Karen Mok Movies
A rare case of an actress who is confident enough in her skills to sacrifice beauty for laughs, talented Hong Kong screen beauty Karen Mok has charmed audiences with off-kilter roles in such features as Wong Kar-Wai's arty crime drama Fallen Angels and Stephen Chow's deliciously bizarre comedy God of Cookery. Born Karen Morris in Hong Kong, Mok is multilingual, speaking fluent English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, and French. Her initial bid for stardom revolved not around her acting talent -- but her vocal skills. Following studies at Italy's United World College, the aspiring vocalist recorded numerous demo tapes, eventually landing a coveted role in the London stage production of Miss Saigon. Though the prospect of a Hong Kong recording contract may have momentarily lured Mok away from the stage, a lukewarm reception and middling sales soon prompted the aspiring singer to return to England to complete her education at the University of London. In the years that followed, Mok opted to pursue a career in film, and an early role opposite Chow in A Chinese Odyssey almost instantaneously cemented her reputation as a talent to watch for. Her performance as a shrieking, fright-wig-wearing punker in the following year's Fallen Angels earned Mok a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. With her role as Stephen Chow's unsightly muse in God of Cookery, Mok was equally effective and unrecognizable -- her seemingly hypnotic lazy eye compelling audiences into involuntary fits of laughter. A hilarious performance in Viva Erotica was quick to follow, with subsequent work in the action film Black Mask offering international exposure.By this point, Mok's professional relationship with actor/filmmaker Chow was only warming up, and subsequent roles in Lawyer Lawyer and The King of Comedy not only offered filmgoers abundant laughs -- but soon fueled rumors of romantic involvement between the two frequent collaborators. The pair was reluctant to comment on the state of their private lives, though, with any rumors of heated romance remaining unfounded. A quick cameo in Chow's comedy smash Shaolin Soccer got hearty laughs from those who caught her all-too-brief appearance, and a role as a beautiful cop with razor sharp instinct found the bullets flying fast in the sci-fi-flavored action thriller So Close. After facing off against some malevolent supernatural forces in Haunted Office, Mok took yet another hilarious turn onscreen with an extended cameo as a drunken bride (Jackie Chan's drunken bride no less) in the cotton-candy vampire flick The Twins Effect (released stateside as The Vampire Effect). Her status as a serious player in the Hong Kong film industry was later evidenced with a role in the all-star adventure comedy Around the World in 80 Days (2004). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2008
Award-winning martial arts director Stanley Tong (Rumble in the Bronx, Supercop) joins forces with director Anthony Szeto to deliver this computer animated martial arts adventure for the entire family. A fantastical version of the Chinese ancient Middle Kingdom, Dragonblade: The Beginning traces the adventures of an adolescent martial arts enthusiast named Lang. Lang dreams of one day coming into possession of the legendary Dragon Blade sword, a mythical weapon of supreme power that can only be wielded by one who is noble in spirit and pure at heart. When a powerful monster appears to threaten the people of Lang's village, however, the heroic teen realizes his only hope of saving the day is to track down the Dragon Blade - and fast. Perhaps with a little help from a plucky fairy bird named Bali-Ba, Lang will finally be able to realize his dream of tracking down the elusive sword and unleashing his inner hero. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2007
A poor film projectionist witnesses forty years of Hong Kong history in this socially themed family melodrama starring acclaimed Hong Kong character Anthony Wong. Idealistic leftist Zuo Kong (Wong) has been threading the projector since the 1960s, and from the riots of those early years through the prosperity of the 1970s, the growth of the 1980s, and the tensions of the 1990s, there's little he hasn't seen from his cramped perch behind the bulb. A modest family man whose political beliefs at times seem in direct conflict with his home life, Kong struggles to remain a loving husband and a good father as he gradually shrinks away from doctrinaire idealism. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Wong, Ronald Cheng, (more)
- 2005
