumpkin to the most powerful man in Shanghai. A Godfather take if you will. However, the women in the movie take up a lot of time, but you need the eye candy is my guess. Or its the presentation that the men are there due to their influence. Why try to be the most powerful man in Shanghai? Because you want to become so powerful that you can protect your woman?

Movie wise, it was well made. But the story lacked the heart that made me care for the individuals.

The Assassins - 銅雀台

The Assassins (銅雀台) is an 2012 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Chow Yun-fat and Crystal Liu. The supporting cast include Alec Su and Annie Yi. The movie is based on Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms era.

Chow plays Cao Cao, a successful warlord of the Han Dynasty. Liu plays a mistress to Cao Cao. But Liu is trained at an early age by men of mysterious origin to assassinate Cao Cao. During her time with Cao Cao, she questions his ambition and its affect on the people. Conflicted, she doesn't really try to kill him. However, others in the imperial court have other plans. Cao Cao seems to have to defend himself from constant assassinations. The struggle of power between Cao Cao and the imperial court, including the Emperor of the time goes back and forth.

This movie was a hard watch. The lingo is basically Zhong Guo Shakespeare. The language is a mix of modern, but mostly in old style. Very hard to understand and follow. Especially when the volume is down. The story of Cao Cao and a girl has been told numerous times. This time around, the breed from small to assassinate concept is unique to Cao Cao (not to movies). Liu is starting to look like an adult now. Playing a sultry mistress wasn't a stretch. Funny how 2 to 3 years makes.

I am a borderline recommend on this. I believe the acting to be awesome. From Chow to Alec to Annie Yi, the acting was a well balance attack that didn't stray into the cheezy. The story was not as cohesive as I would have like.

Let the Bullets Fly - 讓子彈飛

Let the Bullets Fly (讓子彈飛) is an 2010 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, and Ge You. The large supporting cast include Carina Lau, Feng Xiaogang, Zhou Yun, Jiang Wu, Chen Kun, Hu Jun, Liao Fan, Wei Xiao, Shao Bing, and Miao Pu. There were many more. I only listed the ones I know.

The movie starts with a train going through southern Zhong Guo in 1920. The train is hijacked by bandits. The bandits demand money. The man on the train suggest that they can get money from a nearby town if they pretend to be the governor. The bandits and the man goto Goose Town to get money. Once there, the bandits find that a business man functions as the town warlord. The bandits go into battle of wits with blood and lives.



The movie is a thriller about how a bandit group takes on a local warlord and wins. I don't know if this was to play on the current state of how the people in Zhong Guo feel about some of the government corruption. When the people feel hopeless, they go with the one with power for safety. When they feel that fairness is within reach, they will fight for it. At least, that's what I walked away from the film thinking.

The acting in this film was pretty awesome. From Chow to Wen to Ge. It was pretty amazing to see them at work. Through in there a who's who of the current Zhong Guo actors landscape, you have a pretty amazing film, in terms of acting. The story was also quite convoluted. You have to pay attention to follow. No bathroom breaks for this. But you have the pause button.

It took me two sittings to get through this. The first was over a year ago via a local video store. The second was via Netflix.

City On Fire - 龍虎風雲

City On Fire (龍虎風雲) is an 1987 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Chow Yun-Fat, Carrie Ng, and Danny Lee. This film has been noted famously for introducing the Mexican standoff to Quentin Tarantino. This was Ringo Lam's creative starting period as he just got started as the director of films. Ringo would go on to be a acclaimed HK action director, even making a few Hollywood ones.

Chow plays an undercover agent named Ko. Ko wants out of the police force as he's really turned to the dark side. Ko's handler won't let him quit and wants him to help him nail some jewelry bandits before sending him off to the US. Ko gets in with Fu, played by Danny Lee. Carrie Ng plays Ko's finance and wants to get married and settled down ASAP. But Ko's got to get out of the undercover business. Ko helps his inspector out and there's a climatic standoff at the end of the film.

