Most importantly, it created a new genre that had come to influence not only Hong Kong films but also the world cinema: gun fu films.

Gun fu refers to sophisticated action sequences that mix gun play with martial arts. The focus is on the poetry of the action rather than the excessive violence.

In A Better Tomorrow - as well as other Woo-Chow collaborations including A Better Tomorrow II, The Killer, Once A Thief and Hard-Boiled, in which Chow plays the leading man as either a cop or a criminal - the characters shoot a gun from each hand while performing well-choreographed stunts.

The shooting normally takes place in a confined space to enhance the tension, and the ballet-like action is often portrayed in slow motion to make the violence look stylish, rather than gruesome.

The style was quickly adopted by Hollywood. Woo and other Hong Kong directors such as Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam and Kirk Wong were hired to direct low-budget action films in the US.

But only Woo managed to find his feet in Hollywood, and went on to direct blockbusters such as Mission: Impossible II, in which Tom Cruise - mimicking the style of Chow - is at his coolest.

But Woo's trademark gun fu style is now no longer a novelty. Many of his Hollywood admirers have learned the trick of combining balletic violence with lavish special effects, for example Sam Raimi in Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2.

The spectacular action sequences choreographed by Yuen Wo-ping in The Matrix trilogy also suggest that, with the help of a first-rate Chinese action choreographer, there is no longer a need for Woo's speciality direction.

Woo's recent films Windtalkers and Paycheck were box-office flops. But the director's elegant camerawork and precise editing still has few rivals in the business.

His next project, The Battle of Red Cliff - a costume war epic based on the story from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and will be released next year - will reunite him with Chow.

Although the film is unlikely to feature a Beretta 92F/FS pistol - something Woo describes as a 'strong and elegant' weapon - the film is eagerly anticipated by action fans around the world.

Menu busting

For foods with less fat, look for these adjectives:

Braised

Steamed

Grilled

Poached

Baked

Foods with these descriptive terms contain more fat:

Au gratin

Breaded

En croute

Sauteed

Hollandaise

Bearnaise

Creamed

Beurre blanc

Pan-fried