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Chow Yun Fat's Fan Page - Biography, filmography, pictures, movie posters, and video information.
Chow Yun-Fat - Filmography, pictures and links. In Japanese and English.
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Chow Yun-Fat: God of Actors - News, biography, reviews, and pictures.
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A Free Man In Hong Kong - Film reviews, screen captures, FAQ, desktop materials, multimedia clips, mailing list and links.
Hong Kong Heartbreaker - Concentrates on the actor's television career and early films. With screen captures and reviews.
IMDb - Yun-Fat Chow - Filmography, trivia, photographs and links.
Pickel's Chow Yun-Fat FanPage - Biography, filmography, multimedia, and message board. In Japanese and English.
The Professional - Screen captures, commentary and links to movie trailers.
The Yin and Yang of Chow Yun-Fat - Fan site containing a biography, filmography, reviews, multimedia clips, news items, photographs, scanned magazine articles, desktop materials, fan fiction, commentary, merchandise and links.

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Chow Yun Fat

Average customer rating:

An epic movie that a must see

Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray]
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Gong Li , Ni Dahong , Liu Ye , and Jay Chou
Director: Zhang Yimou
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000MRA59C
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Amazon.com

Curse of the Golden Flower, a fictionalized historical glimpse into the brutally complicated politics of Emperor Ping's (Chow Yun Fat) reign during the Tang Dynasty, shows the viewer just how far a megalomaniac must go to gain and retain power in medieval China. Lavish sets, massive ceremonial displays, and perversely fascinating battle scenes impress similarly to the special effects Americans have come to love and expect from Chinese action films like Zhang Yimou's previous House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. An intricate plot involving the Emperor's wife, Empress Phoenix (Gong Li) and their three sons, Crown Prince Xiang, Prince Jie, and Prince Cheng, most closely follows the Empress's secret plan to force abdication upon her corrupt husband as revenge for his slowly poisoning her with Black Fungus tea. Opening on the eve of the Chysanthemum Festival, 928 A.D., the Empress obsessively embroiders gold chysanthemums to adorn her army's uniforms while hatching plans with Jai to overthrow the Crown Prince for control of the throne. Meanwhile, a side plot develops as the Emperor's ex-wife and mother to Crown Prince Yu reemerges as Yu's lover. By the time the Festival occurs, family members are pitted against each other in a King Lear-ian web of lies that can only result in demise. The most sophisticated narrative aspect of Curse of the Golden Flower is that as the royal family crumbles, the Emperor's death grip on China remains unwavering. Gorgeous scenes set in the palace and costume design displaying China's upper class decadence cannot fail to entertain. The paradox between good and evil, here, is highlighted by how the Emperor successfully rules despite, and because of, his utter cruelty. --Trinie Dalton

Product Description

From the director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers comes the martial arts epic masterpiece whose savage beauty and exquisite elegance has mesmerized and captivated audiences around the world. Set in the lavish and breathtakingly colorful world hidden from the eyes of mere mortals behind the walls of the Forbidden City, a tale of a royal family divided against itself builds to a mythic climax as lines are crossed, trust is betrayed, and family blood is spilled in the quest for redemption and revenge. Starring Chow Yun Fat of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as the embattled Emperor and Gong Li of Memoirs of a Geisha as his poisoned Empress, Curse of the Golden Flower grants you entry into a dazzling and spectacular world of betrayal, vengeance and passion that will change the way you think of martial arts forever.

Customer Reviews:

An epic movie that a must see.......2007-06-11

This is a great movie. Normally, I am not into these types of film but I am glad I watched it. The film is breathtakingly beautiful, in terms of colors and camera works (same director that made "Hero". This is much better than Hero by far). It is so good that after I watched it on regular DVD, loaned from a friend, I went on Amazon and ordered the blu-ray version.

Gong Li and CYF are the pros at story telling. The movie is very grand and MUST be seen in Chinese audio and English subtitle to get the true feelings from the real actors voices. Although if you opt for English dub, it is very good too.

I am sure this blu-ray version will be fantastic. Will write up how it looks once I get a chance to view it.

Average customer rating:

Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?
Huge, complex, and contradictory
not essential, but fine viewing all the same
Wow! Huh?
Costumes do not make a good movie

Curse of the Golden Flower [Region 99]
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Li Gong , Jay Chou , Ye Liu , and Dahong Ni
Director: Yimou Zhang
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition) [Region 99]
Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)
The Good Shepherd (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000MRA592
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Curse of the Golden Flower, a fictionalized historical glimpse into the brutally complicated politics of Emperor Ping's (Chow Yun Fat) reign during the Tang Dynasty, shows the viewer just how far a megalomaniac must go to gain and retain power in medieval China. Lavish sets, massive ceremonial displays, and perversely fascinating battle scenes impress similarly to the special effects Americans have come to love and expect from Chinese action films like Zhang Yimou's previous House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. An intricate plot involving the Emperor's wife, Empress Phoenix (Gong Li) and their three sons, Crown Prince Xiang, Prince Jie, and Prince Cheng, most closely follows the Empress's secret plan to force abdication upon her corrupt husband as revenge for his slowly poisoning her with Black Fungus tea. Opening on the eve of the Chysanthemum Festival, 928 A.D., the Empress obsessively embroiders gold chysanthemums to adorn her army's uniforms while hatching plans with Jai to overthrow the Crown Prince for control of the throne. Meanwhile, a side plot develops as the Emperor's ex-wife and mother to Crown Prince Yu reemerges as Yu's lover. By the time the Festival occurs, family members are pitted against each other in a King Lear-ian web of lies that can only result in demise. The most sophisticated narrative aspect of Curse of the Golden Flower is that as the royal family crumbles, the Emperor's death grip on China remains unwavering. Gorgeous scenes set in the palace and costume design displaying China's upper class decadence cannot fail to entertain. The paradox between good and evil, here, is highlighted by how the Emperor successfully rules despite, and because of, his utter cruelty. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews:

Can You Say Chinese Historical Soap Opera?.......2007-06-24

I've never expected so many twists and turns in this movie's plot, let alone all the backstabbing each character performs upon each other!! No one can trust each other-- it is truly amazing!

The acting is fantastic in this movie. BUT even more amazing is the elaborate set design, phenomenal costuming, make-up, and spectacular cinematography throughout this movie. The only thing that wasn't great about this movie was the plot, which could have been a bit more improved and less soap opera-esque!

Huge, complex, and contradictory.......2007-06-22

It's a stunning visual achievement. Robes, architecture, landscape - it's all vibrant and dramatic. Everything indoors is gold or brilliant color. Ritual, costume, jewelry, even golden makeup all contribute to color that almost screams off the screen. Then, towards the end, the sheer mass of humanity involved (even if CGI) made the "cast of thousands" cliche seem paltry. China has had many things in its history, but first has always been the overwhelming numbers of its populace. For all that, this isn't a movie about its appearance.

