5 comments about The Killer - Criterion Collection.

1. I first got interested in Woo's work after seeing "Broken Arrow" in 1996. I was able to get my hands on a VHS copy of The Kiiler and watched it thinking it would be at least as food as Broken Arrow.
   
   
   
   It wasn't.
   
   
   
   It was ten times better.
   
   
   
   The plot is similar to the Rock Hudson film Magnificent Obsession (although Rock is not an assassin). Chow-Yun Fat is an amazing actor who portrays the title character with great depth and believability.
   
   
   
   But let's get down to why everyone REALLY likes this film: The action scenes are AMAZING. When the shooting starts, all hell breaks loose and you'll probably have to watch the scenes in slo-mo or rewind and watch them again. There is so much going on that it's hard to beleive that anyone would be able to choreograph and film such stylistic and hectic battle scenes, but John Woo does just that.
   
   
   
   My biggest question is, why aren't Woo's Hollywood films just as wild and stylish. Woo's Hollywood work is very good, but why are his Hong Kong features so much better? They seem to be gritty and real whereas his Hollywood features seem to be glossy and watered down.
   
   
   
   No matter. If you like action films, this is one of the best, but be warned. This film is VIOLENT and much of the violence is very graphic, so it's not for everyone.
   
   
   
   Also, sometimes the dialogue seems a bit hammy, but I feel that it may be because of the loss of translation when the film was dubbed in English. If you're able to, watch the original Chinese version with English subtitles. I know it's heard to read while your trying to watch the action, so watch the dubbed version a couple of time to where you pretty much know what's happening and then watch it with the subtitles. The original actors' voices convey much more emotion and intensity.



2. John Woo:you either love him or hate him but there is no way of looking at him except as a force of nature. The Killer was one of Woo's greatest Hong Kong features; long before he came to America and made films such as Face/Off and Mission Impossible 2.
   
   Made on a small budget this film is an homage to the classic action directors of Hollywood. There are shades of Peckenpah and of Scorsese. The films grainy look makes it almost perfect for this genre.
   
   The story of a killer with a penchant for justice and loyalty has been done many times before but Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee make it their own as the killer and the renegade cop who follows him.
   
   Many have complained about the violence in this film. The film is extremely violent but the violence comes off as campy rather than as serious. When you have two men fighting hundreds it is hard to take anything too seriously.
   
   The disc that I reviewed was the Criterion Collection edition. This edition gives a pristine transfer of the film and has a decently subtitled audio. Beware of editions that have any English dubbing since these editions tend to heighten the camp elements of the story rather than give a true translation of the dialogue. Also note that the Criterion Edition is expensive but you get what you pay for. Some of the lower priced editions of this film are known bootlegs that should be avoided.
   
   The disc contains a commentary track by Woo and producer Terrance Chang and five deleted scenes.
   
   If you can find or afford it this is essential viewing for action genre fans and for fans of purist Hong Kong cinema.



3. I can't even count how many times I've watched this movie. The action is great, but it's the storyline that just blows me away. It's one of my favorite movies of all-time and I totally recommend this to anyone and everyone. If you haven't seen it, make it a priority to check it out at your earliest convenience. I've seen thousands upon thousands of movies and this one definitely sticks out as a killer. ;)



4. I found this movie absolutely horrible--overloaded with gratuitous violence, violence for violence sake. It's for people who enjoy watching people murder people. There were no real characters in this monstrousity of a movie--only killing machine people. No one, that's right, no one was believable. Even the so-called story line--a hitman killing to raise money to enable a blind woman, whom the hitman accidentally blinded, to see, was a farce. Movies like this only raise the potential level of violence in society, make it glorifiable, without the slightest redeeming virtue. This piece of junk is strictly for the serial killer who's looking for inspiration for his next hit. I trashed my copy--I wouldn't even give it to charity because of what it stands for. Do yourself a favor--don't buy terrible heap of garbage!!!!!



5. John Woo is a director who uses a style known as Heroic Bloodshed. The messages of the movies are always in the symbols, not in the story. The movie isn't designed for those who can't look past the violence. The movies are also heavily laced with Protestant Christian themes concerning the souls of his characters, usually exagerrated for the purpose of making them larger than life. For Example: Inspector Tequila in Hard Boiled. He kills, yes. He kills a lot. But the overall message is not the violence, it's that the hero has to do what must be done, that he values the righting of wrongs done to a weaker character. You have to read into Woo films before you can say that they are "Garbage", because if you understand him, they're really not. I'm sorry more people can't enjoy his movies, but sometimes you need to look past the attitude that violence is never the answer. While killing is bad, being dead and allowing others who are above the law (a problem almost alien to the modern Western World) to exploit those who can't help themselves is worse.

