Brian T

I was reading some of the scant reviews for this one a couple of nights ago. A few ok notices, but most seem pretty mixed despite how flashy that trailer looks. I'm assuming WellGo is tapping into Yen's awareness from JOHN WICK 4? The source material has been successfully adapted a number times in long-form Hong Kong television series, but it always seems to trip up feature filmmakers, who just can't squeeze it all into a couple of hours, and then often don't get around to making sequels. That seems to be Yen's intention with this, to make sequels that focus on the other two protagonists from the book, who are reportedly featured briefly in this one, but that's not how the novel is structured. I read that it was actually made as a potential franchise for some streaming service in China, with a bit of theatrical play in some Asian markets (and here, I guess) -- which probably explains why most of the reviews have been on smaller film review sites, so who knows how well it's doing or if he'll be able to expand on it. Nice to see actual Hong Kong faces cast as the other protagonists, though, so there's that. Also, Donnie has aged well, but apparently at almost 60 he's playing a character who's supposed to be about half that age, and his leading lady really is half his age!

DJariya

Today is the 20th anniversary of the passing of Leslie Cheung. A HK icon in film and music. I remember when the news broke of his death all those years ago and was shocked, but didn’t know how troubled he was psychologically.

Ash Ketchum

His ROUGE co-star Anita Mui died the following December.

~~ PAL ~~

As I originally commented when this movie was announced, the overall story from the source material is quite complex, right up there with over 300 to 500 major and minor characters like A Song of Ice and Fire. A television series on the entire set of novels, covering all five books, would most probably run 70 to 75 hours without editing, or condensed to 55 to 60 hours after bypassing or omitting some of the less important side plots. I am sure they could easily cover a two-hour movie that is mainly focused on the action choreography and sets, but I suspect they will also largely ignore most of the character and plot developments because of the time constraints. There is a shocking revelation regarding the character played by Donnie Yen which has to do his ancestry and where he really came from, that has rather large ramifications on not just himself but also his standings in the world, but is is probably too complex and dense for them to even attempt to delve into that aspect of the story.

Brian T

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I remember reading not long after his death that, among other things, he had become despondent over losing his looks. Even in his final film, 2002's excellent INNER SENSES (now there's one for some US boutique to pick up), they tried to 'plain' him down a bit to fit the character (even more so on the poster), but to little avail. But with depression, I'm sure no one could've changed his mind about much of anything.

RocShemp

I can't believe it's been so long since he passed. I was 22 back then.

Why So Blu?

Donnie Yen responds to petition calling for his Oscars removal: 'cancel culture has got to stop'

https://news.yahoo.com/donnie-yen-re...ycsrp_catchall

Weird, because doesn't China "cancel" you just outright by disappearing you?

DJariya

I don't claim to be an expert on Leslie Cheung. But, I know he must have been dealing with so many issues throughout his long career. Depression being the primary one. But, also he was an in the closet gay leading man. He had to hide his sexual orientation for years because it would have killed his professional career and homosexuality wasn't accepted in HK during the height of his career. Hiding that aspect of his life must have been really difficult.

DJariya

Last night I found my old Shout Factory Jackie Chan double feature BD with Crime Story and The Protector and popped it on after not watching it for many years. I think that disc came out in 2013.

I tried watching the Jackie Chan HK cut of The Protector, which was a bonus feature, and honestly, it's pretty unwatchable. SD VHS quality and seeing it dubbed in Cantonese even with the American actors made it a difficult watch. I know it's Jackie's preferred version, but honestly I prefer the original James Glickenhaus version. The theatrical version is pretty rough looking, so hopefully Shout's new 2K upgrade will be an improvement in that new set coming out.

It was pretty funny hearing Jackie say "Fuck" in the theatrical version.

RocShemp

Last year, Accented Cinema did a video on Leslie Cheung.

rocket1312

The Shout will use the same transfer as the UK release from 88. It is a massive upgrade over the original Shout disc, which was an SD upscale.

Brian T

Indeed I think if he was forced to choose, Donnie would tolerate western 'cancel culture' as opposed to China's version of it. Of course, I'm sure he keeps his nose extra clean because of that – I kinda wish some of the U.S. talk show hosts had shot him a ringer question or two during his JOHN WICK promo circuit.

As much as I appreciate Yen's talent – and let's face it, of the "big" (former) Hong Kong action names, he made the most sense to appear in a WICK movie – his support of the CCP is only a few rungs below Jackie Chan's on the cringe ladder. These guys and a few of their former Hong Kong entertainment colleagues made no bones about not only working on the mainland to maintain their careers, but also kissing Xi Jin-ping's authoritarian ass and condescending toward their former city whenever they're called upon to do so. I don't mind purchasing Yen's older films, but I won't pay a, cough, red cent to watch any of his new stuff because I know where his bread is buttered. Oh, I'll watch them, for sure, but I just won't pay for the privilege. .