It's about revenge, intrigue, honor, and the appearance of honor - sometimes the opposite of honor itself. Year after year, layer after layer of subterfuge accretes, until every loyalty and most disloyaties are torn in multiple directions. It's not just Macchiavellian - old Niccolo wouldn't have lasted until lunch.

The fights, and there are many, mostly lack the setpiece choreography that could have made them memorable. The physical combat is the least of it. Hatred to hatred, face to face, this describes a fight between the characters' inner filth, served up in a golden dish.

-- wiredweird

not essential, but fine viewing all the same.......2007-06-21

'curse of the golden flower' is a movie i anxiously waited to see. after the great 'hero,' and excellent 'house of flying daggers,' i was very excited to at the prospect of a new zhang yimou film.

a lot of the criticism aimed of 'curse' isn't unfounded. the plot is barely there, but 'curse' is more a study of family dynamics, loyalty, betrayal, dishonesty, hidden secrets, quasi-incestuous relationships, maternal love and paternal hatred than a grand and epic film. most of the scenes are confined to the empress' quarters and surrounding palace. only one sequence that i can remember takes place outside the palace--and it's a great sequence (and the only one which really showcases the trademark wuxia acrobatics).

chow yun-fat and gong li are both excellent in their roles of emperor and empress. chow yun-fat is almost frigtening in his cruelty (and i have to say that his salt-n-pepper goatee really works for him. he's an incredibly handsome man--which makes the emperor's cruelty all the more effective) and the ever-lovely gong li is terrific as the slowly-going-mad empress. since it is more a character study, the burden of making the film watchable falls squarely on the the leads and they rise to the occassion, particularly gong li. she does a nice job of evoking the viewer's empathy.

zhang yimou is peerless when it comes to visual artisty. i suspect he blows 1/2 his budget on scenery. he crams so much into each you practically need to hit pause every 10 seconds just to take a look at the feasts that are his backgrounds. as the title suggests, yellow is the color of choice in this film, and he always uses it effectively, even though it sometimes comes close to overwhelming the film.

if there's a problem with 'curse,' it's that does drift a bit into the melodramatic, particularly as all the secrets are 'revealed' and each character's motivations become clear. since it is a tragedy, few people make it to the film's ending, and those deaths are bloody and, for the most part, graphic--particularly the emperor's flogging of his own son. which leads me to believe that the moral of 'curse of the golden flower' is this: don't, under any circumstance, mess with chow yun-fat. he'll knock you into the next decade and not lose a blink of sleep over it. i also found the ending a bit problematic and too vague. it's not that i need all the answers or a tidy bow around it, but the denoument is perplexing at best; and not to mention the score, which at a moment of supreme tragedy, sounds like the ending to an animated disney film. the music is fine on its own, but seems very inappropriate and distracts from the emotional bloodletting you've just experienced.

in short, i enjoyed 'the curse of the golden flower,' but if you're not already a fan of zhang yimou and/or chinese cinema, you could probably just skip this one and go back to 'hero' or 'house of flying daggers.'

(about the R rating -- it seems a bit on the severe side. sure, it's bloody and violent during the last 40 minutes, but no more so than the average episode of '24,' so if you can handle that, you can handle this).

Wow! Huh?.......2007-06-21

Like most reviewers, I agree that this is a visually stunning movie. The plot is heavy on the Shakespeare and as such it leaves much up to the viewer to seek answers to the questions that arise. The acting is well done throughout, especially Gong Li and Jay Chou who portrays the natural son of Gong Li's Phoenix character. According to the special features he is a newcomer to the screen, having made his mark as a pop star. I'm impressed, especially given the high rate of failure in such a career move. Chow Yun-Fat is good but was a bit over-the-top to me, flaring his nostrils and popping his eyes to convey emotion. Still, there is a scene late in the movie that was as hard to watch as I'm sure it was hard to act. You'll know it when you see it and it shows much more accurately why he (along with Gong Li) are such widely acclaimed cinematic actors.
The movie packs a lot in, from the excessively opulent sets and eye candy to the Greek tragedy levels of bloodshed that come at the climax of the film. When it's all said and done, however, I felt a bit letdown at the lack of substance that I took away from the film. The action sequences leaned heavily on huge battles scenes rife with CGI trickery instead of one-on-one duals. Yes, both are jaw-dropping, but I simply prefer the latter. This movie might be your cup of tea and there is much to enjoy from a purely sensory level, but it wasn't as emotionally gratifying as I'd hoped.

Costumes do not make a good movie.......2007-06-15

So very pretty, such a let down. Hero and House of Flying Daggers were both so incredible that it was hard to believe it was from the same director.

Average customer rating:

DVD Content!!!
Greatest action film of the past 15 years! By Ian Colvin, 12-year old filmmaker

Hard Boiled (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Kwan Hoi-Shan , Cheung Jue-lin , Tsang Kong , and Philip Kwok
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Dragon Dynasty
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000N4SHNK
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Description

A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to bring down a gun smuggling ring. Features some of the most amazing and influential action set pieces in cinematic history.

Customer Reviews:

DVD Content!!!.......2007-06-22

This is the content of this DVD

Hard Boiled: Ultimate Edition (2-disc) (1992) DIR.John Woo
#Commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan
#EXTRAS:
--A Baptism of Fire --featurette
--John Woo: Partner in Crime --featurette
--Terence Chang: Art Imitates Life --featurette
--Mad Dog Bites Again --featurette
--Location guide
--Hong Kong theatrical trailer + U.S. promotional trailer
#Subtitles: English and Spanish
#Picture format: Anamorphic NTSC
#Soundtrack(s): Catonese DTS 5.1, DD 5.1, English DD 5.1 & eng Mono

Greatest action film of the past 15 years! By Ian Colvin, 12-year old filmmaker.......2007-05-26

John Woo's 1992 action film "Hard Boiled" is without a doubt the greatest shoot-em' up actioneer of the past 15 years. Finally Dragon Dynasty is releasing a 2-disc ultimate edition supposedly even containing a newly shot featurette where we see all the locations from the film now-a-days. It looks to be a great package that I will certainly (and gladly) display on my shelf.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [Region 99]

Average customer rating:

Best Martial Arts Film Ever
Disappointed...
Not The Best Martial Arts Movie
East meets West, and West comes off best.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [Region 99]
Starring: Chang Chen , Chow Yun-Fat , Chang Cheng , Cheng Pei-Pei , and Sihung Lung
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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Hero
House of Flying Daggers [Region 99]
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ASIN: B00003CXR4
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com essential video

Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.