5 comments about A Better Tomorrow.

1. This classic Hong Kong flick is one of John Woo's best films!!! 2 sequels followed!!! This is the first and the best of the series!!! The action is intence!!! Anchor Bay did a top notch job with this DVD!!! I'ts in 16:9 Widescreen and has multiple language tracks and great subtitles!!! Some trailers and production notes round out this awesome DVD!!! Two thumbs up!!! A+



2. "A Better Tomorrow" is John Woo's first tense, bloody gangster epic, and while it wasn't his best it certainly shows the potential that would be fully realized later. It's here that Woo started developing the themes that he later explored further in "Hard Boiled" and "The Killer." Like those movies, "A Better Tomorrow" is a compelling tale of honor, loyalty and devotion set against the unlikely backdrop of the criminal underworld. The movie's principal plot, the relationship between an ex-gangster and his detective brother, is ideal for the sort of Shakesperean moral conflicts that are always at the center of Woo films. And like any movie, this one benefits immeasurably from the brooding, intense presence of Chow Yun Fat, even if his character is often in the background in this movie. Fat isn't quite the indelible leading man he would become a few years later, but his Mark does have his moments, most notably when cutting down a room full of enemies early on and later during the obligatory climactic shootout.
   
   Strangely, though, "A Better Tomorrow" isn't quite as violent as I was given to expect after having previously seen Woo's later classics. Aside from the two aforementioned shootouts, the film is generally pretty subdued for something with Woo's stamp on it. Fortunately, the plot and characterization are more than sufficient to carry things along during the down time. Much of "A Better Tomorrow" explores the relationships among its three central characters. There's Ho, the ex-gangster and extremely tortured soul who gets out of prison three years after being betrayed by his apprentice to find out that going straight isn't going to be easy. There's his detective brother Kit, the kind of guy that practically squeaks when he walks, sees everything in black and white, and still bears a grudge against Ho for his criminal past. And of course, there's Mark, crippled during the aforementioned shootout scene and none too happy about it. This guy's got plenty of rage bottled up inside him, and you know it's just a matter of time until some unfortunate people wind up on the receiving end.
   
   Unfolding around these three guys, the movie's action is vintage Woo, plot twists and all, as Ho's cartoonishly evil ex-protege Shing tries to consolidate his power in the underworld. Allegiances shift, the line between good and bad is repeatedly blurred, and bullets fly everywhere. Played in a sufficiently brooding manner by Ti Lung, Ho eventually emerges as one of the most compelling characters in action movie history, a guy who struggles mighty hard to maintain his dignity and his principles even after his old life has been pulled out from under him. Kit's sanctimony occasionally gets so irritating that even I wanted to punch him in the face, but Ho still manages to remain loyal to his brother. The naive Kit doesn't want to see the world in shades of grey, but of course his brother knows better.
   
   In any Woo movie, the plot is all but bound to be resolved with a frenetic shootout, and this one is no exception. Apparently, there's nothing to help two feuding brothers get over their problems like being in a sustained gunfight together. Anyway, while not as impressive as the legendary church battle in "The Killer" or the full-scale war in a hospital that ends "Hard Boiled," this movie's final standoff does provide an early glimpse at the talent for staging ultraviolent gun battles that would make propel Woo (and Fat) to international renown. At a mere ninety-four minutes, "A Better Tomorrow" is a bit on the short side, and occasionally somewhat amateurish, but it still showcases all of the elements that Woo fans would come to know and love. It was up to later movies to do a sleeker and more professional job, which they certainly did.



3. I still have to see Bullet In the Head but this movie is just flat out awesome. Ti Lung starts out as a guy who prints fake money. He ends up getting screwed over by somebody and has to go to jail for 3 years. When he gets out he is expecting a warm reception from his brother(Leslie Cheung)but he doesn't know that his release from prison is jeopardizing his brothers job as a cop. He then meets his gangster friend again and things have changed big time. His friend(Chow Yun-fat)who was on the top of world with him now has a brace fom a leg after a great shootout where Chow went to take revenge for Ti. He is a bum now that earns money by opening the door for the new boss of their crime business to his car. He then goes home at to a parking garage. Ti Lung ends up being the most miserable person on the planet after finding all of this out. Literally nothing will go right for him. Finally after being harrassed over and over again by the gangsters on top of evrything else, Ti has had enough. The finale is one of my favorite pieces of cinema history. I am not really a big Chow fan though I always thought he was OK but he puts on one of the greatest performances ever in this movie.
   
