Latest from Edmund Lee
Less well known to the world’s film-goers than John Woo or Wong Kar-wai, Ann Hui, whose career began in the 1970s, has won best director at the Hong Kong Film Awards five times.
Less well known to the world’s film-goers than John Woo or Wong Kar-wai, Ann Hui, whose career began in the 1970s, has won best director at the Hong Kong Film Awards five times.
Kiwi Chow’s film is that rare thing – a nuanced romantic psychodrama made in Hong Kong. Starring Cecilia Choi, in her first Hong Kong film role, and Terrance Lau, in his first big-screen role, the film is best seen without knowing its story.
Kiwi Chow’s film is that rare thing – a nuanced romantic psychodrama made in Hong Kong. Starring Cecilia Choi, in her first Hong Kong film role, and Terrance Lau, in his first big-screen role, the film is best seen without knowing its story.
Anthony Wong and Karena Lam put in strong performances as a creepy insurance client and his visually impaired wife, in this grisly psychological thriller with a slasher film ending.
Anthony Wong and Karena Lam put in strong performances as a creepy insurance client and his visually impaired wife, in this grisly psychological thriller with a slasher film ending.
Story of a Hong Kong woman who has been dumped by her boyfriend and goes on a trip to Tokyo to get over it is a contender for worst Hong Kong film of the year.
Story of a Hong Kong woman who has been dumped by her boyfriend and goes on a trip to Tokyo to get over it is a contender for worst Hong Kong film of the year.
Tang plays Fong, who works in a bridal gown shop and is gently falling out of love with her possessive man-child of a boyfriend. A blast from her past leads her to reconsider what happiness and personal liberty mean.
Tang plays Fong, who works in a bridal gown shop and is gently falling out of love with her possessive man-child of a boyfriend. A blast from her past leads her to reconsider what happiness and personal liberty mean.
Actress Stephy Tang has seen her director on My Prince Edward, Norris Wong, grow in confidence as work on the film progressed. The pair, both women in their thirties, talk about its theme that pits marriage against personal liberty.
Actress Stephy Tang has seen her director on My Prince Edward, Norris Wong, grow in confidence as work on the film progressed. The pair, both women in their thirties, talk about its theme that pits marriage against personal liberty.
Starring Ken Low and Sam Lee and with fight scenes that are well staged and some good footage of gritty Hong Kong neighbourhoods, this feature by first-time filmmakers lacks dramatic tension and has an awful script.
Starring Ken Low and Sam Lee and with fight scenes that are well staged and some good footage of gritty Hong Kong neighbourhoods, this feature by first-time filmmakers lacks dramatic tension and has an awful script.
Two elderly family men fall in love after meeting in a Hong Kong park in Ray Yeung’s poignant gay romance. The sensitive direction and subtle performances make this film an insightful look at homosexuality amid traditional Chinese culture.
Two elderly family men fall in love after meeting in a Hong Kong park in Ray Yeung’s poignant gay romance. The sensitive direction and subtle performances make this film an insightful look at homosexuality amid traditional Chinese culture.
An unrealistic tale about the mayhem created by leaders of a powerful international criminal syndicate, The Fallen is visually stunning but narratively a confusing mess.
An unrealistic tale about the mayhem created by leaders of a powerful international criminal syndicate, The Fallen is visually stunning but narratively a confusing mess.
A professional woman and mother seems to have it all, until she discovers her husband’s adultery and seeks vengeance. Kim Hee-ae adroitly steers a line between vulnerability and spite as the scorned wife.
A professional woman and mother seems to have it all, until she discovers her husband’s adultery and seeks vengeance. Kim Hee-ae adroitly steers a line between vulnerability and spite as the scorned wife.
From husband-and-wife team Roy Chow and Christine To, Knockout stars former K-pop idol Han Geng as a boxer seeking redemption in the ring and reconciliation with his young daughter.
