Ronny Yu Movies
Although he ultimately produced scores of Asian martial arts classics -- and broke the bank at the American box office with several visually decadent slasher pictures -- Ronny Yu began life by confronting and surmounting difficult obstacles. Born Ronny Yan-Tai Yu in Hong Kong, China, c. 1950, Yu contracted polio as a small boy. Bed-bound and largely immobile, Yu developed a rich, elegant, sensorial imaginative capacity, to which he credits much of his later success behind the camera. Saddled with a practical and conservative Chinese family, Yu followed his parents' wishes by earning an MBA from Ohio University, later returning to mainland China. Meanwhile, Philip Chan, a police officer friend of Yu's who moonlighted as an aspiring actor and screenwriter, sensed Yu's inborn directorial ability and suggested that they co-helm a crime thriller script he had authored, The Servant. On set, Yu immediately grasped filmmaking basics and used the experience to hone his craft. The effort paid off; The Servant became the summer box-office hit of 1979 in China and gave Yu a permanent niche in the Chinese film industry.Project after project followed (1981's The Postman Fights Back, 1983's The Trail, 1984's The Occupant, 1986's Legacy of Rage), and Yu racked up one success after another. His most ambitious outing arrived in 1993. The Bride With White Hair, one of the most expensive and lavish features produced in China up through that time, capitalized on the success of 1987's A Chinese Ghost Story as a romantic, supernatural fantasy epic. Yu co-adapted the script with several others, from a two-volume 1954 Chinese novel; it tells of the star-crossed love between a Wu-Tang Clan warrior and a female counterpart who saves him from a pack of ravenous animals. The summer release did incredible business in both Hong Kong and international markets; a sequel emerged that same year, also directed by Yu. 1995's The Phantom Lover, a melodrama that Yu loosely adapted from The Phantom of the Opera, dazzled audiences equally.
In the late '90s, Hollywood beckoned, and invited Yu to revitalize the then-sagging Child's Play series (with 1998's Bride of Chucky) and the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th series (with 2003's Freddy vs. Jason). The latter raked in such a healthy profit that its gross surpassed the profits of all the Elm Street and Friday movies combined -- an astonishing accomplishment, given the bankability of the individual films.
In 2006, Yu returned to martial arts pictures for the Jet Li-starrer Fearless. A historical biopic, it features Li as the legendary Huo Yuanjia, who became the most infamous martial arts master in China at the turn of the 20th century. Rogue Pictures released Fearless in January 2006 in China and in late September of the same year in the U.S. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Fearless opens in Shanghai, China, circa 1910, when wushu master Huo Yuanjia (martial arts superstar Jet Li) prepares to battle one Japanese opponent, Tanaka (Shidou Nakamura), and three American opponents (Anthony de Longis, Jean-Claude Leuyer, and Brandon Rhea) in a massive tournament. The picture then cuts back to Huo's boyhood in the city of Tianjin, in North China, circa 1880, when his father forbids him from engaging in martial-arts training. He must therefore slip off and train covertly. Around 1900, Huo -- then in his twenties -- continues to fight in tournaments. His determination is such that his entire life begins to revolve around championships, and the prospect of becoming the top-ranked fighter in Tianjin turns into a die-hard obsession, despite the repeated warnings of his best friend, Nong (Dong Yong), to cut back. Huo ignores these admonitions, then turns conceited and ultimately refuses to hear an additional word of caution, until his arrogance leads to the death of a fighter and Nong's decision to abandon him as a friend. Driven into exile, Huo journeys to southeastern Asia, where he works alongside rice farmers and divests himself of conceit, then gently touches the spirit of a blind girl. When he finally returns to Tianjin, he has transformed, internally, into a different person altogether. A huge hit in Hong Kong when originally released into theaters in 2006, Fearless was often touted as Jet Li's final film in the wushu school of martial arts. The picture is based on the real-life story of Huo Yuanjia, founder of the Jingwu school of martial arts. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Rumored and anticipated for years, the two biggest icons of the slasher genre finally meet in Freddy Vs. Jason, the eighth entry in the Nightmare on Elm Street saga and the 11th film in the Friday the 13th series, though with Jason X taking place in the future, it should be noted that the events of this film take place after the ninth film Jason Goes to Hell. And it is hell where Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund) and Jason Voorhees (Ken Kirzinger, donning the hockey mask for the first time in a controversial snub against series veteran Kane Hodder) finally become acquainted. Banished there for eternity, Freddy devises a plan to manipulate Jason into continuing his work, hacking up the teenagers of Elm Street. All goes well at first until Jason realizes he's been duped by "the dream master" and is none too pleased. Coaxed by surviving teenagers Will (Jason Ritter), Lori (Monica Keena), and Kia (Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland), Jason and Freddy descend upon Crystal Lake for a mano a mano battle royal. Helmed by Hong Kong director Ronny Yu (Bride of Chucky, The Bride With the White Hair), Freddy Vs. Jason features the director of the first Friday film, Sean S. Cunningham serving as producer. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger, (more)