   The DVD is not remastered but still has MUCH better picture quality than pretty much every Hong Kong movie released from this time. It even has an English dub on it though it is not recommended.



4. This is the Hong Kong action/crime film that kick started the flagging careers of director John Woo and actor Chow Yun Fat. Prior to this, both were relatively small players in the Hong Kong New Wave, Woo at one point was even seconded to Taiwan to direct desultory comedies and romances, similarly Chow was hardly box office gold. The success of the film lies in its energetic synthesis of local allegorical concerns (the 1997 handover to China, and urban dystopia), its aesthetic merits (Woo's balletic, beautifully composed action sequences) and its referential attitude to western forms (the French new wave, the Hollywood action film.) This potentially unwieldy and fragmented fabric to the film is masterfully controlled by a director and cast who rise wonderfully to the hyper-kinetic challenge of the film. "A Better Tomorrow" single-handedly created a new generic hybrid known as "the hero" film, as well as presenting action in a new and innovatively edited way, the film also weaves in a nostalgic subtext which endeared it to local audiences. The themes of friendship, loyalty, forgiveness and reconciliation are strong in the film, especially in the light of the familial and institutional breakdown that the films protagonists are surrounded by. The themes of social and urban dissolution are taken to further extremes in later films, most notable "Hard Boiled". One could argue that Woo made more polished later examples of "the hero" film, but for me "A Better Tomorrow" has a special original quality of its own, which has been remarkably popular in the global exchange of filmic images.
   
   Anchor Bay's DVD is devoid of the special features one has become accustomed to from this fine company, however slight compensation is made by the picture and sound restoration. A definitive release of this Hong Kong classic is still required.



5. The best introduction i can think of for this 1986 all-time classic action thriller that started the true Hong Kong ganster genre, and its influence over the movie industry, is this: In Quentin Tarantino's own words, this film, along with Ringo Liam's "City on fire", was the true influence and reference behind his first masterpiece "Reservoir dogs", film that turned the independent ganster film genre upside down, and changed the style of movie-making forever. On top, this is Quentin's favorite movie along with Sergio Leone's masterpiece "The good, the bad, and the ugly". My friends, this is way more than cheap magazine trivia, it's a about a whole universe that this movie and Asian action-cinema in general, started and openned for many filmakers untill today. Or were did Martin Scorcesse found "Infernal Affairs" to make his oscar winning re-make "The departed"? Were did "Infernal affairs" came from? A-ha!
   
   John woo: A great true Art director, much more than the action director people think. He is all about drama, moral struggle and human values, packed of course in the most violent scenarios ever recorded on film. But why is he such a master? Let's view the character profiles in this movie, john woo's specialty in order to give depth to his films:
   
   -Tse Ho (Ti Lung): A corrupt but honorable detective who loves his brother Kit, father, and best friend Mark, but runs a counterfeit dollar ring. When he gets double-crossed in a trade deal by the rival gang (The POW incident), he got arrested and throwed in jail for 3 years, and his father got murdered in front of his brother in revenge. After that time, he got release and search for an honest life. But now, his brother hates him, his best friend has fallen in disgrace, and he gets pressured and black mailed by the new syndicate boss, his former subordinate Shing. He represents the moral struggle and redemption.
   
   -Mark Lee (chow yun Fat): After the POW incident, the honorable and loyal stone-cold killer detective Mark avenges his best friend Ho, in one the most bloody scenes: "the staged dinning assasination table" in wich Mark alone slaughters a whole gang, but got seriously injured. Now a useless crippled, after 3 years he's the humiliated janitor in the Shin organization. His re-encounter with his friend Ho gives him hope to recover his former glory, but Ho declines. He represents the spirit and the ambition to overcome anything.
   
   -Sung Tse Kit (leslie chung): Ho's kid brother was an innocent joyful police academy student, until the POW incident, when his brother was exposed and his father killed. 3 years later, he became violent and bitter, lost every chance to get a promotion and became obsessed in arresting his brother and Shin, to prove himself decent. His girlfriend is the only real backup for his development as a character (the "stupid" love story that everybody hated). He represents dissapointment and anger over betrayal.
   
