The New One and Only Stephen Chow Thread
 

Ok - there was a Royal Tramp thread I started that kinda became the Stephen Chow thread, but I think we should start a new thread and just get a good collection of people's thoughts on their favorite Chow films or Chow moments or which films to avoid. Just trying to organize. I'm not suggesting we close up or merge any of the other threads, I just think this will be more organized. Once this thread gets going, I'll link to it in the Newbie Help thread. :)

So go ahead and start posting your thoughts.

Here's his bio from IMDB (hkmdb is closed right now):

Sing-Chi (Stephen) Chow
Date of birth 22 June 1962
Location - Shanghai

Trivia
A wing chun stylist, Chow began using it in combat scenes, starting with Fist of Fury 1991.


Actor - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s)

Shaolin Soccer (2001) (Hong Kong: English title)
Tricky Master, The (1999) (International: English title)
King of Comedy, The (1999) (International: English title)
Gorgeous (1999) (International: English title)
Lucky Guy, The (1998)
All's Well, Ends Well 1997 (1997)
Lawyer Lawyer (1997)
Forbidden City Cop (1996) (USA)
God of Cookery (1996)
Sixty Million Dollar Man (1995)
Out of the Dark (1995)
From Beijing with Love (1994)
Hail the Judge (1994)
Love on Delivery (1994)
Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella, A (1994)
Chinese Odyssey, A (1994)
Mad Monk (1993)
Flirting Scholar (1993)
Fight Back to School III (1993)
My Hero 2 (1993)
All's Well, Ends Well (1992)
Royal Tramp (1992)
Royal Tramp II (1992)
Justice, My Foot (1992)
Fight Back to School II (1992)
King of Beggars (1992)
God of Gamblers II (1991)
Top Bet (1991)
God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai (1991)
Fei zhou he shang (1991) .... Narrator
... aka Crazy Safari (1991)
... aka Gods Must Be Crazy III, The (1991)
... aka Vampires Must Be Crazy (1991)
Haomen yeyan (1991) .... Himself
... aka Banquet, The (1991)
... aka Ho moon ye yin (1991) (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Party of a Wealthy Family (1991) (USA)
Fist of Fury 1991 II (1991)
Magnificent Scoundrels (1991)
Fight Back to School (1991)
Fist of Fury 1991 (1991)
Tricky Brains (1991)
Triad Story (1990)
Legend of the Dragon (1990)
Lung Fung Restaurant (1990)
Look Out, Officer! (1990)
When Fortune Smiles (1990)
My Hero (1990)
All for the Winner (1990)
Curry and Pepper (1990)
Unmatchable Match, The (1989)
Thunder Cops II (1989)
Dragon Fight (1988)
Final Justice (1988)
Faithfully Yours (1988)
Tragic Heroes (1987)
Final Justice (1984)

Director - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)

Shaolin Soccer (2001) (Hong Kong: English title)
King of Comedy, The (1999) (International: English title)
Forbidden City Cop (1996) (USA)
God of Cookery (1996)
From Beijing with Love (1994)

Writer - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)

Shaolin Soccer (2001) (Hong Kong: English title)
King of Comedy, The (1999) (International: English title)
Forbidden City Cop (1996)

Well, Shaolin Soccer was my first Stephen Chow movie, and I enjoyed it a lot. It opened the doors for me to HK cinema. After watching it, I started to order HK movies from DDDHouse and HiViZone. Since then I had watched a few other SC movies such as Royal Tramp, II, God of Cookery, and All's Well Ends Well. Then I've learned something about SC movies - I really don't like them that much!! My wife feels the same way and she now refuses to watch SC movies with me.

I know he is a very talented actor/director and I wish I like him more. Maybe it's because I watch his movies in Mandarin and I fail to understand most of his word play in Cantonese, but I just don't think he is that funny.

Anybody else share my feelings?

Beeeil

I saw Shaolin Soccer 1st. Then GOC, then King of Beggars. I must admit I really enjoy his movies so far. GOC being my favorite of those three. :)

cheers,
Gabe

Well that's probably it. You can't watch him in Mandarin dub. Half of his funny is in his voice. I guess if you understand Mandarin, it would be easier for you to watch him dubbed, but I don't understand Mandarin or Cantonese and I know that I don't laugh when I watch him in Mandarin but I almost piss myself laughing listening to his actual voice in Cantonese. To each his own - Shaolin Soccer is a special effects driven movie and if you like that film, that doesn't really guarantee that you'll like his other films. I'd suggest giving Tricky Master and King of Comedy a try and listen in Cantonese to see if that makes a difference... however, if you don't like him in the films you mentioned, you won't like him in other films. His humor isn't for everyone.

