John Chong Movies
- 2009
A hit man with his own way of doing things wonders if the tables are being turned on him in this intelligent thriller from Hong Kong director Soi Cheang. Ho Kwok-fai (Louis Koo) is an unusually talent hired killer known in criminal circles as the Brain. The Brain is a man who can pull off a hit without ever having to pull a gun; instead, he and his cronies (Lam Suet, Feng Tsui-fan and Michelle Ye) stage what he calls "choreographed accidents," in which they arrange for an event to take place that will look like a deadly act of fate to outsiders but is in fact a deliberate murder. The Brain senses there are feelings of anger and mistrust among his crew, and he's placed surveillance equipment in their office space to find out what they're saying when he isn't around. When a client named Wong (Chan Mong-wah) insists upon an especially complex "accident" to claim the life of his father, things don't go as expected; the Brain narrowly escapes death and one of his assistants is killed. Now the Brain has to find out if the hit that went wrong wasn't in fact an "accident" meant to assassinate him. Yi Gnoi (aka Accident) was an official selection at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2009
This Cantonese-language romantic serio-comedy features multihyphenate Andy Lau as playboy Sam Ching. Many regard Sam as one of the most eligible and desirable bachelors in Hong Kong, given his carefree attitude toward life's obstacles, remarkable intelligence, and vast fortune. Unfortunately, despite Sam's professional success, he suffers from a long and rocky history in his personal life that includes a lengthy series of dysfunctional relationships and three prior divorces. Life improves dramatically when a sassy young woman named Milan (Shu Qi) waltzes into his world and takes over emotionally; Sam falls in love at first glance when he spots her at a Macau casino. Unfortunately, her twin careers -- she works as a cabaret dancer and poker dealer -- mesh poorly with Sam's social status, especially given his high-profile image. The couple soon make headlines in all of the major newspapers, and their perceived incongruity leads Milan to undergo preparations as a society woman, Hong Kong's number one "It Girl." A complication arises when Sam grows concerned that Milan might actually be after his money; he asks the girl to sign a prenuptial agreement; she grows indignant and instantly leaves him. When he recognizes her sincerity and the depth of his love for her once and for all, he'll do anything to win her back. But it just may be too late. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Cordero, John Chiang, (more)
- 2008
Co-directors Felix Chong and Alan Mak jointly helm this relentlessly tense, heart-pounding thriller from Hong Kong, starring Eason Chan and Sammi Cheng. The premise concerns a policeman who must tread very carefully on both sides of the law when he is assigned to investigate the kidnapping of a young boy who just happens to be a triad boss's son - an assignment that effectively entails an allegiance between cops and crooks. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sammi Cheng, Eason Chan, (more)
Simon Yam and Kelly Lin star in director Johnnie To's tale of three professional pickpockets, one mysterious beauty, and the elusive key that brings them all together. It's title taken from a street slang term describing the unique dexterity needed to lift wallets and flutter away undetected, Sparrow opens as Kei and his three partners in crime gingerly fleece unsuspecting strangers on the overcrowded streets of Hong Kong. The money Kei makes from this low-level criminal endeavor is plenty enough to sustain his modest lifestyle, and being free from the restraints of a nine to five job he can spend his days aimlessly peddling through the streets on his bicycle and snapping photos on his Rolleiflex. One day, with his lens trained on the street as usual, Kei notices a gorgeous woman wander into frame. Instantly smitten, the felonious shutterbug strikes up a conversation and learns her name is Chun Lei, and that she seems to have a particularly mysterious past. Later, it becomes apparent that Chun Lei has purposefully targeted the Kei and his partners in hopes that they will help her obtain a very important key. But Chun Lei isn't the only one in search of this elusive key, because shortly thereafter a timid tycoon named Mr. Yen shows up with a suspiciously similar request. