Dennis Law Movies
- 2007
Notorious Untold Story director Herman Yau returns to terrify viewers with this supernaturally-charged tale concerning a Hong Kong policeman whose extramarital affair literally comes back to haunt him. Cheung Lok-man (Mark Cheng) is a hard-boiled CID detective who is better known as "Rockman" by his fellow law enforcers, and who previously entered into a heated tryst with sultry stripper Elli (Teng Tzu-hsuen) while in Thailand investigating a case involving both the Hong Kong and Thai underground syndicates. Unexpectedly summoned back to Hong Kong, Rockman promises Elli that he will return for her sometime in the not too distant future but ultimately fails to make good on his word. Three years later, Rockman is investigating a murder in Hong Kong when his son dies under mysterious circumstances and notorious fugitive Lam Chiu (Kenny Wong) murders a high-ranking policeman. Despite the fact that he was shot in the head by Rockman, Lam miraculously recovers from his would-be mortal wound and finds that he is no longer able to experience physical pain. As the local newspapers scramble to find a connection between the two cases, supernaturally perceptive detective Brother Sum (Lam Suet) begins to suspect that the lovelorn Elli may have placed a curse on detective Rockman after he failed to return to her in Thailand. At first Rockman is skeptical of this speculation, but when his grieving wife Kar-pi (Maggie Siu) begins suffering from a potent form of black magic known as Gong Tau he quickly seeks the assistance of renowned exorcist Master Clear Sea. Unfortunately the exorcism fails to take, causing the malevolent sorcerer who originally placed it to grow infinitely more powerful. Later, when Lam offers to remove the curse that hangs over Kar-pi if Rockman allows him to go free, it is revealed that the originator of the curse was Elli's guardian angel Lockman, and that the malevolent Gong Tau-practitioner is determined to make Rockman and his family suffer the worst torment imaginable. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Cheng, Maggie Shiu, (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
A young athlete desperate to support his girlfriend is inadvertently drawn into the dangerous world of underground fighting. As the oppressive greed and ruthless of the underground prizefighting circuit transform a once-naïve contender into a hardened fighting machine, this noble young warrior enters into a battle in which both his life, and his soul, are on the line. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wu Jing
Superstar action director Johnny To's Hong Kong gangster picture Triad Election (aka Election 2) revolves around Jimmy (Louis Koo), a second-tiered triad member vying aggressively for the position of godfather in the current election. He is restrained in his pursuits by the current mob boss, Lok (Simon Yam), who wants to hold on to his seat, despite the fact that his two years are up and he isn't officially eligible for reelection. This leads to a bloody, cutthroat, do-or-die battle of wills between the two men, carried out in some of the most astonishing set pieces ever constructed for an action opus, including a psychotic interrogation with knives and rabid dogs, a hide-and-seek battle at an outdoor café, and a shocking, ultraviolent denouement. To ads an additional level to the film by turning it into a scathing critique of the voraciousness encouraged by a laissez-faire economic system. Wong Tin-lam, Yao Yung, Lam Suet, Nick Cheung, Lam Ka-tung, and Mok Sing-lun co-star. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
A crime family flirts with democracy, leading to a fierce gangland battle in this stylish crime drama from Hong Kong director Johnnie To. With over 50,000 members, the Wo Shing Society is one of the largest and most powerful Triads in Hong Kong, and when the leadership committee needs a new head man, they decide to put the matter to a vote of their underlings. The two candidates are Lok (Simon Yam), a cool leader who doesn't rattle easily, and Big D (Tony Leung Kar-Fai), who has a short temper and is prone to violence. After Uncle Weng (Wong Tin-lam), an elderly and well-regarded member of the Triad, gives Lok his endorsement, he wins by a landslide, which does not sit well with Big D's uncertain temper. A ceremonial walking stick which is given to the Wo Shing Society's elected leader has disappeared, and Big D will stop at nothing to make sure it stays out of Lok's hands; meanwhile, the Hong Kong police are determined to bring down the Triad, and Big D ends up behind bars. The Wo Shing Society falls into chaos as in-fighting threatens to tear the Triad apart before the walking stick can be returned and Lok can be inaugurated as their new chief. Election (aka Hak Sewui) was a major box office success in Asia, and the story continued the following year in Election 2 (aka Hak se wui yi wo wai kwai). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Yam, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, (more)
A children's fantasy adventure, Warriors of Virtue features five superheroes, dressed in kangaroo-like outfits, who are known as the Roos. The Roos inhabit a magical underground world which is threatened by the foppish villain Komodo (Angus Macfayden), who is mining a life-enhancing mineral from the River of Life. Ryan Jeffers (Mario Yedidia) arrives in this fantasy world unexpectedly, after taking a dare from a bully to walk across a whirlpool in an underground sewer. Ryan has with him an ancient Chinese manuscript, the Tao, given to him by a mystical cook in a Chinese restaurant, Ming (Dennis Dun), before Ryan was suddenly sucked into the nether world. The Tao contains secrets coveted both by Komodo and by Master Chung (Chao-Li Chi), an ancient guru who rules the Roos' kingdom. But only Ryan can read the manuscript. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angus MacFadyen, Mario Yedidia, (more)
