Andy Lau Movies
Andy Lau is a veteran performer in Hong Kong's action cinema. His work has spanned Hong Kong's many genres, from comedies, to martial arts pictures, to gangster movies. Most of his major roles have been in popular mainstream fare, but one of Lau's better performances was a supporting role in the critically acclaimed film, God of Gamblers (1989).~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
Hong Kong director Johnny Mak (Long Arm of the Law) helmed this drama detailing triad links to Taiwanese politics, with a several real-life political parallels. In 1995, a corrupt official (Li Li-chun) positions wealthy mob kingpin Chou (Tony Leung Kar-fai) as a candidate in upcoming elections. Aggressive cop Fang (Andy Lay) raids one of Chou's clubs, but Chou gets off without a conviction. However, Chou is no longer a nominee after Fang exposes his illegal tie to government construction contracts. Chou then becomes an independent candidate, proclaiming revenge on all his betrayers. Action scenes include wild gunplay in the Shihlin night marketplace and cabdrivers' riot that brings Taipei traffic to a standstill. The film's original title, Hei Jin, translates literally as "black gold," colors indicating the underworld. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Lau, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, (more)
Not to be mistaken for the movie in which a smirking Bruce Willis saves the world, this film, directed by Gordon Chan, is a rare example of a Hong Kong sci-fi thriller. The film opens with a noted scientist bursting into flames in a church belfry at the exact moment that a number of satellites fail. Dr. Ken Tak (Andy Lau), a renowned computer scientist, soon learns that two of his colleagues, who met with similarly grizzly ends, were approached by a shadowy organization called the Brotherhood of Technology. Before their untimely deaths, Tak and the two dead scientists were working on a revolutionary computer system called VOD, which would effectively put the internet providers, video game companies, and film studios out of business. While the police suspect agents in the entertainment industry behind the killings, Tak's suspicions run more towards the supernatural. His theories are confirmed when Adele (Michelle Reis), Tak's long-dead girlfriend, suddenly shows up at his doorstep. When Tak's investigation leads him to Prague, he learns that the Earth's end is indeed nigh. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Lau, Anthony Wong, (more)
Gangsters abound in this lively, romantic crime drama that is set in Shanghai during WW II. The tale of Taiwanese patriot Hsu Wen-Chiang begins as he is washed up on a beach near Shanghai. He is taken in by Ting Lik, a kindly beggar who is desperately in love with Feng Ching-Ching, the daughter of a prominent gangster. It isn't long before Ting Lik successfully rises through the underworld ranks to become one of the city's most powerful gangsters. Hsu is beside him all the way and uses his own power to get revenge against those who tried to have him killed much earlier. The film's later focus is on the exploits of Feng who long ago had a relationship with Hsu when he was on the lam in northern China. Back in the present, Hsu and Feng meet again by chance and they resume their affair until Hsu learns that Feng's father is one of his enemies and kills him. Poor Feng goes mad with grief. Ting finds out and swears revenge upon Hsu. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This Hong Kong action film from director Andrew Lau details the activities of a Special Duty Unit (SDU, the local equivalent of a SWAT team) and was designed to capitalize on the success of Gordon Chan's 1994 blockbuster The Final Option. Indeed, the film's Chinese title positions it as a direct sequel, although it is entirely unrelated. The film begins as some gun-toting arms dealers lay waste to a SDU, necessitating a number of new recruits to be put through the grueling two-week training regimen commanded by Eagle (Roy Cheung). Much of the film focuses on Tung Tung (Daniel Chan), who was on police patrol but signed up for a SDU after his partner was viciously murdered by a Vietnamese hitman. Julian Cheung co-stars as Coolman, another recruit who bears a special animosity toward Tung Tung, the secret reason for which is revealed to him by his parents. The first half of the film concentrates on the training period, with the new SDU team members getting a chance to apply what they learned in the rousing second half, in which they are sent to a desert island for three days, during which they encounter some sadistic Vietnamese arms dealers. Naturally, among their number is the man who killed Tung Tung's partner, allowing him a chance for revenge. Dion Lam choreographed the impressive action sequences, and while the film has been criticized for its portrayal of Vietnamese detainees held in camps, it is at least bold enough to tackle the subject. Karen Mok co-stars with Jerry Lam and Chu Win-tong, while Asian action devotees will recognize Herman Yau and Blackie Ko in smaller roles. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Derek Yee Tung-sing remakes Jacob Cheung's Goodbye Hero with this tale about an aging stuntman and motorcycle racer. Joe's (Andy Lau Tak-wah) formerly stellar career is languishing with a suspended license. Worse, he hates his father and is bored by his timid, dull girlfriend, Yee (Gigi Leung Wing-kei). Some young hotshot named David Kwan (David Wu Tai-wai), who has joined his father's racing team, is threatening to top him on the racing circuit. With new license in hand, Joe gets into an ugly accident that lands him in the hospital for a very long time. There, Joe re-evaluates his life and realizes what is really important to him. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Following up on his two-fisted Hong Kong action thriller Full Contact, ace director Ringo Lam spins this hard-boiled revenge drama. After the murder of his parents and only sister at the hands of the villianous gun-running billionaire Ray Lui (Paul Chun Pui) in 1975, crack jet pilot Yan (Andy Lau Ling-tung) vows revenge. Pairing up with Shang (David Chiang Da-wei) -- a Cambodian born CIA operative -- Yan ventures to Thailand, where he soon becomes romantically entangled with Liu's mistress Mona (Rosamund Kwan). Afterwards, events send him to San Francisco where he falls for Liu's beautiful, innocent daughter Crystal (Jacqueline We). Soon Yan finds himself included in Liu inner circle, accompanying the gangster to the secret hideout of a Cambodian autocrat. Yan places a beacon in the dictator's bunker so that the CIA can locate and destroy it with a surprise air strike. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Yee's highly lauded and sentimental tearjerker swept the 1993 Hong Kong Film Awards and was warmly embraced by audiences due to its well-developed characters and exceptional performances. Anita Yuen stands out as Min, an ebullient young woman who came from a street-singing family and now lives in a broken-down apartment house. Her upstairs neighbor is Kit (Lau Ching-wan), an aspiring songwriter who has just broken up with his fiancée, a successful singer (Carina Lau). Kit knows that his perky downstairs neighbor has the charisma and talent necessary to become a star herself; he is re-energized by the prospect of shepherding her career and begins falling in love with her. Unfortunately, Min's childhood bone cancer -- which had been in complete remission for a decade -- returns and she soon finds her declining health sapping most of her excitement for both life and her career. Kit devotes himself entirely to getting Min back on her feet, setting the stage for the obligatory weepy denouement. Despite its "Disease of the Week" story line, Yee (who also wrote the screenplay) never allows his film to become trite or maudlin, and his strong cast (notably Yuen and Lau, Hong Kong's Best Actress and Actor winners of 1993 for their performances) never overplay the material. Paul Chun and Petrina Fung took home awards in the supporting categories, ably backed up by Carrie Ng, Sylvia Chang, and Jamie Luk. Herman Yau appears in a cameo. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Lau, Carina Liu, (more)
