News

Kung Fu Hustle

Kung Fu superstar Sammo Hung will deliver a masterclass on May 4 as part of the 12th Singapore Chinese Film Festival. He will also attend a mini-retrospective of his films. Hung studied under Peking Opera master Yu Jim Yuen at a young age and was the “big brother”’ to the China Drama Academy’s performance troupe known as the Seven Little Fortunes, whose members included Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu and Corey Yuen. He starred in “Painted Faces” (1988), which was based on his time in the Seven Little Fortunes.

Hung’s career as an actor, action choreographer, director and producer spans some 60 years. His acting credits include action comedies “Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog” and “Odd Couple,” paranormal horror comedies “Encounters of the Spooky Kind” and “The Dead and the Deadly,” comedy film series “Lucky Stars” and gangster action film “Shanghai, Shanghai.” In 1982, Hung won the...

Following the great success of “Winners and Sinners”, Sammo Hung could not but use the same recipe of comedy and action once more, with “My Lucky Stars” featuring an even more impressive cast than its predecessor, since John Shum gave his place to Eric Tsang, which allowed Sammo Hung to give him his former role as the bullied one. Furthermore, Yuen Biao and Jackie Chan had more significant roles, although they were not the protagonists once more, while the villains include Dick Wei, Bolo Yeung, Lam Ching-ying (who was also action coordinator along Sammo Hung once more), and the body builder/martial artist/stuntwoman Michiko Nishiwaki, in probably the most impressive presence in the film. Lastly, the main female role was held by Sibelle Hu instead of Cherie Chung, a substitution that also aimed to add to the action aspect of the movie, although comedy remained the main element of the narrative.

“Winners and Sinners” inaugurated a series of movies that eventually reached number seven, although, starting with number four it strayed away from the original trilogy. Featuring a rather entertaining combination of martial arts and comedy, with the latter being the main focus, the film was a big success commercially, also winning a Hong Kong Film award for Best action choreography, for the work by Sammo Hung, Lam Ching-ying and Yuen Biao, who also stars in the film. The latter has a small part, while Jackie Chan also appears, although in a secondary role.

The story revolves around five men, who, as the movie begins, and in hilarious fashion, end up getting arrested due to a number of failed attempts at various crimes. Teapot, who is constantly bullied despite being the strongest among them, Exhaust Pipe, who reads books on how to get supernatural powers, Vaseline, who cannot...

Kungfu master, cross-cultural comedian, prolific film director; pop star, multi-millionaire, Ccp conspirator, global philanthropist. No one wears as many hats as Hong Kong-born Jackie Chan, the Peking Opera fallout turned into a more affable Bruce Lee. In short, Chan is an icon in both Asian and international cinema.

So we at Amp take our hats off to Chan’s 50+ year and 100+ movies career with our newest list, honing in on what he’s best known for: his movies. Some star, some are directed by, but all include the Hong Kong-born superstar. Watch this kick-ass stunt double rise the ranks to become the legend he has become today.

1. Spiritual Kung Fu

Yes, it is kind of strange that this one is here, since there are definitely many better movies in Jackie Chan’s filmography. However, somewhere among the Shaolin monks, the book with the ultimate style of kung fu, and the...

16 January 2019 (Hong Kong) – Legendary action master Sammo Hung is the 43rd Hong Kong International Film Festival’s Filmmaker in Focus, it was announced today.

This is a well-deserved recognition for the all-round virtuoso who stands as a living testimony of Hong Kong cinema’s Golden Age and for his trailblazing career, having worked his way from actor, stuntman, martial arts choreographer, to director and producer for over half a century.

The 43rd Hong Kong International Film Festival will be held from 18 March to 1 April 2019. Festival tickets for the public can be booked online (at www.hkiff.org.hk) and all Urbtix and Hk Ticketing outlets from 28 February 2019.

The retrospective honoring Hung will feature 10 of his seminal works, along with a newly published commemorative book. Hung will also attend a Face to Face seminar at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 30 March 2019, to share his views of and experiences in the...

After a second failed attempt to break into the American market with The Protector (1985), a film in which he repeatedly conflicted with director James Glickenhaus, Jackie Chan returned to Hong Kong determined to top Hollywood. According to Chan, he told Glickenhaus: “You do The Protector and I’ll do Police Story, and I’ll show you what the action movie is all about.” Today, more than 30 years after its release, Police Story remains one of the best-loved and most impressive action films by the most popular action star in the world, and has been given the restoration treatment and Metrograph engagement befitting a true classic, while Glickenhaus is best known for actually writing and directing a movie called McBain.After knocking around Hong Kong for several years as a stuntman and bit player, and a few attempts at becoming a lead in cheap Bruce Lee knock-offs, Jackie Chan finally burst...