The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei

Description

An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Pind (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

Best Martial Arts Film Ever.......2007-06-22

Everything has already been said about this film, so I'll put only a short review here.

Why did I use the superlative in the title? Because it seems to be true for me. (The second place belongs to House of Flying Daggers [Region 99].) The story line is not very strong, but much better than you may see in this genre. The romantic threads do not make it too schmaltzy, and the visual design is simply excellent.

Disappointed..........2007-05-28

Although I enjoyed Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi (as always), I didn't enjoy this movie hardly at all. I couldn't believe this was the movie that got such rave reviews and was Oscar nominated etc. I don't say that foolishly, stating that I dislike the movie when really I dislike the genre. That's not it. I just much prefer films like "House of the Flying Daggers" and "Hero" to this one.

Not The Best Martial Arts Movie.......2007-04-05

the cinemotography is pretty good i this movie, but the plot was raw. This movie was okay.

East meets West, and West comes off best. .......2007-02-16

The martial arts film traditionally has attained its own unique niche in the domain of film. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese-language film that works within the parameters of the old cliches of this niche, but changes just enough to make it stand out and create an appeal that reaches far beyond the limited circle of the average martial art film enthusiast. It doesn't lack the action that one might expect from the typical film in this genre, but it adds something new: the soul of tragedy and romance.

An adaption of a Chinese pulp-fiction novel, the story concerns two secret lovers (the male Li Mu Bai and female Yu Shu Lien) who are warriors on a quest to recapture a legendary sword, the Green Destiny, which has been stolen by a masked bandit. The thief turns out to be the beautiful princess Jen Yu, who is in the middle of trying to avoid an arranged marriage, because she is secretly in love with the desert bandit Lo, whom she grew to love after being abducted in the wilderness. Behind the intrigue and romance of these two forbidden loves, lies the dark cloud of mastermind Jade Fox, the evil woman responsible for the deaths of Mu Bai's former master and of Shu Lien's fiance. This sets the stage for a poignant drama, warm romance, and breath-taking action.

Despite being a martial arts film, the movie breaks the traditional Eastern mould by incorporating romantic elements one would expect from Hollywood. It has well been said that stylistically, it is "a blend of Eastern action and Western psychological drama." I think this assessment is correct, that while on the one hand the film is clearly inspired by martial-arts mysticism and action of the East, underneath the window dressing of the foreign aspects of the film lies the romanticism and drama that one is accustomed to from the West. By catering to what appeals to the modern Western mindset and incorporating subtle criticisms of traditional Chinese culture, it's not surprising that the film was somewhat of a flop in Asia, and that its concessions to contemporary themes of love and feelings made it a breakthrough success in the West. Stephen Greydanus puts it well by remarking: "Ang Lee has here crafted a masterful synthesis of various forms of Chinese mythology and Taoist philosophy that brings a broader perspective to its subject matter than many Asian films including some aspects of more typically Western sensibilities and ideals and, in the end, embraces a gently romantic humanism that is more life-affirming than the esoteric way of detachment and denial characteristic of Eastern thought." Certainly there are allusions to Taoistic mysticism, but the Taoism is in the end rejected in favor of realism and romanticism - which perhaps explains why the movie worked for Western viewers and not for Eastern ones.

The movie has also been the subject of scathing criticism for other reasons, not least from conservative Christian quarters, where offense was taken primarily to the implicit endorsement of extra-marital sexual relations, and the rebellious attitude of Jen toward her parents and her arranged marriage. For the most part, I share this concern, and it's good to be reminded of it. Watching too many movies which advocate the moral laxity of modern culture can dull sensitivity on this point, and unfortunately there aren't enough films on the other extreme to act as correctives.

But perhaps most discussion has been about the ambiguous conclusion (*spoiler warning*), where Jen leaps into the unknown. Lo has just expressed the wish is "to be in the desert, together [with you] again" and then Jen jumps off the cliff into the mist of uncertainty. If it's not suicide, what is it? And what happens next? We don't know. Some have optimistically seen this as a Christological leap of faith and sacrifice with the hope of resurrection, but it seems to me that interpreting this as a message of atonement and resurrection is being too generous and overly charitable. Perhaps the point is that we don't know the ending, and that the movie can only leave it up to us to decide for ourselves. And isn't this typical for a Western culture without absolutes? Maybe this is a reflection of our post-modern culture more than anything. Not only does contemporary culture delight in being morally ambiguous, but as a result it also has an ambiguous eschatology. The best that modern Western film can offer is a nebulous promise of a hope for the future. In other words, our world today doesn't really know much about the afterlife, so it can't really tell us much about it, except offer paradoxes and try to make us come up with our own happy endings. The best promise it can give is a blend of hopeless romanticism and eastern mysticism, where suicide is romanticized as an genuine escape and a leap into another world where perhaps dreams might just come true.

Despite being critical of some of these underlying themes and moral ambiguity, I have to admit that Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is stimulating in raising these questions, in a way that few popular films today do. It remains a fascinating film in what it says about a clash of cultures, and in what it says about our time. The discerning viewer is sure to find some measure of profit and entertainment from this highly regarded and award-winning film. - GODLY GADFLY

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.......2007-02-12

I watched the TV programs first. I understand it must have been difficult to make the long story to short. But the movie didn't reflect the original plot. Since I like Michelle Yoe and Zhan Ziyi, I bought the movie. But I didn't really enjoy it. I couldn't understand the ending, either. I wonder why it got the awrad. Anyway, I recommend "Hero" if you like to enjoy fantazy kun fu movies.

Average customer rating:

The King and I Admirers Will Be Bored
not your father's King and I
Anna and the King
Entertaining and Captivating
Great Movie!

Anna and the King
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Jodie Foster , Bai Ling , Tom Felton , and Randall Duk Kim
Director: Andy Tennant
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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The King and I (50th Anniversary Edition)
Nell
Ever After - A Cinderella Story
Contact
Sabrina

ASIN: B00003CWLF
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Product Description

Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and international action star Chow Yun-Fat star in this epic true story of a woman who challenged the heart of a king and inspired the destiny of a nation.

English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens has traveled to Siam to educate the fifty-eight children of King Mongkut. If she has preconceived notions about the East, the King has similar notions about the West. But amid the danger of growing political unrest, their respect for each other slowly turns into something more.

