The Rules of The Game Review 1999 Hong Kong 新家法

Generic Triad movie but it's brilliant cast and dark themes make it entertaining.

Charismatic Louis Koo is David Chow, a small-time businessman whose successful rise in the triad underworld comes in a deliberate means to an end. He's forced to join the triad of Boss Sing (Alex Fong) in order to bail out his buddy (Edmund So). Ann (Kristy Yang), the girl David loves works at a bar and catches the eye of Boss Sing who attempts to win her heart honestly. A clash between David and Sing seems inevitable.

Rules Of The Game is standard Triad affair. You are getting what it says on the tin. Expect lots of bad-ass knifes getting swung around as nameless gang members are getting chopped and stabbed. The story isn't very original and themes and ideas have been borrowed from other HK gangster flicks. But all this isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you like Triad films then you will like this. It really doesn't glamorise Triad lifestyle at all.

The cast all do a great job. Louis Koo is brilliant as David, full of charisma and comes across as a real bad ass. Alex Fong plays the role of Sing with so much conviction he is almost likeable, even though he commits some horrendous crimes. Kristy Yang lights up her role with charm and innocence. The only real let down is Sam Lee, a brilliant actor that has a role where he doesn't get to shine like his usual self.

Some of the music is fantastic in the montages and the others are downright cheesy. A few of the musical queues are extremely questionable and you have to wonder if this melodrama was supposed to gauge more of an emotional reaction in these scenes.

It all comes down to a conclusion which is half exciting and half a let down. Definitely shocking, but a more satisfying ending is expected after everything that unfolds.

Not the best Triad film, but certainly not the worst. See it for the performances, the wacky story, the violence and have a few beers and enjoy.

6.5/10

See this film if you liked:

Young and Dangerous

Colours of The Loyalty

Jiang Hu (Triad Underworld)

Trailer:

A Moment of Romance Review Hong Kong 1990 天若有情

A Moment Of Romance

Classic Hong Kong Cinema at it's very finest. Superb film by Benny Chan with a wonderful story and characters and a career defining performance from Andy Lau.

Queue the montages.

Wah Dee is a skilled motorbike rider and getaway driver but is still seen as a small time gangster in the Triad ranks. After a botched heist where Wah Dee is working as the getaway driver, to avoid being caught by the police he takes a young girl Jojo (Wu Chien-Lien/Jacklyn Wu) hostage. The rest of the gang decide they want the girl dead after she sees all of their faces, Wah Dee volunteers to take care of her, but actually sets her free. This starts an unlikely romance between a low level Triad and an innocent rich girl.

Moment of Romance isn't the most original story, in fact there were many similar films from Hong Kong around this time. But the depth of the characters and the directing is what makes it stand out.

There is nothing cooler than Andy Lau riding a motorbike!

Andy Lau is instantly likable as the calm cool gangster, who,  although being a Triad, he seems like he secretly wants a clean happy life. His motorbike riding scenes along with the music is so iconic it will stay with you! And has also now been spoofed and copied many, many times.

The music is also excellently fitting. The score and original songs fit the movie like a glove. And the cantopop slow motion montages aren't used in a cheap way, but instead they progress and develop the story.

The violence and action scenes are shot gritty and realistic in an unflinching way which suits the Triad drama and makes some scenes uneasy to watch, and also makes you really feel and worry for the characters.

Speaking of iconic. The ending to the film, and the last shot before the credits are extremely haunting and will stay with you for a long time.

A real gem of Hong Kong filmmaking. Recommended to all. If you are a fan of Hong Kong cinema this is on your must watch list.

8.5/10

#MomentOfRomance #天若有情 #BennyChan #AndyLau #JacklynWu

Triad Review

Triad (2012)

Director: Daniel Yee Heng Chan
Writers: Chun Yu Kom, Si-Cheun Lee
Stars: Wai-Man Chan, Patrick Tam, Kwok Cheung Tsang, William Chan Wai-Ting, Michelle Wai
Country: Hong Kong
Language: Cantonese
Release Date: 15 November 2012 (Hong Kong)

IMDb = 4.3

Looking at the poster for Daniel Chan's new film Triad, you would assume it was a poster for the Young and Dangerous reboot. You would be wrong. However, Triad does borrow heavily from the original Young and Dangerous series. Even more weird, the director of Triad also directed the reboot Young and Dangerous Reloaded.

Triad takes place in the 90s during the hay day of the Hong Kong Triads. Set in the familiar busy neon streets of Hong Kong, the film follows 3 friends from the beginning of joining the Triads and following local boss Patrick(Patrick Tam). William(William Chan), an intelligent bookworm who has a bright future, decides to join the Triads which his 2 best friends Derek(Derek Tsang) and Edward(Edward Chui) are members of, and after the boss Patrick helps out his mother. Soon enough William is working his way up the ranks with his business smarts getting him respect and impressing the higher ups. One moneymaking scheme too far, and he ruins the activities of gang boss Ming (Lam Lei) and his wife Irene(Irene Wan). William also enters a dangerous feud with another up and comer Kin(Deep Ng). Now with trouble brewing between William and his Triad brothers, he must decide how far and how much he is willing to risk to succeed in the Triad world.

