Hong Kong Quad

This time, it's all Hong Kong films, with Kung Fu Chefs, Poker King, Rebellion, and The First 7th Night.



Kung Fu Chefs
Directed by Ken Yip, starring Sammo Hung, Vanness Wu, Cherrie Ying,

An enjoyable time-waster with plenty of cooking related kung-fu, and the always Cherrie Ying. Those looking for a really funny paraody of the television cooking craze should check-out Stephen Chow's God of Cookery.


Poker King
Directed by Chan Hing-kai and Janet Chun, starring Louis Koo, Lau Ching-wan, Stephy Tang, Cherrie Ying, Josie Ho, Jo Koo, Wong Yau-nam, Kama, and Lam Suet.

A silly psuedo-parady of poker and it's popularity. Louis Koo and Lau Ching-wan manage to pull off another amusing HK comedy due to their acting ability and chemistry. The rest of the cast performs ably as well.


Rebellion
Directed by Herman Yau, starring Shawn Yue, Elanne Kong, Chapman To, and Ada Choi.

Rebellion isn't the best of Herman Yau's films, but it's one of four of his films released in '09. For a triad pic, Rebellion isn't bad, it just isn't special enough to be considered really good.


The First 7th Night
Directed by Herman Yau, starring Gordon Lam Ka-tung, Michelle Ye, Julian Cheung, Eddie Cheung, Fung Hark-on, and Tony Ho.

My favorite of the four Herman Yau films released in 2009. Back in July of '09, I wrote:
"I liked so many things about the film, but I especially enjoyed Gordon Lam's performance, and the story upon it's conclusion.I hope that this is just the first in a series of 7th Night films, as the title suggests. Yau's directed is superb, and the film turned out to be far more thoughtful and interesting than I expected."

After having watched The First 7th Night again, I still feel that way. For those that want to know and don't, the four films from Director Herman Yau that were released in 2009 were (in no particular order): The First 7th Night, Turning Point, Split Second Murders, and Rebellion.


That's it for now. Check back soon for my thoughts on Turning Gate, The Hurt Locker, Paranormal Activity, Possessed, A Million, Ditto, and The Doll Master.