2. The emancipation

All About Ah Long

With: Chow Yun-Fat, Sylvia Chang, Wong Kwan- Yuen, Ng Man-Tat

A film always produced by Raymong Wong, but with more freedom for Johnnie To : he has for the first time the full powers on the story (he imposed a sad end, which are very rare in Hong Kong at this time), the artistic approach and the budget.

The film takes its story in a simple song, " Tell Laura I Love Her ", that Johnnie To developed for Chow Yun-Fat (already in The Eighth Happiness ). The two principal actors were very free cause they wrote their own dialogues. Thus they were able to become impregnated with their character. Johnnie To will again use this method for his last films (such as Where A Good Man Goes ), with a scenario that is built from day to day.

All About Ah Long is a pure melodrama, that looks like a bit to Kramer Vs. Kramer but that is better. The movie was nominated eight times at the Hong Kong Awards, which represents a good performance. It is the story of a biker, Chow Yun-Fat, which lives alone with his ten years old son, his wife living abroad since the birth. She comes back to Hong Kong after all these years to produce a publicity, meets her former husband and will do everything to take their son. The film describes the hopes of reconciliation between the two adults, shared or not, the tearings of the child and, in a intelligent way, the HK middle class (represented by Chow Yun-Fat). Enormous public success which had the greatest number of spectator over the year. The only difficulty of the film, for the fans of Chow Yun-Fat, is his hair (see the picture...!) All About Ah Long is the first great movie of Johnnie To; one can already perceive there in the character of Ah Long the features of his character which will distinguish his heroes in his future films : some losers close to the autism.

Note: * * * *

Available in dvd at Mega Star.

1990

The Fun, The Luck & The Tycoon

With: Chow Yun-Fat, Sylvia Chang, Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui, Wong Kwan-Yuen, Beyond, Nina Li Chi, Ha Yu, Wong San, Wong Man, AuYeung Its-Fei, Lo Hoi-Pang, Woo Fung, Lay Wing-Keung, Ho Ling- Ling, Yu Ming, Fung King-Man, Yeung Yau-Cheung, Tang Ying-Man, Law Ho-Kai, Cheng Siu-Ping, Leung Oi

The Fun, the Luck and the Tycoon is a very refreshing comedy, that one can link with Diary of a Big Man , with the same Chow Yun-Fat. It is the opposite process of Lady for a Day , her American remake (by the same director, Frank Capra), Pocketful of Miracles , and its HK remake (by Jackie Chan), Miracles / Mr. Canton and Lady Rose : a millionaire decides to live like a poor, at least like a worker and falls in love with his pretty boss. This movie is not boring, delirious and good played by Sylvia Chang and Chow Yun-Fat. Moreover : a new criticism of the HK society ( money money) and a description of the working class (like in All About Ah Long one year earlier). It is the first time that Johnnie To and Ching Siu-Tung collaborate since they left television.

Note: * * * 1/2

Available in dvd at Universe.

The Story of My Son

Co-scenario written with Wai Ka-Fai

With: Damian Lau Chung-Yun, Wong Kwan-Yuen, Siu Pak-Lam (Cheng Pak-Lam), Lee Si-Kei, Lau Siu-Ming, Ng Man-Tat, Fong Kong, Ng Woon-Yi, Chan Wan-Yu, Tsui Chung-Sun, Chan Kwok-Kuen, Wong Yat-Fei, Raymond Lee Wai-Man, Cheng Fan-Sang, Lay-Nam Ho, Wong Hung, Poon Ying-Ying, Shum Ka-Kei, Yau Piu

First scenario Co-written with Wai Ka-Fai: a meeting which will be good for the HK cinematographic industry (see Too Many Ways To Be Number 1 the following year). It is the first time that Johnnie To works with Yuen Bun, which will become later the choreographer of the action scenes of the productions Milkyway Image.

It is a melodrama in which a father is alone with his two children after the death of his wife. He cannot pay the hospital and a friend make him play the last money he has on the course fields. Finally he borrows money. And it is the start of a fall : he loses his job, loses his home, his children are constantly attacked... Once again, Johnnie To is interested in ordinary people, the losers. At that time, he alternates comedies and dramas on a same topic : the description of ordinary people. A depressing movie...

I did not see this film.

Available in dvd at Mei Ah.

  

1991

Casino Raiders II

With: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Wu Chien-Lien (Ng Sin- Lin), Wong Kit, Monica Chan Fat-Yung, Wong Siu, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Chan Cheuk-Yan

Third episode, in spite of the title, of the series Casino Raiders (the first being Casino Raiders (1989), by Jimmy Heung Wah-Sing and Wong Jing, and No Risk, No Profit - or Raiders Casino - The Sequel - (1990), by Wong Jing), with Andy Lau Tak- Wah. This film is a new collaboration with Ching Siu-Tung and a entrance in the world of Wong Jing.

Casino Raiders II is a crossing between film of plays ( God Of Gamblers ) and the polar. I did not see it, but it has a very bad reputation (violence, sexism, actors seeming to be bored...). Still a film to be forgotten?

Available in dvd at Mei Ah.

Royal Scoundrel or Son Of The Beach

Co-director: Chik Kei-Yi

With: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Ng Man-Tat, Wu Chien-Lien (Ng Sin-Lin), Waise Lee Chi-Hung.

New collaboration with Yuen Bun and first meeting with Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. I did not see this film, but it is said as being sympathetic : a curious mixture of romantic comedy, melodrama, polar and action. It should be noted that Johnnie To meet again Raymond Wong as producer.

1992

Justice, My Foot!

With: Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Anita Mui Yim- Fong, Ng Man-Tat, Carrie Ng Ka-Lay, Paul Chun Pui, Leung Ka-Yan, Eddy Ko Hung, Mimi Semi-Semi Chu, Cheng Kwan-Min, Yuen King-Tan, Wong Yat-Fei, Chin Wong, Wong Tin-Lam, Lung Tin-Sang

New collaboration with Ching Siu-Tung which has, for the first time with Johnnie To, the occasion to show his know-how as choreographer. This comedy in costumes, remake of a traditional movie of the HK cinema, is made for the immense asian star Stephen Chow. As usual, we can see here lot of his gags and grimaces. This time, his partner is Anita Mui, that is a little more important than his usual partner, Ng Man-Tat (too in the movie).

The history is good and like Stephen Chow, politically incorrect. Chow Yun-Fat refused the principal role - he worked then exclusively for the New Cinema City Film Company), like Michael Hui (who was more worried by the box office). Stephen Chow immediately accepted it without change the scenario (which he does now).

Note: * * * 1/2  

Available in dvd at Universe.

Lucky Encounter

With: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Kent Cheng Juk-Si, Siu Pak-Lam, Anthony Wong

It is a comedy whose heros are robbers (Tony Leung and Kent Cheng) engaged by a man (Anthony Wong) to steal a toy. But this toy is kept by a nice ghost... A film that sounds like Ghostbusters, which was a failure at the box office and which did not have good press.

1993

The Bare-Footed Kid

With : Aaron Kwok Fu-Sing, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Ti Lung, Wu Chien-Lien (Ng Sin-Lin), Cheung Siu-Fai, Kenneth Tsang Kong, Paul Chun Pui

This film is the remake of an old movie turned in 1975 by Chang Cheh, Disciples Of Shaolin, with the same choreographer for the scenes of action, Liu Chia-Liang (Lau Ka-Leung). It is besides the reason for which Johnnie To criticized the scenes of kung fu of The Bare-Footed Kid, too " 70' ". However, this film, that I unfortunately did not see, has a very good reputation: good story, good actors (Aaron Kwok, Maggie Cheung and Ti Lung), beautiful combat, beautiful music... would this be a classic ?

Available in dvd at Ritek

The Heroic Trio

With : Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Anita Mui Yim-Fong, Michelle Khan/Yeoh (Yeung Chi-King), Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Damian Lau Chung-Yun, James Pax (Pak Chin-Shek), Paul Chun Pui, Yang Yee-Kwan (Yam Sai- Koon), Wong Yat-Fei, Chan Cheuk-Yan, Lee Siu-Kei, Yuen Siu-Cheung, Mimi Chu Mi- Mi

This film was born thanks to financial considerations and marketing : the aim was "make a fashionable movie with the less money". The solution is easy : use actresses rather than actors ! Moreover actors don't know anything about martial arts (Chow Yun-Fat) or worked for big studios (Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and even Andy Lau, with the Golden Harvest). If Johnnie To put his single name on the production of The Heroic Trio, it is Ching Siu-Tung which made all the scenes of action and who, moreover, was co-producer. A clear sharing of the tasks, Johnnie To : the story, the pre and post production / Ching Siu-Tung: action. A good environment of work after the difficulties of The big heat. The Heroic Trio is one of the most known HK movies in Occident, like Naked Killer. One sees it in the film of Olivier Assayas, Irma Vep. This story of superwomen gives us the opportunity to see three great actresses, in a film which looks like a wu xia pian (kung fu, swords, atmosphere). This very good film was one failure at the HK box office.

Note : * * * *

Executioners

Co-producer et co-director avec Ching Siu-Tung

With Michelle Khan/Yeoh (Yeung Chi- King), Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Anita Mui Yim-Fong, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Lau Ching- Wan, Damian Lau Chung-Yun, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing-Mo), Paul Chun Pui, Eddy Ko Hung, Lau Tak

Executioners was made after The Heroic Trio, always for financial reasons : the three actresses were under contract for two films and it was necessary to make two films to write off the production costs. One sees besides very clearly that Executioners has a less important budget than the first opus : less fights and more a drama than a action movie. It does not remain less interesting for its futuristic and disillusioned vision, a little as if the spectrum of the takeover planed on the story.

Note : * * * *

Available in dvd at Tai Seng

 Mad Monk

Co-director avec Ching Siu-Tung

With : Stephen Chow Sing-Chi, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Ng Man-Tat, Paul Chun Pui, Anita Mui Yim-Fong, Yuen King-Tan

A god, played by Stephen Chow, bets with his divine colleagues that he will succeed in repurchasing the life of a prostitute (Maggie Cheung), a beggar (Anthony Wong) and a gangster. So he goes down on Earth.

The third collaboration with Ching Siu-Tung and second with Stephen Chow. Johnnie To knew how to control the HK comic actor in Justice, My Foot! Here the actor is getting too much for Johnnie To, in this second and last movie they made together.

I did not see this film.

Available in dvd at China Star (without translation in english).

1995

Loving You

With : Lau Ching-Wan, Carman Lee Yeuk-Tung, Tou Chung-Wah, Yip Chui-Mei, Wong Chun-Fai, Shin Kam-Fong, Lee Chung-Wai, Wong Wah-Yu, Mak Siu-Fai, Chiu Yuet-Ming

It is the history of a police officer (Lau Ching-Wan) obsessed by his work who neglects constantly his wife (Carman Lee). She says to him that she is pregnant of another man. A little time later the police officer is very seriously wounded during the missed interpellation of a suspect. He will lose two senses (smell and taste) and will realize slowly that he almost lost his life and his wife. The suspect will seek to have his revenge.

Loving You is the result of a recept which brings success to Jonnie To : a mixture of action and emotion. As for All About Ah Long, the weak budget of Loving You will enable him to be completely free for the orientations of the story. This film will be also the occasion to form a new couple which will works perfectly in other films : Lau Ching-Wan / Carman Lee. Moreover Johnnie like a lot this movie.
( From mickaël : Yes, it's a very good movie, I love it too.)

Available in video at polygram

1996

A Moment Of Romance 3

Producer

With : Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Wu Chien-Lien (Ng Sin-Lin), Alex Fong Chung-Sun

A love story during the Second World war. Very different from the two first opus. Johnnie To directed himself this third episode (but produced all the series) because the budget was important. However a movie that Johnnie does not like at all.

Note : 1/2

Available in dvd at Mei Ah.

1997

Lifeline or Fireline

Assistant director : Patrick Yau Tat-Chi

With : Lau Ching-Wan, Alex Fong Chung-Sun, Carman Lee Yeuk-Tung, Ruby Wong Cheuk-Ling, Damian Lau Chung-Yun, Wong Ho-Yin, Tang-Fung, Lui Man-Loi, Yiu Ying-Ying, Annabelle Lau Hiu-Tung, Wong Ka-Ming, Shin Kam-Ching, Kwok Yi-Kiu

Come back of the great couple Lau Ching-Wan / Carman Lee in this HK version of Backdraft. Once again, it is the action mixture / drama which is used in the following proportions: a little more than one hour of description of the everyday life of a unit of HK firemen and approximately half an hour of action, the fight against the fire of a warehouse. The first part is the weakest : stereotyped and caricatural characters... The end is unbelievable. Even if the budget is less important than the US movie, it is not less impressive : the production bought an old building, fire it and put cameras in the warehouse... The technical team used fireproof combinations and oxygen bottles, like the actors. There were casualties and lot of men finished at the hospital ! There is the reason of the realism of the action, whose choregrapher was Yuen Bun.

Like most of the local production of these time, Lifeline is haunted by the spectrum of the takeover : fire, like China, encircles the protagonists who are reduced to exist in a "little" space ... This good film is not a production Johnnie To, but one of the last Shaw Brothers (the producer is Mona Fong, wife of Sir Run Run Shaw)

Note : * * * 1/2

Available in dvd at Universe.