THE TRUTH: Zen and The Art of Modern Hong Kong Action Cinema.
Feb 19 '02
The Bottom Line While this essay is intended to entertain rather than lecture, I hope you can learn some interesting ideas about HK action cinema.
Wow, where do I begin? Well, Hong Kong action cinema rules. There, I have said it. But what makes the action genre so hot? For starters, to say that these films are impressive is very much an understatement. For many years, Hong Kong studios have created some of the best cinematic action masterpieces ever worshipped by film analysts and hardcore film buffs alike. Filmmakers such as Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam, Woo-ping Yuen, John Woo, Johnny To, and Sammo Hung have created some of the most memorable, stylish action films to date. Their groundbreaking films continue to inspire and influence filmmakers worldwide (just take a look at Bloodsport, The Matrix and countless others).
Suffice to say, what I enjoy about HK action cinema is its wild and vivid imagination as well as its diversity. HK Filmmakers love to bombard audiences with luscious, salacious imagery and eye candy. As well, they enjoy mixing and matching genres in their works. For example, A Chinese Ghost Story mixes a “meet cute” scenario with horror and fantasy elements. Wong Jing’s God of Gamblers combines humor with pathos and occasional spurts of strong violence.
But in order to appreciate the true beauty of Hong Kong action cinema, look beyond the over-the-top bloodshed and violence. Look at the thematic and stylistic elements which prevail in such masterpieces as A Better Tomorrow. HK action films are a lot of fun to watch, but amazingly enough, it takes a sharp eye to truly appreciate the fact that many of these films do have depth.
This is a neophyte’s guide to HK action cinema. While this article isn’t intended to lecture you or serve as the “be all, end all” guide to the best of HK cinema, I hope that by writing this, I can expose you to the splendor and magnificence of what they can offer you. I have also decided to omit the gong fu/martial arts genre (and would rather not talk about Jackie Chan or Jet Li) because most of us already have a good feeling of what they are about. Rather for the sake of diversity, I have decided to include some under-appreciated (at least in the West) films instead. I also hope to provide an essential rental list for those who are inspired to experience something unique…
Heroic Bloodshed
The “Heroic Bloodshed” genre gained popularity with John Woo’s groundbreaking classic, A Better Tomorrow. Heroic Bloodshed is easily my favorite genre; these films are usually characterized by their over the top violence (and admittedly) over the top sentimentality. However, what makes this genre different from the typical cops and robbers motif is its operatic overtones. Many of these films are like tragic operas; interestingly enough, very few of these films end with the main good guy surviving. Like tragic operas, these films tend to be very bleak and downbeat with the most sympathetic characters often biting the bullet. In contrast to most lightweight kung-fu flicks, Heroic Bloodshed films also tend to be brutally violent and realistic.
Some of the most popular themes are loyalty, friendship, brotherhood, and betrayal. There is also a strong emphasis on character development and relationships. Here are two films which I highly recommend in order to get an understanding for this genre.
A Better Tomorrow: John Woo’s poignant masterpiece about cops and gangsters is a must see. This film examines the relationship between an ambitious cop who wants to go all the way (Leslie Cheung) and his older brother (Ti Lung), a criminal who seeks redemption. It is a powerful, intense action drama about the importance of brotherhood and friendship. While this film lacks the over the top mayhem characterized by Woo’s later works, ABT has its share of spectacular action scenes including a slow-motion shoot-out in a Chinese restaurant and a gun-blazing finale in a dock. ABT is the film which defined the essence of the Heroic Bloodshed genre.
Full Contact: While I should be recommending another John Woo film here, I opted to choose Full Contact instead. This film is very unique in its depiction of its main characters. Our hero in this film is Jeffrey (Chow Yun-Fat), a nightclub bouncer. In order to help his best friend, Sam (Anthony Wong), Jeffrey gets involved in a weapons heist led by the sadistic Judge (Simon Yam). Of course, Jeffrey is double-crossed (by his best friend nonetheless) and left for dead…but he has revenge on his thoughts.
Director Ringo Lam has crafted one of the most memorable entries in the Heroic Bloodshed genre. The action sequences are phenomenal (the “bullet cam” has to be seen to be believed), the direction stylish, and the performances fun to watch. The themes of betrayal and revenge are emphasized as Jeffrey goes after the people who betrayed him and took his girl…
The Art of Wuxia
Enter a world of infinite imagination. Enter a world that can possibly only exist in epic tales, where people free themselves from the confines of gravity and walk on air. The term “Wuxia” has changed constantly and topically, but very loosely speaking, it means a “chivalric flying martial arts hero”. Wuxia films meanwhile are basically Chinese fantasy films, not unlike the Greek myths. Usually these are stories about heroic flying martial artists, about demonic creatures of different forms. Wuxia is also about upholding honor, chivalry, and heroism. Many of you were exposed to the art of the wuxia film with Ang Lee’s panoramic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (and to a lesser extent, John Carpenter’s fantasy parody Big Trouble in Little China).
