Michael Wong Movies

Tsui Hark (The Blade) adapted his massive martial arts epic Seven Swords (AKA Qi Jian) from Liang yu-Sheng's ravenously popular novel Seven Swordsmen from Mount Tian. The story opens in the 1660s, following the implementation of China's (Manchu) Qing dynasty. To quell possible nationalist uprisings, the emperor issues a decree forbidding the use of martial arts, and guarantees decapitation for anyone who violates that order. A class of bounty hunters quickly formed to enforce the law and collect 600 pieces of silver for each violator; the most massive and domineering of the warriors is the bald, muscular Fire-Wind (Sun Honglei), a bellicose and volatile creature who lives in an elephantine tentlike dwelling on a hill. This walking terror selects Martial Village, a hamlet in northwestern China, as his next assignment. Meanwhile, in Martial, two young adults, Wu Yuanyin (Charlie Young) and her ex-beau, Han Zhibang) rescue an old executioner, Fu Qingzhu (Lau Kar-leung) who foresees the coming wrath and acknowledges the necessity of pulling in the mythical 'Warriors of Mt. Tian' to fight Fire-Wind and his cronies. The four warriors summoned by Fu include Chu Zhaonan (Donnie Yen), and Yang Yunchong (Leon Lai), who dramatically increase the tension and bloodshed when the former develops a crush on one of Fire-wind's hostages, Green Pearl (Kim So-yeon) and decides to kidnap her - sending Fire-wind through the roof. The critically-worshipped Hark reportedly cut two versions of this film (including a 2 1/2 hour cut and a 3-hour cut) and demonstrated incredible confidence in Qi Jian by planning it as the initial installment in a massive series of multimedia sequels, including a 74-part television series, an online video game, comics, and five additional films. The picture itself testifies to this, with the setup for a sophomore installment in its conclusion. Qi Jian, however, did lackluster box office when it opened in the Far East in July 2005, making the follow-ups less than certain. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

The little-known protest of the Vietnam War staged from within the ranks of the military is explored in director David Zeiger's revealing documentary. Despite the well-documented media coverage of Vietnam War protests that took place on college campuses across the nation, few people but the most ardent history buffs remain aware of the massive protests that flourished in U.S. barracks and military bases at home and abroad. Staged by countless military men disillusioned with the ongoing war, these protests reached from the hallowed halls of West Point to the bullet-riddled rice fields of Vietnam. Though hundreds of soldiers were imprisoned for voicing their controversial views and thousands more sent into exile for their subversive activities, the tireless efforts of the government and media to suppress this remarkable tale would eventually falter as the dissenting voices became too numerous to silence. Thirty years after the last bombs were dropped on Vietnam, the remarkable tale of the soldiers unafraid to stand up for their beliefs comes to the screen in a film that will forever alter the manner in which contemporary audiences view one of the most controversial wars in modern history. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The Hong Kong potboiler There Is a Secret in My Soup dramatizes, in extended flashback, the tragic and brutal events that befall Maggie (Cherry Chan Chiu Chiu), a young victim of extreme spousal abuse. Escaping from her tyrant husband, she winds up in the care of two married friends, Pat (Angela Tong Ying-Ying) and Rocky (Hugo Ng Toi-Yung) -- who just happens to make his living as a pimp. On a rather ill-advised note, Maggie swipes a large amount of cash and an expensive lighter from Rocky. Infuriated, he forces her to prostitute for him in kind, but she makes two unsuccessful attempts to flee from his clutches. On the second occasion, Rocky turns up with two goons; they drag Maggie off to a secluded flat and systematically torture her in sadistic and disgusting ways. This film reportedly culled inspiration from the real-life Hong Kong slaying of Fan Mei-Yee. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Hong Kong action genre craftsman Tsui Hark directed this martial arts tale, his second collaboration with actor Jean-Claude Van Damme after Double Team (1997). Van Damme stars as Marcus Ray, a Hong Kong fashion designer who specializes in "knock-offs," cheaply produced jeans and sneakers meant to look like major-label merchandise. With his new partner Tommy Hendricks (Rob Schneider), Marcus hopes to go legit and put his shady past behind him, but Tommy is really an undercover CIA agent investigating the smuggling of mini-bombs in Marcus' products. An unwitting pawn in a scheme concocted by the KGB and Tommy's CIA superior Johanson (Paul Sorvino), Marcus must clear his name and save his company. His quest to do so becomes even more complicated when local authorities link him to a murder and a vice-president, Karen (Lela Rochon), arrives from Marcus' parent company to investigate discrepancies in his bookkeeping. Knock Off is based on a script by Steven E. de Souza, author of 48 Hrs. (1982) and Die Hard (1988). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Ma Yuk-shing and Bruce Law Lai-yin direct this high-budget crime thriller about undercover cop Leung Ka-ho (Julian Cheung Chi-lam). Ever since Leung's mission to capture his gangland boss Dan Peterson (Michael Wong Man-tak) went horribly wrong, resulting in Peterson escaping, a cloud of suspicion has hovered over the cop. Unable to return to his police work, he happens upon Peterson again. Together, they venture to Russia where Peterson is fixing to buy some military hardware. When they pick up their hardware in a remote corner of northern China, they lose a missile when attacked by bandits. Through all their travails, a true bond develops between the two, clouding Leung's ability to do his duty and bring the criminal to justice. Gigi Lai Lai Chi and Francis Ng Chun-yu also appear. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

