射雕英雄传:侠之大者 - Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants

射雕英雄传:侠之大者 (Legends Of The Condor Heroes: The Gallants) is an 2025 film. The movie stars Xiao Zhan and "Sabrina" Zhuang Dafei. The supporting cast includes Tony Leung Ka-fai and Zhang Wenxin. The film is directly by the legendary Tsui Hark. The movie is based on the novel 射鵰英雄傳(The Legend Of The Condor Heroes) by 金庸 (Jin Yong/Louis Cha). The Condor Heroes story has been made into both movies and wuxia series over and over. This is just in a long line that love to tell the Condor Heroes story.



Xiao Zhan plays the main male protagonist of the film, Guo Jing. Sabrina Zhuang plays the main female protagonist of the film, Huang Rong. The film starts with the fall of the main Song Dynasty into North and South Song to the Jin Dynasty. Mongolia is united under Ghanis Khan and starts to retaliate against the Jin. Guo Jing is looking for Huang Rong and lands in one of the Mongolia and Jin skirmishes. Huang is trying desperately to get away from Ouyang Fang who is looking for the Novem Scripture (Novem = “nine” in latin). Guo Jing has mastered the Novem Scripture and is now more powerful than Ouyang. But Ouyang wants to force Huang Rong to cough up the Novem Scripture. In the Khan camp, Huang Rong secretly helps Guo Jung. Will Guo Jing and Huang Rong reunite or will Ouyang get his hands on them to obtain the Novem Scripture?

I am really excited that Condor Heroes is getting another high quality shot at the movies. The storyline itself is impossible to tell in one movie. For those that know the story after seeing all the wuxia series, you'll have to prepare yourself for a much more condensed version. The movie itself runs for over 2 hours of fun.

One thing you'll notice right away is that Guo Jing is already at the top of his powers in the movie with brief flashbacks to how he got there, but it does not go into much detail. Guo Jing is not at the top of his powers in the novels until Return Of The Condor Heroes, the sequel storyline novel. Ouyang Fang is just as dangerous as he is in the novels with his obsession with gaining the Novem Scriptures.

I also like that Guo Jing's slowness in the novels was only slightly touched on in the movie. But Huang Rong is just as smart in both. One thing about this movie is that it spends a very long time in the Mongol storyline. Whereas the novels did not spend as much. And the whole Yang Kang story was written out.

I also think that they did a really good job with Hua Zhen. Generally, the wuxia series, Hua Zhen is considered an afterthought plotline or she's presented as trying to break up Guo Jin and Huang Rong. However, in this movie, she is not and is presented as a strong female protagonist. Zhang Wenxin was in my opinion really good for her first role.

I caught this at a local Harkins theatre. By my guesstimate, the theatre could have fit 150 or so people, but there were only 5 people watching and I was the youngest. One couple ended on their phone for half the movie.

It you are a fan of wuxia movies, this is right up your ally. If you are a Condor Hero purist, you will not like this movie. I loved the movie and will try to get the digital copy when it becomes available via Sony International.

Cold War - 寒戰

Cold War (寒戰) is an 2012 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung. The supporting cast include Charlie Young, Gordon Lam, Chin Kar-lok, Aarif Rahman, Eddie Peng, Andy On, Terence Yin, Grace Huang, J.J. Jia, Byron Mann, and Michael Wong. Andy Lau makes a brief cameo appearance. The movie was will received both domestically and internationally.



A HK PTU team is kidnapped and the asking ransom is 1/3 of the calculations of the police group budget. When the money is taken from the national vault, only 1/3 is taken to the drop off point, the other 2/3 is shipped back. But because the police were in the middle of a sting, the 2/3 movie shipment back was not well guarded and hijacked. The police now have to deal with a kidnapped PTU team where a team member was killed to make an example. Now, they have to figure out who stole the money. With so much at stake, the internal actions of the police are highly scrutinized and subject to internal review. The movie resolves around the power struggle within the force and those that carried out the kidnapping and hijacking.



The movie was a well made machine. Great cast, complex story, engaging internal struggle, and a wild twist at the end. The movie is one for the ages. This is the type of film you want to introduce HK films to your friends, especially if they do not like Wuxia. Although the main cast is from the old school, the ensemble cast includes a lot of whom may be among the next generation of HK stars.