From husband-and-wife team Roy Chow and Christine To, Knockout stars former K-pop idol Han Geng as a boxer seeking redemption in the ring and reconciliation with his young daughter.
Derek Tsang’s film about a school bullying victim in China and the street punk she falls in love with takes prizes for best picture, director, actress, screenplay among others. Tai Bo, and Donnie Yen’s Ip Man 4 the other notable winners.
Derek Tsang’s film about a school bullying victim in China and the street punk she falls in love with takes prizes for best picture, director, actress, screenplay among others. Tai Bo, and Donnie Yen’s Ip Man 4 the other notable winners.
Best film is hard to predict given recent upset wins; best director should go to a rising star – Derek Tsang is favourite; the wrong man will probably win best actor; and twice-nominated Sammi Cheng could miss out on best actress.
Best film is hard to predict given recent upset wins; best director should go to a rising star – Derek Tsang is favourite; the wrong man will probably win best actor; and twice-nominated Sammi Cheng could miss out on best actress.
Kim Tae-hee stars as an artist who comes back from the dead and has 49 days to win back her place in the world of the living, with her surgeon husband, now remarried, and daughter, five. Coincidences abound in a drawn-out, weepy plot.
Kim Tae-hee stars as an artist who comes back from the dead and has 49 days to win back her place in the world of the living, with her surgeon husband, now remarried, and daughter, five. Coincidences abound in a drawn-out, weepy plot.
‘Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits’ on Blu-ray will feature 4K and 2K digital restorations of five of the martial arts superstar’s classic kung fu films, as well as documentaries of his life and philosophies and interviews with stars of Hong Kong cinema.
‘Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits’ on Blu-ray will feature 4K and 2K digital restorations of five of the martial arts superstar’s classic kung fu films, as well as documentaries of his life and philosophies and interviews with stars of Hong Kong cinema.
Itaewon Class is a South Korean Netflix hit series about an ex-prisoner who seeks revenge on the family that caused his father’s death and sent him to prison. It’s a mix of mean characters and inspirational messages all set in the food industry.
Itaewon Class is a South Korean Netflix hit series about an ex-prisoner who seeks revenge on the family that caused his father’s death and sent him to prison. It’s a mix of mean characters and inspirational messages all set in the food industry.
Chan seizes the chance to show her acting chops in a leading role, playing career woman Carmen who doesn’t want children but becomes pregnant. An episodic drama that’s funny and sharply written, see it without preconception.
Chan seizes the chance to show her acting chops in a leading role, playing career woman Carmen who doesn’t want children but becomes pregnant. An episodic drama that’s funny and sharply written, see it without preconception.
Derek Tsang’s China-set bullying drama was starved of critical attention last year but has a shot at redemption with its nomination in 12 categories at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Derek Tsang’s China-set bullying drama was starved of critical attention last year but has a shot at redemption with its nomination in 12 categories at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Scattershot, witless, and forgettable, Raymond Wong’s latest rehash of 1992 screwball comedy hit may not be worth your hard-earned cash. Too silly to engage viewers yet not absurd enough to be called surreal, let’s hope this is the last of its line.
Scattershot, witless, and forgettable, Raymond Wong’s latest rehash of 1992 screwball comedy hit may not be worth your hard-earned cash. Too silly to engage viewers yet not absurd enough to be called surreal, let’s hope this is the last of its line.
Writer-director strikes the right notes in this briskly told story, part madcap comedy, part sentimental romance. Carlos Chan plays an apparently heartless CEO and Li, who excels in her first leading role, a gullible working-class girl.
Writer-director strikes the right notes in this briskly told story, part madcap comedy, part sentimental romance. Carlos Chan plays an apparently heartless CEO and Li, who excels in her first leading role, a gullible working-class girl.
Possibly the Cantonese-speaking world’s No. 1 stand-up comedian, Dayo Wong plays a supposed martial arts master whose combat skills are found sorely lacking. Co-star Annie Liu steals the show in this media male fantasy.