Shaolin Soccer is Stephen's major attempt to really internationalize himself to the Chinese community throughout Asia, so Cantonese wordplay is kept at a bare minimum. In fact, Stephen speaks some Mandarin himself in this movie, which is more or less a first for him.

With Stephen's movies, if you're watching it in Mandarin, you might as well watch it with subs and the sound turned off.

I think Shaolin Soccer is easily his best movie....

I have also watched and recommend:

Tricky Brains
God Of Cookery
Forbidden City Cop
Lawyer, Lawyer


Not his top movies:

Justice, My Foot!
From Beijing With Love



J.T.

You sure you don't have Justice, My Foot! and Lawyer Lawyer confused with each other? Most people feel it is the other way around.

Everyone is going to have their different opinions on what is good and what is not. My feelings have been expressed quite a bit on what I feel are his good movies and what are not, but here goes again:

My favorite five (order depends on mood):

- Fight Back To School
- From Beijing With Love
- God of Gamblers II
- God of Gamblers III - Back To Shanghai
- Flirting Scholar

Movies I don't Like
- Out of the Dark
- Lawyer, Lawyer
- Mad Monk

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
 

Thought I had to do that as my subject line. :lol:

Anyways, I LOVE Stephen Chow. I think hands down he is like the KING OF COMEDY!!!

My favorites are:

God of Cookery - One of the popular ones :thumbsup:

From Beijing with Love - It has some very funny moments

Tricky Master 2000 - Mixed reviews on this movie

Tricky Brains - An older one

King of Comedy - I like it, but seems like lots if people don't

Hail the Judge - Don't hear much about this one

Justice, My Foot - This one was pretty good

All the gambling ones..... -biggrin- I'm chinese, so I gotta LOVE gambling!!! -biggrin-

Not so good ones:

Lawyer Lawyer - So bad I don't remember it! :thmbsdwn:

That's all I can think of now!


As for Shaolin soccer, I didn't think it was that good. I was a bit disappointed by how it was. I just guess I'm not that big of a fan of movies when it's so fake and computerized. Just my opinion, so don't :johnwoo: me, ok!

Also, if only they would come out with All For The Winner and Fist Of Fury II on DVD, I'll be -biggrin-

FWIW, there's a couple of movies missing from the original list:

- He Who Chases After The Wind
- Sleazy Dizzy

also, brief cameos only in Top Bet and Gorgeous

Yeah I got the list off IMDB cuz HKMDB was down - His TV appearances are also absent and a few films are shown twice by mistake. IMDB doesn't really proofread the submissions and check for accuracy, they just check to see that there are no swear words.

Well, sounds like I've been watching Stephen Chow's movie the wong way (with Mandarin soundtrack). I'll be sure to rewatch some of them with Cantonese st to see if I will experience them differently. I'll need to watch them with subtitles, hopefully they are translated pretty faithfully.

I did enjoy Royal Tramp II, but only because of Michele Reis' brief appearance. BTW, Royal Tramp and Royal Tramp II are based soooooo loosely on Lu Ding Ji books that it didn't do the books justice at all.

OT: I've heard that there is a pretty good version of Lu Ding Ji by Tony Leoung, in the format of mini series. Anybody knows where I get buy the VCD for a reasonable price? How many discs?

Beeeil

I've seen most of the movies listed, and enjoyed most of them. Personally, I'd put Shaolin Soccer, God of Cookery, King of Comedy, From Beijing With Love, and the Royal Tramp movies at the top of my list. I'd agree with the others that Lawyer Lawyer is probably at the bottom of the list for me.

I don't remember seeing Chow in this; can anyone tell me what part of the movie his cameo in?

I found this funny, in an ironic way. :lol:
Beeeil, I'd also be interested in the VCD series with Tony Leung, if it's available. My gf and her mother have seen it on TV, and said it was absolutely hilarious. I've looked for it, but haven't found it.

Yes, I prefer Lawyer, Lawyer over Justice, My Foot!
LL was funny all the way, (especially the Pig tongue gag!) while JMY stopped being funny on the later half of the movie. Seems to me that there are alot of people that don't like Eric Kot, which is prabably why LL is not liked...

In Georgeous, Stephen Chow has a cameo as cop with a dog on a leash, that gets dragged away! This was cut off the US DVD, but is intact on the Hong Kong DVD.



J.T.

