Simon Yam Movies
Performer Simon Yam, like the more famous Chow Yun-Fat, got his start in Hong Kong soap operas and, like Yun-Fat, received acting training through a program offered by the television network. He has performed in over 50 films, almost all of them thrillers. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
- 2008
- Add Ip Man to Queue
Behind ever great man there lies a teacher, and this was certainly true of Bruce Lee, who claimed as his mentor a martial arts expert named Ip Man (1893-1972). A genius of Wushu (or the Chinese martial arts school), Ip Man grew up in a China nearly ripped to pieces by racial hatred, nationalistic strife and warfare. He rose like a phoenix above these ashes, however, courtesy of his participation in matches against various Wushu masters and kung-fun warriors - ultimately training martial arts icons such as Lee. This biopic from director Wilson Yip dramatizes Ip's life story. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, (more)
Simon Yam and Kelly Lin star in director Johnnie To's tale of three professional pickpockets, one mysterious beauty, and the elusive key that brings them all together. It's title taken from a street slang term describing the unique dexterity needed to lift wallets and flutter away undetected, Sparrow opens as Kei and his three partners in crime gingerly fleece unsuspecting strangers on the overcrowded streets of Hong Kong. The money Kei makes from this low-level criminal endeavor is plenty enough to sustain his modest lifestyle, and being free from the restraints of a nine to five job he can spend his days aimlessly peddling through the streets on his bicycle and snapping photos on his Rolleiflex. One day, with his lens trained on the street as usual, Kei notices a gorgeous woman wander into frame. Instantly smitten, the felonious shutterbug strikes up a conversation and learns her name is Chun Lei, and that she seems to have a particularly mysterious past. Later, it becomes apparent that Chun Lei has purposefully targeted the Kei and his partners in hopes that they will help her obtain a very important key. But Chun Lei isn't the only one in search of this elusive key, because shortly thereafter a timid tycoon named Mr. Yen shows up with a suspiciously similar request. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2008
A shameless blackmailer meets a stubborn waitress whose refuses to be controlled, thus setting into motion a tragic cycle that will ultimately define both of their lives. When Wong Yiu met Ni Chen, he thought she would bend to his every demand. What Wong Yiu failed to realize, however, was that Ni Chen was a fiery, independent spirit who always lived by her own set of rules. After losing their ways in life, they both lose themselves as well. When Wong Yiu begins to perceive that he has lost his freedom, something inside of him snaps. Eight years later, Wong Yiu has finished serving time for the murder of Ni Chen. After procuring a gun, he sets out in search of Ni Chen's mother and prepares to fulfill his own will. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liao Fan, Monica Mok, (more)
Longtime screenwriter Yau Nai-hoi makes his feature directorial debut with this tale of a Hong Kong surveillance unit ensnared by underworld violence. In the aftermath of a daring daytime jewelry store heist, criminal mastermind Shan (Tony Leung) and his crew celebrate their success with a rooftop barbecue. The good times are quickly cut short, however, when Shan's men summon the wrath of their boss by attempting to muscle him into giving up a bigger cut. But Shan's men aren't the only ones who want a heartier piece of the pie, because it seems as if the boss himself is scheming to take the men at the top for all they're worth. In order to do so, Shan executes a second high-profile robbery that finds him doggedly pursued though the streets by determined cops. In order to catch the elusive criminals the police will have to work harder than ever, a fact that's not lost on grizzled surveillance unit leader Captain Wong (Simon Yam). Known casually by the code name "Dog Head" to his underlings, Captain Wong is currently mentoring pretty rookie "Piggy" (Kate Tsui), and has made it unmistakably clear that the sole function of the SU is not to engage the criminal, but observe him. When "Piggy" breaks the primary rule of the SU during a particularly sensitive mission on the streets of Kowloon, Shan retaliates by striking back at the unit with everything he's got. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Yam, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, (more)
- 2007
Inspired by a news story the director Pang Ho-cheung noticed while still a high school student, The Exodus tells the darkly comic tale of a world in which the female population are slowly, and methodically doing away with their male counterparts. Sergeant Jim Yip (Simon Yam) is constantly being harped on by his mother in law for not being more successful and wealthy, and largely ignored by his uncaring wife. Likewise, he is largely seen as an outcast by his colleagues on the force, and doesn't have any real friends to speak of. When Sergeant Yip is called on to take over the interrogation of Kwan (Nick Cheung), a man found spying on females in a public restroom, it initially seems like a typical peeping tom case. When Kwan reveals that he was actually attempting to gather evidence about a clandestine group of women plotting to wrestle control of society away from men, the detectives in charge of the case dismiss him as mentally unbalanced. But later, when Kwan alters his deposition, Sergeant Yip believes there may be more to the case than meets the eye and quickly sets out to investigate. What he discovers proves a terrifying new take on the term "battle of the sexes." ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
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
Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Johnny To returns to the characters of his international success The Mission (aka Chueng Fo) with this action-packed thriller. It's 1998, and the Portuguese colony of Macau, a city along the Southern coast of China, is about to be handed over to Chinese authorities under a long-standing agreement. As the people of Macau ponder how their new leaders will deal with the criminal underground that's long been part of the city's support system, a pair of hit men from Hong Kong arrive in town to execute a gangster who has turned his back on the syndicate to make a new life for his wife and children. While the Chinese syndicate want to be sure he doesn't share anything he learned while in their employ, two strong-arm men also arrive in Macau, determined to see to the former gangster's safety. Starring Nick Cheung, Simon Yam and Francis Ng, Exiled received its world premiere at the 2006 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, (more)
Superstar action director Johnny To's Hong Kong gangster picture Triad Election (aka Election 2) revolves around Jimmy (Louis Koo), a second-tiered triad member vying aggressively for the position of godfather in the current election. He is restrained in his pursuits by the current mob boss, Lok (Simon Yam), who wants to hold on to his seat, despite the fact that his two years are up and he isn't officially eligible for reelection. This leads to a bloody, cutthroat, do-or-die battle of wills between the two men, carried out in some of the most astonishing set pieces ever constructed for an action opus, including a psychotic interrogation with knives and rabid dogs, a hide-and-seek battle at an outdoor café, and a shocking, ultraviolent denouement. To ads an additional level to the film by turning it into a scathing critique of the voraciousness encouraged by a laissez-faire economic system. Wong Tin-lam, Yao Yung, Lam Suet, Nick Cheung, Lam Ka-tung, and Mok Sing-lun co-star. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Sammo Hung, Michael Biehn, Maggie Q, and Shawn Yue star in this action-packed thriller concerning a disappeared crime lord and the elite team of Interpol agents who set out to recapture him at all costs. A notorious Triad crime boss has disappeared just as his case was about to go before the judge, and now he could be anywhere. Now, on the bustling streets of Hong Kong, a highly skilled team of Interpol agents wage all out war against the underworld in an apocalyptic bid to capture the heavily armed foe and ensure that justice is properly served. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A crime family flirts with democracy, leading to a fierce gangland battle in this stylish crime drama from Hong Kong director Johnnie To. With over 50,000 members, the Wo Shing Society is one of the largest and most powerful Triads in Hong Kong, and when the leadership committee needs a new head man, they decide to put the matter to a vote of their underlings. The two candidates are Lok (Simon Yam), a cool leader who doesn't rattle easily, and Big D (Tony Leung Kar-Fai), who has a short temper and is prone to violence. After Uncle Weng (Wong Tin-lam), an elderly and well-regarded member of the Triad, gives Lok his endorsement, he wins by a landslide, which does not sit well with Big D's uncertain temper. A ceremonial walking stick which is given to the Wo Shing Society's elected leader has disappeared, and Big D will stop at nothing to make sure it stays out of Lok's hands; meanwhile, the Hong Kong police are determined to bring down the Triad, and Big D ends up behind bars. The Wo Shing Society falls into chaos as in-fighting threatens to tear the Triad apart before the walking stick can be returned and Lok can be inaugurated as their new chief. Election (aka Hak Sewui) was a major box office success in Asia, and the story continued the following year in Election 2 (aka Hak se wui yi wo wai kwai). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Yam, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, (more)
An ailing veteran cop whose relentless determination to do away with an untouchable gangster has led him to employ a series of unethical tactics finds his investigation complicated by the arrival of principled new inspector and the death of a fellow cop in this explosive underworld tale from Skyline Cruisers director Wilson Yip. Facing an inevitable retirement, the beleaguered and cancer-stricken Detective Chan (Simon Yam) has grown desperate to put away Teflon-coated crime boss Po (Sammo Hung) -- so desperate that he even begins planting false evidence and tampering with video in hopes of making a charge against Po stick. As Detective Chan begins to grow accustomed to thoughts of retiring and make way for honest incoming Inspector Ma (Donnie Yen), the ongoing investigation hits a snag when an undercover cop who has infiltrated Po's gang is mysteriously killed. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, (more)
Hong Kong-based filmmaker Johnny To directed this fast-moving action drama that explores the role of the media in current events. The Hong Kong police force takes a beating in the court of public opinion after their unsuccessful attempt to foil a high-stakes robbery is broadcast on live television. Determined to turn the tables, detectives on the force discover where the five criminals who masterminded the job are lying low, and they stage a major siege at the hideout. The hundreds of police officers have also armed themselves with cameras along with their guns as they turn the ambush into a media event. The thieves prove to be a difficult quarry to capture and they use their own video equipment to send pictures to the press at the same time, turning the shootout into a battle of images as well. Breaking News stars Kelly Chen, Richie Jen, and Nick Cheung. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richie Ren, Kelly Chen, (more)
Action star and goofball extraordinaire Jean-Claude Van Damme returns in this gritty tale of revenge between the Los Angeles mob and an invading Chinese Triad. The "Muscles From Brussels" stars as Ben Archer, an ex-mob tough guy whose wife is savagely murdered after she brings home an orphaned child who happens to be a Chinese kingpin's daughter. Racked with grief, Archer is forced back into the mob life as Van Damme stacks up the dead bodies until he finally comes face to face with his wife's killer in an explosive match to the death. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Claude Van Damme