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame - 通天神探 狄仁傑 - 狄仁傑之通天帝國

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (通天神探狄仁傑/狄仁傑之通天帝國) is a 2010 film out of Hong Kong. The movies stars Andy Lau, Li Bing Bing, Carina Lau, and Tony Leung Ka Fai. Tsui Hark plays both producer and director. The movie is based on China's first and only female Empress Wu Zetian. Detective Dee was a high official during that time.

We Zetian is on the eve of announcing to the world that she's the boss of China! To show off, a 60 story statue is being built. When some mysterious deaths start, the queen sends for Dee to solve the mystery. Dee than starts on a deep exploration of the area around the kingdom to find the answers. But as the clues start to add up, they are thwarted and ambushed quite often. Do not fret as Detective Dee is on the case.

This was a pretty amazing film. The CG was pretty good for a HK produced film. More importantly, the story of mystery and historical doom kept me on the ride. Andy puts on a masterful performance that I think will deserve award type recognition. The story was wrapped in intrigue and mystery. The exact type of movie that keeps me engaged and thinking.

A must see for you wuxia fans as well.

The Drummer - 戰鼓

The Drummer (戰鼓) is a 2007 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Jaycee Chan, Tony Leung, Angelica Lee, and Roy Cheung. Eugenia Yuan makes a brief cameo.

Jaycee Chan plays Sid, the son of one of the toughest triad bosses in Hong Kong. That tough triad boss is Tony Leung as Kwan. Sid starts up a relationship with a mistress of a triad boss higher up than Kwan, Stephen Ma. Ma catches Sid and his Mistress Carmen. Sid confronts Ma and insults him in front of his men. From that point on, Ma wants Sid dead. Kwan steps in and sends Sid to Taiwan to hide out while he takes care of the situation in Hong Kong with Ma. While in Taiwan, Sid has to settle into a boring life and laying low and not causing trouble. Sid is awoken daily by the sound of drums every morning. Sid was a drummer in a band back in Hong Kong and is interested in finding out where this sound comes from. Sid works his way into the group. As its most junior member, he'll have to learn the virtues of being a drummer. Sid befriends Angelica Lee as Hong Dou and tries to impress her. Along the way, the events in Hong Kong eventually get worst for Kwan as he ends up in jail. Will Sid be able to find the virtues of drumming? Will he be able to get back to Hong Kong?

The movie was beyond my expectations. It took the Hong Kong triad movie style and applies it to the slow pace of a "coming of age" story. Character development of the primary protagonist Sid is explored to its fullest at the expense of of the people around him. The pacing of the movie was herky jerky, but it worked for me. At times, the mood who be intense, than move to a somber moment. The mood shift would normally be too abrupt for me. But it worked me in this film. Fast to slow, slow to fast, over and over again.

The drumming group featured in this film is the famed U-Theatre (優人神鼓) drumming group based out of Taiwan. Other than Angelica Lee and Jaycee Chan, the rest of the troupe are real members. I would like to see U-Theatre one of these days. If I ever find out they are coming to Los Angeles, my wife and I will try to make time to go see their show.

I got the movie off Netflix and their was only 1 language track with English subtitles available. The scenes in Hong Kong were in Cantonese and the scenes in Taiwan were in Mandarin. Normally, I'd like to watch the completely Mandarin dubbed version so I don't have to read subtitles. But this version wasn't bad and it was a change of pace to hear their real voices. The "making of" was long and gave an in-depth look at the movie that was excellent.

Bodyguards and Assassins - 十月圍城

Bodyguards and Assassins (十月圍城) is a 2009 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse, Li Yuchun, Wang Xueqi, Hu Jun, Tony Leung, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, and Fan Bingbing. The movie is based on visit to Hong Kong by Sun Yat-sen in 1905.

Sun Yat-sen will touch down in Hong for a mere 1 hour to talk to the revolutionaries. But the Qing officers don't want that to happen and would like to assassinate him while he's in Hong Kong. Enter Wang Xueqi as the money behind the supporters based in Hong Kong. The people you see in the poster all work to protect him. And one that wants to take him out.