William Chan in his Chan Ho-nam type role

William Chan suits his role perfectly as a cool intelligent gangster, the changes he goes through in the film show him going from a timid young student to a high ranking swish gangster. One flaw in the film is the time period covered of 8 years or so is squeezed into a 90 minute film. This makes the story and character development seem a little rushed, and the film comes off a little flat. Sometimes there is just too much going on that you don't have time to digest or absorb what you have seen.

One major positive of Triad was the music! If you enjoyed the soundtrack of Young and Dangerous then you will love it. Largely inspired by Y&D, the songs have the similar sound which is now associated with HK Triad flicks. Some of the slower songs in the film sound like they could have been plucked right out of any of the Young and Dangerous films.

Triad is a very appropriate name for this film as it is very Triad'y. Daniel Chan tells an all too familiar story by basically combining elements from popular Triad flicks such as Election and As Tears Go By. I can't tell if it's a nod to these popular films or if he is cashing in on their success by giving people what they want. And Triad gives you what you want... If what you want is a generic Triad flick. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this film, it was fun. But it was nothing new. Nothing different or challenging. But, if like me, you enjoy any Hong Kong Triad film then you too will enjoy Daniel Chan's "Triad".

Check it out, it's worth a watch, but I do hope Daniel Chan's next film, Young and Dangerous Reloaded is better.

6.5/10

Available on DVD and Blu-Ray on Yesasia

Asian Film Awards 2013 Nominees

www.asianfilmawards.asia/

The nominees for the 7th Asian Film Awards have been announced. The ceremony will be held on 18th March in Hong Kong. And the Nominees are...


Best Film
'Drug War' (Mainland China)
'Gangs of Wasseypur, Part 1 & 2' (India)
'Mystery' (Mainland China)
'Outrage Beyond' (Japan)
'Pieta' (South Korea)

Best Director
Anurag Kashyap, 'Gangs of Wasseypur, Part 1 & 2' (India)
Abbas Kiarostami, 'Like Someone in Love' (Japan/France/Iran)
Kim Ki-duk, 'Pieta' (South Korea)
Takeshi Kitano, 'Outrage Beyond' (Japan)
Lou Ye, 'Mystery' (Mainland China)

Best Actor
Joseph Chang, 'GF*BF' (Taiwan)
Choi Min-sik, 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' (South Korea)
Eddie Garcia, 'Bwakaw' (Philippines)
Tony Leung Ka-fai, 'Cold War' (Hong Kong)
Liu Ye, 'The Last Supper' (Mainland China)

Best Actress
Nora Aunor, 'Thy Womb' (Philippines)
Cho Min-soo, 'Pieta' (South Korea)
Golshifteh Farahani, 'The Patience Stone' (Afghanistan)
Gwei Lun-mei, 'GF*BF' (Taiwan)
Hao Lei, 'Mystery' (Mainland China)

Best Newcomer
Chien Man-shu, 'When a Wolf Falls in Love With a Sheep' (Taiwan)
Masahiro Higashide, 'The Kirishima Thing' (Japan)
Huang Yu-siang, 'Touch of the Light' (Taiwan)
Kim Sung-kyun, 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' (South Korea)
Qi Xi, 'Mystery' (Mainland China)

Best Supporting Actor
Ha Jung-woo, 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' (South Korea)
Ryo Kase, 'Like Someone in Love' (Japan/France/Iran)
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, 'The Answer Lies Within' (India)
Chapman To, 'Diva' (Hong Kong)
Rhydian Vaughan, 'GF*BF' (Taiwan)

Best Supporting Actress
Jun Ji-hyun, 'The Thieves' (South Korea)
Kim Hye-soo, 'The Thieves' (South Korea)
Li Lieh, 'Together' (Taiwan)
Qin Lan, 'The Last Supper' (Mainland China)
Makiko Watanabe, 'Capturing Dad' (Japan)

Best Screenwriter
Anand Gandhi, 'Ship of Theseus' (India)
Kohei Kiyasu, Daihachi Yoshida, 'The Kirishima Thing' (Japan)
Mei Feng, Yu Fan, Lou Ye, 'Mystery' (Mainland China)
Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi, 'Drug War' (Mainland China)
Yun Jong-bin, 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' (South Korea)

Best Cinematographer
Touraj Aslani, 'Rhino Season' (Iraqi Kurdistan/Turkey)
Choi Young-hwan, 'The Thieves' (South Korea)
Rajeev Ravi, 'Gangs of Wasseypur, Part 1 & 2' (India)
Katsumi Yanagijima, 'Like Someone in Love' (Japan/France/Iran)
Zhang Li, Ma Cheng, 'The Last Supper' (Mainland China)

Best Production Designer
Cho Hwa-sung, 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' (South Korea)
Bahman Ghobadi, Ali Daryai, 'Rhino Season' (Iraqi Kurdistan/Turkey)
Wasiq Khan, 'Gangs of Wasseypur, Part 1 & 2' (India)
Man Lim-chung, 'The Silent War' (Mainland China/Hong Kong)
Yee Chung-man, Eric Lam Chi-kiu, 'The Last Tycoon' (Mainland China/Hong Kong)

