- 人民英雄 (People’s Hero)
7/18/26 (Sat)
Derek Yee’s 1987 thriller is a deft Hong Kong homage to Dog Day Afternoon. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Tony Leung films
The Grandmaster (一代宗师)
- 一代宗师 (The Grandmaster)
5/31/26 (Sun)
Wong Kar-wai’s 2013 tribute to Ip Man (葉問), the legendary grandmaster and propagator of the Wing Chun (詠春) style of kung fu, which he brought from mainland China to Hong Kong. His most famous student was Bruce Lee, securing his legacy for future generations. His eventful life is fascinating and has been the subject of numerous films, this being the most high-minded. The story is rather disjointed, but I found out later that I was watching the severely cut US version (108 min vs. original’s 130 min – not to mention a separate European cut at 123 min). Even in the shortened version, it’s clear that Wong was aiming for a more intellectual approach to a kung fu film, perhaps analogous to the concept-minded Wing Chun style itself.
Infernal Affairs (無間道)
- 無間道 (Infernal Affairs)
10/19/25 (Sun)
Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s 2002 classic was not only a big hit in its own right but spawned a prequel, a sequel, a TV series, and adaptations in Korea, Japan, India and America (Scorsese’s Oscar-winning The Departed). So I figured it’s about time I caught up with it. The Chinese title, “The Endless Road”, refers to the eternal sufferings of Buddhist hell, described more fully at the beginning and end of the film. That would have made for a memorable English title, but as it happens they found a terrific substitute. I wish Japanese title-makers were this creative.
sekenbanashi 