A Chinese Ghost Story: Siu-Tung Ching’s fantastic fantasy film is a must-see for film buffs. It’s a wonderful, pulchritudinous tale about a lowly scholar (Leslie Cheung) who meets the woman of his dreams (Joey Wang). The catch? She’s an ethereal ghost who is the “daughter” of an Evil Tree Demon possessing the world’s longest tongue. Another catch? She is about to be married to an underworld creature whom she doesn’t love known as “Lord Black”.
A Chinese Ghost Story is one of the most beautiful movies every made. I love the gorgeous imagery—in one exquisite scene, we witness the veils subtlety moving as if they are swaying with the wind—as well as the unique camera angles (in many cases, we get to see the action from the perspective of the “monster tongue”). I also love the director’s use of lighting to generate mood. The performances too are wonderful. Leslie Cheung is simply hilarious as the clumsy tax collector whom we grow fondly of (oddly) and Joey Wang is wonderful as a ghostly being who symbolizes purity. But Wu Ma steals the show as a silly Taoist Priest who even has a rap number about Daoism and “The Way”. If you loved Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, A Chinese Ghost Story will take your breath away. This is an excellent introduction to those who want a taste of the wuxia film.
The Storm Riders: Andrew Lau’s masterpiece is in many ways similar to most wuxia films. Sonny Chiba is Lord Conquer, a megalomaniac who wants to rule the entire martial arts world. But a prophet known as “Mud Buddha” (Yiu-Cheung Lai) warns him about two souls who might stand in his way: Striding Cloud (Aaron Kwok) and Whispering Wind (Ekin Cheng). Lord Conquer decides to “adopt” these two and raise him as his own. But what happens when the two learn the truth?
The Storm Riders is purported to be one of the most expensive films in Hong Kong to date. With a budget of $10 million in US dollars, The Storm Riders contains an array of marvelous special effects (the “Fire Beast” is a WOW!) which makes Star Wars: The Phantom Menace look like child’s play. Like the typical wuxia film, The Storm Riders has its share of flying heroes and near-invincible characters. But interestingly enough, many of the women (particularly Wind’s mother and Conquer’s daughter, “Charity”) are portrayed here as devious and manipulative. For example, Charity (Kristy Yang) is anything but charitable. She becomes the object of affection for both Cloud and Wind…and the more I think about it, the more I realize that she’s enjoys having these two heroes try to win her affections. The Storm Riders represent the new wave of HK action cinema.
Independent Women
What I enjoy about HK action cinema is that in many cases, it portrays women as heroic and independent. In such films as Angel, Yes Madam! and Royal Warriors, we see women as not only beautiful and feminine, but strong-minded as well who can stand up on their own. Now that is my type of lady! Seriously, women warriors in HK cinema date back to the late 1960s and early 1970s with Pei-pei Cheng being one of the first actresses to portray women as gallant. Here are two films I highly recommend if you want to see women kick butt.
Peking Opera Blues: What surprised me the most is how little fanfare this film received in the States. Peking Opera Blues one of my favorites, combining action, comedy, a bit of romance, and plenty of pathos as it tells the story of three women who are caught in the chaos of China during the early 20th century, when warlords fought each other for supremacy. One of the women is Pak (Sally Yeh), the daughter of an opera house manager. She yearns for the life as an actress on the Peking Opera stage. But the tradition that only males can be actors has prevented her from achieving her dream. Sheung Hung (Cherie Chung) is a struggling music yearning for a better life in America. Tsao Wen (Brigitte Lin) is the daughter of a corrupt military warlord. Ironically enough, she opposes her father’s ideals. Though all three have different ideals and dreams, they are bonded together by one common goal: the need to better their lives.
Peking Opera Blues is exhilarating and fast-paced. The story is sometimes hard to follow, but there is more than enough comedy and action (the roof-top gunfight is a must-see) to keep fans happy and satisfied. The scenery and costumes also add much visual dazzle, especially the depiction of the Peking Opera itself. But what makes Peking Opera Blues even more memorable is its depiction of women. In Peking Opera Blues, the women are to be admired; they are the center focus of this movie. They even dare to stand up in a male-dominated society. However, the chemistry between the three leads makes their female bonding all the more poignant.
Executioners: The Heroic Trio II: Probably not the best choice out there, as evidenced by the less then stellar reviews, but this bleak sequel to The Heroic Trio is worth a watch. In the future, the nuclear war has devastated much of the world. The water supply has been contaminated and only a deformed villain known as Kau (Anthony Wong) holds the remaining fresh water supply. Meanwhile, Invisible Girl (Michelle Yeoh), Wonder Woman (Anita Mui), and Thief Catcher (Maggie Cheung), otherwise known as The Heroic Trio, are in search of clean water that is not in the hands of Kau.
