Soi Cheang Movies
A Hong Kong adaptation of a Japanese manga, director Soi Cheang's follow-up to the dark 2006 thriller Dog Bit Dog stars Hong Kong teen idol Shawn Yue as a young sociopath sent to prison for the brutal murder of his parents, and determined to seek salvation by becoming a professional fighter. Upon being incarcerated for his unspeakable crime, Ryo is targeted for extreme abuse and humiliation by the more established inmates in the penitentiary. Under the approving eye of a warden who would sooner see Ryo dead than reformed, the timid teenager is humiliated, raped, beaten, and left for dead. But while no one expected that Ryo could possibly endure such abuse and live to see another day, it isn't long before he's back on his feet and mastering the martial arts under the tutelage of the prison karate instructor (Francis Ng). Ryo is determined to ensure that he will never be victimized again, and by the time he's released from prison he is a formidable fighter. Once paroled, Ryo sets out in search of his missing sister, whom he believes to be working as a prostitute on the streets of Hong Kong. But while Ryo's sister is nowhere to be found, his search leads him to a girl with the same name who just happens to know the main promoter of a prominent fighting league. Before long Ryo is in the ring and living his dream, but will he ever find out what became of his long lost sister? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Yue
Three maestro Chinese action directors - Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark and Johnny To - co-helm the adventure saga Triangle. The film actually constitutes a film serial, divided into thirds, with each filmmaker responsible for one episode. Three drinking buddies, Fai, Sam and Mok are visited one dark and stormy night by a strange old man who dazzles them with the tale of an ancient treasure. The artifact in question - worth untold amounts of money - lies buried beneath an almost impenetrable government facility. The retrieval mission is theirs, if they wish to accept it, and if they can claim the treasure, they get to keep it. Indeed, the "loot" - a magnificent robe of interwoven golden strands, its monetary value inestimable - outstrips everyone's expectations. But in time, the friends' greed and selfishness begin to overshadow their considerations of loyalty, trust and friendship. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
A Cambodian boxer smuggled into Hong Kong is pursued by a hotheaded young cop with serious authority issues in director Sio Cheang's hyper-violent crime thriller. Pang (Edison Chen) is a tattooed street boxer from Cambodia. Spirited away from the Cambodian garbage dumps he once called home and offered the opportunity to rise through the ranks as a fearsome triad hit-man, the ambitious young fighter carries out his first mission with rough but ruthless efficiency. Later, after wandering over to the local landfill and watching as a homeless man brutally rapes his own daughter, Pang murders the abhorrent offender and enters into a tender relationship with the frightened young girl (Pei Pei). As Pang's gentle true nature is gradually awakened by the damaged innocence of his new companion, belligerent young cop Wai (Sam Lee) sets out on a restless crusade to bring the resourceful killer to justice no matter what the cost. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edison Chen, Sam Lee, (more)
- 2002
Soi Cheang's horror film Hunbo Yitsin Chi Dai Tau Gwai Ying (Horror Hotline...Big Head Monster) stars Francis Ng as the producer of a radio program that involves people sharing ghost stories. Ben (Ng) airs a call about a mutant killer baby. Intrigued by the story, he teams up with a reporter (Josie Ho) to investigate. He finds a person involved in the story on the verge of death, while Ben's nurse girlfriend, Helen (Niki Chow), is treating a man who has been attacked by the monster. Helen has a secret she has been keeping from Ben. This secret may have something to do with the monster. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francis Ng, Josie Ho, (more)