   -Shing (lee chi-hung): The former shy subordinate became boss after the POW incident, in wich both fouding members of the counterfeit syndicate, Ho and Mark, fell in disgrace. He's not a powerful character as the 3 previous ones, but he serves a purpose. He only helps putting the story togheter. A better villan in this movie was the major critic.
   
   This Hip and elegantly violent tale is, as you can see, a powerful drama. Rousy, stylised, tense, urbane and visceral style is serving a complex emotional story, and we can feel the moral struggle of the characters in order to survive. The loyalty and self sacrifice are implied from spaghetti westerns and martial arts movies, John Woo's influence along with Akira Kurosawa. Even in the criminal world were violence is a mean to achieve golds, brotherhood and honor are everything. That emphasis elevates drama to high levels.
   
   The music score is not only too 80's, but too hong kong for some. Cheesy as it may sound, it tries very hard to set the moods, making it very valuable as an effort. At that time and in these kind of movies, original music scores didn't have the importance they deserved. I hope you could hear what's really important here, and don't get irritated by what you know consider cheesy. I'm talking about the explosion and bullet sounds, just like old days in spaghetti westerns. Yee-haw!
   
   In this masterpiece, we can expect elegant tracking shots, slow motion pyrotechnics, an emotional resonance in the visual beauty over the action sequences. Spectacular tear jerking melodrama and jaw dropping action. A true cinematic show in humanity and violence. And let's not forget the trenchcoat and sunglasses sporting lone hitman legend that was born here: Chow Yun Fat, the killer.
   
   This DVD edition i don't know, i have another one, sorry.
   My only intention is to invite you guys to witness such a classic masterpiece, and please pick any DVD edition you may have in hand, cause this classic will blow your minds, and hearts. Hurry!

4 comments about God of Killers.

1. "God of Killers" is yet another in a long line of retitled Hong Kong films designed to get the unsuspecting public to either rent or buy a title that they may have previously seen. This 1981 film was Chow's first major starring role and he's excellent here. But why change the name of the film from the original "The Story of Woo Viet?" There's really no need to do so. "The Story of Woo Viet" is a serious drama/character study and features fine acting from Chow who had worked for years in Hong Kong television and was trying to make the move to feature films. In Fact, "The Story of Woo Viet" did well at the box office, but for the next several years, Chow's films did not do so well and it wasn't until 1985 that he finally broke through and he hasn't looked back since. By the way, those looking for a John Woo style action film will be sadly disappointed; this is very definitely a character study, with an unhappy ending, that showcases Chow's acting talent.

   In all honesty, I cannot rate the VHS versions being offered by Amazon, as the copy that I have of this film was presented on DVD (that I picked up for five bucks at a Pathmark grocery store!). However, based on internet research that I have done on this film, I recommend that potential buyers stay away from the Arena Video version. While there's very little in the way of the usual crappy English dubbing (there are a few scenes spoken in English), the Arena version has the English subtitles cut-off at the bottom of the screen for large chunks of the film as does my budget DVD from Beverly Wilshire Filmworks (who are based in New York!).

   Bottom line: As this was Chow Yun-Fat's first major film role in a superior Hong Kong film, viewers ought to give it a look. Just be careful with the version that you are buying. Buyer beware!




2. One of the worst DVD transfers we have seen to date. Subtitles were imprinted on the original film, and frames jump all over the screen, making them impossible to read. Not to mention overall bad quality of video and audio. Otherwise, could be a something for Chow Yun Fat fans.



3. This transfer is absolutely horrid. I have probably hundreds of 'budget' dvds and this is absolutely the worst transfer that I have seen to date.
   
   To further amplify the first reviewer's comments, the subtitles are not only hard to read but generally IMPOSSIBLE to read. The bottom line of the subtitles is nearly always unreadable.
   
   Stay away from this and look for a Hong Kong version instead. Beverly Wilshire transfers are always among the worst of the budget dvd's.



4. If you are idiot! do not buy this DVD!!! it is the worst copy of this film!!! Poor images, and the subtitles look like a madmans breakfast!!! As they said to Big Julie, on the way to the Forum, dont do it Big Julie!!!

5 comments about God of Gamblers.

1. Too bad the folks who produced this didn't take some care with it. The picture is passable and the sound is OK but if you're interested in following the plot from reading the English subtitles be prepared for a lot of guessing and frustration as they are mostly unreadable at the bottom edge of the screen. I don't know how the subtitles are for the other languages, never tried them since I don't read them. But with no English language track the lack of useful English subtitles makes this DVD worthwhile only for the hard-core Chow Yun-Fat fan in America.