For myself, Eric Kot is not the reason I didn't like LL that much; I just found that the humour didn't make me laugh, except in a few spots.

Thanks for the Gorgeous note. I remember that scene now; I guess I didn't pay much attention!

But that's what is so funny about Royal Tramp, the fact that it is a total nonsensical adaptation of the books. The entire set from the Tony Leung/Andy Lau version from 1980 can be found at DVDShelf for $475HK. The English name of the TV Series is called 'Duke of Mount Deer'.

Chines Oddysey!
 

I am surprised that nobody mentioned chinese odyssey - at least part 1. just saw it and was totally amazed. It was as if Tsui Hark directed Brazil with Stephen Chow!

The DVD is horrid, but the movie had me entranced. I would rate it right up there with God of Cookery...

I agree. There are plenty of adaptations of books, Chinese, American or otherwise, that are good in their own right, and only loosely based on the original story. Personally, I have no idea what the original 'Royal Tramp' stories are, I just enjoyed the movies.

Thanks for the info on the VCD set; unfortunately, it's not subtitled in English, and I can't speak Chinese, but it may make a great Christmas gift for my gf and her mom, since they really enjoyed it and were asking me to look for it.

Re: Chines Oddysey!
 

I haven't mentioned myself because, personally, I thought it was OK, but not great.

But there were some funny moments:

My favorites of his are Shaolin Soccer, From Beijing With Love (the first of his that I saw), God of Cookery and Tricky Master (even though he deson't play such a big part, that movie's great).

Re: Chines Oddysey!
 

I totally agree. A Chinese Odyssey 1 was my first & still my favorite. I'm not real big on shot-to-the-groin type comedy, but this has to have 1 of the funniest scenes ever. I love the look of the movie: the bull, spider lady, etc. God of Cookery is my 2nd favorite so far.

Now what's the deal with his name? I've been writing Stephen Chiau for about 2 years - as this is how it is on all my DVDs, but all of you write Stephen Chow. What's the story? ...At least I was eventually able to make the transition to Michelle YEOH...

Just be thankful I stopped spelling his first name "steven"... I'm a hopeless american. On IMDB, it shows him as Chow and the way you typed it and a slew of other ways as well - I guess all ways are correct. :)

Re: Re: Chines Oddysey!
 

Chow is the most common way for people from HK to spell his Chinese name, which is of course the same as Chow Yun-Fat's. Of course, as noted in a couple of movies, invariably the trivia question always comes up "What's the relation between Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-Fat".

Yeoh is kinda strange, not sure where the origin of that one would be from. Michelle's surname pronounciation in Cantonese is Yeung and in Mandarin it would be Yang. She's from Malaysia, so the name presumably could be of Hokkien/Fukien origin, but in Hokkien her name is pronounced as Yu, so hmmm.....

Re: Re: Re: Chines Oddysey!
 

Yeah, strange way, as I see how my name is pronounced in various dialects and I don't really know how Yeoh comes about.

Just watched Tricky Brains... now this is one funny movie!!
Had me laughing throughout the whole movie...

This is the second best Stephen Chow movie, behind Shaolin Soccer. Still have lots more to go ....



J.T.

boy JT you must be one of those types that roots for the bad guy in pro wrestling :) Tricky Brains and Lawyer Lawyer are the two SC films that people get turned off about SC because of his meanness in these two films.

Well I liked Lawyer Lawyer and Tricky Brains too... but I wouldn't call either film his best work.

So "people" dislike Tricky Brains because his character is mean?? What type of logic is that?? The movie should be taken for what it is... Yes, his characater was mean, but he's the Tricky King!! If he wasn't mean, then he would not be No.1. He did make up some rules to live by :)
He's just mean because Andy Lau was a nice guy character. What if Andy was a bad guy character?? Is that then OK fo him to play his tricks on a bad guy?? This is why actors get type-cast. People only wants to see the same all the time, then complain that it's the same :(
Does Stephen have to be a nice guy for his movie to be considered good??

God Of Cookery seems to be favourite for "people". Well, I thought it was good, but not as good as Shaolin Soccer or even Tricky Brains. It had some really funny scenes, but on the whole, it wasn't as funny as Tricky Brains. Watch Tricky Brains again, and let us know if you change your mind!


J.T.

I had to say Chinese Odyssey Pt. 1 had some very funny parts

Especially when he was on his hands running from the spider lady and then his teeth gets caught on the web. He uses the rock to knock out his tooth. I was laughing so hard I was going to pee in my pants.

I wouldn't rate it as one of my favorites because I don't really remember it.