System Requirements:
Starring: Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat, and Bai Ling.
Directed By: Andy Tennant.
Running Time: 147 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2001 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

What's a director to do? Andy Tennant's previous film was the highly enjoyable Cinderella romance Ever After, which vanished from theaters and became a video hit. Then Tennant made this gorgeous, nonmusical version of Anna and the King, and once again felt the sting of box-office failure. Both films deserved better, and this Anna is certain to eventually find the appreciative audience that eluded it in theaters. In many ways, this delightful costume romance transcends the latter-day quaintness of The King and I to offer a more lavish and rewarding version of the story of Anna Leonowens, based on her diaries and first told in Margaret Landon's 1944 novel.

In an otherwise admirable performance (although many felt her miscast), Jodie Foster struggles with her Victorian accent as Anna, the grieving widow who arrives in Siam in 1860 with her young son. Having accepted a post as tutor for the many children of the polygamous King Mongkut (Chow Yun-Fat), Anna finds herself drawn to the progressive monarch, whose passions swirl in a turbulent political climate. If the chemistry isn't entirely there, this culture clash still has plenty of regal charm, and Luciana Arrighi's production design is appropriately magnificent. Humor and politics are given equal measure, and Chow Yun-Fat is arguably the most endearing king to date--powerful yet tender, forceful but anguished by the heavier burdens of leadership. Bai Ling's intense performance as the tragic lover Tuptim adds emotional depth to one of the most underrated films of 1999. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The King and I Admirers Will Be Bored.......2007-04-11

This film was a real let down. Jodie Foster was wasted in a familiar tale that wasn't told the way we remember it. Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner keep their titles of Anna and the King.

not your father's King and I.......2007-04-01

This was a pleasure-packed film from the opening scenery to the text at the end chronicling the changes brought about in Siam owing to the influence of Anna. The country and the people(at least those of the royal household) are absolutely beautiful. The king is one to whom it would be very easy to feel loyalty to.
After seeing the movie, I feel compelled to read the history of Siam, and thus, Thailand.

Anna and the King.......2007-03-27

Very interesting remake of the King and I, though we older set missed the singing, it was put together and updated well. Jodie always gives a great performance!

Entertaining and Captivating.......2007-03-22

This is a great movie to have in your library. It is basically a film along the lines of The King and I. Jodie Foster is the perfect match for her role. She grabs you and draws you in, making a personal connection with the characters. Chow Yun-Fat is, also, a very good fit for his role as emperor.
The film makes you take a good look at how personal realtionships within your own family are about the most important thing you have. It also draws attention to the importance of respecting others. I'm not going to use the word 'tolerance'...but for the closed-minded, tyranical types, this film will ease that person into realizing the many good qualities in other people.
Oh, and don't forget the falling-in-love portions of this movie. Crossing boundries for those forbidden pleasures alway make for a good time.
This is a great film for those who like to ride the emotional rollercoaster. You'll laugh, get ticked-off, cry, get the warm-fuzzies...you get the point.
So, grab your sweatheart, get a blanket, pop some popcorn, turn the lights down and enjoy this timeless work of art!

Great Movie!.......2007-03-03

Anna and the King is a wonderful True movie! Jodie Foster is a very good actress in this movie. This movie made me laugh, cry and happy!

Average customer rating:

You get what you pay for!
A nice change
On a 1 to 10 scale, this collection rates : 4.8
Craptacular!
A collection of really great "bad kung-fu" movies

Martial Arts 50 Movie Pack Collection
Starring: Sonny Chiba , Jackie Chan , and Chow Yun Fat
Manufacturer: Mill Creek Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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Kung Fu 20 Movie Pack
Chilling Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection
SciFi Classics Collection 50 Movie Pack Collection
50 Movie Pack: Drive-In Movie Classics
Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection

ASIN: B0007DBJUU
Release Date: 2005-01-18

Product Description

For the first time, the legends of martial arts are gathered in the ultimate DVD collection that will provide countless hours of adrenaline-filled action.

System Requirements:
<ol><Li>Martial Arts Classics 50 Movie MegaPack - Kung Fu Arts

Shaolin Deadly Kicks

Black Cobra

Black Cobra 3

Chase Step by Step

Deadly Duo

Ninja Champion

Spirits of Burce Lee

City Ninja

Four Shaolin Challengers

Brave Lion

Snake-Tiger-Crane

Black Fist

Head Hunter

Black Godfather

Fist of Fear Touch of Death

Street Fighter

Eapons of Death

Fighting Mad

Return of the Kung Fu Dragon

Image of Bruce Lee

Death Machines

Sister Street FIghter

Karate Kids USA

Death of a Ninja

Ten Fingers of Death

Ninja Empire

Real Bruce Lee

Hands of Death

Shadow Ninja

Four Robbers

Infernal Street

Weapons of Death

Big Fight

Ninja Death I

Ninja Death II

Ninja Death III

Tiger Love

Guy with the Secret Kung Fu

Kung Fu Kids Break Away

Impossible Kid

Ninja Heat

Black Cobra 2

Shaolin Temple

Ninja: The Protector

Heroes of Shaolin Part 1

Heroes of Shaolin Part 2

Snake Fist Cynamo

The Master: Max

The Master: Out of Time Step</ol>

Runnig Time 4223 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

You get what you pay for!.......2007-05-08

Many of the films are not viewable. But if you want to be transported back to the 1970's it's a quick trip. Now, with the power of the DVD remote you can turn it off when the bad dubbing gets bad and the sudden nudity pops up right after a fight scene.

A nice change.......2007-05-07

These movies arrived in excellent condition. I immediately stored them once I was able to peruse the collection. Will probably do business with again

On a 1 to 10 scale, this collection rates : 4.8.......2007-04-16

Some of the titles in MARTIAL ARTS 50 MOVIE PACK are so obscure, very little information could be gotten about them. A couple of selections here are from a long-forgotten American TV series. There's even a few spaghetti-karate films thrown into the mix. The majority however originate in the Far East: Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Lots of choreography went into the making of these movies; undoubtedly, there were a few unintentional injuries along the way, too. The action and pratfalls are non-stop and the plots mere window dressing for the foot-to-head combat scenes. For all martial arts fans these cinematic slugfests are sure-to-please.

Overall rating was achieved by averaging out viewer polling on 42 of these titles. Based on a film resource website's 1 to 10 scoring system, the current rating for MARTIAL ARTS is: 4.8.

The following alphabetized program list includes individual poll scores, original theatrical names (where indicated), country of origin, years of release and primary performers.