Jackie Chan returns in one of his greatest roles in this action-comedy sequel to his 1978 Hong Kong blockbuster Drunken Master. Wong Fei Hong (Chan) is a young master of the martial art of "drunken boxing," in which fighters use alcohol to blind themselves to pain and release the angry brawler within; with the right amount of drinks under his belt, Hong can become a furious one-man army. Hong accompanies his father (Ti Lung) on a voyage to China, where they purchase a precious supply of ginseng. When Hong discovers thugs stealing from their luggage, he leaps into action to get their belongings back. Instead, he winds up with a box of valuable Chinese artifacts, which criminals are hoping to smuggle to England at a tremendous profit. Hong sets out to fight the gangsters and give the artifacts back to their rightful owners, but while his stepmother (Anita Mui) encourages him to use his drunken boxing skills, his father feels his boozy antics bring shame to the family. Jackie Chan brought some of his most elaborate stunt work to Drunken Master 2, including a remarkable fight on a bed of hot coals; Chan also directed part of the film, after Lau Kar Leung was fired after a number of disagreements with his star. Six years after it became a box office hit in Asia, Drunken Master 2 earned a theatrical release in the United States; the film was re-titled Legend Of The Drunken Master (in part because the original Drunken Master never had a proper theatrical release in America), re-edited, and dubbed into English, with a new score by Michael Wandmacher. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Ti Lung, (more)
In this martial arts-adventure, three warriors who are gifted with swords -- Smiling Sam (Andy Lau), Big Knife (Elvis Tsui), and Samurai (Brigitte Lin) -- are en route to Central China for a tournament where their skills are to be put to the test. A villain who has disguised himself as Smiling Sam has killed one of the children of the royal family, and now the famous sword fighter is a wanted man. Knowing he's innocent of the crime, Smiling Sam's friends try to keep him (and themselves) one step ahead of the law while the try to determine the true identity of the murderer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Hong Kong filmmaker Lau Kar-leung followed up the outstanding Drunken Master II by directing this mostly unrelated martial arts comedy which still manages to garner a few laughs despite its dubious reputation and the absence of Jackie Chan. In Chan's place is comedian Willie Chi as Wong Fei-hong, who is assigned -- along with his partner, Wong Kei-ying (Adam Cheng) -- to protect a Manchu princess named Sum Yu (Michelle Lee). Princess Yu is being hunted both by the malefic White Lotus Cult (actually run by white people in this spoof) and by nationalists loyal to Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Fei-hong receives additional help from a wine merchant, Uncle Yan (played by the film's director), who instructs him in special martial arts techniques. Unfortunately, the Manchu leaders fall in with the White Lotus Cult and relinquish Princess Yu to them to be ritually sacrificed, causing Fei-hong to undertake a daring rescue mission. Simon Yam appears as a gay villain aboard a bus, and the supporting cast also includes such familiar genre veterans as Andy Lau, Gordon Lau, and William Ho. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Although Andy Lau was indeed one of the stars of the 1989 hit Casino Raiders, his participation in this unrelated sequel was more of an attempt by Hong Kong filmmaker Johnny To to capitalize on Lau's successful pairing with Jacqueline Wu in the previous year's A Moment of Romance. Lau stars as Chicken Feet, a skilled card player who works cons for crippled gambling legend Fan (Lau Siu-ming). Fan was confined to a wheelchair while attempting to escape the villainous James (Kelvin Wong), a turncoat employee whom he had once trusted. James and Fan are each looking for a pair of jade stones, which channel the power of the god of gamblers when united. With a big gambling tournament coming up, James finally kills Fan and kidnaps the daughter of Fan's former pupil Kit (Wang Chieh) to keep him out of the tournament. Kit had given up gambling anyway, but cuts off his hand in order to prove his seriousness and get back his daughter. Chicken Feet still thirsts for revenge on James, and his girlfriend Lin (Jacqueline Wu) discovers one of the jade stones. James has been watching, however, and sends his men after her. Lin is killed, Chicken Feet loses his sight, and all of this sets up one of those bizarre events so typical of Asian crime films in which the blind Chicken Feet and the one-handed Fan take on James in the gambling tournament for a 15,000,000-dollar prize, revenge, and the reclamation of their honor. Needless to say, such a contest of honor cannot rely on deus ex machina, and Chicken Feet discards one of the jade stones in order to whip James by himself. Monica Chan, Tien Feng, and a young Anthony Wong co-star. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Tong (Ekin Cheng) is an up-and-coming member of a gang of outlaws who is well-respected among his peers for his intelligence and sense of fairness. One of Tong's cohorts, Ha, is accused of killing a man who was having an affair with his wife. Tong persuades his attorney to defend Ha, and they prevail in court. When Tong is then betrayed by the man who was once his leader in the gang, Ha decides it's his duty to get revenge against the man who wronged his friend. Return to a Better Tomorrow also features Andy Lau, Chingmy Yau, and Michael Wong. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