This two-hour pilot for the Canadian TV series is inspired by John Woo's 1991 Hong Kong film of the same title, but the story has been altered extensively. Mac (Ivan Sergei) and Li Ann (Sandrine Holt) are the foster children of a powerful crime boss. With their foster father's biological son Michael (Michael Wong), the three make up a trio of high-tech burglars. When Li Ann is forced to become engaged to Michael, she tries to escape with Mac, whom she really loves. On their way, they pull a failed heist on one of their adoptive father's warehouses. Mac goes to prison believing Li Ann is dead. Years later, he is released from prison by a covert law enforcement agency based in Vancouver and is pressed into using his skills for good. He discovers that Li Ann is a part of this agency, but so is her new fiancé Victor (Nicholas Lea). When they're assigned to stop a Hong Kong crime family that's taking over Vancouver, they realize they're going to meet with Michael once again. The fact that this thriller is actually a television program and not a feature is evident in its slightly lower production values; however, Woo proved with the original Once a Thief that he could make a thriller without much violence, and the 1996 edition still has the ability to entertain. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide

Jackie Chan dons a helmet and jumpsuit to stars in this critically panned action flick about crime and hotrods. Jackie is an ace car mechanic and an even better driver who gets himself involved with notorious bandit racer Cougar (Thoresten Nickel) during a casual street race. The Hong Kong cops have long been looking for Cougar for not only illegally modifying racing vehicles, but also for a string of less obscure crimes like murder and extortion. When Jackie beats the guy in the race, Cougar is furious. As a result of the race, Cougar gets dragged to the clink and vows revenge. Soon after, Cougar busts out of prison kills Jackie's parents, kidnaps his sister (Anita Yuen Wing-yee), and demands that he race him in the Sendai Grand Prix in northern Japan. Wild high-speed chases and a rollicking kung-fu fight in a pachinko parlor ensue. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Dancer turned pin-up idol Diana Pang Dan stars in this low-budget comedy thriller as Mei-si, a late night talk radio personality who becomes the object of obsession of a loonball named Hungry Wolf. Soon after announcing his targets on the air, Wolf bombs a hospital and a kindergarten. After much prodding and pleading, she manages to convince bumptious cop Wong Chi-ming (Michael Wong Man-tak) that she might be of service to police investigation of the madman. Even though the two immediately loathe one another, they inevitably fall in the sack and fall in love. Meanwhile, after the police trace a phone call back to his house, Hungry Wolf vows to kill Mei-si, necessitating 24-hour police protection. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Following on the success of 1987's Chinese Ghost Story, Hong Kong was inundated with romantically themed tales of the supernatural. Most were awful, but Ronny Yu's The Bride With White Hair has become a classic of the genre. Based on a two-volumed 1954 novel written by Leung Yu-Sang, the film tells the story of star-crossed lovers and bloody conflict. The two meet when Lian (Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia), a beautiful sorceress who was raised by wolves, saves young warrior Zhuo Yi-Hang (Leslie Cheung) from a pack of hungry animals. Though she disappears before he can thank her, Zhuo is entranced. Later Zhuo becomes a master swordsman with the Wu Tang Clan, a tight-knit martial arts society dedicated to the villainous Ji Wu-Shuang (played by both Francis Ng and Elaine Lui), a mutant half-man, half-woman creature who rules the land with an iron fist. Though Zhuo is more interested in quiet life of contemplation, the clan elders see Zhou as their best weapon against their evil King/Queen. Meanwhile, Lian has grown into a formidable adversary herself -- especially with the use of her trusty whip, which can slice a man in two. She has been recruited by Ji to thwart the rebels. In the midst of battle, Zhou and Lian meet. Ji -- who secretly lusts for Lian -- orders her to kill Zhuo. She refuses, much to his displeasure, and orders her tortured to within an inch of her life. Zhuo discovers Lian's semi-conscious body and nurses her back to health. The two soon fall passionately in love and vow to always trust one another. Unfortunately, Ji's black magic revenge spoils the lovers' new-found bliss. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Veteran character actor James Hong wore two hats on The Vineyard as star and director. The scene is a remote island, dominated by a large, rambling vineyard. Mysterious Japanese vintner Hong gives his product an extra kick with a "special ingredient." The results: Immortality for Hong . . . and an army of vino-besotted zombies. In case you get tired of the violence in The Vineyard, there's also plenty of sex and nudity to keep you awake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide