Chen Wan-lei Movies
- 2002
A largely unrelated follow-up to director Ann Hui's 2001 effort Visible Secret, this sequel finds director Abe Kwong stepping behind the camera (Hui remains on board as a producer) to offer a frightful tale of love and the supernatural. Their newlywed bliss short lived after husband Jack (Eason Chan Yik-shun) is hospitalized with serious injuries following a hit-and-run incident, both the doctors and his new bride, Ching (Jo Kuk Tso-lam), are pleasantly surprised by his unusually speedy recovery. Though he is soon on his feet again, Jack is subsequently plagued by terrifying visions of a female suicide victim every time he sneezes. Soon believing their new apartment haunted, Jack's fears are compounded by Ching's increasingly disturbing behavior. Suspecting that his new bride may be possessed, Jack seeks out the aid of old friend September (Cherrie Ying Choi-yi); the duo's investigation soon reveals that a relationship from Ching's mysterious past may hold the key to resolving the frightful supernatural occurrences. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eason Chan, Jo Kuk, (more)
Wong Kar-wai's Fallen Angels is a sequel of sorts to the director's 1994 U.S. breakthrough Chungking Express. Expanding on the latter's style, themes, and mood, Fallen Angels is set in the surreal milieu of urban, nighttime Hong Kong. As with the filmmaker's other features, plot takes a back seat to mood. The wisp of a narrative intercuts two story lines. The first follows a hitman (Leon Lai) who finds that the assassin's life has slowly lost its allure. Complicating his life is his beautiful contact (Michele Reis, a former Miss Hong Kong winner) who pines after him with fetishistic ardor, although the two have never met in their nearly three-year partnership. In another part of the city, He (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a mute, boyish ex-convict, makes a living by sneaking into and running businesses after hours. Still living with his father who runs the Chungking Mansions hotel, the restless Ho falls for Cherry (Charlie Yeung), a woman getting over her breakup with the offscreen Johnny. The movie follows these episodic romances almost half-heartedly as with Wong's other films, and digressionary moments attract much of the camera's distracted gaze. This visually stylish and unabashedly effusive work is considered by some critics to be the quintessential Wong film. ~ Elbert Ventura, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, (more)