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A veteran of China's Civil War rails against modern bureaucracy in hopes of finally receiving recognition for his bravery and to honor the memory of his fallen comrades in director Feng Xiaogang's big-budget war drama. The year was 1948, and the fighting between the Nationalist KMT and the Communist PLA is raging. In a small, northeast China town, Captain Gu Zidi (Zhang Hanyu) leads the Ninth Company in a fierce skirmish against the a rapidly weakening KMT unit. His blood boiling over the death of a political officer in battle, Captain Gu vengefully kills a KMT soldier despite the fact that the leader and his unit have just surrendered. Imprisoned for a few short days as a sort-of token gesture, Captain Gu makes the acquaintance of imprisoned political officer Wang Juncun (Yuan Wenkang, who has just been accused of cowardice and will likely receive the death penalty. Later, when Captain Gu is ordered to take the Ninth out on a dangerous mission, he requests that Wang join the brigade in battle. Unfortunately for the majority of the squad, the KMT forces are much more substantial this time around, and though a few men claim to have heard the signal for retreat, Captain Gu commands them to stand their ground: In the aftermath of the slaughter, Captain Gu is the last man standing. Still, the valiant soldier stages a remarkable recovery, and goes on to save the life of North Korean Er Dou (Deng Chao) during a battle against the Americans and South Koreans. A few years later, Captain Gu enlists the aid of Er Dou and Wang's widow in regaining his honor, and ensuring that his fellow soldiers didn't die in vain. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zhang Hanyu, Yuan Wenkang, (more)
Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Johnny To produces this heartfelt comedy drama about an ageing fishmonger (pop singer Miriam Yeung) attempting to pay off her father's gambling debts and find true love. While the vast majority of seafood slingers are hardly marriage material, the appearance of a handsome rival known as Fishman (Eason Chan) leads the lonely woman to believe that there may be hope for romance yet. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A psychotic ex-policeman with a mysterious supernatural gift proves invaluable in the case of a missing police firearm and its vanished owner in this tense police thriller from co-directors Johnny To (Fulltime Killer) and Wai Ka-fai (Running on Karma). Bun is an outcast detective who always seems to crack the case despite having some rather serious personality flaws. When Bun slices off his ear and offers it up as a gift at a party staged to honor one of his superiors, he is promptly forced into early retirement. Subsequently withdrawn into his own world and tormented by the specters of his former vocation, Bun finds his unique ability to see the hidden personalities and inner demons of everyone he meets nearly driving him to insanity. As a policeman Bun's gift of second sight helped him to solve some of the department's most difficult cases, but now that the visions serve no purpose, they simply serve to erode his already fragile sense of reality. Yet despite Bun's bad reputation, ambitious inspector Ho (Andy On) still believes in him. Recently, Ho has been assigned the difficult case of a locating a missing policeman named Wong (Lee Kwok Lun), who disappeared after pursuing some suspects into the nearby mountains. While Bun is indeed eager to help out with the case, he soon finds his volatile personality clashing with the seven conflicting personalities of Wong's apparently schizophrenic partner Chi-wai (Lam Ka-tung). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lau Ching-Wan, Andy On, (more)
- 2007
A man trying to run away from a personal tragedy finds out the hard way how much one of his best friends has changed in this action drama. In 2003, Lau Ching-hei (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) and Bong (Takeshi Kaneshiro) are a pair of police detectives who are both partners and close pals. While Bong respects Lau's abilities as a detective, he's wary of his friend's uncertain temper, and he has enough problems of his own to deal with after the suicide of his long-time girlfriend. Three years later, Bong has left the force to become a private investigator and has developed a serious drinking problem, while Lau is one of the top detectives with the Hong Kong police and has married Susan (Xu Jinglei), a respected reporter. Susan and Lau approach Bong and ask him for help with a case -- Susan's father Chow (Yueh Hua) was murdered, and while the team investigating the crime has found two of the men responsible, a third culprit is still at large. Bong agrees to help, but what he and Susan don't know is that Lau is the missing man who helped kill Chow, and he's playing an elaborate game of cat and mouse with his fellow police officers as well as his best friend. Also featuring Shu Qi, Emme Wong and Chapman To, Seung Sing (aka Confession Of Pain) was directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak and written by Mak and Felix Chong, the same team responsible for the international hit Infernal Affairs. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, (more)
Three maestro Chinese action directors - Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark and Johnny To - co-helm the adventure saga Triangle. The film actually constitutes a film serial, divided into thirds, with each filmmaker responsible for one episode. Three drinking buddies, Fai, Sam and Mok are visited one dark and stormy night by a strange old man who dazzles them with the tale of an ancient treasure. The artifact in question - worth untold amounts of money - lies buried beneath an almost impenetrable government facility. The retrieval mission is theirs, if they wish to accept it, and if they can claim the treasure, they get to keep it. Indeed, the "loot" - a magnificent robe of interwoven golden strands, its monetary value inestimable - outstrips everyone's expectations. But in time, the friends' greed and selfishness begin to overshadow their considerations of loyalty, trust and friendship. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Law Wing-cheung's Asian-language drama 2 Become 1 explores the tribulations of a middle-class woman named Bing (Miriam Yeung). When we first see her, Bing's life is relatively tranquil and easy, with an office job and a cadre of female friends. But when she discovers a malignant lump in her breast, the ground trembles, and the world that she has come to lean on as dependable and reliable falls to pieces. One day at a time, Bing must struggle to keep her life and sanity in check, as she struggles to contend with her illness -- with the helping hands of an affable physician, V (Richie Jen), and teenage boy Sing (Justin Lo). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Miriam Yeung, Richie Jen, (more)
Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Johnny To returns to the characters of his international success The Mission (aka Chueng Fo) with this action-packed thriller. It's 1998, and the Portuguese colony of Macau, a city along the Southern coast of China, is about to be handed over to Chinese authorities under a long-standing agreement. As the people of Macau ponder how their new leaders will deal with the criminal underground that's long been part of the city's support system, a pair of hit men from Hong Kong arrive in town to execute a gangster who has turned his back on the syndicate to make a new life for his wife and children. While the Chinese syndicate want to be sure he doesn't share anything he learned while in their employ, two strong-arm men also arrive in Macau, determined to see to the former gangster's safety. Starring Nick Cheung, Simon Yam and Francis Ng, Exiled received its world premiere at the 2006 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, (more)
- 2006
A World Without Thieves director Feng Xiaogang shifts his focus from modern-day con artists to tenth century intrigue with this tale of internal turmoil in the age of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms starring Zhang Ziyi, Daniel Wu, and Ge You. Her empire on the verge of a massive revolution as storms begin to brew both within the royal court as well as in the outlying kingdoms, the entrancing Empress Wan (Zhang) gazes upon her stepson, Prince Wu Luan (Wu), with the eyes of a forbidden lover rather than a caring mother. When the emperor dies an unexpected death and his younger brother Li (Ge) ascends to the throne, Empress Wan marries the newly appointed sovereign as a means of both protecting her beloved Wu Luan and cementing her position within the royal court. When assassins dispatched by Emperor Li fail in their attempt to silence Wu Luan and his majesty subsequently announces a lavish banquet, Empress Wan and Wu Luan realize that the time has finally come for them to take action against the murderous despot. The film demonstrates tremendous influence by Shakespearean plays, specifically Hamlet and Macbeth. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, (more)
On the eve before the political handover of Macao to the Peoples' Republic of China, police officer Shing suffers a terrible career crisis: he has been involved in years of money laundering with Portuguese officials and is now facing extradition. Shing seeks comfort in the arms of a young woman, Yan, with whom he wants a one-night stand. Yan, on the other hand, has a different agenda; she confronts Shing with the unexpected news that she's his daughter. Shing didn't even know he had a daughter. And while Shing wants to carry on as a care-free bachelor, Yan has other ideas and, refusing to be shrugged off as an incidental accident, causes havoc in his everyday life -- she insists on moving into her father's apartment. Shing soon has to face up to the challenge of taking on personal and professional responsibility -- paternal responsibility for his daughter and professional responsibility for the money laundering he committed as an officer of the law. In the end, he decides to admit his crime, do his time, and plans to turn over a new leaf after prison for a life of responsibility with his daughter in Macao. ~ Heidi Philipsen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chapman To, Isabella Leong, (more)
Infernal Affairs powerhouse Andy Lau and Alan Mak bring the most popular manga in Japan screaming to life in this in this live-action look at the high-speed sport of "drifting" that shot straight to the top of the Hong Kong box office. Eighteen-year-old Takumi (Jay Chou) is never late for a tofu delivery, and though he speeds the tofu to its destinations with the velocity of a landlocked stealth plane, his true aspiration in life is to follow in the footsteps of his formerly fast-driving father (Anthony Wong) -- an ex-adrenaline junkie who eventually gave up the race track for the restaurant business. In his five years delivering meals from his father's restaurant Takumi has learned the streets of his hometown like the back of his hand, and he can take every corner with the needle planted firmly on the right. The trick to Takumi's amazing driving skills is a technique known as "drifting," and in a world where high-risk racing has spilled out of the tracks and onto the streets, this daring driver is about to become a legend. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Chou
Hero and Infernal Affairs star Tony Leung takes the led in cinematographer-turned-director Jingle Ma's action thriller about a Japanese National Security agent and a thief who find their plans for splitting a lucrative reward complicated by the appearance of an unanticipated adversary. Japanese National Security agent Lam (Tony Leung) and skilled thief JJ ($Qi Shu) may operate on opposing sides of the law, though their mutual love is all the excuse they need to enter into a tenuous, and dangerous, alliance. It seems that counterfeiters are making a mint by forging U.S. currency. The powers that be are not pleased, and now they're offering a $30,000,000 reward for anyone who turns in the plates used to produce the funny money. Lam and JJ are confident that they can recover the plates and retire on the reward money, though they didn't anticipate the appearance of scheming Embassy staffer Owen (Richie Jen). When Owen steals the plates and runs away to Korea, it's up to Lam and JJ to ensure that he doesn't profit from all of their hard work. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Qi Shu, (more)
Hong Kong-based filmmaker Johnny To directed this fast-moving action drama that explores the role of the media in current events. The Hong Kong police force takes a beating in the court of public opinion after their unsuccessful attempt to foil a high-stakes robbery is broadcast on live television. Determined to turn the tables, detectives on the force discover where the five criminals who masterminded the job are lying low, and they stage a major siege at the hideout. The hundreds of police officers have also armed themselves with cameras along with their guns as they turn the ambush into a media event. The thieves prove to be a difficult quarry to capture and they use their own video equipment to send pictures to the press at the same time, turning the shootout into a battle of images as well. Breaking News stars Kelly Chen, Richie Jen, and Nick Cheung. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richie Ren, Kelly Chen, (more)
Hong Kong action star Michelle Yeoh serves as both producer and leading lady for this bit of slam-bang adventure. By day, Lulu Wong (Yeoh) is a mild-mannered environmental activist, but when the going gets tough, she transforms herself into Silver Hawk, a battle-ready heroine who finds herself chasing after Alexander Wolfe (Luke Goss), a suave British rogue agent. Wolfe has abducted a brilliant Chinese scientist (Chen Daming) who has invented a new artificial intelligence technology that could have dramatic worldwide impact; Silver Hawk sets out to find Wolfe and his captive before he forces him to reveal his secrets, but matters become more complicated when the daughter of a powerful industrial tycoon also goes missing. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michelle Yeoh, Luke Goss, (more)
The prequel to Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's smash hit Infernal Affairs opens in 1991, with Inspector Wong (Anthony Wong) explaining the frustrations of police work to gangster Sam (Eric Tsang). He also expresses his desire to see the seemingly reasonable Sam take over he reins of the local triad from the current boss. When that boss is murdered, with no apparent heir, it seems that Hong Kong is going to explode in an all-out gang war. But the boss' bespectacled, soft-spoken, and well-mannered son, Hau (Francis Ng), unexpectedly takes charge, calmly and cleverly defusing the situation. Meanwhile, Yan (Shawn Yu, reprising his role as the younger version of Tony Leung's character in the first Infernal Affairs) is thrown out of the police academy for breaking the rules, and it's discovered that he's Hau's half-brother. Wong recruits him to work undercover in Hau's organization. Ming (Edison Chen playing the younger Andy Lau) is a corrupt cop secretly working for Sam. His progress up the ranks of the police force is swift, but his relationship with Sam is threatened when he finds himself falling in love with Sam's girlfriend, Mary (Carina Lau). For his part, as the handover of Hong Kong to China approaches, Hau plots to become involved in "legitimate" politics, and to avenge himself against those he believes responsible for his father's death. Chapman To reprises his role as the goofy Keung. Infernal Affairs II was selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center for inclusion in the 2004 New York Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, (more)
Sun Zhou's stylized Zhou Yu de Huoche (Zhou Yu's Train) is the story of a woman in love. Zhou Yu (Gong Li) and teacher Chen Ching (Tony Leung Kar-Fai) fall in love. After Ching gives Zhou a poem he wrote for her, she begins taking a train ride twice a week to his home in order to have sex with him. During her time on the train, she strikes up a relationship with a veterinarian (Sun Honglei), but she ends their time together when she learns that he spied on her during one of her visits with Ching. Gong Li has a second role as a another woman obsessed with Chen who is trying to ascertain the nature of his relationship with Zhou. This film was shown out of competition at the Berlin Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gong Li, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, (more)
Infernal Affairs III picks up where the first film left off. Ming (Andy Lau) is cleared of any charges involving Yan's (Tony Leung) death, and is eventually assigned to the Internal Affairs division. He discovers that another cop, Yeung (Leon Lai of Fallen Angels), quickly rising through the ranks of the police department, has a mysterious link to Shen (Chen Daoming of Hero), who was apparently Sam's (Eric Tsang) connection to the mainland. Ming strongly suspects that Yeung is another one of Sam's moles, and is determined to expose him, while keeping his own connection to Sam a secret. It's a tricky proposition because Yeung also seems to suspect Ming, and appears to have the same goal in mind. With the help of Dr. Lee (Kelly Chen), Yan's psychiatrist, Ming looks deeper into Yan's final days, and flashbacks explore the undercover cop's dealings with both Yeung and Shen. Eventually, Ming finds an incriminating tape of Sam conversing with his mole, and has a climactic confrontation with Yeung. Anthony Wong and Chapman To also reprise their roles from the first two films in flashbacks. Infernal Affairs III was shown, along with the rest of the trilogy, at the 2004 New York Film Festival, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Andy Lau, (more)
- 2003
- R
Hong Kong horror filmmaker Andrew Lau directs the 3-D slasher film The Park (also known as Chow Lok Yuen). After a little girl is killed in a Ferris wheel accident, an amusement park is forced to close down. Years later, a boy named Alan goes to the amusement park looking for ghosts. His brother Yen (Bo Bo Chan) and his friends go looking for him at the park, where they encounter all kinds of supernatural frights and opportunities for 3-D camera tricks. The Park was shown at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival as part of the midnight screenings. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bo Bo Chan, Derek Tsang, (more)
Hong Kong action specialist Wong Jing wrote the screenplay for the slam-bang Chiklo Dakgung (Naked Weapon). Madame M (Almen Wong) orchestrates the abduction of 40 different 13-year-old girls from around the world. She trains them as assassins, and in a few years, unleashes them on the world to do her bidding. The most potent of the group turn out to be gymnast Charlene Ching (Maggie Q), kickboxer Katt (Anya), and Jing (Jewel Lee). CIA agent Jack Chan (Daniel Wu) has stayed on the trail of the girls since their disappearance. When he finally catches up to Charlene, Jack is nearly done in by her alluring but deadly qualities. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Hong Kong filmmaker Sylvia Chang writes and directs the dramatic fantasy Seung Fei (Princess-D). Computer graphics designer Joker (Daniel Wu) meets a young woman named Ling (Angelica Lee) at a dance club. He convinces her to model for his latest project: a cybergirl called "Princess Digital." He eventally falls in love with her and learns about her troubled homelife With her dad (Jonathan Lee) in prison, Ling works and deals drugs in order to support her mother (Patricia Ha) and brother (Wong Yik-lam). She eventually meets Joker's father (Anthony Wong) and brother (Edison Chen). Seung Fei was shown at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Wu, Edison Chen, (more)
As Infernal Affairs opens, Ming (Andy Lau of Full-time Killer) is being initiated into the criminal underworld by triad boss Sam (Eric Tsang of The Accidental Spy), who ends his speech to his young charges by wishing them success in the police department. Ming enters the police academy, where he excels, but sees his classmate, Yan (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai of In the Mood for Love), expelled for "breaking the rules." It turns out that Yan wasn't actually drummed out of the force, but recruited by Superintendent Wong (Anthony Wong of Hard-Boiled) as an undercover operative. Just as Ming is achieving success in the police department while secretly working for Sam, Ming is gaining Sam's trust as a triad member, while reporting to Wong. Ten years later, both men, still undercover, have grown confused about their true identities, while their bosses, Sam and Wong, wage a battle of wits against each other. Each boss learns that the other has a mole working for him, and unwittingly entrusts the mole himself to ferret out the culprit. Ming and Yan scramble to expose one another's identity in an effort to save their own skins. Infernal Affairs was co-directed by Andrew Lau (who worked as a cinematographer on several of Wong Kar-Wai's films) and Alan Mak. Renowned cinematographer Christopher Doyle served as "Visual Consultant." The film was shown at New Directors/New Films in 2003. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Andy Lau, (more)