The movie is not very action based until Sun Yat-sen arrives. The movie up to that point is all character development and back story on why its important to protect Sun Yat-sen with their lives!

It was both intense and thought provoking. Because of Donnie's presence, you might think this is an action film. But its only a third of the film. You shouldn't miss this one.

Career As a Teacher - 我的教師生涯

Career As a Teacher (我的教師生涯) is 2007 film out of China. It stars Tony Leung as Chen Yu and Qin Hailu as his wife Zhou Min.

The movie spans roughly 60 years. From 1963 to 2000. The movie starts with Yu being sent to the country side in 1963. There he starts his life as a teacher and meets the city that he'll spend the rest of his life in. Yu was not a teacher before and has to learn it on the go. The classroom next door is lead by Zhou Min. The two eventually marry and have a kid named Taotao.

The movie starts at 1963, jumps to 1968, 1984, 1998, and finally ends on 2000.

It is an epic movie as it covers roughly 40 years of the life of someone who started his career during the cultural revolution. And in 2000, when China was emerging as the next world power. Along the way, you see the upgrades to life at school, around the city, and in their home.

It was pretty slowed paced and I fast forwarded all the walking, silent stares, and bike riding. You should to.

I couldn't find much english information about this film and youtube didn't net any good results.

I Corrupt All Cops - 金錢帝國

I Corrupt All Cops (金錢帝國) is a 2009 film out of Hong Kong. The main stars are Anthony Wong, Tony Leung, Alex Fong and Eason Chan. Supporting cast include Wong Jing, Liu Yang, Kate Tsui, and Bowie Lam.

The movie is about the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s corrupt Hong Kong police force. Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is the play on the acronym. Being transformed to "I Corrupt All Cops". My translation for the title is the emperor of the gold country.

The movie follows the Tony Leung as Lak, Eason Chan as Gale, Alex Fong as Bong, and Anthony Wong as Unicorn. Lak is the head of the police force and with Gold, played by Wong Jing, established a bribe system for local gangs and police. Gale runs in Lak's inner circle and is presented as an all around good guy. Unicorn is a hot headed police officer that gets on the wrong side of Lak and is demoted to patrol the water bank. The first half of the movie is to present the current situation of bribes for police and system of corruption. The second half is the formation of ICAC and how it brings down Lak's circle and tries to weed out corruption in the police force.

The movie was pretty intense and I loved the subject matter. It brought back memories of Andy Lau's Lee Rock film series. But the story telling was very unfocused and the character development seem forced. In the end, I didn't care for these guys much. Liu Yang had a breakout performance as Rose and hope to see more of her.

Election - 黑社會

Election (黑社會) is a 2005 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Simon Yam, Tony Leung, Louis Koo, and Nick Cheung.

The movie is about the Wo Sing triad's election of a new head person. The head person is not a dictator, but a representative. But with it is a lot of prestige and the promise of a legacy. Let the politics of the triad play out on the screen.

Simon Yam plays Lok, a boss that is cool and collected and doesn't show much emotion. On the other end of the spectrum is Tony Leung as Big D. Big D is loud and hot tempered. Big D is one of those prototypical triad bosses. Nicky Cheung and Louis Koo play up and coming bosses that help each respective boss.

The movie is dark and violent. It is not for the faint of heart as the violence is very real and bloody.

Behind it all is this looming sense that things will work out, even with all the chaos.

In all, for 2005, it was a great film. 2005 wasn't a stellar year for HK movies and election was hope that there are still good movies being produced out of HK that was made for HK fans. But could go international as well.

Eye In The Sky - 跟蹤

Eye In The Sky (跟蹤) is a 2007 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Simon Yam, Tony Leung, and Kate Tsui.

The film is about a division of the HK police force that does surveillance. Simon and Kate are on the police surveillance team. Tony is part of the bad guys. The chase is on to get Tony in the act. Surveillance cops are taught to observe anything and everything. Also to not get noticed.

The movie was awesome because it presented a division of the HK police force that always gets overlooked in other movies. It was a thriller and kept me on my toes the whole way through.

I highly recommend this.