Bliss (2006) Movie Review

“Bliss” is the second feature from Sheng Zhimin and is very much in line with the likes of Jia Zhangke’s “Still Life” and the works of other sixth generation Chinese directors, being a critical, realistic look at modern life. As expected, this has made the film a prime candidate...

June 19th, 2007 | Read More

Super Fans (2007) Movie Review

“Super Fans” again shows Hong Kong cinema’s uncanny knack for tapping into current issues by dealing with obsessive admirers of pop culture figures, something which has of late been causing problems for a variety of stars, notably poor Andy Lau. Needless to say, the concept is here...

June 16th, 2007 | Read More

Dong (2006) Movie Review

“Dong” is a companion piece to Chinese director Jia Zhangke’s prize winning “Still Life”, and both played at the 2006 Venice Film Festival. Interestingly, it was this documentary which was actually planned first, with the joint project coming about after Jia was invited...

June 3rd, 2007 | Read More

Mongolian Ping Pong (2005) Movie Review

“Mongolian Ping Pong” was the second film from Chinese director Ning Hao, whose next effort “Crazy Stone” went on to be one of the country’s biggest and best hits of 2006. However, despite its title, which seems to suggest some kind of wacky sports action, “Ping Pong”...

May 24th, 2007 | Read More

My Wife is a Gangster 3 (2006) Movie Review

“My Wife is a Gangster 3″ sees director Cho Jin Kyo returning to the popular Korean series, with Taiwanese actress Shu Qi taking over lead duties from original star Shin Eun Kyung and sparing viewers another non-performance from starlet Zhang Ziyi, who had previously been earmarked for the...

May 17th, 2007 | Read More

Tuya’s Marriage (2006) Movie Review

Director Wang Quan’an’s “Tuya’s Marriage” has attained a high profile for a film which might otherwise have slipped under the international radar, thanks to a surprise win at the 57th Berlin Film Festival, where it took home the prestigious Golden Bear Award. As with Wang’s...

May 16th, 2007 | Read More

Twins Mission (2007) Movie Review

Although Hong Kong pixie popstrels Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi, known (or perhaps dreaded, depending on the viewer’s disposition) collectively as Twins, have individually been building up respectable bodies of acting work, their past cinematic collaborations have tended to be pretty shoddy...

April 14th, 2007 | Read More

The Knot (2006) Movie Review

“The Knot” is of some significance in being the first joint blockbuster production between Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the first to use a Chinese company for its expansive digital effects work. Boasting a big cast of stars and an ambitious story which takes place in a variety...

March 6th, 2007 | Read More

The 601st Phone Call (2006) Movie Review

“The 601st Phone Call” marks the directorial debut of popular television actor Zhang Guoli, who was featured in a couple of films by Feng Xiaogang, who here lends his support to Guoli’s film as producer. The film also provides Zhou Bichang, the first runner up of the famous Chinese...

February 28th, 2007 | Read More

Still Life (2006) Movie Review

“Still Life”, the latest film from Sixth Generation Chinese director Jia Zhangke, caused a stir in 2006 as a last minute entry to the Venice International Film Festival, and surprised many critics by winning the coveted Golden Lion award. In hindsight, it’s perhaps not too difficult...

February 2nd, 2007 | Read More

Battle of Wits (2006) Movie Review

Andy Lau does epic in “Battle of Wits”, a mostly forgotten big-budget period film from China, utilizing a pan-Asian cast from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Like its Chinese epic brethrens of 2006, “Curse of the Golden Flower” and “The Banquet” to name...

January 22nd, 2007 | Read More

Peacock (2005) Movie Review

Although the likes of “Curse of the Golden Flower” and other glamorous, big budget costume epics have grabbed headlines with their preening and posturing, arguably one of the most significant films to come from China in recent years has in fact been “Peacock”, a quiet, low budget...

January 19th, 2007 | Read More

Letter from an Unknown Woman (2004) Movie Review

“Letter from an Unknown Woman” is mainland Chinese director/actress Xu Jinglei’s 2004 take on Austrian writer Stefan Zweig’s novella, which had already been adapted for the screen to great acclaim in 1948 by Max Ophuls. The film won Xu the Silver Seashell award for Best Director...

January 15th, 2007 | Read More

Wo Hu (2006) Movie Review

Right from the start, “Wo Hu” has two things counting against it, namely the fact that it is yet another Hong Kong crime film about undercover police infiltrating triad gangs, and perhaps even more seriously, it is produced by none other than the notorious Wong Jing, a man whose name conjures...

January 10th, 2007 | Read More

Confession of Pain (2006) Movie Review

“Confession of Pain” is the new, much hyped thriller from dynamic directing duo Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, best known for their work on the “Infernal Affairs” series. Unfortunately, the film has not fared too well at the hands of critics, though arguably this has been down not only...

January 7th, 2007 | Read More

Diary (2006) Movie Review

In spite of the fact that it is directed by Oxide Pang, who along with his brother Danny is one of Hong Kong’s most dynamic and talented film makers, “Diary” doesn’t exactly grab the viewer and scream ‘watch me’. This could be for a number of reasons, such as the film’s...

January 5th, 2007 | Read More

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) Movie Review

The first word which springs to mind when considering Zhang Yimou’s latest effort, “Curse of the Golden Flower”, is ‘breasts’. Crude though this may seem for an Oscar-primed film from one of China’s foremost directors, it’s simply impossible to ignore the fact...

January 1st, 2007 | Read More

Exiled (2006) Movie Review

How can you call yourself a Hong Kong cinema enthusiast and not enjoy Johnnie To’s latest crime drama “Exiled”? It’s filled to the brim with unspoken pathos, tough men who let their action speak for them, and women who can’t possibly understand the ways of such men. It is,...

December 22nd, 2006 | Read More

Rob-B-Hood (2006) Movie Review

Possibly as a response to never ending jokes about the increasing age gap between him and his co-stars, Jackie Chan’s latest film “Rob-B-Hood” sees him featured alongside a young baby in a typical action packed comedy caper. The film is directed by Benny Chan (“Heroic Duo”),...

December 18th, 2006 | Read More

On the Edge (2006) Movie Review

Although viewers might be forgiven for an initial lack of excitement at the thought of yet another Hong Kong film revolving around the angst-ridden life of an undercover policeman, the fact that “On the Edge” sees actor Anthony Wong re-teaming with director Herman Yau should be enough to...

November 18th, 2006 | Read More