Wait Til You're Older concerns a twelve year old boy having a difficult time in his life. The boy has a severely strained relationship with his father, who he suspects might have had something to do with mother's death. The boy has a rich and detailed fantasy life in which he imagines himself as an adult. One day he meets a scientist who provides a secret elixir that grants the boy's wish. The catch is that he grows ten years every day. The grown boy learns important lessons about life during his time as an adult. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Jules Verne's famous novel of a daring man who takes on the greatest voyage in history is once again adapted for the big screen in this adventure comedy. In 1872, eccentric British inventor Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) has come up with any number of gadgets to help people travel with greater speed and ease, and is working on plans for a flying machine. In a lively discussion with Lord Kelvin (Jim Broadbent), the head of the Royal Academy of Science, Fogg states his belief that it's possible for someone to travel around the globe in a mere 80 days. Kelvin, who makes no secret of his belief that Fogg is a crackpot, challenges him to do just that, and adds a wager to the bargain to make things interesting: if Fogg can't circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, he'll give up inventing forever. Fogg takes the challenge, and teams up with his manservant, a former acrobat named Passepartout (Jackie Chan), and lovely navigator Monique (Cécile De France) to make the epic voyage -- traveling by train, boat, balloon, horseback, or any other means at their disposal. However, Fogg and his companions are dogged along the way by the false accusation that the inventor took part in a bank robbery, forcing him to not only complete the journey but clear his name as well. Like the blockbuster 1956 adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days, this film features a number of major stars in cameo appearances and supporting roles as Fogg makes his way around the globe, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Cleese, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Kathy Bates, Sammo Hung, Rob Schneider, Richard Branson, Mark Addy, and more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, (more)
A high tech corporation is sent into turmoil when hackers demanding ransom break into their internal computer system with a powerful and apparently unstoppable virus. A mysterious, beautiful young woman who calls herself "Computer Angel" quickly saves the business. But when she requests a meeting with the company's shady CEO, he gets more than he bargained for. Lynn (Shu Qi of The Transporter) turns out to be a highly skilled assassin, who knocks off the CEO with the help of her rambunctious younger sister Sue (Zhao Wei of Shaolin Soccer). Sue uses a powerful computer program developed by the girls' murdered father, which uses satellites to tap into closed-circuit security cameras, enabling her to see where all the cannon fodder/guards are and direct Lynn's escape, while taking over the security team's audio system to pipe in a cover of the Carpenters' "(They Long to Be) Close to You." But things soon get dicey for Lynn and Sue. A brilliant, sexy forensics expert, Hong (Karen Mok, who also sings the film's theme song), is hot on their trail, and the creeps who hired the girls decide to cover their tracks by killing them. Complicating matters further, Lynn reunites with an old flame and contemplates giving up the business and settling down, much to Sue's chagrin. So Close was filmed in Mandarin, necessitating (reportedly poor) dubbing into Cantonese for the Hong Kong release. The film was directed by Corey Yuen, who made his Hollywood debut with The Transporter. Before that, he was best known for his fight choreography on many of Jet Li's films. So Close was shown at the Subway Cinema's 2003 New York Asian Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- 2001
An innocent is drawn into a life of crime by a woman's wiles in this drama from China. Wang (Jiang Wu) is a naive truck driver who while hauling freight one day gives a ride to Molly (Karen Mok), a pretty girl who works at a beauty salon. What Wang doesn't know is that Molly's boyfriend is a professional thief. Through his generosity he is drawn into a heist planned by Molly and her significant other; when the crime attracts the attention of the police, Wang finds himself sinking deeper into hot water. All the Way also features Chang Cheng-yu, Guan Yue, and Qi Zhi. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
One of Hong Kong's top screen comics, Stephen Chow, co-wrote, co-directed, and headlines this three-way blend of sports, action, and humor. Sing (Stephen Chow) is a modern-day Shaolin monk who has become a master of traditional fighting skills, and is renowned for his "leg of steel." However, these days there isn't much call for a Shaolin warrior, and Sing and his fellow monks earn their keep working menial jobs until a soccer coach gets the bright idea of translating Sing's talent for kicking to the soccer field. Sing becomes the lynchpin of a team playing in a tournament that could net them a $1 million purse, but even with Sing's footwork, beating the steroid-fueled champions will be no easy task. Shaolin Soccer also features Man Tat Ng and Vicki Zhao. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stephen Chow, Zhao Wei, (more)