Possibly the Cantonese-speaking world’s No. 1 stand-up comedian, Dayo Wong plays a supposed martial arts master whose combat skills are found sorely lacking. Co-star Annie Liu steals the show in this media male fantasy.
Martial arts star Yen plays an overweight policeman and Bruce Lee fan assigned to extradite a fugitive to Japan, where a series of hilarious action scenes ensue. The film can be read as an allegory of Hong Kong’s recent social chaos.
Martial arts star Yen plays an overweight policeman and Bruce Lee fan assigned to extradite a fugitive to Japan, where a series of hilarious action scenes ensue. The film can be read as an allegory of Hong Kong’s recent social chaos.
Story of an affair between two closeted elderly homosexuals, Suk Suk is the first Chinese-language feature of director Ray Yeung. Ten Years collaborator’s second feature Beyond the Dream shares top acting prizes, while Derek Tsang wins best director for Better Days.
Story of an affair between two closeted elderly homosexuals, Suk Suk is the first Chinese-language feature of director Ray Yeung. Ten Years collaborator’s second feature Beyond the Dream shares top acting prizes, while Derek Tsang wins best director for Better Days.
Louis Koo’s films were woeful, witty, worthy, and almost wonderful, Fruit Chan was preposterous and political, and young directors showed promise. Meanwhile, Donnie Yen delivered, and Sammi Cheng soared.
Louis Koo’s films were woeful, witty, worthy, and almost wonderful, Fruit Chan was preposterous and political, and young directors showed promise. Meanwhile, Donnie Yen delivered, and Sammi Cheng soared.
Ageing and diagnosed with cancer, Ip Man fights his way through 1960s San Francisco in this understated conclusion to series. While flawed, it’s a reminder how much we’ll miss Yen playing the wing chun master.
Ageing and diagnosed with cancer, Ip Man fights his way through 1960s San Francisco in this understated conclusion to series. While flawed, it’s a reminder how much we’ll miss Yen playing the wing chun master.
Veteran Hong Kong actor Steven Ma plays a salesman who leads a solitary life and lives in hope of seeing his mother, long estranged; a visit to a psychiatrist reveals all is not as it seems.
Veteran Hong Kong actor Steven Ma plays a salesman who leads a solitary life and lives in hope of seeing his mother, long estranged; a visit to a psychiatrist reveals all is not as it seems.
Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee star in a heart-wrenching drama that examines the effects of bullying. Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Tsang Kwok-cheung, it has been a big box office hit in mainland China.
Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee star in a heart-wrenching drama that examines the effects of bullying. Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Tsang Kwok-cheung, it has been a big box office hit in mainland China.
Based on life of a Hong Kong rock climber left a paraplegic after an accident but who goes on to scale Lion Rock in his wheelchair, this is a playful comedy; scenes of climber’s wife (Michelle Wai) struggling to support the family strike a poignant note.
Based on life of a Hong Kong rock climber left a paraplegic after an accident but who goes on to scale Lion Rock in his wheelchair, this is a playful comedy; scenes of climber’s wife (Michelle Wai) struggling to support the family strike a poignant note.
Starring Gillian Chung, Ling Man-lung and Joey Leung, Missing is an atmospheric film that doesn’t resort to genre clichés and is an encouraging debut for director Ronnie Chau.
Starring Gillian Chung, Ling Man-lung and Joey Leung, Missing is an atmospheric film that doesn’t resort to genre clichés and is an encouraging debut for director Ronnie Chau.
Film tries to put a fresh spin on the crime thriller drama. It is diverting in places, but has a farcical plot line involving Nick Cheung, who plays a hypnotherapist on jury service, being blackmailed to hypnotise his fellow jurors.
Film tries to put a fresh spin on the crime thriller drama. It is diverting in places, but has a farcical plot line involving Nick Cheung, who plays a hypnotherapist on jury service, being blackmailed to hypnotise his fellow jurors.