2. Underappreciated as an actor in the west, Chow Yun Fat shows his versatility in this Hong Kong Comedy/drama. Chow stars as Ko Chun a gifted gambler with an almost supernatural gift for gaming, hence his exalted title.

   Ko Chun is suave and sophisticated, master of his gaming, monetarily successful and comfortable in his abilities. This makes him enemies among not only opponents, but as it turns out, supposed friends.

   Having narrowly escaped an assasination attempt, Chow unwittingly walks into a trap set by Knife, a young gambler wannabe who has little success in his endeavors. Knife meant to teach someone else a lesson by sabotaging a trail below his home, instead, Ko Chun is the victim. Finding the head injured gambler, Knife and his family take him in and nurse him back to health, not knowing who has fallen into their laps.

   Ko Chun awakens from his trauma with no memory and regressed to a childlike demeanor with an insatiable hunger for a particular brand of chocolate (one carry over from his former life), and as Knife and Co. find out, a talent for gambling. Knife and his crew make good use of their new friend's abilities--becoming upwardly mobile thanks to "Chocolate"--the nickname they bestow upon him.

   Chow Yun Fat has never been more endearing and charming as the brain injured "Chocolate". Where other actors might come off as goofy, pitiable or even laughable attempting this shift, Chow makes it believeable and incredibly touching. The viewer wishes to protect Chocolate from a world he no longer understands and which is by turns baffling and inhospitable--just as Knife and his crew come to love and protect their friend.

   Their sudden success brings unwanted attention, which leads to pursuit, kidnapping, ransom and gunplay, and further trauma to poor Chocolate, leading to a showdown that highlights the God of Gamblers uncanny ability to win, even when opponents cheat and "friends" betray.

   While Chow Yun Fat's ability and charisma are at the heart and soul of this film, the supporting players are excellent, especially Andy Lau and Joey Wong.

   A must see and a must own for any Chow Yun Fat fan! Getting increasingly hard to find--get your copy now! (Review of the VCD unedited version. The DVD is edited and several scenes of the group becoming upwardly mobile have been deleted).




3. If you like Chow Yun-Fat, you will like this movie! I bought this movie first on vhs. The vhs is wide screen with chinese subtitle, and english under it. When they put it to DVD, they made it fit to television (ie not widescreen). In doing so they
   cut off the english subtitles. IF YOU DON'T KNOW CHINESE DON'T BOTHER BUYING THIS, UNTIL THEY COME OUT WITH A BETTER VERSION!!



4. i accidentally found copies of both 'god of gamblers' and 'god of gamblers' return' on DVD at my local record store. they are both distributed thru a company called mei ah entertainment, which put out 2 of jet li's films (hitman & my father is a hero). i took both DVD's home and put them in the player, and i was totally blown away. the transfers for both films are excellent, widescreen and the subtitles are a digitized white on the screen. you have the option of reading them in english and traditional or simplified chinese. the sound is also satisfactory. the DTS logo is on the packaging, so you have a choice between digital dolby 5.1 or digital dolby 2.0. there are 2 language tracks: chinese and mandarin. the best part, however, is that these DVD's can play in all region DVD players!
   
   as for the films themselves...the popularity of the original 'god of gamblers' (1989) ignited a new genre in hong kong cinema of gambling films. suave gamblers of all ages and genders have been the protagonists of many films since the original, getting maximum mileage out of the exciting prospect of 'god-like' gambling abilities. even some not specifically 'gambling genre' films began including gambling scenes that echoed the cinematic exhilaration and tension inspired by 'god of gamblers'. the original's director, wong jing, did some success-surfing of his own with his 'god of gamblers II' and 'god of gamblers III back to shanghai' starring parody king stephen chiao...although either 'god of gamblers' or 'god of gamblers' return' may not break any new cinematic ground, it certainly does succeed in reaffirming chow yun fat's unparalleled appeal and success in the genre's terrain (HKFM).
   
   if you could find the mei ah edition of these films, snatch them if you can. i must add they are a bit pricey ($25 each), but they are both worth it!



5. Leave your fingers of this version. A very good movie, Chow-Yun Fat at its best. But you will only understand, if you know to talk chinese! The english subtitles have been cut of!

No comments about Flaming Brothers.

5 comments about Bulletproof Monk.