- 2000
Stand-up comedian Eric Kot directs and stars in this drama about love and artistic originality. Produced by auteur Wong Kar-wai, the film shares both a similar sumptuous look, thanks to Christopher Doyle's brilliant cinematography, and a familiar bifurcated narrative as that of the Hong Kong master. The first half concerns Kot who, after getting the green light from Wong, is trying to direct a film called First Love in which a love-smitten garbage collector (Asian heartthrob and Wong veteran Takeshi Kaneshiro) follows around cute young kleptomaniacal somnambulist (Lee Wai-wai). Realizing that he is too influenced by Wong, he quits that production and starts another film called After Love, in which a spurned girlfriend (Karen Mok) stalks her ex-boyfriend. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Takeshi Kaneshiro, Eric Kot, (more)
Wan Tin-sau (Stephen Chiau) is a struggling actor who has devoted his life to the study of his craft, but unfortunately the moment he gets on a film set, disaster usually strikes. However, Wan refuses to give up, and is busy trying to stage a traditional Asian drama, "Thunderstorm," when he gets an unusual job offer. Piu-piu (Cecilia Cheung) is a bar girl who wants to be able to feign a greater interest in her customers, so she hires Wan to give her private acting lessons. The longer they work together, the more they find they have in common, and before long Wan and Piu-Piu are in love. Heikek Chi Wong was a major box-office success in Hong Kong, where it was the top money maker for the Chinese New Year season; Jackie Chan makes a cameo appearance as an extra, and Stephen Chiau in turn had a bit part in Chan's romantic comedy Bolei Cheun, released at the same time. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stephen Chow, Karen Mok, (more)
- 1999
- NR
Renowned actor/director Sylvia Chang created this richly layered film about memory, regret, and lost love. The film opens as successful filmmaker Cheryl (Chang) discusses a script idea about young love with a young screenwriter. She pitches a story about Shao-rou (Gigi Leung) a beautiful though clumsy schoolgirl who falls for a quiet, guitar-playing young man named Ho-chuen (Takeshi Kaneshiro). They develop a deep and enduring passion in spite of meddling parents, jealous friends, and their own naïveté. Yet when they are caught stealing away for a night at far-off Lantau Island, they face the wrath of Shao-rou's mother. The strain proves too much and they tearfully break up. Shao-rou's best friend Li (Karen Mok) responds to the news by offering both emotional sympathy and a bungled attempt at physical affection. The already distraught teen flees, ending their long friendship. Later, when Hou-chuen and Shao-rou meet by happenstance in Tokyo, they quickly realize that time has not altered their feelings for each other. She has become a successful fashion designer while he has become a less-than-successful tour guide. The twist comes when we learn not just that Hou-chuen is married but also who his wife turned out to be. As Cheryl describes the affair, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell if she is outlining a storyline or reminiscing about an old flame. Leung and Kaneshiro, one of Asia's biggest heartthrobs, give sensitive and charismatic performances as both awkward teenagers and world-weary adults. Chang employs a complex narrative structure of flashbacks and flashforwards to tell this beautifully wrought, quietly touching story. This film was screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Takeshi Kaneshiro, Gigi Leung, (more)
- 1997
In this anthology film, Hong-Kong actress Sandra Ng portrays five different characters in four segments: a hooker who stalks her own therapist; a mute immigrant wife who must continually pacify her brutish husband; a timid invalid whose twin sister is a businesswoman and cross-dresser; and a mundane housewife who uses a TV game-show as a forum to dwell on her personal life. Shown at the 1998 Vancouver Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- 1997
Roy Chueng Yiu Yeung was so memorable as a sociopathic supervillian in the previous installment of Young and Dangerous that he returns in this outing as a different character. With the don of the Hung Hing group, Chiang Tin-sung, dead, his underlings journey to Thailand to persuade his brother, Tin-yeung (Alex Man Chi-leung), to helm the crime syndicate. Meanwhile, an ambition young gangster, Lui Yiu-yeung (Chueng), from the rival Tung Sing group tries to make a play for the big time by killing his boss and dumping the body in Ho-nam's (Dior Cheng Yee-kin) turf. At the same time, a rift in Ho-nam's long-time friendship with Chicken (Jordan Chan Siu-chun) when the former fails to support the latter's bid for a higher level position. This feud eventually spills over into a showdown with Lui, after that gangster's henchmen kills one of Ho-nam and Chicken's friends. The critically panned Young and Dangerous 5 and Young and Dangerous: the Prequel follow up on this installment. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cheng Yee-kin, Jordan Chan, (more)
