Kingwho's Top 10 Most Favorite Hong Kong Films Of All Time!!!

Don't cry for me, Argentina.  I'm just joshing.  My traffic is a'ight.  

What do you get when you take 1 Kent Cheng, 1 Louis Koo, 2 Jackie Chan's, 1 Tony Leung Chiu-wai, 1 Faye Wong, 2 Chow Yun-fat's, 4 Simon Yam's, 3 Anthony Wong's, and 1 Charlie Cho?????

Last post I posted I sent y'all on over to my buddy's blog, AHeroNeverDies, as he posed the simple yet not so simple question......List your top 10 HK films.  So, I gave it a go.  But 10 wasn't enough for me.  I went the extra 10.  So, since I know you've been waiting with baited stank breath, check out my all time top 20 favorite HK films right here.

Enjoy!

The Peeping Tom - 赤足驚魂 (1997)

 THE PEEPING TOM (1997)

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YOWZA!  Japanese AV "actress" Miho Nimoto blazes up this poster for Ivan Lai Gai-ming's 1997 CAT III beauty, THE PEEPING TOM.  Though only a bit player in the film, Miho is nips and bounds (See the movie.  You'll get it. wakka wakka wakka) the main attraction.  A few years past the CAT III prime, a film sporting this rating was usually a shot-on-vid embarrassment.  This film, not so. 

Jade Leung Chang plays a hottie Police Officer who catches the sicko eye of local perv Mark Cheng Ho-nam.  Cheng is a rapist/killer on the rampage who's hobby is to record ALL of his dastardly deeds for posterity.   Enamored with Ms. Leung at first sight, Cheng erects a scheme to snare her into his dirty lair.  Primo CAT III stuff.  Below is an oldie review I did for Cityonfire.com.  It's about 15 years old and shows it's, and my, age.  Enjoy!

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The degradation dependable Ivan Lai comes up with another genre winner. The Peeing Tom is Lai's 1996 effort to keep hope alive for the diminished Cat III industry and deserves a piece of the mantle along side his Daughter of Darkness films. The peeper of the title is a nasty throwback to the cut 'em up villains of the early 90's like Simon Yam's Dr. Lamb and Anthony Wong's Bunman. Mark Cheng gives a stylish and eerie performance as the sadist with a camcorder. Wielding an aluminum bat, he abducts beauties of the late night HK streets, takes them back to his den of ill repute, and films them as they scream bloody murder. 

 

On a fateful day, Cheng, strolling the streets of HK with camera in tow witnesses and films a police shootout, and here, becomes infatuated with super lady cop Jade Leung. For the next hour it's a cat and mouse game as Leung and her police cohorts mount the usual worthless investigation and try to catch the perverted Cheng before he gets to his object of affection. The title of the film more than meets it's expectations. This isn't Cat I family fare and TPT delivers the goods in boobs-n-blood.

There are ample amounts of body parts on display, intact and dismembered, whatever your liking. Japanese beauty Miho Nomoto is exposed for most of her screen time, for no apparent plot reasons, but for the pervs in the audience, and she gives us a lesson in abstinence while in the shower. Along with the genres wagon load of nudity we also get the usual power tool to the flesh and rivers of blood. Cheng adopts his disaffected outsider with creepiness and impending psychosis. There's a great leg (pun intended-you'll see) in the film where Cheng freaks us out by pulling a Chungking Express Faye Wong-sans the Garfield stuffed animal-and sneaks into Leung's apartment.

Once inside he films her intimate surroundings, eats noodles, watches some anime, takes a bath, sniffs her under-things and enjoys a cat nap. All cool psycho behavior. But here's the rub that keeps it from the top of the genre heap. There is no rhyme or reason to his psychosis; he's just crazy for the films sake. The little reasoning offered at films end is poor and mars the effect of the previous hour and a half's madness. 

The genre has been done to death, unfortunately, and the characterization of Cheng, which starts off promising, is reduced, into a flimsy carbon copy of the original baddies from the hey-day. That being said, the production is nicely mounted, as the city locales are well utilized. The direction by Lai is solid and the cinematography is atmospheric, colorful, and grimy enough for Cheng to hack into his work. It's all been done before but I don't care. TPT set out what it intended to do, shock and titillate. There's not much more you can ask of the genre.

