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The Pang Brothers entered stardom with the Thai film “Bangkok Dangerous”, a stylized and beautifully shot action film that served them a cult following since then. “The Detective” proves very well that Oxide Pang Chun is very capable of telling an interesting story through his individual style.

Aaron Kwok plays Tam, a private detective who one day gets a commission from an enigmatic guy: he wants him to locate a woman who, years ago, tried to murder him. With a photograph and without further details, Tam begins his investigation and soon finds the woman, a habitual mahjong player. To make sure it’s her, Tam tries to contact the other players that accompany her.

“The Detective” opens up with a really good scene where the plot roots are planted, featuring Aaron Kwok and veteran actor Fui-on Shing (which was his last film by the way). Both of these actors are really great.

"Who painting do you want me to replicate?" Signature Entertainment in the UK has unveiled an official trailer for a Hong Kong crime thriller titled The Counterfeiter. This has gone under a few other names, including Project Gutenberg, and the original titles Mou seung (Cantonese) and Wu shuang (Mandarin). The Counterfeiter is described "action-packed, twisty and tension filled crime thriller" akin to The Usual Suspects meets Fight Club, starring Chow Yun-Fat as a criminal mastermind known as the "Painter". The Hong Kong police are hunting a masterful counterfeiting gang. In order to crack the leader "Painter's" true identity, the police recruits gang member Lee Man to unmask him. This also stars Aaron Kwok, Jingchu Zhang, Catherine Chau, Joyce Wenjuan Feng, David Yao-Qing Wang, and Kai Chi Liu. This looks cool, lots of slick counterfeiting along with some heavy action. It might be an entertaining weekend watch. Here's the first official...

Exclusive: Baseball film recenrtly premiered at Hkiff.

Hong Kong-based Golden Scene has picked up international rights to Chan Chi Fat’s Weeds On Fire, which recently premiered at the Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff).

Inspired by the true story of Hong Kong’s first teenage baseball team, the film revolves around two childhood friends coming of age in the new towns of 1980s Hong Kong.

Produced by renowned scriptwriter Chan Hing Kai and cinematographer O Sing Pui, the film is the inaugural production of the First Feature Film Initiative, a scheme backed by CreateHK to support first-time feature directors in Hong Kong.

Veteran actor Liu Kai Chi plays the baseball coach with actor Lam Yiu Sing (High Noon) and Wu Tsz Tung, a member of the Hong Kong baseball team, rounding out the cast.

Golden Scene’s Cannes slate also includes Herman Yau’s The Mobfathers, which also premiered at this year’s Hkiff, and controversial...

Sammo Hung is one of the greatest Screen Fighters, Directors and Choreographers in Martial Arts cinema history. Started his early career as an extra in Shaw Brothers productions, then became of fight choreographer on a few of there movies.

It was when he started his career with Raymond Chow at Golden harvest Studios, that Sammo started to show what he could do in terms of action in-front and behind the camera. Sammo Hung has made some of the finest movies of all time and also bringing us some incredible talent such as Yuen Biao, Angela Mao, Lam Ching Ying, Michelle Yeoh and many more.

This is a list of 30 Sammo Hung movies you should check out, this list is also for new fans of the genre. So i hope you enjoy the list and i also mention some other Sammo Hung movies at the end of the page.

1.Hapkido (1972)

Director:...

Z Storm is a new corruption thriller from Hong Kong that stars Louis Koo, Gordon Lam and Dada Chan. It also has a strong supporting cast including Lo Hoi Pang, Liu Kai Chi and Michael Wong. It is due to be released in Australian cinemas on July 10, and thanks to its distributor Magnum Films, we have Five double passes for our readers to win. To enter this competition, all you have to do is to follow these two steps:1) Like the Magnum Film Facebook page, and2) Email your name and postal address to me at: hugo[at]twitchfilm.netThe competition will close at 3pm on July 8. -- Good luck!...

