# Any "Hong Kong" films you would reccommend? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363 "2004-02-21T12:44:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dalchini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dalchini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dalchini)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/1 "2004-02-21T12:44:11Z")
I have only seen one so far, I think it is called > [@](#): > > so close . Wondering if anyone knos any other films worth watching ---
**Author:** ![Nately\_s\_Whore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nately\_s\_Whore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nately_s_Whore)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/2 "2004-02-21T13:23:38Z")
_Hard Boiled_ is a great movie. ---
**Author:** ![peterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bb73d2/32.png) [@peterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peterW)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/3 "2004-02-21T14:49:27Z")
What type of movies were you looking for? If you were looking for a drama, I enjoyed [Infernal Affairs](http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1003028649/did-0/code-c/section-videos/). I read recently that Scorcese may do a remake of this movie. For more of a slower pace movie, I loved [In The Mood For Love](http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1001821211/did-0/code-c/section-videos/). For comedies and romantic comedies, which I think consists of %70 of the Hong Kong cinema, try [Love On A Diet](http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1001815220/did-0/code-c/section-videos/). Big warning, though, Hong Kong comedies, especially romantic comedies, tend to pretty sappy. You may find yourself rolling your eyes more than once. For an action flick, you can’t go wrong with a Jet Li movie, a martial artist turned actor. One of my favorites, [The Legend Of Shaolin](http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002981123/aid-11202/section-videos/code-c/version-all/). Happy viewing. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/4 "2004-02-21T15:10:10Z")
Are you looking for a certain genre or just anything worthwhile from HK? Because there are plenty of great films from there to choose from. Action/gunplay/cops/urban crime drama: _Hard Boiled The Killer A Better Tomorrow Black Mask City on Fire Time & Tide_ the _Police Story_ series _High Risk_ (aka _Meltdown_ in the US) Heroic period films usually with swordplay and/or martial arts: the _Once Upon a Time in China_ series the _Fong Sai-Yuk_ films (aka _The Legend I & II_ in the US) the _Drunken Master_ films _Master of the Flying Guillotine Iron Monkey Project A_ Contemporary martial arts films, some with comedic tone, some not: _Twin Dragons Dragons Forever My Father Is a Hero Rumble in the Bronx Who Am I? The Accidental Spy Winners & Sinners The Heroic Trio_ films Fantasy action films: _Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain Storm Riders The Bride With White Hair A Chinese Ghost Story_ films For less action oriented dramatic storytelling fare I’d recommend some of the films of Wong Kar Wai like \* Chungking Express\* or _Happy Together_. I’m a journeyman fan, at best, in the realm of HK films. There are probably plenty of others who can recommend films I haven’t seen yet. I do good if I know which of the two HK stars named Tony Leung I am watching. ---
**Author:** ![raizok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@raizok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raizok)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/5 "2004-02-21T16:09:24Z")
_Full Time Killer_ - Any Lau, this one is about a cop chasing after a hitman, its more of a psychological thriller but there’s some great moments in it. _The Killer_ - Chow Yun Fat, can’t go wrong with straight-ahead action and a handgun in each palm. _Ichi The Killer_ - ?, this one is the most brutal HK film I’ve seen yet. Nevermind _Audition_, as Ichi The Killer is sure to test your gag reflex. Its about a mentally deranged man thats being manipulated to kill people. So there you go, 3 killer films to check out 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/6 "2004-02-21T16:45:27Z")
_Memoirs of a Chinese Courtesan_ is an early (1972, I think) ahead-of-its-time film featuring women doing much of the fighting. It’s very much a precursor to _Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger_, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/7 "2004-02-21T16:52:31Z")
I see someone mentioned Jackie Chan’s _Police Story_ series; the first one was my introduction to Mr. C, and has perhaps the wildest, most action-packed first 15 minutes of any film I’ve ever seen. A John Woo HK-produced film that is hard to find in the States, but which I highly recommend, is _A Bullet in the Head_. A “friends go to Viet Nam” plot that bears some loose similarities to _The Deer Hunter_, I consider it his best film. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/8 "2004-02-21T18:12:49Z")
**Wing Chun** is my all-time favorite. It’s a historical piece/romantic comedy/martial arts showcase. It’s got Michelle Yeoh as the title character; she’s the strongest fighter in her village, and she must disguise herself as a man to fight off the bandits who are attacking the town. Hilarity ensues. It’s just one cool scene after another; the highlights are the scene where Wing Chun schools every man in the village by fighting them off with no hands while defending a block of tofu, and of course the climactic battle against Cotton Belly. “No one can defeat my Cotton Belly!” Plus tender moments, like when the leads confess their love for each other by hemorraghing and coughing up blood. Genius! ---
**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/9 "2004-02-21T23:08:43Z")
I’d echo almost all of **widdershins** ’s recommendations, and also his question. It depends on what you’re looking for. I’ll toss in a few other Chinese films: **Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon** - if you’ve not seen it, it is very good despite the backlash of its popularity. **Hero** (2003) - Recent big budget Chinese film. It offends some based on the premise, but it remains a stunning film. **The Emperor and the Assasin** - The opposite take on the main theme in **Hero** **Prodigal Son** - Sammo Hung and Yuen Bao in wonderful form. This is for the Hong Kong fanboy - frenetic Hong Kong filmaking and wonderful athleticism combined. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/10 "2004-02-21T23:39:44Z")
My reccomendations have all been said, so I’ll just second Hard Boiled, The Killer (These two go well back to back), and The Heroic Trio. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/11 "2004-02-22T07:38:47Z")
One comedy I found enjoyable was [Viva Erotica](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117575/). Even though it’s about the shooting of a porno movie, it’s not that racy. **In the Mood for Love** is one of my favourite films. It might not really for you if you don’t like movies in which pretty much nothing happens. The cinematography is gorgeous and the acting is superb. For Kung Fu action, I’ll second **Wing Chun** for comedy. On the dramatic end, **Tai Chi Master** , with Jet Li seriously kicks ass. **Fists of Legend** , also with Jet Li ranks highly. For a slightly different take on Chinese martial arts flick, see [Ashes of Time](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109688/). It’s by Wong Kar Wai, who directed In the Mood fot Love and Chunking Express. Some of it isn’t so good, but it is a beautiful and different movie. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hong-kong-films-you-would-reccommend/230363/12 "2004-02-22T17:54:45Z")
I’m a decent sucker for a decent Jackie Chan flick, and would recommend the **Supercop** series.