Hero Dream- 淫妖豪情 (1992)

 HERO DREAM-淫妖豪情 (1992)

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Here's another new comer to the stable and quite possibly my new favorite poster, supplanting the boobilicious Cammie Choi-REBEKAH poster that I once claimed to be my tops.  Ladies and gents, I give you HERO DREAM (1992).  HERO DREAM is a CAT III HK sex/action romp cheapie that once seen is not quite forgotten.  Well, in it's entirety anyway.  The film's claim to fame is not it's fine cast, consisting of the brothers Chin, Ka-lok and Siu-ho, Michicko Nishiwaki, and Carrie Ng.  Or it's swift heyday energetic action, one cool scene even set to music ripped from Miami Vice.  Nope.  The movies most mentioned scenes are of it's surprisingly liberal display of some of Thailand's homeliest transsexuals.

Michiko Nishiwaki and her harem of ladyboys.  Michiko looks delighted.

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HERO DREAM displays shemales like a menagerie of curiosity also using them in the classic Chinese cinema 'Jade Vase' sense as they are either scenery or abused beyond freakin' belief.  Not only are they used and abused for our CAT III enjoyment but they are shown in various states of undress including full frontal!  The full frontal, I believe, providing a sense of shock value to this run of the mill story but also a curiosity in that HK films, up to this point in time, really didn't show, ummmmm......"male" members in it's cinema.  Oh sure, you saw a ton of little kids running around without clothes.  And sometimes Stephen Chow would flick a poor little kids shmeckle.  But nothing this blatantly adult was on view.

Chin Siu-ho stickin' it to a ho

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If you were to watch this film today, these scenes, though eye-opening, are none too shocking as 20 years on from HERO DREAM's initial release, alternative lifestyles tend not to be a big deal.  Well, among most people (I hope?), and I would assume not too many of the folks that watch genre or exploitation oriented cinema, Asian or otherwise, would really bat an eyelash.

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HERO DREAM also sports super sexy lady action heroine Michiko Nishiwaki's most racy film appearance as she also strips down, as seen in the pic below.  Though it's no real picnic for the pervs as the goodies aren't seen.  Sorry, gawkers.  This being said, the film is still a ton entertaining and a recommended piece of solid high trash art.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmichikooooooo!

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I can't wait to frame and mount this pic in my new house.  I'm thinking the bedroom.  Right over the headboard.  I'm sure if I ask my wife nicely she'll be ok with it.  Right?

Ms. Butterfly (1993) R.I.P. Jacqueline Law

MS. BUTTERFLY (1993)

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A few weeks back I got that itch.  Not the one that invades your undercarriage on hot summer days (though not unlike it).  But it was an itch that I HAD to scratch.   It was time to order more HK movie posters.  Not that I need anymore, really.  But it's an itch.  An oh so beautiful itch that I never mind scratching long and hard.  I spent a pretty penny on about 10 posters straight from HK, and they arrived this past Saturday.  Imagine my feeling coming home after a few flicks at the NYAFF to find a poster tube delivered by Ms. Mail Lady.  Also in the post were a few VHS I had forgot I ordered.  Like a freakin' kid on X-mas. 

Earlier that day I awoke to a few Facebook posts about the passing of HK actress, Jacqueline Law Wai-guen.  Ms. Law succumbed to pancreatic cancer the day before.  As Ms. Law has been far removed from the HK cinema scene for some time, only popping up occasionally in a minor role here and there, she had been placed on my minds back burner.  And honestly, I didn't even know she was ill?

Since the delivery time from HK can take a while I was actually curious to what I had ordered?  I had completely forgotten?  As I teared into the poster tube I prayed I didn't stab myself or lop a thumb off with my scissors.  I unrolled sheet after sheet with anticipation and smiled like a mental patient.  After the final poster was undone, I was confronted, face to face, with Jacqueline.  A quick heat flash of 'Holy-Shit' shot through me and at the same time was elated over this awesome poster and sad for Jacqueline's fate.  Taken way too young.

This MS. BUTTERFLY poster has almost immediately become one of my favorites.  A true to form advert from the heyday to put asses in seats.  A decent crime film centering more on females delinquency rather than young triad rascals, the films CAT III rating comes from it's over use of expletives.  Also, this sexy look at Jacqueline, all 'girls unbutton'-like with her bra and panties blazin', is never seen in the film.  I have seen MS. BUTTERFLY only once.  I have the LD and VHS, unfortunately neither come with English subs.  If any of ya'll are aware of an English subtitled copy, please point me in the direction of it. 