(5.0) The Big Fight (Taiwan/Hong Kong-1972) - Roc Tien/Cheung Chin Chin
(4.0) Black Cobra (Italy-1987) - Fred Williamson/Eva Grimaldi
(5.1) Black Cobra 2 (Italy-1988) - Fred Williamson/Nicholas Hammond
(4.5) Black Cobra 3 (Italy-1988) - Fred Williamson/Forry Smith
(4.8) Black Fist (1975) - Richard Lawson/Dabney Coleman/Philip Michael Thomas
(2.7) The Black Godfather (1974) - Rod Perry/Damu King
(4.4) The Brave Lion (1977) - Wei Tzi Yung
(3.9) Breakout From Oppression (1978) - Fonda Lynn/Alan Tam
(2.7) Chase Step By Step (China-1982) - Chee Fung/Wong Gwan Sheong
(???) City Ninja (1986) - Wai-Man Chan/Chia Che Fu
(6.6) The Deadly Duo (Hong Kong-1971) - David Chiang/Chuen Chan
(2.2) Death Machines (1976) - Ronald L. Marchini/Michael Chong
(5.6) Death Of A Ninja ("Black Magic Wars") (Japan-1982) - Hiroyuki Sanada/Sonny Chiba (in support)
(4.0) Fighting Mad ("Death Force") (USA/Philippines-1978) - Jayne Kennedy/Leon Isaac Kenndey (both minor roles)
(6.1) Four Robbers (Hong Kong-1987) - Charlie Cho/Feng Ku
(5.1) Four Shaolin Challengers (Homg Kong-1977) - Charlie Chan/Phillip Ko
(3.7) The Guy With The Secret Kung Fu (Hong Kong-1981) - Sally Chen/Fei Meng
(3.9) Hands Of Death (Hong Kong-1987) - Richard Harrison/Roc Tien
(3.6) The Head Hunter (Hong Kong-1982) - Rosamund Kwan
(4.6) Heroes of Shaolin Part 1 (Hong Kong-1979) - Sing Chen/Jang Lee Hwang
(4.6) Heroes of Shaolin Part 2 (Hong Kong-1979) - Sing Chen/Jang Lee Hwang
(4.3) Image Of Bruce Lee (1978) - Bruce Li/Chang Leih
(8.1) The Impossible Kid (Philippines-1982) - Weng Weng
(5.5) Infernal Street (Taiwan/Hong Kong-1973) - Feng Chang/Wan Hsi Chin
(4.7) Karate Kids USA ("The Little Dragons") (1980) - Charles Lane/Ann Sothern
(6.6) Kung Fu Arts (Taiwan-1980) - Carter Wong/Sing Chen
(7.8) Kung Fu Kids Break Away (Hong Kong-1980) - Au Dai/Cheung Hoi Fan
(???) The Master (series): "Max" (TV-1984) - Lee Van Cleef/Timothy Van Patten/Sho Kosogi/Demi Moore (bit part)
(???) The Master (series): "Out-Of-Time Step" (TV-1984) - Charles Collins/Dick Durock
(2.9) Ninja Champion (Hong Kong-1985) - Bruce Baron/Pierre Tremblay
(5.1) Ninja Death I (1987) - Alexander Lou/Fei Meng
(???) Ninja Death II (1987) - Lo Yiu/Fei Ming
(???) Ninja Death III (1987) - Lo Yui/Fei Ming
(2.3) Ninja Empire (Hong Kong-1990) - Mike Abbott/Marko Ritchie
(???) Ninja Heat (1988) - Chan Sheng/Chan Wai Mang
(3.2) Ninja The Protector (Canada/Hong Kong-1986) - Richard Harrison/Jackie Chan
(6.0) The Real Bruce Lee (Hong Kong-1973) - Bruce Lee/Bruce Li/Dragon Lee
(4.9) Return Of The Kung Fu Dragon (Hong Kong-1976) - Sing Chen/Tao Chen
(6.1) Return Of The Street Fighter (Japan-1974) - Sonny Chiba/Yôko Ichiji
(6.7) Shadow Ninja (Hong Kong-1983) - Roy Chiao/Wei Tung
(5.7) Shaolin Deadly Kicks ("Flash Legs") (Hong Kong-1977) - Tao-liang Tan/Lieh Lo
(7.3) Shaolin Temple (Hong Kong-1976) - Sheng Fu/Kuan-Chun Chi
(5.7) Sister Street Fighter (Japan-1974) - Hiroshi Miyauchi/Sanae Ohba
(3.4) Snake Fist Dynamo (Homg Kong-1984) - Erik Yee/Dick Lee
(???) The Snake, The Tiger, The Crane (Hong Kong-1975) - Carter Wong/Nan Hsi Yen
(5.2) Spirits Of Bruce Lee (Hong Kong-1973) - Michael Chan/Poon Lok
(6.9) The Street Fighter (Japan-1974) - Sonny Chiba/Waichi Yamada
(???) Tiger Love (1977) - Hu Chin/Lieh Lo/Ya Wang
(4.0) T.N.T. Jackson (Philippines/USA-1975) - Jeannie Bell/Stan Shaw
(3.3) The Weapons Of Death (1982) - Eric Lee/Bob Ramos

Craptacular!.......2007-02-17

This collection is well worth every penny you'll spend on it, as long you enjoy this film genre. Personally, these movies evoke more laughter for me than most of the comedies being currently released. Some of the movies don't really qualify as martial arts movies - in particular, I'm referring to Black Cobra 1, 2, and 3 - three of the worst movies ever made. These movies, starring former NFL player Fred "The Hammer" Williamson would more appropriately be categorized as action movies, although there isn't a Hell of a lot of action in them. I digress. The point is that there are maybe 3 punches thrown in the entire first movie. It's definitely not a martial arts movie. Most of the movies in this collection, however, are exactly what you would expect. In particular, there are three movies, Ninja Death 1, 2, and 3 that are so awful that they border on greatness. I'm not a film student, so I couldn't tell you what the filming technique is called wherein the "actors" fight in slow-motion, and then the film is sped up to make the fights look like they are taking place at a normal speed. The director of these Ninja Death movies sped the fights up too much, and the result is that every battle looks like an episode of the Benny Hill show. I put these kind of crappy movies on at night to fall asleep to (spaghetti westerns and cheesy horror flicks work well also), but Ninja Death kept me awake and laughing. None of the movies in this collection are big budget - they are all old, and the sound and picture quality is poor, but that adds, not detracts, to the experience of watching them. If you "get" these kinds of films, you absolutely can't go wrong spending the money on this collection.

A collection of really great "bad kung-fu" movies.......2007-01-26

I was ecstatic when i heard about this collection from a friend and snatched it up right away [great price!!]. This set includes some of the worst movies I have ever seen, but I am one of the rare people who actually gets a kick out of watching these types of movies, especially bad kung-fu. My only real gripe is there wasn't enough of the "Shaolin" style films...oh well.

Now not to say that ALL are bad, as there are actually a few really good ones too. So If you are looking for a quick way to build up your kung-fu collection and love "B" movies...this is the one for you!! All I have to say is "The Impossible Kid" was the best of the worst...classic!!!

