Election - no not Singapore's
Although I think Singapore's General Election will take place after all matters regarding the Integrated Resort and NKF saga dies down and probably more high profile appearances by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Mr Lim Swee Say and we will see more new blood. I heard things about senior editors from Ass Tee joining the fray scene. I said 'I heard". You hear?
The Election I'm talking about is the new Johnnie To's movie starring Simon Yam, Louis Koo and Tony Leung Kar Fai. Johnnie To of course made Look Left Look Right and Running On Karma which Andy Lau starred and won the Best Actor award (Hong Kong Film Award) in the latter film in 2003. Ironically Andy Lau beat Simon Yam that year. Simon Yam was in PTU, another movie by Johnnie To as well...
Anyways, the movie poster was supposedly banned in Hong Kong because the poster depicted triads' hand signals which were too authentic.
This is the second movie I have watched this month with Tony Leung in it. I must say I am totally convinced that he is really a versatile actor and in a class of his own. He plays the character Big D. The movie revolves around the story of the power struggle and realpolitik involved in a modern day triad come election time. Even the HK Police Force's Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) is involved and concerned. The movie follows the age-old tradition of choosing a new leader to lead the different cells to new heights. I use the word "cells" with a purpose because the movie is a satire of politics in the real world and you can see issues arising from the botched US Presidential Elections in 2000, the Taiwanese Presidential Elections in 2004. The impetuses (not impeti) of actions and reactions that develop from interests (be it personal, triad, survival or the upkeeping of public decorum) and ungoverned by morals, ethics or principles. There are some obvious references to situations in Iraq....but all these if you allow your mind to wander/wonder.....otherwise this is an out and out triad movie. The ending's kinda crap though. Too politically correct.
This movie is up for 11 nominations in this year's Golden Horse. Kung Fu has 10. Johnnie To's effort last year, Breaking News was invited to Cannes Film Fest and won him the Golden Horse Best Director award.
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6 comments:
Have you seen Wong Kar-Wai's directorial debut As Tears Go By (1988)? Triad movie with Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung and Jacky Cheung.
I just noticed that the DVD is available in Singapore. Think it's a Taiwanese or China version too (complete with Boards of Censors approval sticker) so it's probably under ten bucks.
Also, for Johnnie To, check out The Mission if you haven't already. Good stuff.
yea, tony leung kar fai is dope!
I have heard alot about As Tears Go By but really no chance to watch it. Where can I find the DVD?
P. Poofie, this can be another chinese movie you watch this year.
I saw the As Tears Go By DVD in the small music and movies shop in Raffles Link (the underground mall next to the Raffles Place MRT). Don't know the name but it's right next to the Guardian Pharmacy. Sorta opposite the Soup Spoon.
The small DVD rental/sales shop on the 3rd floor of OUB Building (above Raffles Place MRT) also has used copies of the PTU DVD for $8.95.
Ok. That's detailed enough to find them. Cheers!
Saw Akira Kurosawa's 7 samurai at Citylink mall HMV going for less than $10. Tempted.
By the way, both As Tears Go By and PTU DVDs have the original Cantonese soundtrack.
It really sucks that usually you can only get the dubbed Mandarin versions in Singapore. For example, Initial D was initially (!) released on DVD in Mandarin. However, Scorpio East has now released a new version in long packaging that has the Cantonese soundtrack.
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