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For more on the passing of Jacqueline Law Wai-guen, check out these links:

Asiaone.com

Entertainment.xin.msn.com

RIP JACQUELINE

I'm Alive! Just Barely.

Hey Yo!  It's been a while so I thought I would drop by and say ni hao.  It's been about 4 months since my last post.  And in those 4ish months I got married and....blew a buns load of money on HK movies!  I have been posting my exploits to Facebook, so, to my FB friends/blog followers this post is old hat.  Anyway, on with the HK movie crap.  Above is a CAT III cake my aunt made me for our wedding rehearsal dinner.  I have an awesome family! And below.....are the goodies!  Spent a ton of money in the past few months (my credit card has been on fire and my mortgage broker shakes her fists at me) and have a few good leads on some LD's to purchase soon.  Enjoy the show.

COP IMAGE, LET'S GO SLAM DUNK, THE BLACK MORNING GLORY, INSANITY, LOST BOYS IN WONDERLAND, VENDETTA, AN ARMED POLICEWOMAN, 24 HOURS GHOST STORY, LADY SUPERCOP, CITY MANIAC, BLOODY BEAST, IT TAKES TWO TO MINGLE

MYSTERY FILES, RICH MAN, OPERATION SCORPIO

CAT III KAROKE....BOOIIINNGG!

A kindly Brooklyn shopkeeper parted with this poster for free.  I parted with mucho dinero for some VHS collecting dust in her basement.  

BEAUTY OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE, A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE, GOT NO CHOICE, CABARET TEARS, CRAZY GUY, HELLO LATECOMERS

Once upon a Brooklyn Chinatown basement.  A white boy spent his paycheck on HK VHS.

WOMAN IN NIGHT, DEADLY SEDUCTION, HONG KONG NIGHT CLUB, THE CRUEL KIND, DAY OF THUNDER, THE THRILLING SWORD

FIREFOX'S KILLER, AWAKENING, INSANITY, BORN TO BE WILD, THE FAMILY OF SWINDLER KING

BORDERLINE STORY, LAW OR JUSTICE?, BRAVEFUL POLICE, INTO THE FIRE, THE KILLER, EIGHT TALES OF GOLD, CITY WARRIORS, EDGE OF DARKNESS

And that's that! Still getting accustomed to married life.  Things are hectic.  Waiting to close on a house.  My commute to work is about to go from 10 minutes to 50 minutes and the commute home is 30 minutes longer in rush hour traffic!  But, my HK cinema love is still strong and I'm actually able to watch about 3-5 films a week.  That's not too shabby.  Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things in a few months when things settle down a bit.  No promises.  But, my attention is always on my passion.  Watching and collecting HK and Taiwanese films.  Hope you guys are doing well!?  Keep spreading that genre film love.  See ya'll soon. Cheers!

Rebekah- 藝壇照妖鏡之96應召名冊 (1996) Revisited!!!!

REBEKAH (1996)

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I treated myself to an Xmas present.  It came a few days late but, like with all things CAT III, better late than never.  The cinema poster for the jiggly 1996 film, REBEKAH.  I've posted about the film REBEKAH before.  It is a favorite of mine (most CAT III's are favorites, mind you) and it stars the gargantuan boobed lovely, Cammy Choi Mei-laan.  No augmented Amy Yippers here.  And in REBEKAH, Ms. Choi shows us a lot of the good stuff.  Rest assured, folks.  The poster image is actually blurry.  The years of touching yourself have not funked up your eyes.  Your eyes are ok. 

Check out my old REBEKAH post here.  Complete with an ancient review I wrote for cityonfire.com and a brief video clip.  Enjoy!

What Did Santa Have For Me In His Huge Sack?

OVERHEARD 2, WU XIA

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I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  I unfortunately caught the cooties this year and had the sniffles,  The cooties has transformed itself into full blown misery and I am now bundled up on the sofa, out of work for the day.  The $30 I paid for Mucinex turned out to be a waste and I'm only a few short key strokes away from enjoying a Nyquil cocktail.   Not feeling up to writing much (as I sneeze, missing the crook of my arm, and spew snot all over my laptop screen) so just a quickie here on all of the gooey goodness Santa dumped on me.  That's me, pictured below, covered in HK VHS ecstasy.  Santa's sack was a full load!  Here's another look!