- 1997
Though perhaps best appreciated by those familiar with Banana Yoshimoto's 1988 cult novel, this film version offers a quirky love story that will still please the uninitiated. The story is presented from the viewpoint of Louie, a young hairstylist who attends the funeral of the grandmother of his friend Aggie. The old woman had been one of Louie's customers. Aggie wants to be a chef, but following the loss of her grandmother, the only family she had left, the girl falls into a deep funk, finding comfort only in the aromas found in her refrigerator. Louie lives at home with his mother Emma, a nightclub owner. Hoping to lift Aggie's spirits, he invites her to spend the night. There she learns that Louie's mother was once his father. It seems that following the death of Louie's real mother, his father was so bereaved that he underwent a sex change operation following his wife's death in order to keep her memory alive. This intrigues Aggie and she and Emma become close friends. She then moves in with Louie and Emma. Louie and Aggie soon become best friends, something that angers Louie's girlfriend Jenny. Still the threesome are happy in their new friendship until one of Emma's beaus learns of her past and reacts violently. Thrown into an emotional tailspin, Louie runs off to the Sichuan province on the Mainland, leaving only Aggie to save him from ruination. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Superstar comedian Stephen Chow continues with his streak of successful of his courtroom-themed comedies, like Justice, My Foot and Hail to the Judge, with this yarn set in 1899. Chan (Chiau) is not only a brilliant lawyer, but also a master practical joker known far and wide as "The King of Brain-trusters." His perennial victim is the long-suffering Foon (Eric Kot), his clueless assistant. After 20 years of putting up with Chan's japing, Foon one day freaks out and flees to Hong Kong, which has just been placed under British law. When Foon winds up with a murder rap, Chan ventures down to the colony looking to free him. Unfortunately, Chan's buffoonery soon lands him jail for contempt of court and his wife, Wu-man (Karen Mok Man-wai) is forced to take over. Yau Chingmy, Bowie Lam, and Law Kar-ying also appear. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- 1997
Following up on his acclaimed work Full Throttle, Derek Yee Tung-sing made the unusual move of not only collaborating with movie industry unknown Law Chi-leung, but also to make category III sex comedy. After a string of commercial flops, art house director Sing (Leslie Cheung) resorts to making a softcore film called Viva Erotica in order to pay the bills. His gangster producer, Chung (Law Kar-ying), insists that Sing cast his beautiful, though talentless, girlfriend Mango (Shu Qi) in the lead role. As Sing wrestles with his desire to make this film something more than a cheap porn flick, he also wrestles with his desire for Miss Mango. Meanwhile, Sing's girlfriend, May (Karen Mok), is having a fit over her boyfriend's new project and his sudden lack of passion at home. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- 1997
Patrick Leung (Beyond Hypothermia, Somebody Up There Likes Me) directed this Hong Kong action-crime comedy-drama, centered on plainclothes crimebuster Rod Lin (Leo Ku), who narrates. Lin is the son of a cop who died after he was shot by a thug (John Lone). Crime has overtaken the Mongkok district, where Lin falls for prostitute Fanny Chan (Charlie Young), who loves Killer (Allen Moo). Other characters include Shirley (Karen Mok), abused by her boyfriend, and divorced womanizer LuLu Tong (Eric Tsang). John Woo appears in a cameo as a policeman. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Leo Ku, Charlie Yeung, (more)
Martial arts star Jet Li donned a black hat and mask to portray a comic book superhero in this pulp action tale that gets the full-blown Hong Kong treatment from choreographer Yuen Wo Ping, who later designed the fight scenes for The Matrix (1999). Li stars as Tsui Chik, leader of Squad 701, an elite commando team of genetically-engineered super-soldiers. When the unit was deemed a failure because of mental instability in some of the test subjects, the project was disbanded. Tsui now lives quietly in Hong Kong, masquerading as a shy librarian whose only friend is a cop (Lau Ching Wan). When some drug lords begin turning up dead, Tsui dons a black mask and hat to investigate the slayings and learns that his former Squad 701 comrades, led by psychotic Commander Hung (Patrick Lung), are plotting to take over the drug kingpin's illegal trade. Among their number is Tsui's ex-girlfriend Kaelin (Francoise Yip). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jet Li