Also, Tricky Brains use to be one of my favorite movies, but after watching it so many times and with so any new movies from him, it wasn't as good anymore.

I haven't really seen this mentioned, but I kinda liked Legend of the Dragon. It was more like a comedy, drama, and alittle romance.

I watched Top Bet and Stephen Chow has like 4 minutes in the very beginning, his character is referred to a dozen times or so throughout the film, and he appears for the final 30 seconds. It seems like a continuation on one of his Gambling films... I can't recall which film it was where he calls Ng Tat "father" and he goes into convulsions or something... but something similar here. Wasn't it Tricky Brains? Anyway... This film wasn't quite that funny, but it was amusing and I enjoyed it. Anita Mui was funny in this too. I thought I'd bring it up in case anyone was curious about the title. The Mega Star DVD is nice. Overall I'd give the film a 6.8/10 and a :thumbsup:

In the early 80's Stephen Chow started his acting career as a professional extra, he was seen in 2 famous scene of a HK TV serial, The Condor Heroes. The first scene he came out as a soldier only to be killed almost immediately by the good guy. The second scene he came out as yet another soldier, this time killed by a baddie practicisng an evil martial art.

After that he carry on acting as the male leads in more HK serialz, but guys do you know what is his most extraodinary role??

That show is call "Ying Yang Road".

Set in the ancient China, he is a fillial son with a mom whom is blinded due to her illness. He is a physician and in order to cure her mom, he need to go to the capital city to get the necessary stuffs.

Something happened resulting in his execution, before he is beheaded, he pleads to the executor that he wish to go back to his mom after his death to carry on treating her. Touched by his fillial, the executor taught him a way to do it, but he have only 7 days before his spirit will disappear into the eternal darkness.

The moment he is beheaded, his soul flew back all the way to his hometown....with a scarf around his neck.

As his days is numbered, blood start to ooze out under the scarf, and his wife noticed it, and finally found out the cold hard truth. On his last day, his mum is finally able to see, only to see that ..........................

This is a very very touching story, inside u see how he tried to cover his neck and why he cannot accept the love from his loved ones, very sad indeed. He don't do shows like this anymore which makes it even more worth collecting (if it ever get to released on DVD)!!!

Trigger,
The convulsions thing is from Tricky Brains.... That how he was able to tell him Stephen was his son! :-)


J.T.

The movie was a continuation of All For the Winner, the movie that made Chow famous.

Well boogers - Too bad it's not available on DVD. :(

Indeed, you really need to understand cantonese in order to know wat he trying to say.

A Chinese Odyssey 1 and 2 are funny as hell but sad in the end.
 

Shaolin Soccer is nothing, compared with Chow's other movies.

Chinese Odyssey I and II are two masterpieces from Chow.
Chinese youth are crazy for these two movies. They are simply the best.

If Criterion Collection intends to release Chow's movies, these two above are the 1st choices.


My Other Favorites:
1. King of comedy
2. Flirtong Scholar
3. Royal Tramp 1 and 2
4. God Of Cookery

i thought chinese odyssey I and II was the worst of all stephen chow movies. it was apparently a flop compared with his other movies.

Chinese Odyssey 1 & 2 probably flopped because he wasn't being overly funny - more like playing into the comedy of the Monkey King role.

I was introduced to Stephen Chow with Tricky Brains and I thought it was hilarious. I then saw GoG 2 and 3 and thought he was great in those too. Keeping in ming I'm a juk-sing and pretty much lost all my chinese speaking ability, which might explain while I like his more physical humor over any word-play (non-existant in subtitles). I still understand enough so I get the idea behind a lot of the situational humor, like in Royal Tramp 1 &2, but I'm told that his appeal is very much like him/hate him. Me, I like his stuff and will continue to watch it (much to the dismay of my gf).

FWIW, my rankings:
1. God of Gamblers 3 - Back to Shanghai
2. God of Gamblers 2
3. Royal Tramp 1 & 2 (I look at 'em like 1 movie)
4. God of Cookery
5. From Beijing with Love

Think I'll bump this just in case people wanted to discuss his films more. ;)

I've since bought Sleazy Dizzy on VCD (unsubbed, so can't watch it), Out of the Dark on VCD (excellent film), and All for the Winner on VCD as well... All for the Winner actually sets up alot of things that are repeated in his subsequent films. Anyway... carry on. :)

Hey Trigger, Sleazy Dizzy is a decently funny movie. Try watching it anyhow, write down questions and I'll try to answer it. I saw the movie again a couple of weeks ago so I should still remember most of the movie.