1. Tibetan Buddhism is a pure betrayal of Buddhism, of Buddha himself. It dares go beyond Buddha's teaching and reinvent a divinity of some kind where Buddha had taught there could not be any God anywhere. The great force that leads the universe in the eternal cycle from birth to rebirth via decay and death is transmuted into some kind of prophecy about some kind of truth to keep against human greed in order to save the world, and that truth is entrusted to one person who remains beyond aging, will not decay in other words, for as long as he will carry this trust and responsibility. When the time has come he will have to transmit his responsibility to the newly elected person who fulfills the three prophecies and the guardian will finally age and take a vacation leaving the burden to the new warden. Buddha would be ashamed of such primitive beliefs if he could witness such naïve sagas. And the film goes slightly beyond by deciding that the new warden will be double and will be a man and a woman, a heterosexual couple in one word, Hollywood trying to save Tibetan Buddhism from the righteous accusation of being deeply and profoundly and exclusively sexist, that is to say anti-women, or at least closed to women. It also takes advantage of the film to move Tibet to New York, to add a little bit of Nazism in all that, and to entrust the serious mission to two Caucasian non-Tibetan "goyim" instead of one good old Asian, Tibetan if possible, Buddhist monk. But that is only a film. True. But what a laughable fable. Luckily there are the spectacular fights and contortions and acrobatics to save the whole fairy tale from too much shallowness.
   
   Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines



2. Okay... this is a bad movie. I'm fully aware of this. The story line is cheesy, its historical accuracy is grossly questionable, and a good portion of the acting is overdone. So why in the world did it get three stars from me? I have to come clean, this is a guilty pleasure. I'm fully aware it's not a good movie, in fact I'm probably out of my mind for enjoying it this much, but I thought it was fun!
   
   Basically the movie premise is about this ancient Tibetan scroll that supposedly gives its reader power over the entire world. The movie starts off in the past, around 1943, where a Nazi general comes to find it. Yes, like everyone else, I was wondering why the Nazis were in Tibet in 1943. Chow Yun-Fat is introduced and becomes the protector of the scroll, then the movie fast forwards into more modern times where he ends up running into Seann William Scott's character, Kar. This is where the film takes more of its comedic twist, sometimes Scott's character can get annoying, but I think the movie gets a lot better when Jaime King's character enters the picture. For some reason her character tempers Scott's over abrasive presence on the screen, because he's playing the guy that always has something to prove and she has nothing to prove. It just blended well. Anyway there are people after the scroll and it essentially falls to these three people to protect it. That's basically how the action is generated throughout the film.
   
   I'm not a connoisseur of martial arts films by any means, so I won't even pretend to be. The martial arts and action throughout the film, I found, to be pretty good and entertaining. Though I wish King's character had fought the German guy's granddaughter for a lot longer. There was definitely enough action to keep the film moving. For me I just found the movie fun to watch. Watching Chow Yun-Fat trying to deal with Scott's character definitely had its amusing moments.
   
   Anyway, there really isn't much else to be said for this film. Ultimately it's not a good movie, but I had fun with it, which I think is what was intended. It's clearly not meant to be a very serious movie so if you can get beyond that, you might be able to find some merit in it. Granted I don't see how this could ever become someone's favorite movie of all time, but I certainly wouldn't say this is the worst by any measure.



3. Bulletproof Monk simply makes the mark. Chow Yun Fat is the perfect pickfor the humble monk who packs a punch. Along with Seann William Scott,the duo make for a light-hearted yet action packed adventure fightinga Nazi cult and a gang of street thugs while trying to protect an ancient secret.A must see movie that I think you will enjoy.



4. I say "spoof" because this movie isn't to be taken seriously. It's a fun movie to watch Yun-Fat Chow; the Monk with no name, and Seann William Scott (Kar) interact. The old story of the teacher and the student of martial arts; only Kar learns his martial arts from the movies, at the movie theater in which he works. Mako makes a cameo appearance as his boss Mister Kojima, at the theater. This movie kind of reminds of Indiana Jones' "The Last Crusade," in which the Nazi (in this case - Karel Roden) tries to gain immortality. Karel Roden, cast as the aging Nazi Strucker, is mis-cast; as anyone can tell, his accent isn't even close to being German. Sounds too Russian. Despite that, he does okay as villian in this movie. Jaime King, plays Jade/Bad Girl is Kar's love interest, but kind of superfluous, even though she was the co-recipient of the scroll powers in the end. This was really more Seann William Scott's movie, than Chow Yun-Fat's.