This Hong Kong kung fu adventure, directed by Sammo Hung, tells the story of Fei, a fisherman (Andy Lau), and Yen Ling, a prince (Kenny Bee). When Yen Ling is betrayed by his own brother, the two form a friendship. Fei is sent to retrieve the prince's fiancee, Yueh (Anita Mui), but falls in love with her instead. Fei's friend, a killer whale, rounds off the cast of characters in this action-filled fantasy. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
David Lai and Corey Yuen team up again for this name-only sequel to their 1991 box-office hit. Ching-yan (Andy Lau) along with his adventuring buddies, Tim and Doc, are searching for the mythical Snowy Mountain where the beautiful Ice Woman resides. They venture to a bizarro world at the bottom of the ocean, which for whatever reason looks like a set from a Western. There, they garner the unwanted attention of a love-starved casino dealer who falls utterly in love with Ching-yan. Later, the trio discovers a chunk of legendary "Virgin Ice" which has the power to give eternal life. Their success proves to be short-lived as they are forced to fight back a host of ghoulies lead by the Devil King. Fortunately, the Ice Woman (Rosamund Kwan) steps in to help. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
This thriller stars Hong Kong actor Andy Lau as Wah, the getaway driver in a robbery attempt. When the heist goes bad, the gang takes a girl named Jojo (Wu Chien-lien) for their hostage. After they finally evade capture, the gang plans to kill her. Only Wah is against this plan and escapes with Jojo. The two go on the run from the criminals as well as the cops and realize that their only remaining option is to fight back against their pursuers. Although another film was marketed as Moment of Romance 2, and also stars Wu Chien-lien, it is not an actual sequel to this film. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
This blend of comedy and historical adventure from Hong Kong stars Stephen Chiau as a trusted advisor of the emperor, while Cheung Man plays the leader of a sect out to stop the imperial forces. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1992
David Lai and Corey Yuen spins this unusual -- for Hong Kong cinema -- sci-fi flick inspired in part by Japanese manga. Set in the near future, notorious assassin Silver Fox (Aaron Kwok) is out to avenge his master who was blinded by cop May-chun (Anita Mui). Fox's first attempt manages to kill May's underling Koo, but she herself manages to escape while partially blinding Fox along the way. May-chun goes into hiding leaving her duties to Ching-lan (Andy Lau), who is utterly in love with her. When Ching-lan decides to seek her out, he inadvertently angers the fearsome Pet Lady (Carina Lau). When he does find her, he learns that she has been poisoned by Silver Fox. He takes May-chuan to Pet Lady hoping for a cure. Yet she spurns him, refusing to help even though he crawled through broken glass at her request. All seems lost when Silver Fox attacks once more. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Acclaimed Hong Kong director Ann Hui spins this crime drama about Chinese immigrants struggling to get ahead in Japan. Ben (Andy Lau) is a Chinese student with a fiery temper who is making a go at working as a tour guide. One day he meets fellow student Meng Tieh-lan (Cherie Chung). He immediately falls for her but she is simply not interested. When Tieh-lan's visit sponsor starts demanding physical favors in return, she returns into the arms of a yakuza named Asano, who is not only wanted by the cops but also by his fellow gangsters. When his former comrades do nab him, he gives Tieh-lan a tape and tells her to give it to Ishikawa (Yasuaki Kurota), the boss to a rival gang. The tape contains evidence that Asano's boss double-crossed and then killed Ishikawa's boss in a drug deal years ago. With no one else to turn to, Tieh-lan gets Ben to help her drop off the tape and flee Japan. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Lau, Cherie Chung, (more)