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Hot on the heels of the announcement that Dante Lam's hotly anticipated action thriller That Demon Within will have its world premiere at next month's Berlin International Film Festival, Emperor Motion Pictures has released the first teaser trailer for the film as well as a slew of new images.That Demon Within stars Daniel Wu as a cop who unwittingly saves the life of a vicious psychopath, only for his compounding guilt to send him an an obsessive and psychologically unbalanced path of vengeance as Nick Cheung's killer leaves a trail of dead cops and civilians in his wake. Andy On, Liu Kai Chi and a number of Emp's new faces star in what promises to be one of the year's most explosive thrillers. Check out the teaser and...

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Hong Kong actress Charlie Young, star of Ashes of Time, Seven Swords and most recently Cold War, is soon to unveil Christmas Rose, her directorial debut. Produced by Tsui Hark and Jacob Cheung, and starring Aaron Kwok, Gwei Lun Mei, Chang Chen, Xia Yu and Qin Hailu, it looks to be a hard-hitting and high-stakes legal thriller, judging from the first teaser and synopsis below.Here's the synopsis:Tim (Kwok) is a defence attorney with a heart of gold. Refusing to be simply a hired gun for his clients, he quits his high-powered job to become a prosecutor for the Justice Department.With the support of fiancee Megan and cop buddy Nam (Liu Kai Chi), Tim decides to start afresh.When he meets a handicapped piano teacher, Jing (Gwei),...

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It might have a silly name, but “Ghost Bullets” actually looks pretty swift. The film, which stars Lau Ching-wan and Nicholas Tse, follows a pair of detectives as they attempt to solve a series of murders in Shanghai. And while that wimpy little synopsis may sound pretty pedestrian, Law Chi-Leung’s execution is anything but. Why take my word for it? Take a minute or so out of your oh-so busy schedule this morning and treat yourself to something intriguing. “Ghost Bullets” also stars Yang Mi, Jing Boran, Wu Gang, Liu Kai Chi, and Jiang Yiyan. The film is slated to open in Chinese theaters this summer. The trailer is nestled below...

Director: Dante Lam. Review: Adam Wing. If you look back at Dante Lam’s career you’re sure to discover a fine body of work. Beast Cops is an obvious standout, but lets not forget The Beast Stalker, The Stool Pigeon and even The Twins Effect; well I liked it anyway. The Sniper (the literal translation is Godly Gunslingers) finally hit theatres in 2009, sandwiched between the quite awesome The Beast Stalker and the almost as awesome The Stool Pigeon. It’s not as good as either of those films but considering the turbulent journey it took on its way to the big screen, I’m surprised there’s enjoyment to be had at all. The Sniper revolves around the Godly gunslingers of the Hong Kong Police Force’s Special Duties Unit (Sdu). Richie Jen (Exiled) takes on (and takes off his shirt) Huang Xiaoming (Royal Tramp), two deadly sharpshooters on opposite sides of the law.

Sniper

Stars: Richie Ren, Xiaoming Huang, Edison Chen, Wei Tung, Bowie Lam, Kai Chi Liu | Written by Dante Lam, Wai Lun Ng | Directed by Dante Lam

When ex-Hong Kong police sharpshooter Lincoln (Xiaoming) is released from prison after serving time for the alleged manslaughter of a kidnapper during a hostage situation he has only one thing on his mind: revenge on those responsible for putting him behind bars. At the top of his hit list is former colleague and fellow marksman Hartman (Jen), who Lincoln believes withheld key evidence at his trial that could have led to his acquittal. Lincoln’s plan involves setting up the largest heist the city has ever known, hoping that this will draw his prey to him.

Meanwhile, a hot-headed rookie, Oj (Chen), has joined Hartman’s team and quickly begins to exhibit the same level of shooting skills that made Lincoln such a legend on the force.

“72 Martyrs” is another film released to tie in with the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, a turning point in modern Chinese history which played a vital role in bringing down the Qing Dynasty. The film was directed by Derek Chiu, who previously tackled the period through his Sun Yat Sen biopic “Road to Dawn”, and deals in particular with the Huanghuagang Uprising (also known as the Yellow Flower Mound Revolt), an event which famously saw the titular 72 patriots dying for their cause. As with other recent historical offerings, the film has a prestigious cast made up of new faces and acclaimed stars, including Zhao Bing Rui, Tse Kwan Ho (“The Miracle Box”), Eric Tsang (“Bodyguards and Assassins”), Wang Jian Chang, Liu Kai Chi (“The Stool Pigeon”), Irene Wan (“Exodus”) and Elanne Kong (“Rebellion”), with a cameo appearance from Alan Tam. The film is set in 1910 in Guangzhou, with the...