First-time screenwriter Stelios Pavlou enjoyed a major success with this script that he wrote while working in an English liquor store by sending it to actor Samuel L. Jackson, who signed on for one of the lead roles. Jackson is Elmo McElroy, a kilt-wearing, golf club-wielding Los Angeles native who has invented an illegal drug formula that he hopes will provide him with a last major score of 20 million dollars before he retires from a life of crime. He travels to Liverpool, England, where he hopes to find a buyer for his creation among the denizens of the city's rave scene, but his plans go awry when those who are in on the deal start turning up dead. Elmo's only protector is a chain-smoking, Yank-hating local hood named Felix De Souza (Robert Carlyle), who reluctantly partners with the violence-prone American to finish the deal and cash in, sparking a gang war between Elmo's vengeful one-time employer, The Lizard (Meat Loaf); Felix's boss, Durant (Ricky Tomlinson); crooked cop Virgil Kane (Sean Pertwee); a beautiful assassin, who also happens to be Felix's ex-girlfriend (Emily Mortimer); and an offbeat, yoga-practicing nightclub owner and mobster named Iki (Rhys Ifans). For its U.S. release, the title of The 51st State was changed to Formula 51. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, (more)
This horror film, directed by Ronnie Yu, marked a return (after an eight-year lapse) of Chucky and the Child's Play series that began in 1988. At the moment of his death, the spirit of former serial killer Charles Lee Ray was mystically relocated in the doll Chucky (voice of Brad Dourif). After being salvaged from the evidence morgue by his ex-girlfriend Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) and a corrupt cop, Chucky is put back in action when Tiffany sews his pieces back together and works a voodoo spell to revive his sinister self. Tiffany sees her dreams of marriage aren't working out, so she keeps Chucky locked away. After an escape, Chucky electrocutes Tiffany by pushing a radio into the bathtub, delivering a chant that puts the spirit of Tiffany into a bridal figurine. Chucky's amulet can switch them back into their original human forms, so they head for New Jersey where the amulet is buried -- putting cops in motion, along with car-crash carnage. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Tilly, Katherine Heigl, (more)
A children's fantasy adventure, Warriors of Virtue features five superheroes, dressed in kangaroo-like outfits, who are known as the Roos. The Roos inhabit a magical underground world which is threatened by the foppish villain Komodo (Angus Macfayden), who is mining a life-enhancing mineral from the River of Life. Ryan Jeffers (Mario Yedidia) arrives in this fantasy world unexpectedly, after taking a dare from a bully to walk across a whirlpool in an underground sewer. Ryan has with him an ancient Chinese manuscript, the Tao, given to him by a mystical cook in a Chinese restaurant, Ming (Dennis Dun), before Ryan was suddenly sucked into the nether world. The Tao contains secrets coveted both by Komodo and by Master Chung (Chao-Li Chi), an ancient guru who rules the Roos' kingdom. But only Ryan can read the manuscript. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angus MacFadyen, Mario Yedidia, (more)
The third filmization of the Chinese version of Phantom of the Opera, this Hong Kong operatic melodrama is set in the fatastical burned-out husk of a once glorious opera house located near 1937 Beijing. The tale begins as a homeless theater troupe arrives there and listens to the caretaker describe the theater's demise. It happened a decade ago when the enemies of former famous actor Song Danping, who built the place, torched it for revenge after his affair with the already betrothed Yunyan was discovered. Unfortunately, Song was in the theater at the time and his body was never found. The troupe makes the theater their new home and as they rehearse, actress Wei Quing makes the acquaintance of a ghostly figure who turns out to be Song. He shares with her his plan for vengeance. Those plans involve a brilliant restaging of Romeo and Juliet designed to help him bring back his beloved Yunyan and restore the sanity she lost after he was murdered. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Action director Tony Leung Siu-hung helms this Lethal Weapon inspired action yarn starring Jade Leung Ching as Jade Leung, a tough-as-nails Hong Kong cop with strong suicidal tendencies. Sent to Singapore as a part of a joint police effort with the FBI to bust a weapons ring, Jade is paired up with fellow cop Ellen (Anita Lee Yuen-wah). Together they manage to recruit the head gangster's lawyer as an informant. Later after dodging a hail of bullets and battling some truly fearsome Indonesian thugs -- including one with a bionic hand -- Jade first finds herself lost in the jungle and then hanging from a helicopter. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jade Leung, Anita Lee, (more)
Editor and co-writer of the original, David Wu Tai-wai directs this follow-up to the wildly popular romantic fantasy-horror masterwork Bride With White Hair. The last film ended with Cho (Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing), following the defeat of the Wu Tang clan, waiting atop the snowy peak of mount Shing for a rare flower to blossom and heal his ailing lover. Ni-chang (Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia), feeling spurned by Cho thanks to the evil doings of a pair of Siamese twins in the previous movie, has morphed into a demon with a head of white poisonous hair. She creates a cult dedicated to her hatred of men, vowing to kill every member of the Eight Clans of Chung Yuan. Among them is Fung Chun-kit (Sunny Chan Kam-hung), Cho's cousin who is in love with the beautiful Lyre (Joey Maan Yee-man). On their wedding night, Ni-chang, Ling (Christy Chung), and a number of other disciplines crash the party and kidnap the bride. Back in their lair, they slowly turn Lyre against her would-be groom. ~ 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
