Clifton Ko Movies
- 2001
This drama, based on actual events, concerns a young woman who is trying to come to terms with the news that she has contracted a fatal illness. Fion (Josie Ho) has received the news that her test for the HIV virus has come back positive, and she's understandably distraught. A hospital volunteer (Sylvia Chang) comes by to comfort the woman, and begins telling her stories about her son Chi Mo (Chris Lee), a hemophiliac who fought a brave struggle against AIDS (which he contracted through a blood transfusion) before dying at the age of 23. Chi Mo's courage and good humor prove to be an inspiration to Fion as she learns to live with HIV. Dei Gau Tin Cheung was adapted from two books written by the real Chi Mo, who succumbed to AIDS in 1996. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvia Chang, Chris Lee, (more)
- 1999
In this action-packed comedy from Hong Kong, Mr. Wong is a notorious con man who has bilked hundred of people out of their savings over the course of a long career, but no one has been able to put him behind bars. Pauline Wu (Joey Yung) is a woman with a personal grudge against Wong, since he took her father for a large sum of money many years ago; determined to get revenge, she teams up with another con artist, Ferrari (Nicholas Tse), who has reasons of his own for wanting to get even with Wong. However, while Ferrari would like to pull one over on the master, he's also trying to stay one step ahead of an inept police detective (Karl Maka) who is hot on his trail. Ferrari and Pauline enlist the services of strong-arm man Sze (So Yau-Pang), and together they plot a major scam that will nail both Wong and his daughter. But is it possible Wong could be turning the tables on them?
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Hui, Nicholas Tse, (more)
- 1997
Unusual for its straightforward handling of gay themes and homophobia, this commercially-oriented Hong Kong comedy-drama chronicles the upcoming wedding of marriage counselor Law Kar-Sing. But Law is gay and the thought of marrying Chuen, to whom he has been informally betrothed for many years, strikes him as pointless. This does not stop his parents from continuing to pressure him. Chuen too is becoming more aggressive with her demands. But marriage is only a part of Law's problems. Other pressures come from his career, his secret lover Sonny, and an aunt with a few secrets of her own. There is also Law's friend professor Kim who is dying of AIDS. Kim's family does not want his long-time lover to attend the funeral for fear of public scandal. This prompts Sonny to take a radical stance and only makes matters worse. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Following up on his wildly popular gender bending comedy He's a Woman, She's a Man, Peter Chan Ho-sun picks up immediately where the original left off. Chi-wing (Anita Yuen Wing-yee) -- a young lass who dressed like a man to grab the attention of songwriter Sam (Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing) -- has attained fame as a male pop singer and the undying love of Sam, who had a little trouble with his attraction to Chi-wing until he learned she was she. Their life seems perfect until Chi-wing wins a major award for best new male singer. While at the podium, she gushes "Sam, I love you" which fuels all sorts of rumors that Sam and Chi-wing are gay lovers. Meanwhile, androgynous pop star Yim-mui (played by androgynous pop star Anita Mui Yim-fong) returns to Canto-pop scene after a ten year absence and inserts herself into the lives of both Sam and Chi-wing. Soon, Chi-wing finds herself attracted to the charismatic star. ~ Jonathan Crow, 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)
- 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)
- 1983
In a typical Hong Kong comedy-thriller about mistaken identity, a billionaire is out to murder a judge but his plans for the assassination are tape-recorded by a detective. Before the detective is found and killed, he is able to slip the incriminating tape into the purse of a young female journalist. At that point, a mainland Chinese searching for his father in Hong Kong is mistaken for the son of the billionaire, and so when the reporter meets him, some misunderstanding ensues. After extensive games of hide-and-seek, the forces of evil are sapped and the bad guys, as always, get what they deserve. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
