Ning Jing Movies
A top celebrity cop finds his ability to solve a series of kidnappings and white collar crimes sidelined by the grief he harbors for his long-missing girlfriend in this dramatic Hong Kong action entry from director Benny Chan. Ever since Suen Sui-yan (Aaron Kwok)'s girlfriend went missing without a trace ten years ago, everything just seemed to fall apart for the high profile policeman who could once do no wrong. These days Suen is investigating a lucrative money laundering scheme, but upon being assigned the task of escorting a crooked accountant named Hung (Patrick Chow) to the Hong Kong airport, his luck takes an even darker turn when an assassin's bullet kills his unfortunate charge. Suen's suspicions that something is amiss are soon confirmed when a barrister acting on behalf of powerful businessman Yiu (Lo Ka-leung) denies that his client played any part in the killing and Yiu's assets are freed-up since the potential police witness has been permanently silenced, and before long the suspicious suit is struggling to pay off a sizable debt to the triads. Soon after triad boss Jim (Lau Siu-ming) admits to a fondness for Yiu's pop-star son Yiu Ha (Tommy Yuen), the adolescent singing sensation is suddenly kidnapped. Now, as Suen struggles to make a connection between all the events and reveal the identity of the mysterious assassin, the resemblance between Barrister To (Ekin Chang)'s beautiful wife Amy (Angelica Lee) and Suen's own long-missing girlfriend fast begins to cloud the determined cop's head and complicate the case. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aaron Kwok, Daniel Wu, (more)
A conflicted bodyguard is forced to choose between going with his instincts or accepting the fact that the one he loves may be responsible for a lucrative money-laundering scheme in director Marco Mak's tense crime drama. Billie and Connie are bank investors desperate to recover 200 million dollars in missing laundered bills. With time quickly running out and no place left to turn, the desperate pair hires a team of seasoned bodyguards that coincidently includes Connie's ex-lover Nick. Though at first Nick thinks that Billy may be both the brains behind the well-executed scheme as well as the man behind the increasingly frequent attempts on Connie's life, a startling revelation soon has him suspecting that it may in fact be Connie who masterminded the plan. As the clock ticks down and the assassins close in, Nick is forced to make a pressured decision that may cost Connie her life if he's wrong. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
In this tense thriller, Ma Shan (Wen Jiang) is a Chinese police detective who awakes one morning after a night of heavy drinking at his sister's wedding reception to discover that his gun has been stolen. Since only police officers are allowed to carry firearms, Ma Shan is alarmed about the deadly possibilities of the theft, and he sets out to find his weapon; however, the memories of Ma Shan's friends are as hazy as his own regarding the wedding, and no one can tell who drove him home. The situation comes to a head when Ma Shan's former girlfriend arrives in town for a visit and is soon found shot dead with the bullets matching those used in his gun. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Chinese Odyssey 2002, produced by Wong Kar-Wai, is writer-director Jeff Lau's energetic parody of Chinese kung fu epics, with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in. Chang Chen (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) plays the Emperor, who, desperate for the free-spirited life of a wanderer, tries to escape from the royal palace with his sister, the Princess (Faye Wong, little seen since starring in Wong's Chungking Express). He's caught and returned to his angry mother by the royal guards, but the Princess, disguised as a man, manages to escape. Meanwhile, King Bully (Tony Leung, who also starred in Chungking Express) has returned to his hometown, where he is widely despised for his bullying ways, to run a restaurant with his tomboy sister, Phoenix (Vicki Zhao of Shaolin Soccer). They have a very close relationship. In fact, King Bully mistakenly believes that he can read his sister's mind. When the Princess arrives in town, King Bully finds himself drawn to her, but, believing she's a man, decides that his attraction is some kind of empathy with Phoenix. King Bully and the Princess spend a night eating and drinking together. In the morning, the Princess leaves. King Bully, determined that the Princess will marry Phoenix, vows to bring the charismatic young "man" back. She does return, but soon realizes that the royal guards are following her. Meanwhile, the Emperor convinces his mother to let him leave the palace to go look for the Princess. By the time he gets to town, the Princess has been carted off by the royal guards, with King Bully in hot pursuit. He's immediately attracted to Phoenix. More confusion ensues. Chinese Odyssey 2002 had its U.S. premiere at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. The film was awarded Best Film, and Faye Wong Best Actress, by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Faye Wong, (more)
- 2000
A popular Chinese folk tale gets a big-screen makeover in this animated feature. Sanshengmu (voice of Xu Fan) is a goddess who falls in love with a mortal man and leaves the heavens for earth with her magical lotus lantern in tow. Several years later, Sanshengmu's older brother Er Lang (voice of Jiang Wen), still furious at his sister's impropriety, finds her, captures her, and hides her deep inside Mt. Hua. But Sanshengmu now has a young son, and when he discovers what has happened to his mother, he sets out to find the Monkey King (voice of Chen Peisi), whose magical powers could set Sanshengmu free. But will the young boy prove worthy in the eyes of the Monkey King? Bao Lian Deng was a massive box-office success in its native China; the soundtrack features several original songs from pop singer CoCo Lee. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Feng Xiaoning directs his WWII epic. American pilot Owen Paul Kersey) crashes on a mountain behind enemy lines and is discovered by Chinese guerrillas. They nurse him back to health, and eventually he falls in love with the fierce An Jie (Ning Jing). Soon the two lovers are battling the Japanese troops. This film was the official Chinese submission for the 2000 Academy Awards. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ning Jing, Paul Kersey, (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
Very much a celebration of Chinese solidarity in the face of the return of Hong Kong to their control, this costume drama begins at the turn of the century as a virginal Chinese girl flees via a raging river from being sacrificed in a religious ceremony. When she emerges, she is in Tibet where she becomes part of a local community. At the same time, a Scottish explorer and his British interpreter enter the same area and are saved from execution by a Tibetan horseman who takes them back to his tribe. Following the Scotsman's departure, the interpreter (who decides he prefers village life to that of his fellow colonialists) begins falling for the beautiful daughter of the headman, but she wants the horseman. Unfortunately, he is interested in the Chinese girl. Trouble and much bloodshed occurs after the wicked Scotsman returns with British troops in hopes of colonizing Tibet. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
- R
In this Asian love story two men battle it out with fire crackers for the hand of a woman. The story is set in a remote village on northern China's Yellow River, circa 1911. Niu Bao is a handsome wandering painter whom the Cai family contracts to decorate its huge mansion on the other side of the river. The Cai family are the major fireworks makers in northern China. The family is now run by Chunzhi, a 19-year old woman who wears men's clothing. The feisty artist falls for her immediately. He ends up being beaten by Man Dihong, the foreman who also wants to woo the powerful young girl. Niu Bao leaves town, but later slips back to sleep with Chunzhi. In the end, Man Dihong and Niu Bao have a showdown, each demonstrating their skill with live fireworks. The bold Niu Bao even risks his family jewels as a last resort. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This Chinese film which chronicles the rites-of-passage of a group of adolescent men is based on Wang Shuo's 1991 novella and includes additional autobiographical anecdotes from writer/director Jiang Wen. The film is set in summertime Peking during the early '70s. The boys live in a military school compound. When not skipping their classes, they are getting into fights with rival groups and girl watching. Much of the story focuses upon group leader Liu Yiku and Monkey Ma (who is based on Jiang Wen). Liu Yiku is having a sexual relationship with the free-wheeling Yu Beipei who is interested in Monkey Ma. Monkey Ma is too interested in the older gal, Mi Lan to notice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