Average customer rating:

I Believe In Justice
One of the greatest of the genre
RE-ISSUE!!!!!
What a movie
The Killer AMAZING

The Killer
Starring: John Woo , Chow Yun-Fat , Danny Lee , Sally Yeh , and Kong Chu
Director: Chung Lam
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
A Better Tomorrow
Infernal Affairs (Wu jian dao)
City on Fire
Once a Thief [Region 99]

ASIN: B00004W457
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Amazon.com essential video

This 1989 rouser is apocalyptic pulp--the bloodiest, showiest, most shamelessly sentimental specimen of Hong Kong's gangster melodramas. A torch singer named Jennie (Sally Yeh) is accidentally blinded during a slaying in a night club, and Chow Yun-fat's sad-eyed Jeff, a self-lacerating assassin, drags himself out of retirement to take on one last job--rubbing out a major mobster for major bucks--so he can pay for the singer's cornea transplant operation. But Jeff pauses to ferry a wounded child to the hospital during this final outing, and because of this a cop finally gets a good look at him: "He was seen on the job," snarls a saturnine Mr. Big, "and I want him wasted." Armies of thugs converge on the saintly slayer. Some of writer-director John Woo's flourishes are kitsch classics (doves flying upward in a candlelit church), while the action sequences are rapturous. "Life's cheap," a character opines. "It only takes one bullet," but in this case it actually takes about a dozen spewing bullet hits to kill anyone, as soulful triads in mirror shades and duster overcoats blaze away with high-tech weaponry. (A favorite trick involves grasping an enemy by the lapels, pulling him into a waltz embrace, and pumping several slugs into his duodenum.) Danny Lee, Chow's costar in City on Fire, is the intense, young officer who fixates on the killer's contradictory personality. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

I Believe In Justice.......2007-06-17

John Woo:you either love him or hate him but there is no way of looking at him except as a force of nature. The Killer was one of Woo's greatest Hong Kong features; long before he came to America and made films such as Face/Off and Mission Impossible 2.

Made on a small budget this film is an homage to the classic action directors of Hollywood. There are shades of Peckenpah and of Scorsese. The films grainy look makes it almost perfect for this genre.

The story of a killer with a penchant for justice and loyalty has been done many times before but Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee make it their own as the killer and the renegade cop who follows him.

Many have complained about the violence in this film. The film is extremely violent but the violence comes off as campy rather than as serious. When you have two men fighting hundreds it is hard to take anything too seriously.

The disc that I reviewed was the Criterion Collection edition. This edition gives a pristine transfer of the film and has a decently subtitled audio. Beware of editions that have any English dubbing since these editions tend to heighten the camp elements of the story rather than give a true translation of the dialogue. Also note that the Criterion Edition is expensive but you get what you pay for. Some of the lower priced editions of this film are known bootlegs that should be avoided.

The disc contains a commentary track by Woo and producer Terrance Chang and five deleted scenes.

If you can find or afford it this is essential viewing for action genre fans and for fans of purist Hong Kong cinema.

One of the greatest of the genre.......2007-06-14

I first got interested in Woo's work after seeing "Broken Arrow" in 1996. I was able to get my hands on a VHS copy of The Kiiler and watched it thinking it would be at least as food as Broken Arrow.

It wasn't.

It was ten times better.

The plot is similar to the Rock Hudson film Magnificent Obsession (although Rock is not an assassin). Chow-Yun Fat is an amazing actor who portrays the title character with great depth and believability.

But let's get down to why everyone REALLY likes this film: The action scenes are AMAZING. When the shooting starts, all hell breaks loose and you'll probably have to watch the scenes in slo-mo or rewind and watch them again. There is so much going on that it's hard to beleive that anyone would be able to choreograph and film such stylistic and hectic battle scenes, but John Woo does just that.

My biggest question is, why aren't Woo's Hollywood films just as wild and stylish. Woo's Hollywood work is very good, but why are his Hong Kong features so much better? They seem to be gritty and real whereas his Hollywood features seem to be glossy and watered down.

No matter. If you like action films, this is one of the best, but be warned. This film is VIOLENT and much of the violence is very graphic, so it's not for everyone.

Also, sometimes the dialogue seems a bit hammy, but I feel that it may be because of the loss of translation when the film was dubbed in English. If you're able to, watch the original Chinese version with English subtitles. I know it's heard to read while your trying to watch the action, so watch the dubbed version a couple of time to where you pretty much know what's happening and then watch it with the subtitles. The original actors' voices convey much more emotion and intensity.

RE-ISSUE!!!!!.......2007-06-09

I don't know much about the secondary "market" for DVD's, but when I look to buy a copy of "The Killer" on amazon, I am filled with disgust. $300.00 for a copy of a !@&%$*@ DVD? It's time that whoever owns the distribution rights to re-issue this film and take control of this situation back from these scalpers.

This comment refers to the "Criterion Collection" version.

What a movie.......2007-03-28

More hong kong action from the greats. You really should see this movie if you're into hong kong action. The shoot outs are great, and the action is incredible. I also really love the story. Also, you can really see alot of John Woo's tradmarks appear in this movie, like the use of dove's and religion. A great movie.

The Killer AMAZING.......2007-02-21

This is the best one of John Woo's movies and has to be seen in widescreen format for the ultimate thrill.

Chow Yun Fat blinds a woman by accident during a shootout and he feels he has to atone which makes this more than just another violent action movie. John Woo gives the movie a psychological side that you don't see too often in this genre.

The action sequences needless to say are some of the best out there.

This is an essential DVD for action lovers.

The criterion version is excellent too.

Average customer rating:

An Enjoyable Diversion
just another review
GREAT MOVIE
And the lesson is, be happy with what you have, you can always get a hotdog...Good action movie
typical of its genre

Bulletproof Monk
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Seann William Scott , Jaime King , Karel Roden , and Victoria Smurfit
Director: Paul Hunter
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000A9GHD
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Amazon.com

The tremendous charisma of Chow Yun-fat anchors this entertaining comic-book romp. Bulletproof Monk centers around a monk with no name (Chow) dedicated to protecting a sacred scroll that can give world-manipulating power to anyone who reads it. A hidden Nazi has been pursuing the scroll for 60 years and has finally caught up with the monk in present-day New York City; meanwhile, the monk suspects he may have found a disciple in a petty thief (Seann William Scott, Dude, Where's My Car?, American Pie) who's learned kung fu from watching double-feature chopsocky flicks. Don't let the presence of Chow Yun-fat lead you to expect much substance--this doesn't have the emotional scope of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or the visual panache of Hard-Boiled. But Bulletproof Monk is a cheerful, tightly edited, unpretentious action flick with flashes of humor, good for a mindless evening's entertainment. Also featuring Jaime (a.k.a. James) King (Blow). --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

An Enjoyable Diversion.......2007-03-29

If you like heavy action movies, this one may disappoint. If you like an engaging movie with believable characters, a good plot, believable action sequences and a little comedy thown in, get this movie!

just another review.......2007-01-11

It's a good movie, If your into the action and comedy type movie

GREAT MOVIE.......2007-01-02

if you like the fighting movies u will love this one. it was a great movie and i would also recommend any jet li or tony jaa movie as well.

