a score of 3/10, with 2 points given to Yuen Wo Ping and the set-designers.
This movie goes to show that in an industry so in need of hits--not only for the export market as Stephen Chow has decided to design his films by, but something that can satisfy local HK audience's growing appetite for better quality films, that relationships within a small clique of producers with money connections can make small miracles happen for aspiring filmmakers without any apparent skills other than the talent their imaginations seems to tell them they have.
Other than the choreography of fight-scenes, which mostly unoriginal, but is packed enough into timely pockets so as an attempt to fool audiences into not thinking about the lame depth-less back-story to the film, it's mostly unpopped kernels. Producers were wise to cast pretty faces and bankable local stars so the eye-candy factor would sugarcoat this crap-pill of a movie, and they do extrapolate some attributes from characters of successful films to try to give a sense of depth to the film's various roles... this, if done correctly, saves the director and writers a lot of character-building work BC audiences would simply refer to those roles they've seen in other movies and they'll feel they know the stereotype the roles are to stand for.
sadly, Micheal Wong in a Dr. Evil and James Bond villain get-up just doesn't cut it.
to cut a long rant short, this film does have its appeal to those who like brain-dead films. Ng-Ma makes a comeback to the silver screen, Anthony Wong's brief shine, and Daniel Wu as the usual Daniel Wu character... not forgetting Charlene and Gillian--whom audience most likely would forgive for their part-taking in this film BC, if nothing else, they are eye-candy of sorts.
The big question is, why doesn't someone tell Stephen Fung to get some schooling on film-making, and better yet, acting. He is clearly and objectively the least skillful actor amongst all speaking parts (oh, not forgetting the 2 morons with the strange hairdo, who are two of HK's worst radio non-personalities... the 3 could be called Moe, Larry, and Cheese--but it would be an insult to the 3 Stooges).
Why someone would finance a film and allow Stephen Fung to direct beckons many questions. Among HK's successful list of directors who began as actors boasts the likes of Derek Yee, John Woo, etc... These guys worked hard at honing their craft. While Stephen Fung practices his amateur magic tricks and smoke cannabis with his pals.
"whoa dude, you're a cesspool of great ideas Stevie! I'll get daddy to finance your film. Now tell me, who's your Daddy?"
That's what friends are for?
Get a real job, Stephen.
This movie goes to show that in an industry so in need of hits--not only for the export market as Stephen Chow has decided to design his films by, but something that can satisfy local HK audience's growing appetite for better quality films, that relationships within a small clique of producers with money connections can make small miracles happen for aspiring filmmakers without any apparent skills other than the talent their imaginations seems to tell them they have.
Other than the choreography of fight-scenes, which mostly unoriginal, but is packed enough into timely pockets so as an attempt to fool audiences into not thinking about the lame depth-less back-story to the film, it's mostly unpopped kernels. Producers were wise to cast pretty faces and bankable local stars so the eye-candy factor would sugarcoat this crap-pill of a movie, and they do extrapolate some attributes from characters of successful films to try to give a sense of depth to the film's various roles... this, if done correctly, saves the director and writers a lot of character-building work BC audiences would simply refer to those roles they've seen in other movies and they'll feel they know the stereotype the roles are to stand for.
sadly, Micheal Wong in a Dr. Evil and James Bond villain get-up just doesn't cut it.
to cut a long rant short, this film does have its appeal to those who like brain-dead films. Ng-Ma makes a comeback to the silver screen, Anthony Wong's brief shine, and Daniel Wu as the usual Daniel Wu character... not forgetting Charlene and Gillian--whom audience most likely would forgive for their part-taking in this film BC, if nothing else, they are eye-candy of sorts.
The big question is, why doesn't someone tell Stephen Fung to get some schooling on film-making, and better yet, acting. He is clearly and objectively the least skillful actor amongst all speaking parts (oh, not forgetting the 2 morons with the strange hairdo, who are two of HK's worst radio non-personalities... the 3 could be called Moe, Larry, and Cheese--but it would be an insult to the 3 Stooges).
Why someone would finance a film and allow Stephen Fung to direct beckons many questions. Among HK's successful list of directors who began as actors boasts the likes of Derek Yee, John Woo, etc... These guys worked hard at honing their craft. While Stephen Fung practices his amateur magic tricks and smoke cannabis with his pals.
"whoa dude, you're a cesspool of great ideas Stevie! I'll get daddy to finance your film. Now tell me, who's your Daddy?"
That's what friends are for?
Get a real job, Stephen.