- Starring:
- Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, (more)
- 1991
- R
Shot in both English and Asian versions, this peculiar Hong Kong action film from Ronny Yu boasts the somewhat overstated Chinese title of Sky-Shattering Meeting Between Dragon and Tiger. While not exactly sky-shattering, the film was shot in several countries (the Netherlands, France, and Thailand) and features some fine combat scenes choreographed by Chris Lee. Russell Wong and Steven Vincent star as Bobby and Danny Chow, triad gangsters who hope to expand their business outside of Amsterdam's Chinatown area. Their Uncle Chi (Ku Feng) is against the idea, but is soon murdered by part of an international triumvirate including Vietnamese thug Phong (William Ho), Italian mafioso Scalia (Billy Drago), and Turkish crimelord Amead (Cahit Olmez). Bobby and Danny then head to Thailand to secure a source for opium, only to be tracked by Bobby's girlfriend, Anne (Lisa Schrage), who is in reality an undercover agent hoping to bring their activities to an end. Yu makes a brief cameo appearance, while Alex Man and Andy Lau appear in the Hong Kong version of the film, along with Shing Fui-on and Carina Lau in extended flashbacks to Bobby and Danny's childhood. The Asian version runs 104 minutes, while the English one runs 98 but also includes footage not found in the Asian cut. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- 1989
A Hui (Michael Hui) is a petty, stingy man who owns a restaurant specializing in a certain kind of duck dish. Although the restaurant is filthy, thanks in part to the unspeakable habits of its chef, and the service is awful, the food is good, and he has a loyal clientele. That is, until an international chain opens up a fried chicken restaurant across the street, and hires his admittedly incompetent headwaiter to parade back and forth across the street in a chicken costume to advertise the place. Now his customers are departing in droves. In this comedy, this classic tightwad is forced to take notice and meet the challenge of his competition. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Hui, Ricky Hui, (more)
While she is best known for such American features as China O'Brien, martial-arts expert Cynthia Rothrock also made a number of action films in Hong Kong, such as this Golden Harvest production directed and choreographed by veteran actor Mang Hoi. Rothrock stars as Cindy, an American FBI agent who travels to Hong Kong to arrest a criminal newspaper editor, Ronny Dak (filmmaker Ronny Yu) who prints counterfeit money using the newspaper's presses (a dubious notion, but storyline is not the film's strong point). While investigating Dak's crimes, Cindy hooks up with her old friend Judy Yu (Elizabeth Lee), an undercover cop (Chin Siu-ho), and an intrepid journalist (director Mang Hoi) to battle his kung-fu henchmen. The fight scenes -- many occurring high in the air -- are quite impressive, although a long break in the production schedule resulted in a number of continuity errors. Roy Chiao co-stars with Keith Kwan, Wu Ma, and Billy Chow. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
The first film role of the late Brandon Lee, this Hong Kong thriller is the story of Brandon (Lee), a hard-working young man who has an unfortunate friendship with Michael (Michael Wong), a gangster who has his eye on Brandon's girlfriend May (Regina Kent). Michael frames Brandon for the murder of one of his rivals, and Brandon is imprisoned. Many years later, Brandon's reunion with May and their son is cut short when Michael kidnaps the mother and child. Brandon must rescue his family and exact revenge on Michael. Although Lee had yet to reach the level of acting demonstrated in The Crow and Rapid Fire, this 1986 film provides a better showcase for his martial arts abilities than his later American films; each film would progressively de-emphasize his skills. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brandon Lee, Michael Wong, (more)
- 1983
Ronny Yu Yan-tai, who would be later known for his 1993 classic Bride With White Hair, spins this atmospheric horror flick set in 1922 Xiang Xi. When an iterate musician runs afoul of the local warlord, the potentate has him killed and hires a band of opium runners to dispatch with the body. While travelling through a swamp, the corpse falls into a sulfuric spring. Not wanting to deal with the stink of the spring, the lackeys decide to leave the body there. The combination of bog juice and sulfur revives the dead man, sending him on a vengeful killing spree. After knocking off a bunch of pigs, he kills everyone related to his death. The culprits retaliate with Taoist charms, virgin urine, and a host of other tricks of the zombie-killing trade. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricky Hui
Chow Yun-Fat stars in this historical drama from Hong Kong. During the Republican era in China, warlords divided the nation and fighting was fierce. But while many of the best soldiers could command a handsome fee for their services, the greatest warrior of them all was a man who would not fight for money. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Inspector Chow had the effrontery to put the mobster and drug kingpin Lau in prison. While in prison, Lau plots his revenge. The first part of it requires that he have Inspector Chow murdered. The second part requires that he make a big splash in the criminal world by stealing an Italian diamond shipment. He sets his scheme underway, recruiting a corruptible cop, Pang, by tricking him into running up a huge gambling debt. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chu Kong, Chan Wai-Man, (more)