This movie was amazing for its face pace action, cheezy brotherhood machismo, and pretty gals in Carrie Ng. Chow plays against type as an undercover cop who's unsure of his duty and hesitancy to commit. Not a character to cheer on. But the conflict he faces as an in-betweener is evident when it comes to Ng and his brotherhood loyalties. A must watch for you 1980s HK action movie junkies. This is one of the classics.

Full Contact - 俠盜高飛

Full Contact (俠盜高飛) is an 1992 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Ann Bridgewater, Simon Yam, and Anthony Wong. This was one of Chow's last movies before heading out to the US in the 1990s. I watched this back in the 1990s in Mandarin dubbed, but recently in English dubbed. Directed by that era superstar, Ringo Lam.



Chow plays the a bouncer at local club in Malaysia. When his friend gets in trouble with a loan shark, Chow comes to the rescue but makes enemies with all of the underground. On the run, they hook up for a armed car robbery heist that goes wrong. Betrayed by one of his friends, he loses a couple of fingers and the love of his life. On the mend, Chow learns to do everything with his left hand and gets back into the game. However, his former best friend is now number two and with his girl. In the shadows, he starts to set in motion his revenge. The final showdown is pretty graphic and very much what made HK films so great from that era.

Chow plays a really really really bad ass. Someone that can fight and shoot a gun. So good, even when he loses fingers from his right hand, he learns with his left. The pace of the movie is hectic and character development is at a minimum, but its one of those guilty pleasure films. Every character here is over the top and you love it. I love it. Cheezy to the max and it makes no apologies. A must watch for fans of HK's silver era of films, the 1980s and early 1990s. A Ringo Lam film for the ages.

Dragonball Evolution - 七龍珠：全新進化

Dragonball Evolution (七龍珠：全新進化) is a 2009 film. The movie stars Chow Yun-Fat, Emmy Rossum, Jamie Chung, and Justin Chatwin. I had written an upcoming post about this movie back in March.

I am going to include Netflix's summary as I feel extremely lazy writing about this film. The summary from Netflix is:

After training with the great Master Roshi (Yun-Fat Chow), powerful warrior Goku (Justin Chatwin) fights to protect the planet from the evil Lord Piccolo (James Marsters), who is determined to conquer the universe by collecting the seven mystical Dragon Balls. Based on the hugely popular anime series, James Wong's live-action film follows Goku's thrilling adventures and incredible battles against dangerous alien adversaries.

Oh man. Where do you begin. The movie has a white guy playing an Asian role. Chow's turn as Roshi was not believable. Jamie Chung did her best. I had this on while washing dishes so it hurt less.

The Children of Huang Shi - Escape from Huang Shi -- 黄石的孩子 -黃石任務

The Children of Huang Shi (黄石的孩子) is a 2008 film about children who travel the silk road during the China-Japanese war. The movie stars Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh.

In 1937, the Japanese have invaded Nanjing and George Hogg sneaks in to report on it. Hogg is saved by Chow, a communist officer and eventually lands in Huang Shi to recover. While there, he sets up a mini society with the children. But as the Nationalist are driven closer to Huang Shi by the Japanese from Nanjing, Hogg decides to take the children to Shan Dan. This prevents the children from being targeted for involuntary enlistment into the army and is far away from the heart of the war.

The movie is loosely based on Hogg's life. From Hogg's profile on Wikipedia, the events of the movie and the real life children are very far apart. In real life, Hogg lead the children in 1944, but the movie places it in 1937.

I was really surprised at Rhys-Meyers and Mitchell's Chinese. If you compare it to RDJ's Chinese from Topic Thunder, this was so much better. I could understand it for the most part.

In Hollywood, the normal procedure is that the Asians can't save themselves but its the white guy that swoops in and cultures them to salvation. This film is no different, but it is based on a true story. It is what is is.