And the lesson is, be happy with what you have, you can always get a hotdog...Good action movie.......2006-10-24

Again, Seeing this with low expectations leaves one open to complete suprise when the movie isn't actually bad. This is a movie about a tibetan monk that is sworn to protect a secret magical scroll that hold unlimited power. Unfortunately, Those darn Nazis are after its power, and he spends 60 years protecting it from a Mad holdout Nazi. Finally, the battle spills over to the streets of modern new york, where the the Monk, Chow Yun-Fat, crosses trail with the young Pick pocket Kar, Shawn Willam Scott. Well, as one thing leads to another, Kar finds himself caught in this monks Battle, and has to figure out who he is. Yes, their are some great fight scenes in this movie, as well as a love story. Check this movie out, Its good entertainment. At least rent it, but not a bad movie to get for the collection either.

typical of its genre.......2006-09-16

I enjoyed it more than most movies of this type. Chow Yun-Fat and Seann William Scott are very good. Just looking at Scott, you don't expect him to be as well built as he is. The special features are good.

The Corruptor (New Line Platinum Series)

Average customer rating:

Yellow Fever, ha ha ha.
good movie
Gripping Cop Flick
an amazing premise action movie
If all bad cops could be this good!

The Corruptor (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Mark Wahlberg , Ric Young , Paul Ben-Victor , and Jon Kit Lee
Director: James Foley
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Replacement Killers
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ASIN: B00000JGNP
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Amazon.com

Nick Chen (Chow Yun-Fat) is not your average New York cop. Working in Chinatown has its multifarious cultural nuances and its fair share of ubiquitous enticement, both of which are reflected in detective Chen's weary face. He had to get into bed with the highest echleons of the Chinese Mafia as a way of augmenting his own career, while maintaining a semblance of control over the dime-a-dozen hoods who proliferate on this turf. To make matters worse, he now has to break in rookie detective Danny Wallace (Mark Wahlberg), who has asked to be assigned to the Chinatown division. Apparently Wallace is infatuated with all things Chinese, or is suffering from "Yellow Fever," as his fellow colleagues would have us believe. Chen, not one to suffer fools gladly, takes young Wallace under his protective wing, oft-warning the shady powers of the neighborhood not to sink Danny into their sordid pool of corruption. But before he knows it, both he and Wallace are caught in a deadly ring of double-crosses, shady-dealings, murders, and car chases. And all of this under the suspicious eye of Internal Affairs.

Part Serpico and part Hard Boiled, this film seems at first to be a major departure from director James Foley's previous work. However, Foley has frequently revealed a keen eye and understanding for emotionally complex relationships, especially between teacher and pupil (Glengarry Glen Ross) or father and son (At Close Range). This movie is no different. In fact, Foley's meticulous attention to the relationship between the wise, morally burdened Chen, and the naïve, innocent Wallace morphs this otherwise tedious plot into a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Hats off to Chow Yun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg, whose sympathetic chemistry creates an authentic and deeply personal connection, a factor that proves crucial to the film's poignant, disturbing finale. --Jeremy Storey

Customer Reviews:

Yellow Fever, ha ha ha........2007-01-21

I initially got this movie because I remember watching it some years ago when I lived in Germany and there was a time when my father and I decided to make up the time to swing by faster by renting movies almost every day or every week at least and watching them through; movies I'd never even really heard or seen. Usually they were kung fu movies and such, but every now and then we'd pick up a movie that would seem to pass the entertainment radars for us (when you're an American in Germany, it's REALLY hard to find American movies or their debuts to hit overseas as it takes at least 6 months, if you're lucky, to almost 2 years just for an American movie to come out... can you imagine? While you read on the news that somewhere in California the Matrix has started, you'd have to wait an extra few months just to watch, or something like that-- I just use the Matrix as an example.)

The Corruptor was one of those movies and sadly, we'd ended up watching the movie on DVD because it just never showed up in the bigscreens there. So anyway, I remember watching this movie and thought about how insanely deep this movie was. All the stuff about Chinese gangs, crime, the asian-flare of a metropolis society and how everyone seems not to care-- plus it has Mark Wahlberg who's one of my most favorite hollywood actors. More importantly, it also houses CHOW YUN FAT!!! Not only does it have a favorite actor of mine but has an amazing chinese kung fu actor! Performances from both these actors really stock you in for the vicious ride and twists this movie has for a plot and the action that befits it isn't over the top since the setting is basically China Town.

In a way I wanna say this is like Law & Order meets Shaft, but that's a disheartening comparison except to say that it has the crime story scene with the heart-pounding action of the latter but intensified ten fold. The cinematography is astounding, the characters, protagonist and antagonists, all are a great bunch to watch intermingle with and against one another and it's a really good movie worth the watch; the least to say, own.

Really, if you dig cop movies, this is your hit.

If you dig drama, this movie's your bag.

If you dig action, this movie's your well-given shot.

Seriously top notch stuff and glad I came across it years ago. The fond memory of it being the thing that pulled me back to watch and own it now.

good movie.......2006-09-11

I am stuck between a 3 and a 4 but since the movie was so good, I have to give it a 4. The only reason I give it a 3.5 is because I need my bad guys to be really bad. Then they opened up Chow Yun Fat's character so much I almost forgot about it. Mark Walbergh is good as always. There is a lot of acting going on. When I say acting I am talking about these guys using all the tools. From facial expressions to saying the line just right, the director did a very good job. Movie comes in at about 2 hours but keeps you really into it for almost the entire film. This is by far Chow's best American performance. Make sure you check out The Killer if you are a big Chow fan.

DVD is widescreened with 2 good special features. One has interviews and the behind the scenes is more like a documentary. There is also a commentary with the director james Foley.