Aside from a few newer flicks, Santa went to town and worked me over with a heaping help of HK VHS.  A bunch or rare and obscure titles this Xmas.  Santa gave it to me, and gave it to me good.   Check out my new babies....

BEACH SPIKE, THE LOST BLADESMAN

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AN AFFAIRE WITH A GHOST, SLEEPLESS IN TAIPEI

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DON'T CALL ME GIGOLO, THE DEADLY ROSE

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THE UNDERGROUND BANKER, PHANTOM WAR

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THE SAD STORY OF SAIGON, THE WIDOW

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THRILLING STORY, GUILTY OR INNOCENT

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LIU CHAI GHOST STORY, DRAGON BALL: THE MAGIC BEGINS

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HONEY BEE, LEE SEE FUNG

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DEADLY DESIRE, MY FLYING WIFE

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POLICE WOMEN STORY, TEMPTATION OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD

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THE GHOST OF THE FOX, A WOMAN AND A MAN '93

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SUPER HEROES, SWITCH OVER

GUN & ROSES

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FATAL LOVE, THE POWER OF LOVE

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?,?

? (with Robert Mak Tak-law), ?

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?,?

Happy Holidays, ya'll!  And don't forget to keep the X in Xmas!

Nyquil....here I come!

Merry Xmas from Bullets Over Chinatown!

Out of the mouth of babes.....

Liu Jai: Home For The Intimate Ghosts- 聊齋花弄月(1991)

 Liu Jai: Home For The Intimate Ghosts (1991)

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Director Lam Yee-hung's LIU JAI: HOME FOR THE INTIMATE GHOSTS is an erotic ghost story retread before erotic ghost story retreads became fashionable.  And it's a dang fine one!  Yee-hung brims his erotic ghost boobies story with copious amounts of coitus and comely starlets dressed way, way down. 

Of interest, to me at least, is that the starlets on display in the film aren't the usual band of bang-abouts.  No Rena Otomo's, Yau Yuk-yue's, or Chan Poo Kei's.  These no name nubiles shed their clothes and we are all the better for it.  Much, much, much skin is on display (and I even spotted a third input!).  These lovely hirsute maidens look to have Buckwheat in a leg-lock, but I suppose their untrimmed hedges were part of the actresses immersing themselves in their period piece roles?   
 

Lam Yee Hung can be artsy fartsy when he chooses, praying at the altar of Ho Fan, but usually keeps it low brow enough to not cross over into 'art over smut.'  The smut to art ratio lovingly favors the former.  Charlie Cho livens things up as a taoist Ghostbuster who uses his 'ghost-fu' to do away with the naughty specters.  There's also an appearance by Shaw hottie Siu Yam Yam, who was pretty prolific in the early 90's CAT III era, even adding story, planning, and writing credits to her naughty legacy.  The T&A on display is only half the fun.  Wire work fisticuffs and laser-beam effects push the film over into pure joy.

CASH ON DELIVERY- 與鴨共舞 (1992)

 Cash On Delivery (1992)

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Simon Yam Tat-wah made a mint portraying a HK 'duck' (gigolo) in a bunch of movies from the hey day.  And who better to portray a gigolo then Yam?  I'd do him!  New wave director Terry Tong Gei-ming slid down (or up?  Depending on how you see things) the slide from strong early 80's crime pics like COOLIE KILLER, THE PIER, and YELLOW PERIL, into the industries standards for action with SEVEN WARRIORS, eventually ending up in smut town with the first GIGOLO AND WHORE film and this definitive 90's piece of trash, CASH ON DELIVERY.

 The film pairs the suave Yam with the damn fine Veronica Yip Yuk-hing to sex things up and adds a little Sandra Ng Kwun-yu for guffaws.  It's a mish mash affair that combines the steamy, the silly, and the serious as only a HK film can do.  The patented HK cinema way- let's throw a ton of shit up on the screen and see what sticks- of filmmaking is lovingly employed and we are all better off for it.  Good on you Mr. Tong.  Tong would continue his 'slide' upward in the CAT III genre and go on to co-direct the fun sex doc. ALL OVER THE WORLD and then the shot on vid Kara Hui Ying-hung stinker HEART OF DANGER aka FATAL LOVE, before calling it a day.

 Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.....

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...nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom...