Lan Shao Hua (Champ Wang) is a lonely, ace gambler who returns from abroad after the death of his parents caused by a wealthy industrialist (Paul Chang Chung). Lan Shao Hua is naturally looking for answers and justice. Through his love of gambling, he meets Sung (Ma Sha) at a casino and the two bond, helping each other out in the various scuffles and problems they both get themselves into. However, complications arise when it's revealed Sung works for Wong, the businessman responsible for Lan Shao Hua's parents' deaths.
'The Reformed Gambler' is, for the most part, a fairly light and routine action film which alternates between the requisite gambling scenes and adequately staged brawls. The film is a little episodic in structure for the first half hour but it soon settles down once the main story kicks in.
Things take quite a dark turn in the final 20 minutes after Violet Pan's character (who is shacking up with Ma Sha) gets a nasty roughing up by some thugs, which leads up to a pretty hectic finale including slashings. Some axe-wielding and a bloody pitchfork impalement...
The movie benefits hugely from a top cast of familiar faces. Aside from those mentioned above, there's Shih Szu who plays a savvy card shark (watch out for the strip poker scene, sadly Szu stays clothed!), Chen Sing has a cameo as a burly mechanic and dependable, regular baddies such as Lung Fei, Chen Hung Lieh and even the weasly Suen Lam turn in their usual performances.
Watch out for 'borrowed' music cues from Japanese electro group Yellow Magic Orchestra and the Spaghetti Western sounding theme tune with its blaring mariachi style trumpets!
And finally, worth pointing out Champ Wang and Ma Sha's impressive skills on the pool table where they pull off a number of nifty trick shots without any editing or camera trickery.
'The Reformed Gambler' is, for the most part, a fairly light and routine action film which alternates between the requisite gambling scenes and adequately staged brawls. The film is a little episodic in structure for the first half hour but it soon settles down once the main story kicks in.
Things take quite a dark turn in the final 20 minutes after Violet Pan's character (who is shacking up with Ma Sha) gets a nasty roughing up by some thugs, which leads up to a pretty hectic finale including slashings. Some axe-wielding and a bloody pitchfork impalement...
The movie benefits hugely from a top cast of familiar faces. Aside from those mentioned above, there's Shih Szu who plays a savvy card shark (watch out for the strip poker scene, sadly Szu stays clothed!), Chen Sing has a cameo as a burly mechanic and dependable, regular baddies such as Lung Fei, Chen Hung Lieh and even the weasly Suen Lam turn in their usual performances.
Watch out for 'borrowed' music cues from Japanese electro group Yellow Magic Orchestra and the Spaghetti Western sounding theme tune with its blaring mariachi style trumpets!
And finally, worth pointing out Champ Wang and Ma Sha's impressive skills on the pool table where they pull off a number of nifty trick shots without any editing or camera trickery.
