PROMYS

So, this page is all about my entertainment interests. I am huge on Hong Kong entertainment, so this includes music and movies. True, the Hong Kong style has slowly been showing up in different places as well now, but there is still nothing like the classics.

I love WU-XIA. For those of you who are not really familiar with Chinese, I guess a simple of way putting would be, people in long robes flying in the sky and walking up walls. So if you've seen the much talked about Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you've had somewhat of a taste of wu-xia movies. As decent as the rooftop scene was in Crouching Tiger, there are some definite movies that can easily put Crouching Tiger to shame. Furthermore, I did not think Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat were that great of actors. Hey, but you watched it for the action, not for the drama, right? Anyway, here is my list of some wu-xia classics, in no particular order:

Bride with White Hair I & II - I think this is one of the most beautiful love story ever!! The plot and theme are very simple - love and trust - but it is just absolutely beautiful. Many say the first one is too surreal. I agree that the first one is a bit more abstract in its presentation, but that's what makes it such an unparallel movie. The second one has a more concrete plot - love and vengeance. It is still a good movie, with a lot of stars (including former Miss Hong Kong Christy Chung), but I still prefer the first.
Swordsman, Swordsman II (aka Asia the Invincible) - The first is just pure action. No big stars (well, Jackie Cheung plays a supporting role) but superb action. Second movie is purely amazing. Lots of stars - including Brigitte Lin and Jet Li - and another beautiful story. There are countless fight sequences that just make me speechless. This is one of Jet Li's earlier films, and so he is rather humorous and a jolly fellow. Also a handful of very attractive actresses. Don't bother seeing Asia the Invincible II. It is really just awful compared to its two prequels.
Dragon Inn - This movie is just full of stars, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Donnie Yen, et al. This is a remake of an earlier movie, which I haven't seen, but I doubt it could be better than this one. Some classic scenes - the bathing/stripping scene with Maggie and Brigitte; and the final desert fight scene with Donnie Yen (featuring the butcher... you really have to see for yourself).
Fong Sai Yuk I & II - Another early Jet Li movie. I think these two movies combine some of the best action with a good plot. The comedy is non-stop, as Xiao Fang Fang is absolutely a riot, as it Jet. I haven't seen these in a while, so I get the two confused, but some scenes to look for are fight for the bride, blindfolded sword fight, mother-son duo fight versus bad official, final fight scene with stacked benches, and others.
Once Upon a Time in China I, II, III, IV, V (VI?) - The series of Wong Fei-Hong series that Jet Li is known for. I can't remember too much from these, since there are so many of them. If I remember correctly, only the first three are worth watching. OUTC I has a nice final fight scene in the warehouse. I think OUTC III is the one with the lion (and rooster) dance. Zhang Min (HK cutey) makes an appearance. I think Club Foot (Guei Jiao Qi) makes his first appearance in OUTC IV. He stays in the subsequent ones, and is just as impressive to watch as Jet Li. Somewhere in the series, I think OUTC V, Wong Fei Hong goes to America, and this is just plain stupid. Guns versus shadow kicks.... Yeah, right.

One thing you'll notice from the movies above is that most of them star Brigitte Lin. Yes, Brigitte Lin is absolutely the best. She definitely has this look about her that just drives me crazy. I can't say whether she's a good actress or not because I'm obviously biased. Regardless of her acting skills, there are no others in comparison to Brigitte. And yes, in almost every wu-xia movie, Brigitte plays a role whose sexual orientation/gender is very ambiguous. I'm not saying I prefer this kind of women, but I really don't mind it so much.

Now no Hong Kong cinema list is complete without Jackie Chan. Chan is of course one of the greatest of all times. The following are some of my favorites:

Drunken Master I & II - Though people always talk about Drunken Master II, I is not to be overlooked. Jackie is just ripped in I, and the stuff he does is just hardcore to the bone. He is nimble and fast to the point of disbelief. Part I has a poor plot, and not much else besides pure fighting, but the fighting is so worthwhile that the movie is still a must-see. Park II is indeed pretty good as well. The characters are very nicely developed, especially Anita Mui as the mother. And of course, the final fight scene in the factory is... Just go see it and try to word it for yourself.
Armour of God - Definitely one of the less heard-of films in the states, but this has always been one of my favorite movies from childhood. And after seeing it again in my high school years, I realized that Lola Forner was another great reason to see the film. Some really crazy scenes, and some cool gadgets. And the fight sequence with the Amazon women (the breast punch...) is a classic.
Project A I & II - I can't remember too much from these two movies, but they're good.
City Hunter - Just a great comedy. I don't remember too much of the action scenes, except the hilarious Street Fighter imitation at the end, but the comedy is great. And Joey Wong is not too ugly.

Now comes the list of modern films. I have not really sorted these films, so they're in random assortment.

God of Gamblers I, II, III - GoG is one of the most classic movies ever made. You know it is because so many movies have, and still, refer to it, and so many other movies are spin-offs of it - Saint of Gamblers, etc. Chow Yun-Fat is really slick, as he always is. Andy Lau does a good job as the street punk who comes across the temporarily retarded Chow. The gambling scenes are really sweet, with nice twists. GoG II is pretty lame. Chow is basically back with vengeance after his pregnant wife is killed, and the fetus jarred. Tony Leung is the guy he picks up on the way. Overall, pretty disappointing. GoG III makes a come-back. GoG III goes back to the younger days of the God of Gamblers. Leon replaces Chow as the god of gambler. He does a really nice job playing the whole-hearted, warm, and genuine good guy. Some really nice fight scenes. Finally, some decent looking women make their way into the GoG series (well, Chingmy Yau does play a small role in GoG II). Gambling scenes again are at its best.
Gen-X Cops, Gen-Y Cops -