Wong Jing spins this over-the-top action spectacular about Interpol agent Lui Tai (Alan Tam Wing-lun) assigned to protect Tibetan holy man the Daka Lama (yes, you read that right). Upon his arrival in Singapore, the spiritual leader is attacked by "The Order of the Death," a fanatical Red Army splinter group sporting flight attendant uniforms. In the melee, the Daka Lama and the beloved girlfriend of notorious crime lord Brother Bee (Andy Lau Tak-wah) is wounded. Complicating matters, both victims possess the same insanely rare blood-type P. The Red Army immediately sets out to kill all five potential blood donors. Lui, however, manages to catch up with one, Fatty (Eric Tsang Chi-wai), before getting whacked. What follows is one of the most hair-raising trips to the doctors in recent memory. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
TVB network's five most popular male idols all star together on the silver screen in this critically panned crime thriller. The film centers around a quartet of young police detectives -- Chi-ming (Andy Lau Tak-wah), Tau-pi (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), Bong (Felix Wong Yat-wah), and Wai (Miu Kiu-wai) -- who are in hot pursuit after notorious drug kingpin Fong (Kenneth Tong Chun-yip). During a bust, another officer named Lam (Leung Kar-yan) catches the criminal but lets him get away because he realizes that Fong is his relative. Meanwhile, Chi-ming, Tau-pi, and the gang steal a billion dollars from Fong's safe instead of admitting it as police evidence. Not only does their sudden spending splurge soon threaten to unmask their misdeed, but Fong, who's still at large and hungry for revenge, is threatening to tell all. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Andy Lau was nominated for Best Actor in the 1991 Hong Kong Film Awards for his work in this drama about the life of legendary police detective Lee Rock. Also stars Yau Chimgmy and Cheung Man. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Following up on his debut As Tears Go By, master filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai directs this dark, brooding tale about identity and unrequited love. Set in 1960, the film center of the young, boyishly handsome Yuddy (Leslie Cheung), who learns from the drunken ex-prostitute who raised him that she is not his real mother. Hoping to hold onto him, she refuses to divulge the name of his real birth mother. The revelation shakes Yuddy to his very core, unleashing a cascade of conflicting emotions. Two women have the bad luck to fall for Yuddy. One is a quiet lass who works at a sport arena named Su Lizhen (Maggie Cheung), while the other is a glitzy showgirl named Mimi (Carina Lau). Perhaps due to his unresolved Oedipal issues, he passively lets the two compete for him, unable or unwilling to make a choice. As Lizhen slowly confides her frustration to a cop named Tide (Andy Lau), he falls for her. The same is true for Yuddy's friend Zeb (Jacky Cheung), who falls for Mimi. Later, Yuddy learns of his birth mother's whereabouts and heads out to the Philippines. This film won a armful of trophies at the Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Director, Best Actor for Leslie Cheung, and Best Picture. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, (more)
- 1991
Hong Kong superstar comedian Stephen Chiau stars in this wild and woolly yarn directed by Jing Wong. Jing Koo (Chiau) is the master of the practical joke and demands hefty fees to ply his trade on unsuspecting victims. Jing's latest client is the shady Macky Kam (Waise Lee Chi-hung) who wants Jing to trick his co-worker, Chi Man-kit (Andy Lau Tak-wah), into believing that the trickster is the guy's long lost brother. Macky's aim in this joke is to break up Man-kit's relationship with his comely girlfriend, Lucy (Rosamund Kwan Chi-lam), hoping that he can have her for himself. The trick proves to be wildly successful; not only does Lucy dump Man-kit, but the guy and his father lose their jobs. Jing feels terrible about the whole thing and resolves to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, Jing also has to contend with a new rival jokester who goes by the moniker "the Ultimate Expert." ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