Instantly recognisable Hong Kong supporting actor Liu Kai Chi (recently in “The Stool Pigeon”, “The Detective” plus sequel, and more) gets a rare chance to headline with fanciful drama “The Way We Were”. Marking the debut of theatre director Hui Shu Ning and Lau Kin Ping, the film revolves around the amusing (though very believable) idea of remaking the seminal television drama “The Bund”, with Liu as a one time actor still desperately hoping to hit the big time. Support comes from popular actress singer Fiona Sit (“Break up Club”) as his daughter, along with Sin Lap Man (“Lan Kwai Fong”), Tats Lau (“Team of Miracle”), singer Pakho Chau (“Once a Gangster”) and radio DJ Danny So. Liu Kai Chi plays Cheong Kwai, a middle-aged man unable to forget the 15 minutes of fame he enjoyed 20 years back as a minor character in “The Bund”. Now working in a convenience store,...

Aaron Kwok returns as oddball private eye Chan Tam in “The Detective 2”, teaming again with director Oxide Pang for a sequel to their highly popular 2007 mystery thriller. Aside from a new case for Tam to solve, the film offers a different approach by aiming for a more psychological angle, venturing into some pretty dark and complex territory along the way. With Liu Kai Chi (“The Way we Were”) and veteran Patrick Tam (“The Storm Warriors”) also returning, the film adds several supporting cast members, including Eddie Cheung (“Vengeance”), Izz Xu (“Child’s Eye”), and upcoming Mainland Chinese actress Gong Beibi. Set again in Bangkok, the plot sees Kwok as private detective Tam being asked by police force friend Fung Chak (Liu Kai Chi) to assist him in investigating a particularly nasty serial murder case. The killings certainly seem to call for a man of Tam’s talents, involving three apparently unrelated victims,...

One company that has been impressing me of late is Well Go USA. They’ve been delivering the goods when it comes to Asian cinema, with Ip Man 2 and The Man From Nowhere being fine examples.

Next on their agenda is The Stool Pigeon (aka Sin Yan) which will be hitting Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack and DVD on September 27th. I’ve dug you all out a trailer and some artwork to check out, although when we get the new trailer and poster I will be sure to post them. I have to say though that this looks to be good brutal entertainment from what I have seen so far.

Plano, Texas. (August 1, 2011) – Director Dante Lam reunites Nicholas Tse (Shaolin, Bodyguards and Assassins) and Nick Cheung (Triad Election, Exiled) from the 2008 hit Beast Stalker in the action thriller The Stool Pigeon, debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD September 27 from Well Go USA.

[The Asian Film Festival Festival of Dallas moves into its second day with Dante Lam's The Stool Pigeon. Here we revisit James Marsh's early review of Lam's latest work.  The Stool Pigeon screens at 9Pm at Landmark's Magnolia Theater]Dante Lam returns to the mean streets of Kowloon once more for a gritty police thriller centred on a particularly troubled cop and his relationship with his latest informant. Det. Don Lee (Nick Cheung) is struggling with one hell of a guilty conscience. His last stool pigeon (Liu Kai Chi) barely escaped with his life after his cover was blown during a raid Lee called in. His informant was severely sliced and diced by a decidedly bloodthirsty gang of drug dealers and now lives on the streets,...

Reviewed at Fantastic Fest 2010.

What's the worst job in the world? Garbage man? Human test subject? Porno theater janitor? According to movies, the worst job in the world is a Hong Kong police officer. Oh sure, you get to do cool things like fire two guns at once while sliding down bannisters or walking in slo-mo through a flock of doves. But the price paid for such badass pleasures is a steep one: all your loved ones have to die in awful ways, you have to work around the clock, treat everyone around you like an asshole, and grow bad facial hair as an outward manifestation of your tortured soul.

Consider the Hong Kong cops in Dante Lam's "Fire of Conscience." Some are good, some are bad, but all of them are miserable. Captain Manfred (Leon Lai) is grappling with the death of his wife (and, just for good measure,...

After the success of his much praised “The Beast Stalker”, director Dante Lam continues his quest to prove himself the leading purveyor of hardcore Hong Kong thrills with “Fire of Conscience”. The hard hitting film certainly pulls no punches when it comes to violent action, with choreographer Chin Kar Lok taking the same kind of gritty yet explosive approach he did with Derek Yee’s “One Nite in Mongkok”. The film has an impressive cast, headed up by popular stars Leon Lai and Richie Jen, with support from Michelle Ye (who recently won Best Supporting Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards for Soi Cheang’s “Accident”), Taiwanese actress Vivian Hsu (“The Knot”, “Hot Summer Days”), Mainland actor Wang Baoqiang (“Equation of Love and Death”), and Liu Kai Chi (also in Lam’s “The Beast Stalker”). Leon Lai takes on the role of rough, tough detective Manfred, known for his...

Even though I'm a big fan of Hong Kong action cinema, for some reason most Hong Kong police thrillers don't really have what it takes to make me sit up and take notice. Up until now Johnnie To's work has been the only positive exception to the rule, but Dante Lam is sure to give him a little extra competition. And looking at Fire Of Conscience, his latest film to date, he's doing a pretty good job at that.

Dante Lam has been playing the field for some time now. I've been following his work from a distance and even though he never really impressed me before, he's made some good, solid stuff over a wide range of genres, building himself a respectable oeuvre. When in need of simple but enjoyable filler, Lam is always a good bet. The only thing missing was that one film that would take him to the next level.

With its familiar sounding title and ex-con trying to go straight premise, “To Live and Die in Mongkok” is not immediately a particularly appealing prospect. However, the impeccably acclaimed cast should certainly arouse the interest, given that it includes Nick Cheung and Paw Hee Ching, winners of Best Actor and Best Actress at the 2009 Hong Kong Film Awards, not to mention Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress winners Liu Kai Chi and Chan Lai Wan. Although the presence of Wong Jing in the director’s chair, which he shares with frequent partner in crime Billy Chung, may give some cause for scepticism, it should be remembered that the Hong Kong shlockmeister has proved himself more than capable of turning serious when it suits, as seen in other quality triad dramas such as “Colour of the Truth”, and the recent “I Corrupt all Cops” and “Hong Kong Bronx”. The film...

As Hong Kong celebrates 100 years of filmmaking, Wilson Yip’s biopic Ip Man (above, top image), starring Donnie Yen as Bruce Lee’s kung fu master, was chosen best picture of the year at the 2009 Hong Kong Film Awards. However, the small-scale docudrama The Way We Are (above, bottom image), set in the working-class town of Tin Shui Wai near the border with China, took home most of the top awards, including best director (Ann Hui), actress (Paw Hee-ching), supporting actress (Chan Lai Wun) and screenplay (Lou Shiu Wa). The best actor winner was Nick Cheung, who plays a kidnapper in the action thriller The Beast Stalker, while Liu Kai Chi received the best supporting actor award for his work in the same film. The best new performer award went to 11-year-old Xu Jiao for her performance in Stephen Chow’s sci-fi film Cj 7. John Woo’s expensive historical epic...

HONG KONG -- China Star's Running on Karma and Media Asia's Infernal Affairs II will slug it out for top honors at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards. Karma, directed by Johnnie To and Ka-fai Wai, goes into the final round of voting with 13 nominations, including best film and best director. Stars Andy Lau and Cecilia Cheung were nominated for best actor and best actress, respectively. Cheung was also nominated for her role in Tung-shing Yee's romantic drama Lost in Time. Cheung will be up against Kar-yan Lam (Floating Landscape), Carina Lau (Infernal Affairs II) and Sandra Ng Kwan Yue (Golden Chicken 2). Media Asia's Infernal Affairs II, the follow-up to 2002's boxoffice hit Infernal Affairs, received 12 nominations, including best film, best director, best actor for Francis Ng and best supporting actors for Man-chat To and Kai Chi Liu.