救火英雄 (As The Light Goes Out) is an 2014 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Nicholas Tse. The rest of the supporting cast include Shawn Yue, Simon Yam, Hu Jun, Bai Bing, and Andy On.
On the eve of Christmas Eve, a power grid station is determined to keep the energy flowing to the all of Hong Kong. When a factory near one of the pipes for energy is disrupted, its up the brave firemen of the Hong Kong fire division to contain it. The crew goes in to save the trapped people and have to fight their way out. On top of this drama is the political drama of promotions and hurt feelings from the fire station. Add to is kids of the firemen are also trapped, you got yourself a story.
This was a Hong Kong movie through and through. Even with the addition of Hu Jun and Bai Bing to give it a little "mainland" feel, it was still very HK. Which is why I liked it so much. I got me back to those days of intense HK movies with extreme situations that put our heroes mettle to the test. If the movie was to end on a sad note, it should. If it were to end on a happy note, it would. In the case of this movie, it ended the way it should have.
This movie was atop of the HK box office at the start of year. It did the same on the Mainland front a few weeks later. It's worth the ride.
The Viral Factor (逆戰) is an 2012 film out of China and Hong Kong. The movie stars Jay Chou, and Nicholas Tse. The supporting cast include Lin Peng, Bai Bing, Andy On, and Carl Ng. The majority of the movie takes place in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur. The movie starts in Jordan and ends in Beijing.
The Story
Jay Chou plays an special agent, Jon Man, of an international group called International Defense Commission (IDC). The are in Jordan to escort a biochemical scientist, along with his wife and daughter out of the battle zone and to safety. The scientist has been able to mutate an smallpox virus for mass destruction. During the escort, they group is attacked and later revealed to be an inside job. Jon's in love with another agent in the escort called ICE, played by Bai Bing. During the ambush, ICE is shot dead and the bullet travels through her to injure Jon. Jon is saved, but the bullet is too deep in to be removed. Jon is given 2+ weeks to live in his current condition. Jon travels home to his wheelchair stricken mother but keeps the injury a secret from her. The mother breaks down and reveals that she left a brother and father from a previous life of abuse. Jon was too young to remember them and the mother told Jon that his father died long ago. The mother wants to see them and to possibility reconcile. Jon sets out for Kula Lumpur to find the father and brother. On the way there, Jon has medical attack that leaves him zombie-fied. The doctor the on the plane is played by Lin Peng as Rachel Kan, whom is also an renowned scientist. When Jon comes to from the attack, he thanks Kan and they get off the plane together. Kan offers Jon a ride, but Jon declines and gets a taxi. While entering the taxi, Jon notices that Kan is a bit strange and tails her. When the kidnappers notice Jon tailing, they kidnap him too. Jon kicks it into high gear and tries to escape and save Kan. The kidnappers is lead by Nicholas Tse as Man Yeung. Yeung is able to defeat Jon, but sees a family picture fall out of Jon's wallet. The picture is of him with his father and mother and Jon. Yeung spares Jon and escapes. Jon is taken to the hospital and continues to track down Yeung and Kan. Kan is eventually captured and force to make the small pox virus antidote. Jon and Yeung are finally reunited, but they are worlds apart in lifestyle. One is a perpetual criminal and one is part of the law.
My Thoughts
The movie was all over the place. Don't watch the movie and expect the story to make complete sense. It has an brotherhood angle, family reunion angle, revenge angle, terminal illness angle, global treat angle, and fatherhood issues angle. And that's just from the main characters. The subplots of the movie drag it down even more. For me, I was really bothered by the switch between Cantonese and Mandarin in the film. I usually like the Taiwan or China dubbed Mandarin versions so I don't have to read subtitles. This one had English, Malay, Cantonese, Mandarian, and Arabic. The majority was Cantonese and Mandarin. When Jay spoke, it was either Mandarin or English. When Nicholas Tse spoke, it was Cantonese. Weirdness.
Is the movie worth watching? YES! This is one of the highest production value movies out of China and Hong Kong in some time. They were at international locations, had good special effects, and its a movie that can hit the international market via DVD and VOD. This was also the movie that Nicholas Tse was filming during the Cecilia Cheung and Edison plane encounter that eventually led to their separation.
The Myth (神話) is a 2010 wuxia drama out of China. The series stars Hu Ge, Bai Bing, Ren Quan, Chang Chih, Zhang Meng, and Jin Sha.
This wuxia series is vastly different than the 2005 movie from Jackie Chan. Although the main elements of the movie do drive the series. The movie was based on re-incarnation of the Jackie character. The series is based on time travel.
The series starts around with the introduction of Yi Xiao Chuan, played by He Gu. Xiao Chuan is a photographer and adventurer. On this particular day, he's gone into a remote area to photograph stuff. But in a strange turn of events, he's stung by a snake and clinging on to dear life. But a magical amulet is nearby. When Xiao Chuan touches it, he is saved.
We than move on to the site of a dig around the Terracotta Army. Da Chuan, played by Ren Quan is a archeologist and the older brother of Xiao Chuan. Get it, Da and Xiao Chuan. How convenient. You don't need to think to know who's the elder. Xiao Chuan shows Da Chuan the amulet. Da Chuan says its a archeological find. At the same time, other things are found at the site, including a magical box.
But a group of bad guys burst onto the scene and steal the magical box. Da Chuan and Xiao Chuan gives chase. Xiao Chuan catches up with the guys and defeats them to get the box back. When Xiao Chuan opens the box, he's magically brought back 2000+ years into the past. Xiao Chuan is brought to the Qin Dynasty, roughly 210 BC. Xiao Chuan brings a friend with him, named Gao Yao.
From that point on, the story forks from ancient to present. About 70/30. Xiao Chuan makes his way thought the ancient times with his present upbringing. Along the way, he befriends many many historical figures between the Qin and Han dynasty.
The series is very playful for the first third of the series. Gets more serious during the second third. The last third brings back all the movie elements. The ending can be said to fit the movie quite well.
Call for Love (愛情呼叫轉移) is a 2007 film out of China. The film stars Xu Zheng and a host of women. Among these women include Fan Bing-bing, Eva Huang, Annie Yi, Ning Jing, Qin Hailu, and Bai Bing.
The movie starts with Xu Zheng as Xu Long getting a divorce from his long time wife due to boredom. As the divorce goes through, an Angel gives him a cell phone that will allow him to meet 12 women. Among these 12, he will find his next mate.
You guessed it, Xu dates twelve women that are all crazy in the head and hilarious situations ensues. Queue laugher and lol!
Xu didn't really fit the part, but very few men that originate from the China market have been able to do modern films well. Ancient films, no problem. Modern films in China, fail.
But all those women in the film. Most if not all are very easy on the eyes. I stayed around mainly to see who the next one was. And so should you. That can be your only reason.