5. This movie does not rank among cinema masterpieces such as Gladiator or Titanic, but the film serves up solid, fun, and funny entertainment. An excellent movie for families, teens, and adults alike, it provides a great escape into the land of make believe. It's light fare for an evening of relaxing enjoyment.

5 comments about The Replacement Killers (Special Edition).

1. It is really worth the money if you want to know some of the background story lines.



2. Replacement Killers stars Chow Yun-Fat(John Lee) & Mira Sorvino(Meg Coburn) in an action packed blastfest. Those who are familiar with Chow Yun-Fat(Killer & Hard Boiled)knows what he brings to the table. Lots of gunplay and high body counts. Even though this pales in comparison to his other two movies it still delivers.
   
   John Lee works as a hitman until he decides not to pull off his last hit. This angers his employer and now he wants John dead. Meg Coburn finds herself caught in this feud and has to defend herself as well. The acting is ok but it's the action that counts. And you get a good dose of it. Cheesy at times but it never gets weak.
   
   If you're new to Chow Yun Fat, his earlier movies The Killer and Hard Boiled are Gun-Fu at it's finest. I recommend those first but this is still good.



3. Hi folks! This film is having a good stuffs of non stop action and presented in 1080P with beautiful transfer and blowing sound. You will enjoy the evening with a bag of popocorn disappearing just like that as the action scenes. Yun fat is known to us and become famous in USA with this film and recently we saw him hin at Pirates at Worlds end. Folks you can try this one for your collection and never fails.



4. There's not much I can say that hasn't been covered. I purchased the "extended edition" then this one. Why? This one has all the good special features.
   
   I know it's hard to justify buying a movie twice. But the extras on this one are worth as much as the extended cut on the other version.



5. I just love watching this movie, and I only have the VHS version. I doubt that there is a better "shootem up" movie around. I also enjoy the relationship develop between Chow Yun-Fat's and Mira Sorvino's characters. All the acting was good to me. As for Mira Sorvino, there is probably not a hotter actress with a gun in her hand as she. If you like seeing the bad guys get what they deserve, this is the movie for you!

5 comments about Replacement Killers (+ Digital Copy).

1. It is really worth the money if you want to know some of the background story lines.



2. Replacement Killers stars Chow Yun-Fat(John Lee) & Mira Sorvino(Meg Coburn) in an action packed blastfest. Those who are familiar with Chow Yun-Fat(Killer & Hard Boiled)knows what he brings to the table. Lots of gunplay and high body counts. Even though this pales in comparison to his other two movies it still delivers.
   
   John Lee works as a hitman until he decides not to pull off his last hit. This angers his employer and now he wants John dead. Meg Coburn finds herself caught in this feud and has to defend herself as well. The acting is ok but it's the action that counts. And you get a good dose of it. Cheesy at times but it never gets weak.
   
   If you're new to Chow Yun Fat, his earlier movies The Killer and Hard Boiled are Gun-Fu at it's finest. I recommend those first but this is still good.



3. Hi folks! This film is having a good stuffs of non stop action and presented in 1080P with beautiful transfer and blowing sound. You will enjoy the evening with a bag of popocorn disappearing just like that as the action scenes. Yun fat is known to us and become famous in USA with this film and recently we saw him hin at Pirates at Worlds end. Folks you can try this one for your collection and never fails.



4. There's not much I can say that hasn't been covered. I purchased the "extended edition" then this one. Why? This one has all the good special features.
   
   I know it's hard to justify buying a movie twice. But the extras on this one are worth as much as the extended cut on the other version.



5. I just love watching this movie, and I only have the VHS version. I doubt that there is a better "shootem up" movie around. I also enjoy the relationship develop between Chow Yun-Fat's and Mira Sorvino's characters. All the acting was good to me. As for Mira Sorvino, there is probably not a hotter actress with a gun in her hand as she. If you like seeing the bad guys get what they deserve, this is the movie for you!

5 comments about Peace Hotel.

1. I bought this movie without seeing it before hand (which is how I see a lot of Hong Kong movies), and thought it just another Chow Yun-Fat vehicle, which was, to be honest with you, fine by me. I thought it would just plain be interesting to see CYF in a western. Well listen, in this movie, it's the acting that shines, not so much the gunplay. Sure, we lead junkies get our fix with a gunfight (and an even cooler sword fight), but the story here is deep. Much deeper than I expected. For one thing, subtlety is at play here, and that's a new thing for me while watching Hong Kong movies. I mean, I suppose it was there before, in other movies, and maybe I didn't pick up on it (d'oh! I think this sentence is turning into an oxymoron...), but here they don't slap you in the face with plot points, and they leave you to your own devices to try to figure out what a character is thinking and feeling. Some people may not care for that, but it always impresses me when a film doesn't insult it's audience's intelligence and perceptiveness.