I realize that it could be argued that all Hong Kong movies and the people that make them now labour (often with difficulty) under the CCP's deliberately vague new laws, but there are a number of veterans there who simply go about their business making Hong Kong movies – including many entirely funded within the city – and staying mum on politics, other than tellingly not working on Mainland pictures or TV shows. Down deep, I often think these creatives value simply working, perhaps at a lesser level of fame, more than having the widest possible celebrity that comes with selling out to the mainland.


It's a shame that Cheung didn't live long enough to see the hard-earned advancements in LGBT representation in Hong Kong cinema. As a straight person, I can only try to empathize with these communities, but as a Hong Kong cinema fan, I will watch anything and everything made in that city, so most of the 'post-Leslie' LGBT movies mentioned in that Accented Cinema video are in my stacks here. As he says, many of them are just compelling relationship dramas or comedies, regardless of whatever kind of sexuality is at their core. They're empathetic, not sympathetic (or demeaning, like many older HK movies), and I think that makes them more accessible to anyone, really. While I admit to struggling through virtually any film by Hong Kong-specific director Scud (aka Danny Cheng Wan-Cheung) – whose work is borderline pornographic – I still have to give him credit for breaking pushing the envelope further than anyone before him. The fact that he hasn't worked since 2017 is telling, though, especially now that the new order is in place.

I'm surprised one of the Vinegar Syndrome sub-labels hasn't taken a chance with some of these pictures, even if just for the sake to get a wider variety of Hong Kong movies in front of western eyes.

Brian T

Jackie's HK cut of that film is a real curiosity. The first time I saw it – which was via the original Hong Kong DVD, which only had that version on it – years after having seen Glickenhaus's original cut, I felt like it was the hatchet work of someone condescending to his audience because he thought they were too simple-minded and/or working-class to comprehend a darker, more realistic crime picture without having some bouncy Jackie fight scenes to make them feel all dsafe and warm. It's almost a direct through-line to how he spoke down to the Hong Kong population that made him famous once he was firmly ensconced in the mainland decades later, and why they still mostly hate him to this day. Glickenhaus's version is an infinitely better film, and for my money the best of his early attempts at breaking into the US market. And the 'drug factory' scenes are much more interesting to boot.

dex14

Jackie's 69th birthday. Anyone planning on checking this out this weekend? I'd like to try and get to a showing tomorrow afternoon.

DJariya

I'm sure Brian T already has his ticket

dex14

Richard Ng has passed away.

LorenzoL

Sad to hear that. I watched so many of his films.

RocShemp

That's sad to hear. I grew up watching him thanks to my grampa.

Ash Ketchum

Sad news. He was one of the great HK comic actors. I'll never forget him and his Sherlock Holmes hat in MILLIONAIRES' EXPRESS as he runs around trying to keep both his wife and mistress happy, first on the train and later in their hotel room after the train has derailed and all the passengers have to stay at Sammo Hung's new hotel, all while bandits are making plans to plunder the town and its visitors.

Here he is on the right, in between his portly wife (Lydia Shum) and his shapely mistress, confronted by the bandits (who are still in disguise at this point):

Brian T

His actor son Carl Ng used to post some amusing selfies on occasion with his dad in the background invariably looking grumpy or disappointed in him. Kind of a running gag. He hasn't posted there in years (smart man), but they were clearly close:
https://www.facebook.com/CarlNgthesullen/

DJariya

This trailer just dropped



Looks like a Korean dystopian sci-fi movie.

Brian T

Looks cool. I looked up some of the actors on IMDB, and it's listed there as a TV series so maybe it'll be the next buzzy Korean import.

RocShemp

Gotta admit, I am really looking forward to this.

Perkinsun Dzees

Cool to see Anthony Wong there (as long as he's not serving any pork buns).



Michelle Yeoh feted at dinner in HK attended by Chow Yun Fat, Sandra Ng, Donnie Yen

Michelle Yeoh continues to be the toast of Hong Kong while she's in the city for some work commitments.

Last night (April 14), the Ipoh-born actress was the guest of honour at a private dinner to celebrate her Best Actress Oscar win.

also:

Michelle Yeoh meets up with Carina Lau, Lin Ching Hsia in Hong Kong

LorenzoL

Look at Brigitte Lin! ❤️