7. Election 2 (, Johnnie To)
Election 2 is one of those films which challenges the age-old adage that a sequel is hugely inferior to the original. Set two years after the award winning original, Election 2 goes deeper into the life and rites of the Hong Kong’s secretive crime societies.
It is an election year again the Wo Shing Triad society. Incumbent boss Lok is to step step down and suggests as successor top moneymaker Jimmy. but Jimmy is looking a way out of crime with a big real-estate deal in the works in mainland China. But his dreams are dented when he is entrapped by the police.
He is given a way out on the condition that he runs and wins as the next Chairman, becoming their inside man. Upon returning he finds that Boss Lok is now seeking a re-election, going against against tradition and the advice of the elders. And so friend is pitted against friend in a ruthless battle for power.
Election 2 continues to be a great analysis of the triad system and how it clashes with modern Hong Kong and with the ever changing role of mainland China in the internal affairs of the island nation. Johnnie To masterfully shows his characters being shaped and ultimately torn apart
Were you to pick one genre that Hong Kong cinema is most representative of, what would you choose? Swashbuckling Wuxia epics? Slapstick 80s comedy? Over-the-top exploitation horror? Or would you choose crime movies? Particularly, action-packed productions exemplifying the Chinese concepts of heroic brotherhood and honor?
If crime movies are your choice, well-chosen. One of the most enthusiastic producers of such movies in the world, Hong Kong crime movies range from electrifying to darkly comedic, to socially critical and horrific. In the process, also enshrining international genre names such as John Woo, Ringo Lam, and Chow Yun-fat.
And outside of the Infernal Affairs trilogy and A Better Tomorrow, there’s no shortage of memorable productions from each decade too. The following are ten great Hong Kong crime movies that you may have never seen. Each masterpiece approaches the eternal battle of justice versus felony in a unique way. All also present a dishful of memorable performances or storytelling, some of which are still considered as among the best in the ex-British colony.
1. Mad Detective ()
Let’s start with a unique title. An investigative thriller that
Hong Kong has always been associated with over-the-top violent Kung Fu fare which obscured the view of Western audiences towards the sheer diversity of great cinema the island nation had to offer. One of the biggest casualty of this has been the crime film genre, with occasional bursts into the limelight.
Crime films have been a staple of Hong Kong cinema since the 80’s and had become the stomping ground for many of Hong Kong’s top directors, from action maestro John Woo to arthouse favorites Wong Kar Wai and Fruit Chan. What appealed to film-makers was that they could tell a story of contemporary Hong Kong in a non-compromising manner while still holding some commercial pull.
The genre also helped explore a sense of uncertainty and looming sense of change that installed since the s in Hong Kong, as negotiations between the UK and China were intensifying over the inevitable handover of the colony to China in Also, these films were generally centered around stories of the Triad, a Mafia style criminal brotherhood with many crime syndicates. Film-makers really saw the chance of shedding light on tabus or simply to exploit them for cinematic spectacle.
While the crime genre h
Categories > Guides and Tips
Want to discover the wonders of Hong Kong cinema? You’re in luck, as most of the Happy Hongkonger staff are local film buffs – and we came together to make this article for newbies to the genre.
We made this list (in no particular order!) of the 12 must-watch Hong Kong movies that we think created history both locally and globally. Take a look at a few local films that painted Hong Kong cinema’s unique identity!
1. Chungking Express
“If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? If so, I hope they last for centuries.”
Length: minutes
Genre: Drama, Crime
Any film buff you ask would most likely list one of Wong Kar-Wai’s movies as one of their favorites – and with good reason.
After all, the screenwriting, cinematography, and direction of his films are truly iconic. His films have a very distinct feel that immediately let you know they are by Wong Kar-Wai.
And of course, Chungking Express is no exception to that. Though it was made as far back as , you can say that it has stood the test of time.
The best way to think of this film is as a gateway to Hong Kong cinema. After all,
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