   Peace Hotel is a visually impressive movie as well. The film appears to have been washed, giving everything a dusty brown tint to it, which lends itself to great atmosphere in a western. There are subtle little tricks that may or may not have been intended by the director, such as...well, I'm not going to ruin it for you. It's quite an interesting film, and anyone who wants to see Chow Yun-Fat's acting chops should give it a try.




2. THIS MOVIE IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OF CHOW'S MOVIES, IT'S A PERIOD PIECE, AND ONCE YOU GET IN TO IT YOU WILL LIKE IT. IT HAS A FUNNY ROMANCE STORY THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL AND THE FEMALE LEAD WAS GREAT FOR CHOW'S CHARACTER! THE ENDING IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY CAN JUDGE FOR YOURSELF, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO INTEREPT IT!!



3. "Peace Hotel" is a great movie. Chow Yun-fat's acting in this movie is unquesitonably wonderful. I am a big Chow Yun-fat's fan, but I didn't like any of the movies that he made in the U.S. It was a shame that this was the last movie that he ever made in Hong Kong.



4. I would only consider this average because of Chow Yun-Fat, but in every area it is actually below average. The story starts out unclear but it all comes together by the end of the movie. Chow runs the Peace Hotel and has so ever since he had a very bad day which they will show shots of at the start. Cecilia Yip shows up saying she is Chow's mistress but she is really on the run from some bad men. There has always been an agreement that when someone flees to the Peace Hotel, the pursuers must give up their chase and turn back until that person leaves. When this woman shows up it looks like the bad guys with their fierce leader are going to storm into the hotel and take the girl regardless of the agreement that has been made. The movie is funny at times, has a couple of good action sequences, but ultimately falls short of being a good movie. Chow steals the show from everyone and I was expecting a much bigger impact from the end which fell way short of my expectations. Great music also and some AMAZING cinematography but an average movie needed at least a decent ending.
   
   The version from Mei Eh has ok picture quality and pretty good subtitles. This movie won a Hong Kong film award for the best original film song. Personally I didn't think it was that great but it has subtitles which you may know is a rare thing for songs in Chinese movies.



5. I thought this was a great movie. The story was an interesting idea, only matched by the great supporting case. Chow Yun Fat, as always, shines. My only criticism is that the ending falters a bit. I do not want to spoil it for everyone, but it almost seemed anti-climatic, and not in the best direction. But regardless I thought it was great and enjoyed it.

5 comments about All About Ah-Long (in Chinese/Cantonese).

1. Chow Yun Fat stars as a truck driver who is raising his son along in this 1989 Hong Kong film directed by Johnny To! Ah-Long's life is complicated when his former wife returns and they try to reform their family! But then, in the end, he goes back to his earlier passion for racing motorcylces! Chow Yun Fat's performance is one of his best (he won the 1990 Honk Kong Academy Award for Best Actor), but I sure did not see the motorcycle bit coming! The climatic race is exciting, but it is like they spliced two different movies together!



2. More and more, I continue to be introduced the majestic talent and ability of Chow Yun Fat, my favorite actor. This is a tear-jerking, heart-warming drama. For those of you who think all Chow knows what to do is walk around with guns and shoot people, you must see this movie. The little kid in it is hilarious. And Chow delivers one of the best performances of his career. If you love Chow Yun Fat, this is a must-see.



3. One of my top 10 movies. Another reason why Chow Yun-Fat is my favorite actor.



4. I watched "All About Ah-Long" years ago when I was still 12. Now 10 years have passed, I finally purchased the DVD and watched it again. I admit that I cried like baby when I watched it the first time. Now I am 22, I still cried like a baby. The story is just amazingly touching. I especially have to point out the little boy's acting in the movie was excellent. You would want to cry just seeing him cry. Chow Yun-Fat's acting was also very good. This was one of his early movies. I strongly recommend this movie!



5. i remember this movie as the only movie that can makes me cry everytime i watch it. Although i know the story inside out but the tears will just drop everytime i watch the finale part; the race part. The best from Chow yun Fatt ..