Yau doh lung fu bong (2004)

Director:

Johnnie To

Writers:

Nai-Hoi Yau (written by) &
Tin-Shing Yip (written by) ...

Release Date:

July 2004 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A former Judo champion is given the chance to redeem himself after he befriends a competitor and an aspiring singer.

Plot Keywords:

Judo | Hong Kong | Gamble | 2000s | Bar

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Louis Koo	...	Sze-To Bo
Aaron Kwok	...	Tony
Cherrie Ying	...	Mona (as Cherrie In)
Tony Leung Ka Fai	...	Lee Kong (as Tony Leung)
Siu-Fai Cheung	...	Brother Savage (as Cheung Siu Fai)
Jordan Chan	...	Mona's Agent
Hoi-Pang Lo	...	Master Cheng (as Lo Hoi Pang)
Calvin Choi	...	Jing (as Calvin Choy)
Jack Kao	...	Mona's Dad (as Kao Kuo Hsin)
Albert Au	...	Judo Actor
Fan Yeung	...	Judo Actor (as Yeung Fan)
Chung Wing	...	Judo Actor (as Wing Chung)
Park-Yin Kwok	...	Judo Actor (as Kwok Park Yin)
Ka-Ho Chiu	...	Judo Actor (as Chui Ka Ho)
Wai Kit Cheung	...	Judo Actor (as Cheung Wai Kit)

Also Known As:

Throw Down (Hong Kong: English title)
Throwdown (Singapore: English title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Hong Kong | China

Language:

Cantonese | English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:PG

Company:

China Star Entertainment

Movie Connections:

References Sugata Sanshiro (1943)

Great movie and homage to Kurosawa!

This movie was lots of fun. If you were expecting an all-out fighting movie I can see why you'd be let down. I actually only heard about this movie last week when I borrowed it from a friend. It didn't disappoint at all. If you are a fan of early Kurosawa films (Sanshiro Sugata in particular) you'll love this. It's kind of a modern re-telling of it. Like that film, and this film, there is a sort of suspension of reality. The characters are common archetypes - the has-been master, the wayward girl, the up-and-comer, the bad guy. The film doesn't intend to be a serious drama. Even the "bad guy" really isn't bad. It's more about the spirit of competition and getting back on your feet after you've been knocked down (no pun intended).

To me the film excels in its visuals. The film is shot beautifully with vivid colors that set the mood perfectly for each scene. And the finale? A duel in the wind-swept grass! How old-school is that?! Throw Down is a great film if you go in with little or no expectations of what it's "suppposed to be like." Just sit back and enjoy the ride.