Best Composer
Pritam Chakraborty, 'Barfi!' (India)
Jo Yeong-wook, 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' (South Korea)
Peyman Yazdanian, Johann Johannsson, 'Mystery' (Mainland China)
Keiichi Suzuki, 'Outrage Beyond' (Japan)
Koji Ueno, 'The Floating Castle' (Japan)

Best Editor
Takeshi Kitano, Yoshinori Ohta, 'Outrage Beyond' (Japan)
Mototaka Kusakabe, 'The Kirishima Thing' (Japan)
Valerie Loiseleux, 'Rhino Season' (Iraqi Kurdistan/Turkey)
David Richardson, Allen Leung, 'Drug War' (Mainland China)
Shin Min-kyung, 'The Thieves' (South Korea)

Best Visual Effects
Chas Chau, Lewis Chan, Benson Poon, Johnny Lin, 'When a Wolf Falls in Love With a Sheep' (Taiwan)
Kwak Tae-yong, Hwang Hyokyun, Lim Jung-hoon, 'Doomsday Book' (South Korea)
Farbod Khoshtinat, 'Rhino Season' (Iraqi Kurdistan/Turkey)
Lee In-ho, Je Young-ho, 'Soar Into the Sun' (South Korea)
Katsuro Onoue, Tetsuo Oya, Atsuki Sato, Minami Tsujino, 'The Floating Castle' (Japan)

Best Costume Designer
Chen Xue-bing, Zhong Jia-ni, 'The Last Supper' (Mainland China)
Jessie Dai Mei-ling, Chan Chi-man, 'The Last Tycoon' (Mainland China/Hong Kong)
Kwak Jung-ae, 'A Werewolf Boy' (South Korea)
Man Lim-chung, 'The Silent War' (Mainland China/Hong Kong)
Mitsuru Otsuka, Kazuta Matsunaga, Akihiko Inamura, 'The Floating Castle' (Japan)

Young And Dangerous: Reloaded trailer

Well we all wanted it. We asked for it. And they gave us it... Kind of!

The Young And Dangerous films didn't need a reboot. It could have been a continuation. Some new Triads join the Hung Hing and work their way up through the ranks. Chicken and Chan Ho Nam could have had cameos or even just been mentioned by name. But instead we got a remake.

However, it doesn't look too bad. Judging from the trailer, Reloaded looks to be more gritty and realistic than the original series.

But will it be as good as the originals? Only time will tell.

HK release date is 01/03/2013

A 'Young And Dangerous' Remake In The Works! Young And Dangerous Reloaded

I'm back with a bang!

Young And Dangerous: Reloaded

Shocking (and exciting?) news! Wong Jing is doing a reboot of the popular 90's Triad movie franchise! Except no Andrew Lau directing this time.

For those not up to scratch. In 1995 Andrew Lau directed, and Wong Jing produced a film called Young and Dangerous. Y&D follows a group of young gangsters in the Triad Society in Hong Kong through their adventures, success and dangers. This film made many stars including Ekin Cheng who played the main character Chan Ho Nam, and Jordan Chan who played his best friend Chicken. It also starred many Hong Kong house hold names such as Francis Ng and Simon Yam.

This proved to be very popular in Hong Kong. So much so that it generated a long line of sequels, prequels and spin offs. To my count, 6 main films and 7 spin offs... although some are just obvious cash ins... And don't have a lot to do with the series. These films were among the ones I first started watching when I got into Asian Cinema and they really inspired my love for Triad flicks.

Original... and best?

If you haven't seen these films I would highly recommend it! The main films are all worth while, ranging from good to great, and can be picked up in a complete box set on websites like ebay for about £20-£30.

Anyway... On to the reboot! Wong Jing looks like he has cast Triads who go to the gym more often than the originals. I don't know which one is more realistic for modern Triads, but the original looks more like what I imagine. Or what I see hanging around China Town looking a bit dodgy! In Reloaded, Him Law is portraying Ekin Chen's role of Chan Ho Nam, and Jordan Chan's role of Chicken with be potryated by Oscar Leung. Wong Jing has also promised audiences that he will provide more sex and violence to give the audience what they want. This looks more obviously true now after Oscar Leung shot a bed scene with 2 hot models... on the first day of filming! Wow, fast mover.

Chicken back on the streets in Hong Kong... Lock up your daughters

News and videos have already started coming out from the set and filming locations. On October the 13th a night time fight scene was filmed in Mongkok, HK. Chicken(Oscar Leung) was fighting with a rival gangster Philip Ng for one of the scenes in which he takes a bit of a beating, including getting hit with his own trouser suspenders 20 times! Ouch! Which left him visibly bruised and red.

Sounds pretty badass to me! Check out the video below for some of the filming and action...

Personally I think this looks promising!

Well this is definitely one to keep your eye on! I will post more news and updates as I hear/see them.
But in the mean time check out the original series! You won't be disappointed!