Gong wu (2004)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ching-Po Wong

Writers:

Chi-long To (screenplay)
Chi-long To (story)

Release Date:

26 May 2004 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Action

Plot:

When Triad leader Hung's wife gives birth to a baby boy, Hung considers leaving the world of the gangsters...

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Andy Lau	...	Hung Yan-jau
Jacky Cheung	...	Left-Hand
Shawn Yue	...	Wing
Edison Chen	...	Turbo
Chien-lien Wu	...	Mrs. Hung
Eric Tsang	...	Tall Man
Norman Chu	...	Big Lungs
Yuan Lin	...	Yoyo
Kiu Wai Miu	...	Figo
Kara Hui	...	Wing's Mother
Ka Tung Lam	...	Shing (as Gordon Lam)
Suet Lam	...	Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donna Chu	...	Figo's Wife
Ping Ha	...	Left-Hand's Mum
Tony Ho	...	Brother Lin
Alice Lee	...	Mistress
Doi-yung Ng	...	Target Brother
Chapman To	...	Brother To
Ching Wong	...	Old Hui
Shu Tong Wong	...	Ming
Yat Tung Wong	...	Gorgeous
Courtney Wu	...	Party guest

Also Known As:

Blood Brothers (Singapore: English title)
Jiang hu (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
Left Hand (Canada: English title) (festival title)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | USA:R | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:PG (cut)

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Anytime Pictures Co. Ltd.

What is the film really about???

First of all, I have to say, the acting in this film is aces! Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung are terrific as two best friends who are powerful gangsters. Edison Cheng and Shawn Yue are also very engaging to watch as two young men involved in the gangster underworld. The scenes, the camera work, the peculiarly cheery music playing in the background all add to the pure visual pleasure. This is a great stylish looking film. One of the most watchable scenes in this movie was simply Andy Lau's character and Jacky Cheung's character having a meal in an empty, elegant Italian restaurant. These two actors play off each other very well. It was riviting to watch them talk to each other.

But the story? I had trouble figuring out the story. I rented this movie without English subtitles and my understanding of cantonese is very general.

I watched it twice to figure out everything. The twist in the end is surprising but not very satisfying.

What I got from this movie was this: this is not really a typical Hong Kong gangster film. This film is really about the deep friendship and love (I mean the platonic kind) between two good friends.

Is this film worth watching? Absolutely. Is the story good? So so. Even though I was not particularly satisfied with the ending, I still think it's a film worth watching and enjoying.