Hard Boiled - 槍神 (辣手神探)

Hard Boiled (槍神/辣手神探) is a 1992 film out of Hong Kong. Directed by John Woo and starring Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung. This would be John Woo's last Hong Kong film until he returned to Asia for Red Cliff.

This movie changed my life. Back in the summer of 1992, I was working full time and carrying a full load of courses at a local community college. I was just starting to re-acquaint myself with my Chinese Taiwanese background. I wasn't too sure about Chinese movies and series. But when I watched Hard Boiled, I was blown away and wanted to dive into Chinese entertainment. Which lead me to Faye Wong and 4 Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王) of hk in the 90s.



Chow plays a "break all the rules" kind of cop thats out to take down any bad guy. Tony plays a undercover cop that's in too deep. The two eventually meet eye to eye to take down a triad boss. The bullets fly everywhere but on Chow and Tony. The body count is high and some HK humor is thrown in with a peeing baby Chow is trying to save.



There is no possible reason for you not to watch this. Yes, it is extremely violent. It is in a sense like a video game as bodies fall left and right. But this is HK cinema at its epitome and 2 of the best HK actors in their prime. With Woo at his best.

Since I am watching this 18 years after its release, there are lots of people in "extra" roles that are still in the HK film industry. The music is a bit outdated, but that's what happens to movies as they age. I watched the mandarin dubbed version. I need to rent the Dragon Dynasty release one to see the extras.

I had originally watched the Taiwan version with the title, 槍神. For many years after that, I tried to buy it via VHS, VCD, or DVD with no luck. I couldn't find it. Once I found out that the HK name was 辣手神探, people started to know what I was talking about. Names do matter.

This is the first review of a film I've listed in my favorite movies post.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - 神鬼奇航：世界的盡頭

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - 神鬼奇航：世界的盡頭 is a 2007 film starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and Chow Yun-Fat.

Chow plays a pirate warlord based in Singapore named Captain Sao Feng.

If you watched the previous two Pirates installments, this one is no different. The Chinese in Singapore are dirty and ugly and have no honor.

If you're Chow fan, this is not a memorable role or film. And if you're Chinese, this is not a depiction you'd like very much.

I vaguely remember that there was some controversy about the depiction of Singapore in the 18th century by the current 21st century residents. Unfortunately, a quick Google search didn't net any good results.

You can rent it on Netflix.

Dragonball Evolution - 七龍珠：全新進化 (2009) - Upcoming

Dragonball Evolution (七龍珠：全新進化) is being released in Taiwan on March 13, 2009. Coming to the US on April 8, 2009. Which is unusual since its a US film.

The trailer are out and the hype and promotion is starting to pick up.

For the record, Dragonball is after my time. I have not watched or read the comics in the past, so I have no warm and fuzzy feelings about this movie. Not like I did for Transformers or the upcoming G.I.Joe. I grew up on Voltron, Thundercats, Transformers, Go-bots, and G.I. Joe. I am in 80s kid through and through. Dragonball is a late 90s thing. I was already working when it made it to the US.

The controversy is the casting of a non-Asian actor in the lead role of Goku. There is a smattering of Asians in other less prominent roles. Its racist Hollywood at work again.

Curse of the Golden Flower - 滿城盡帶黃金甲

Curse of the Golden Flower (滿城盡帶黃金甲) is 2006 film starring Chow Yun-fat, Gong Li, and Jay Chau (周潤發, 鞏俐, 周杰倫) and directed by Zhang Yimou.

The story is based on the imperial family of which Chow, Gong Li, and Jay belong to. The politics of being trapped to your confines. The family dynamics and the little secrets everyone has.

The wuxia elements were much more limited in this production than with other Zhang Yimou productions.

It was quite strange to see Chow Yun-Fat in a this role. Chow is the gambler and an assassin. Not a emperor.

Over all, I wasn't sure what to expect from the movie and it was underwhelming.

You can rent it via Netflix.