Shek Kin Movies

Tsui Hark takes the reigns of this series following a much-publicized rift between himself and John Woo -- the director of the first two A Better Tomorrow films -- to direct this prequel based around Chow Yun-Fat's memorable Mark character. Set in 1974, Mark ventures to Saigon after his cousin, Cheung Chi-mun (Tony Leung Kar-fai), gets into hot water with the local police. Using a contact in the Vietnamese army, the two soon start trafficking black market weapons with a beautiful female assassin named Chow Ying-kit (Anita Mui). After a deal goes horribly wrong, the three -- along with Ying-kit's father -- try to leave Vietnam, only to have Ying-kit be detained by customs. Back in Hong Kong, Mark and Chi-mun set up a small garage. When Ying-kit returns, her old mobster boyfriend, Ho (Saburo Tokito), also makes an unwelcome appearance. Though Ying-kit has fallen for Mark, he refuses to reciprocate because Chi-mun has fallen for her. Ho hates them both and tries to kill them with a well-placed bomb. Though the attempt fails, Ho promises more if the two don't leave town. Instead, Ho leaves for Saigon with Ying-kit who is quietly plotting revenge. Mark and Chi-mun soon follow them, hoping to save Ying-kit and kill Ho themselves. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

The demi-monde of Hong Kong drug lords and their connections is the focus of this police drama by Peter Yung. Detective Chan is a cop in the narcotics bureau who is out to break the back of the drug cartels in the city. Through his investigations, the notorious workings of the Chinese Triads are brought to light. With their influence reaching into the police force and government agencies, these gangsters are not going to be easily brought down by one determined detective-inspector. Suspense, action, and tragedy play out against the city streets, the whole enhanced by a kind of cinema-verite technique. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

This plodding story about an Emperor poet finds Lee falling out of favor with his noble counterparts. His use of dragon symbols in his home are considered to be sacrilegious. An envoy is sent to plant the seeds of conflict within Lee's court. Soon the army and navy are moving against Lee, and his generals commit suicide rather that face the indignity of capture. Lee buries his head in the sand and continues to write poems, seemingly oblivious that his world is rapidly coming to an end. He composes a poem to defeat as the enemy approaches his castle. Fighting, singing, debauchery, and political intrigue swirl around the Emperor, whose reluctance to join the other provincial kings leads to his inevitable downfall. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi