Nansun Shi Movies
SPL power duo Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen re-team for this raucous action film about a loose-cannon cop on the trail of three drug-dealing brothers. Jun (Yen) is the kind of cop who always gets his man, but may set a whole city block ablaze in the process. Though his superiors are constantly on his case, Jun knows how to get the job done and never hesitates to innovate in times of crisis. Archer (Lui Leung Wai), Tony (Collin Chou), and Tiger (Xing Yu) are three dope slingers who supply the product for much of the local drug trade, and Jun is determined to take them down at all costs. Assisting Jun in his task is undercover cop Wilson (Louis Koo), a seasoned veteran capable of infiltrating the gang and gaining their trust. Though Wilson is at first successful in his mission, his cover is soon blown and a fierce battle leaves him unable to walk on his own. Fortunately for the good guys, Archer is captured in the violent fracas. While at first this seems like a major coup for law enforcement, the small victory takes a grim turn when vengeful brother Tiger vows to eliminate sole witness Wilson before the case ever goes to trial. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, (more)
SPL collaborators Donnie Yen and Wilson Yip join forces once again for this high-energy adaptation of Wong Yuk-Ling's popular manga Dragon and Tiger Heroes. The Dragon Tiger Gate is a Hong Kong martial arts dojo co-founded by the descendents of Dragon (Yen) and Tiger (Nicholas Tse). Separated as children, Tiger fights for the cause of good and Dragon goes to work for fearsome drug smuggler Ma Kun (Chen Kuan-tai). As the action gets under way, Tiger gets into a scrap with Ma Kun's gang and ends up in possession of the Lousha Plaque - a sacred icon of immense value to the powerful criminals. Though Ma Kun and Dragon allow Tiger to abscond with the Lousha Plaque for the time being, Dragon soon sets out to recover the object as nunchaku-spinning warrior Turbo (Shawn Yue) makes his presence known. As Tiger attempts to lure Dragon away from the dark side, the pair is forced to work together for the first time in years in order to defeat formidable Lousha Gang leader Shibumi (Yu Kang), whose penchant for one-on-one fights sets the stage for an explosive climax. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, (more)
Hong Kong legend Tsui Hark brings you this tale of high-kicking vampire action. A quartet of kung fu masters trained in the Taoist Mao Shan School of magic are on the hunt for zombie vampires in 19th century China. When their Master Jiang (Yu Rongguang) disappears in an intense fight with one of these nasties, Rain, Lightning, Thunder, and Wind set across the countryside for revenge as the Vampire King continues to terrorize the surrounding villages. Through their quest, our heroes discover love and treasure as the legion of the undead hop around them wrecking havoc in true Hong Kong vampire fashion. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Chang, Michael Chow Man-kin, (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)
Two men who have a great deal in common become friends, only to find themselves turned into enemies in this slam-bang action fest from Hong Kong. Tyler (Nicholas Tse) is a man trying to make a career in a rough section of Hong Kong. One night, after several drinks too many, he hooks up with Ah Jo (Cathy Chui), an off-duty undercover cop who has also had a bit more alcohol than usual. Tyler and Ah Jo spend the night together, even though she usually prefers the company of women, and Ah Jo soon finds she's pregnant. Ah Jo has no desire to remain involved with Tyler, but he wants to do the right thing, so he takes a job as a bodyguard for low-level gangster Uncle Ji (Anthony Wong) and sends her his money, all the while wishing he could be in Brazil. Meanwhile Jack (Wu Bai), who once lived in Brazil, is back in Hong Kong with his very pregnant wife Ah Hui (Candy Lo), the daughter of a triad kingpin targeted by Brazilian gangsters. Uncle Ji is in charge of protecting the triad leader, and he makes Tyler one of his right-hand men. Tyler and Jack get to know one another and become close friends, but their friendship comes to an end when the Brazilian mob makes Jack an offer he can't refuse, putting the two men on opposite sides of a gangland war. Seunlau Ngaklau was directed by Tsui Hark, who returned to Hong Kong filmmaking after a brief sojourn in Hollywood. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicholas Tse, Wu Bai, (more)
Hong Kong action genre craftsman Tsui Hark directed this martial arts tale, his second collaboration with actor Jean-Claude Van Damme after Double Team (1997). Van Damme stars as Marcus Ray, a Hong Kong fashion designer who specializes in "knock-offs," cheaply produced jeans and sneakers meant to look like major-label merchandise. With his new partner Tommy Hendricks (Rob Schneider), Marcus hopes to go legit and put his shady past behind him, but Tommy is really an undercover CIA agent investigating the smuggling of mini-bombs in Marcus' products. An unwitting pawn in a scheme concocted by the KGB and Tommy's CIA superior Johanson (Paul Sorvino), Marcus must clear his name and save his company. His quest to do so becomes even more complicated when local authorities link him to a murder and a vice-president, Karen (Lela Rochon), arrives from Marcus' parent company to investigate discrepancies in his bookkeeping. Knock Off is based on a script by Steven E. de Souza, author of 48 Hrs. (1982) and Die Hard (1988). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Schneider, (more)
Like John Woo and Ringo Lam before him, noted Hong Kong action director Tsui Hark made his American filmmaking debut with a thriller starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. For this film, Hark also had the privilege of guiding basketball star Dennis Rodman through his first dramatic role. American anti-terrorist agent Jack Quinn (Van Damme) has retired from duty, content to stay with his pregnant wife at his seaside hideaway. However, the CIA lure him back into duty for one last mission: wiping out crazed international terrorist Stavros (Mickey Rourke). Quinn flies to Antwerp to ambush Stavros, but his plan fails; Quinn is captured and imprisoned in "The Colony," a prison camp for spies "too valuable to kill and too dangerous to set free." To further torture Quinn, Stavros kidnaps Quinn's wife; after she gives birth to their son, Stavros keeps him captive, surrounded by land mines and wild animals. Quinn escapes and makes plans to rescue his wife and child, but he can't do it alone, so he seeks the help of Yaz (Rodman), a top-level underground arms merchant with a tendency towards flamboyant body modification. Rodman also appears with R&B vocalist Crystal Waters on the song "Just a Freak" which appears on the film's soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Rodman, (more)
- 1997
- NR
Tsui Hark is the executive producer, production designer, and screenwriter of this 82-minute Chinese animated feature displaying a full panoply of magical supergods, vexing spirits, and mere mortals. After debt collector Ning (voice of Jan Lam) loses his girlfriend Siu Lan (Lasi Suiyan), he beckons his playful dog, Solid Gold (Tsui Hark), and the two embark on fantastic adventures encountering the attractive Shine (Anita Yuen), a follower of Madame Trunk (Kelly Chen). Their eventual goal is to board the Reincarnation Train in hopes of getting Shine reborn. The original Siu Sin title is Shine's name in Chinese. To realize this fluid-action fantasy, animators at Tsui Hark's Film Workshop in Hong Kong labored for four years. Shown at the 1997 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Lam, Lai Sui-yan, (more)
- 1984
In this off-beat love story from a typical Hong Kong perspective, Alan Tam plays a young insurance investigator who almost runs over a beautiful woman while he is on his way to his engagement party. Rattled and at the same time fascinated by her beauty, she stays on his mind. The next day, he is sent to a house to find out about an accident in which a woman died in a fall from the roof -- and it turns out to be the same woman he had almost killed. This coincidence sets the stage for what follows next: the dead woman's ghost appears to the insurance investigator and they fall in love, lending a new meaning to ephemeral emotions. When his friends and family find out what is going on, a real battle with the supernatural and natural begins -- and the big question is whether love, even if as unsubstantial as this, will win out in the end. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Tam, Ni Shu-chun, (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
- 1983
A follow-up to the wildly popular All the Wrong Clues, this slapstick comedy directed by Teddy Robin Kwan, who had a supporting role in the original, concerns a number of shady characters looking to get their hands on atomic bomb secrets in Japan-occupied Hong Kong during World War II. Private detective-cum-resistance fighter Yoyo (George Lam) receives orders to get the formula from a Jewish scientist who is defecting from the Nazis. When corrupt police commissioner Fat Chick (Paul Chun) swipes the plans from the scientist, Yoyo and his childhood chum Police Inspector Robin (Kwan) set out to steal it for themselves. Unfortunately, a beautiful cat burglar, who is also Yoyo's ex-girlfriend Bridget (Brigitte Lin), beats them to it. Yoyo and Robin then set their sights on Japanese diplomat Tora Hiroshima (played by Tsui Hark, who directed the first installment), who is supposed to receive the plans from Fat Chick. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teddy Robin
- 1982
(Eddie Chan) plays a murderous salesman in this Hong Kong suspense-thriller about a mind gone haywire. When he discovers his wife has been seeing a lover in their own house, he kills both of them and then goes to jail for the crime. After he serves his prison term, the salesman looks like an ordinary person but he goes berserk when he sees any woman wearing the nylons that his wife used to prefer -- and rage takes over, leading to a killing spree. Although he cannot get away with his crimes forever, in the meantime, his activities provide enough fear to keep a viewer's attention from drifting to the bag of popcorn. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvia Chang, Eddie Chan, (more)