- 1996
Hoping to cash in on the popularity of the Young and Dangerous series, Wong Jin produces and Billy Tang directs this yarn about Marble (Lee Lai-chun), Wan (Karen Mok), Fai Chick (Mariane Chan), and Little Star (Teresa Mak Kar-kei), a quartet of gangland street chicks working their turf around Causeway Bay. Marble has long been in love with their gang leader Brother One, and even spent a year in jail for him, taking a weapons rap. There Marble became enemies with the unfortunately named lass Aids (Lily Chung), who was One's former girlfriend. Soon Aids is out and looking to settle the score. Marble is saved by her friends and cowardly thug George (Francis Ng), but Aids vows revenge and is soon plotting more dastardly deeds with a sociopath named Lurcher (Ben Ng). ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 1996
Fans of the Iron Chef and kung-fu films may enjoy this flamboyant and outrageous comedy starring flamboyant Hong Kong funnyman Stephen Chiau. Shifting tones from surreal to hilarious and often combining both as the film progresses, its schizophrenic sensibilities and irreverent humor lend to its bizarre kung-fu film meets master chef film story line. Though the film parodies many standard elements and characterizations present in Hong Kong films, viewers need not be familiar with these staples to enjoy the film's absurd and razor sharp humor. Chiau plays the character of the overwhelmingly despicable and weasely God of Cookery to the hilt, gaining power-mad pleasure by humiliating and embarrassing any and all whose culinary skills he sees as lesser (or greater for that matter) than his own, until his inevitable fall from grace after a shady business deal. Playing the role of a pathetic has-been with equal zeal, Chiau actually manages to mold the previous monster into a sympathetic has-been, making his efforts to regain his rightful title an amusing and hilarious uphill battle. The final exhilarating culinary face-off -- in which he struggles against his former protégé turned backstabbing adversary -- must be seen to be believed, becoming a hyper-stylized battle in which egos flare and spatulas fly. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Andrew Lau Wai-keung spins this third installment of the popular Young and Dangerous series to hit the theaters in a year. The film opens with the hero Ho-nam (Dior Cheng Yee-kin) run afoul of Crow (Roy Chueng Yiu-yeung), the psychotic henchmen of Tung Sing clan boss Camel Lok (Michael Chan Wai-man). When Tung Sing opens a club next to a bar run by Ho-nam's Hung Hing group, trouble soon ensues. While in Europe, Hung Hing boss Chiang (Simon Yam Tat-wah) gets whacked and Ho-nam gets blamed for the death. Meanwhile, Crow kills his boss and uses the funeral to kill anyone who might challenge his claim to power. Meanwhile, Ho-nam's friend, Chicken (Jordan Chan Siu-chun), is allowed to return to Hung Hing after a prolonged stint in Taiwan; Ho-nam's girlfriend, Smartie (Gigi Lai Chi), who was sent into a coma during the first movie, regains consciousness; and Chicken falls in love with foul-mouthed lass Shuk-fan (Karen Mok). ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- 1995
- R
The second part of Hong Kong filmmaker Jeff Lau's extravagant visualization of the classic novel Xi You Ji (Journey to the West), this follow-up to the same year's A Chinese Odyssey, Part One -- Pandora's Box continues the fantasy-driven story of the introduction of Buddhism to China. This installment takes up where the original left off, with Joker (Stephen Chow) stranded five centuries in the past and falling for a Spider Web immortal called Lin Zixia (Athena Chu Yun), who is actually part of Buddha's lampwick-given flesh. The other part of the wick is Zixia's evil sister, Lin Qingxia (Ada Choi), who is just one of many enemies whom Joker must face and defeat in his efforts to change the past and save the dying Pak Jing-jing (Karen Mok), who was poisoned by the 30th Madam (Lam Kit Ying) in the first film. The film's most spectacular invention, other than its zombies, giant spiders, and so forth, is King Bull, who has an army of animal-headed mutant warriors and his own personal cadre of oversized bloodsucking fleas. Superbly choreographed by Ching Siu-tung, the film also contains a number of inside jokes, including several at the expense of Asian pinup queen Brigitte Lin (whose real name is Lin Ching-hsia, thus the sound-alike Lin Qingxia character) and a delightfully flamboyant production design by James Leung. Ng Man-tat co-stars with Law Kar-ying. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
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