- 2003
- PG13
- Add Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life to QueueAdd Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life to top of Queue
This sequel to the 2001 hit video-game adaptation Lara Croft: Tomb Raider finds Jan de Bont stepping in for director Simon West, helming his first feature since 1999's The Haunting. From a script by first-time scribe Dean Georgaris, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life finds Angelina Jolie once again portraying the titular curvaceous adventurer. But where the first film saw Croft in a race against the Illuminati to acquire an elusive relic that offers control over life and death, this entry in the series follows the heroine as she ventures to an underwater temple in search of the mythological Pandora's Box. Unfortunately, once she secures the legendary artifact, it is promptly stolen by the villainous leader of a Chinese crime syndicate. It is then up to Lara to get the box back before an evil mastermind gets hold of it and uses it to construct a weapon of catastrophic capabilities. Gerard Butler, Djimon Hounsou, and Noah Taylor head up the supporting cast. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler, (more)
- 2003
A spirited female detective who never had time for love realizes just how complicated romance can be after meeting Prince Charming while vacationing in Malaysia with her best friend. Grace is completely dedicated to her job, and as a result she's never had the time to seek out the man of her dreams. Invited by her best friend Joey to take a trip to Malaysia where he's scheduled to shoot a commercial, Grace decides to take the trip but gets caught off guard when she meets the perfect man. Unfortunately for Grace, this is only the beginning of a most unusual nightmare. Shu Qi, Andy On, and Simon Yam star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Johnny To's police drama PTU details the ramifications of an officer losing his weapon. Seargant Lo (Lam Suet), head of the police anti-crime division, finds his gun missing after an altercation with a gang. Police Tactical Unit (PTU) team leader Mike Ho (Simon Yam), not wanting to get the soon-to-be-promoted Lo in hot water, gives him some time to recover the firearm. While Li and Mike attempt to find the gun before the gang kills anyone with it, police investigators suspect that there may be corruption within the PTU. To filmed the picture off-and-on for over two years before it played at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Following up on his two-fisted 2000 flick The Mission, Johnnie To, along with Wai Ka Fai, directs this high-octane shoot 'em up about a pair of hired killers vying for their reputation and for a beautiful girl. O (Takashi Sorimachi) is a reclusive, highly disciplined assassin who is considered the top killer of Hong Kong. Since the murder of his comely housekeeper, with whom he secretly has fallen in love, he has grown even more inward. For him, any connection to the outside is fraught with danger, usually leading to death. Tok (played by pop star and heartthrob Andy Lau) is the polar opposite of O -- brash and eager to be number one. Chin (Kelly Lin) is O's part-time housekeeper -- a replacement to her murdered predecessor -- and current obsession. When Tok seduces her -- in between knocking off gangsters in a Bill Clinton mask -- he forces O out of his seclusion and into a confrontation with his rival. Meanwhile, Interpol, lead by Inspector Lee (Simon Yam of Bullet in the Head fame), is hot on their trail. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Lau, Takashi Sorimachi, (more)
Leung Ka Yan's action thriller Cold War stars Simon Yam as a hitman. Having become a hired killer in order to find out the identity of his wife's murderers, Ka Kui (Yam) learns that his victims are not who he thought they were. After becoming aware that the organization has conned him, and has put out a contract on his life, Ka Kui teams up with a waitress in order to save his life and learn the truth. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Yam, Christy Chung, (more)
Veteran Hong Kong director Johnnie To spins this wild, kinetic crime thriller. Following a failed assassination attempt on his life, crime boss Lung (Ko Hung), instructs his henchman Frank (Simon Yam) to find the villain behind the plot. Frank soon hires a quintet of hired guns to guard the boss, including the laconic Curtis (Anthony Wong), the flinty Roy (Francis Ng) and his protégé Shin (Jackie Lui), the haggard Mike (Roy Cheung), and firearms expert and peanut enthusiast James (Lam Suet). The group manages to thwart three attempts on the old man's life -- one from a sniper, a second in a shopping mall, and the third in an old warehouse -- until they figure out that rival crime boss Fat Chung (Wong Tin-lan) had order the hit. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, (more)
Directed by Andrew Lau, The Legend of Speed follows drag-racer Sky (Ekin Cheng), who gets into some rather serious trouble when one of his rivals tries his darndest to destroy him. Hoping to seek the wisdom of his father (another legendary racer), Sky sets off for Thailand. This film also features Cecilia Cheung, Simon Yam, Patrick Tam, and Moses Chan. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
A hit man fears that he may be going back to jail for a crime he didn't commit in this action thriller from Hong Kong. Hired killer Don Lee (Eric Moo) has just been released from prison after serving 12 years for murder. Two of Don's old friends, Max (Louis Koo) and Chan (Simon Yam) offer him a business proposition: they want him to assassinate a prominent politician who is on the campaign trail. Don, eager to get out of the business, turns down the offer, but when the would-be target turns up dead anyway, Don finds himself the target of a murder investigation by the police -- and some private undercover work by Max and Chan. The Suspect was directed by acclaimed Hong Kong auteur Ringo Lam. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