It doesn’t take a film buff to realize that the plot is directly stolen from Mad Max. I liked two things about Executioners. First of, I felt that the characters in this film were more realistic and accessible to the audience. We didn’t see them so much as superheroes, but noble characters with noble flaws. Second, I thought that the films political undertones were fascinating. Case in point: after the nuclear apocalypse, the military has taken over much of the city that the three women inhabit. The military, led by the Colonel (Paul Chu) and Kau—lurking in the shadows—have created a Communist-type society, where civilians become the oppressed. Personally, I think that this is rather symbolic of the HK people’s fears of Red Chinese takeover (this film was made before 1997). As opposed to its predecessor, Executioners has a much darker and more downbeat tone. Fans who enjoy ominous, apocalyptic fantasies will get a kick out of this one.
Cult Cinema
You better believe that Hong Kong has created some of the most outrageously fantastic cult classics ever. There is no “strict” definition of what constitutes a cinematic cult classic from Hong Kong, but here are a few pointers. First of, like American cult classics, the ones from Hong Kong tend to have limited audience appeal. By the same token, these films only appeal to the most hardcore fans who hate conventionality. Second, cult cinema from Hong Kong is well, odd. These kinds of films can be a conglomerate of several different genres ranging from erotic-horror to blood-and-guts action. These films tend to be ballistic and ballsy; they don’t abide by the rules. It’s hard to define cult cinema in Hong Kong, but let’s just say when watching one of these types of films...anything goes!
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky: This is easily the most violent martial arts film this side of The Street Fighter(the film starring Sonny Chiba). A guy by the name of Ricky Oh (Fan-Sui Wong) is sentenced to hard labor after killing the guy who killed his girlfriend. In prison, Ricky realized that several of the inmates are being bullied by the corrupt administration and its enforcers known as the “Gang of Four”, so Ricky decides to stand up and defend the oppressed.
Inspired by the manga of the same name, The Story of Ricky is one of the most gruesome films ever made. I’m talking about endless scenes of violence including a guy getting ripped apart by a meat grinder, another guy pulling his own intestines, and someone else expanding—and blowing up—like a balloon. It’s one of the sickest films ever made. But fans who love the works of Peter Jackson and Lucio Fulci, must see it. The film’s perverse sense of humor makes it all the more fun (in a sick fashion of course). It’s uncensored violence at its best! This is a cult favorite, especially for those who want action and violence at its most visceral.
The Super Ninja: Yes, you read that correctly. The Super Ninja is a relative obscurity, but it definitely deserves more recognition. It’s one of the most pathetic films ever made, with bad acting, obvious sped-up filmmaking, and a soundtrack stolen from an innumerable number of sources (including Psycho and Star Wars)! But it’s a guilty pleasure, just like The Story of Ricky. Plus much of the action is tightly choreographed with some breathtaking acrobatic moves.
John (Alexander Lou) is an undercover cop who is also secretly a part-time ninja (like Batman). His archenemies are “The Five Element Ninjas”, five multi-colored ninjas who can do many strange things such as moving underground like a mole or flying like a rocket. These ninjas can also disappear in the blink of an eye! Meanwhile, John must battle racist, corrupt cops (all of them hilariously dubbed) as well as several gwailo (Cantonese term meaning “white boy”) gangsters.
While I cannot recommend The Super Ninja to someone who wants class—or just wants to remain sane—this film is mandatory viewing for lovers of cheesy cinema. Granted, this film is not exactly indicative of the best work of HK cinema, but its cheesiness makes it a hoot to watch. This film is destined to be a cult classic.
So this concludes my list. I hope you had fun reading it and perhaps learned a thing or two about the wonderful world of HK action cinema.
THE TRUTH write-off participants. Enjoy!
aaliyahgirluk of England
ALawston of England
amysmum of Scotland
beasmith of Scotland
ben-david of New Zealand
CarolaLind of Sweden
cartman_2k of Norway
copernicus of Orstraya
cr01 of Wales
cripper of Hong Kong
daniel_Rf of Portugal
DavidMac of Canada
Divine_Cheese of England
elsa70 of Italy
hadassachahna of Canada
hvojr of USA, representing Finland
james23 of Canada
kuuleimomi of Russkiye
LamboLucifer of Deutschland
macondo of Spain & England
MagnumForce of Canada
MariaEkaterina of Bulgaria
mattygroves of England
misstaegu of Korea
monssfisch of Enland & Japan
nscanuck of Canada
murpho of Ireland
paulyoungotti of England
petra of Deutschland
proxam of Scotland
shadow8 of USA representing China
smile2k1 of England
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shadow8
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Member: Mr. Shade
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"When you grow up, your heart dies." -The Breakfast Club
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