Gripping Cop Flick.......2005-11-19

"The Corruptor" is a tough complex crime thriller set among the vicious power grabs by competing tribes in New York's Chinatown. Out to bring them down is decorated detective Nick Chen(Chow Yun-Fat), head of the Chinatown Gang Unit, and the partner that was foisted on him, the apparently green officer Danny Wallace(Mark Wahlberg). Chen is an effective cop but some of his methods are a little unorthodox and occasionally skirt the law. This does not always go over well with the more idealistic Wallace. Yun-Fat is excellent as the tarnished hero and Wahlberg is solid in a role that is not as stereotypical as it first appears. Ric Young is effectively creepy and villainous as the duplicitous gang leader Henry Lee. The film has many plot strands to it and may appear at some junctures to be overplotted. Never fear because these elements come together in the end for a satisfying experience.

an amazing premise action movie.......2005-02-26

Chow Yun Fat and Mark Wahlburg are amazing in this
all I can say is
action action
moving story
see this
see this seriously
it's just as entertaining and interesting as the Replacement Killers
see that one too
I will watch this more times then I can count on my dvd player. rest assured

If all bad cops could be this good!.......2004-05-01

I loved the confrantation that Danny Wallace had with his dad about the contemplation of what to do about turning in his partner Nick Chen .. I won't spoil the quote you have to take it in context of the scenario of the movie. What an impact it made in my life that what I do in my life will be what I live with. I don't know if I over looked the goings on with Nick Chen because after all he was Yun-Fat Chow or that his over looking Uncle Benny's activities was some how a kindness to help May a lost drug addict and prostitute unable to escape her fate he tries to be more then a cop in her heart. The entire movie was tastefully done, story line excellant, directed in a way to make you laugh, cry, sit at the edge of you chair during those action scenes. Not to mention the sound track subpurbly done. I have had always found Yun-Fat Chow a believable actor in all rolls he portray; this movie he stole my heart (more then in Anna and the King).. the ending must be seen to appreciate how to me he was a good cop, with admiration to the writer in whatever message he wanted to leave you at the end. If you thought Mark Wahlberg was exceptional in this roll you should see him in The Perfect Storm and never thought he would play such a sicko in Fear but had me convinced. Lady's don't judge all men by what goes on in this movie but be wise to it's message of common sense. It always amazes me when an actor can play his/her complete opposite. I look forward to watching more of both of these great actors movies. Don't wait to buy THE CORRUPTOR should it go out of print you will regret it! Well I think so. Thanks for listening - Bye. Would welcome your comments too.

Average customer rating:

A classic
New Re-Release on the way
THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great action, messy plot...
Body Count!

Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
Starring: Bobbie Au-Yeung , Philip Chan , Yun-Fat Chow , Michael Dingo , and Jun Kunimura
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

International | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

Action | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Killer
A Better Tomorrow
Once a Thief [Region 99]
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City on Fire

ASIN: 1559408677
Release Date: 1998-06-10

Amazon.com essential video

Masterful Hong Kong action director John Woo (The Killer, Face/Off) turns in this exciting and pyrotechnic tale of warring gangsters and shifting loyalties. Chow Yun-fat (The Replacement Killers) plays a take-no-prisoners cop on the trail of the triad, the Hong Kong Mafia, when his partner is killed during a gun battle. His guilt propels him into an all-out war against the gang, including an up-and-coming soldier in the mob (Tony Leung) who turns out to be an undercover cop. The two men must come to terms with their allegiance to the force and their loyalty to each other as they try to take down the gangsters. A stunning feast of hyperbolic action sequences (including a climactic sequence in an entire hospital taken hostage), Hard-Boiled is a rare treat for fans of the action genre, with sequences as thrilling and intense as any ever committed to film. --Robert Lane

Description

Violence as poetry, rendered by a master-brilliant and passionate, John Woo's Hard Boiled tells the story of jaded detective "Tequila" Yuen (played with controlled fury by Chow Yun-fat). Woo's dizzying odyssey through the world of Hong Kong Triads, undercover agents, and frenzied police raids culminates unforgettably in the breathless hospital sequence. More than a cops-and-bad-guys story, Hard Boiled continually startles with its originality and dark humor.

Customer Reviews:

A classic .......2007-03-28

This movie truly is a classic action movie. Chow Yun Fat at his best. I loved it. Be warned, Dragon Dynasty is re-releasing a 2 disc edition in July with all new bonus features.

New Re-Release on the way.......2007-02-24

I love this movie so much. I haven't watched it in a while mostly because I have a widescreen TV and the old Criterion version is non-anamorphic. The good news is that Dragon Dynasty will be re-issuing this John Woo classic in May. I cannot wait and those of you who can't find it, stop wasting your money on ebay and stop spending way too much. You'll be able to get your own very soon. Start the countdown...

THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-01-27

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ACTION MOVIE EVER MADE! JOHN WOO IS A MASTER DIRECTOR. CHOW-YUN-FAT IS THE MAN. THIS MOVIE HAS THE BIGGEST BODY COUNT IN ANY MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN. THIS IS ACTION FILM-MAKING AT ITS UTMOST FINEST. DEFINATELY ONE FOR ANY HARD-CORE ACTION FANS COLLECTION.

Great action, messy plot..........2006-12-27

This was the last film John Woo made in Hong Kong before he left for Hollywood (which has royally screwed him over, but that's another review). Many people debate whether Hard Boiled or The Killer are Woo's best. My money is on The Killer, but I still really admire the hell out of this film. It has some of the most amazing action sequences ever committed to celluloid. Are they realistic? Absolutely not. One of the funniest things about Woo films is that the characters rarely, if ever, reload their guns. The teahouse shootout is a great example. Yun-Fat picks up the bad guys' guns, and fires at least 40 rounds or so with each gun. Automatic guns hold 10 bullets or so in a clip, so where Yun-Fat found the extra clips is unknown at this point. The plot of this film leaves quite a lot to be desired. The film was a troubled production. The original script had Tony Leung's character as a pyschotic killer who was planning on poisoning little children by tampering with baby formula. After shooting the teahouse shootout, the film shut down for a month, and a major rewrite took place. They ended up making Leung's character an undercover cop. This was due to the fact that Chow Yun-Fat thought the Hong Kong public would find a baby killer too disturbing. Woo agreed, and shut down the film (Hong Kong films are quite similar to Hollywood in that respect). A lot of this film doesn't make an ounce of sense when Leung's character kills many people, just in order to stay in character. I'm not really sure about that. Thematically, the film is a mess. But the opening shootout at the teahouse, the warehouse raid, and the utterly amazing shootout at the hospital (it lasts nearly 45 minutes, including an unbroken take of 2 minutes and 42 seconds) make this film worthwhile. This film didn't have as much depth as Woo's other Hong Kong work, but it still manages to outdo all Hollywood films in terms of character and depth.

Body Count!.......2006-06-14

When I read the review in the Film Festival program that said this movie had the highest body count that the reviewer could recall, I just had to go see it. And you know what? I wasn't disappointed...

But what the reviewer didn't say, was to emphasise the sheer style that Woo uses to present this body-count. As an example of movie making this is a classic.

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