Eric Kot Movies

A subtle study in the deterioration of relationships and the strains of a broken marriage, director Ann Hui's character driven drama draws on Chinese poetry to tell a tale of infidelity and pensive yearning. Tempted by the advances of an amorous student, Chinese Literature professor Lam (Jackie Cheung) considers an extramarital affair while still reeling in the pain of wife Man Ching's (Anita Mui) previous infidelity. As depression and boredom push the couple further apart, Professor Lam's moral devotion to his wife places him at odds with the pain he harbors from their tumultuous past. ~ Jason Buchanan, 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

One of Asia's most popular screen stars, Maggie Cheung stars in this romance about two Chinese 30-somethings living in California. Ellen (Cheung) is a single mother who works as a cabby; Mike (Cantonese pop star Leon Lai) is a computer genius who owns a struggling dot com. The two exchange glances at a bar one day, and later, when Ellen spots Mike drunk in the street, she invites him to share her cab. Hormones duly explode in volcanic proportions, and the two embark on an on-again, off-again affair that may or may not survive their respective problems. As Ellen and Mike, Cheung and Lai appear together onscreen for the first time since they starred in Peter Chan's 1996 film Comrades, Almost a Love Story. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide

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, All Movie Guide