Long Shan: Home of the Mountain Dragon

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy. In Spades (and Hearts)

To Michelle Yeoh Chu-Keung, 6 August, 1962, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

From her first starring role in Yes, Madam!(1985) to the magnificent Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and the dark and bitter Saiva in Far North (2007), Michelle is not only a living legend of action films but a true actress, and one who might surprise even herself on looking back at a remarkable career.

I have used this screen cap from The Heroic Trio (1993) since, out of many, this is the iconic Yeoh film for me - not to mention the amazing presence of Anita Mui Yim-Fong and Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk. But how much more there is. The above mentioned Yes, Madam! as she and the young Cynthia Rothrock kick not only much ass, but about every other part of villain anatomy and the outrageous motorcycle jump onto the top of a moving train in Police Story 3 (Super Cop) (1992) that seemed to put Jackie Chan in a near-terminal funk and the audience in daredevil heaven. But wait, there's more! And you should head right on over to Jane's wonderful Michelle Yeoh Web Theater (See sidebar) to find out. For me, this is the premier fan appreciation site on the web and Jane is to receive kowtow on any occasion.

There is also a special on for another day, and this is the reason for the early post. Anyone who gets there by Tuesday can post a personal birthday greeting for Michelle.

Do it. Her like will pass this way but once.

(Mostly) Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

To Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Carina Lau Ka-Ling on the first anniversary of their wedding, July 21, 2008 in Bhutan.

The (Mostly) tag results from Tony suffering a broken arm training for the upcoming Wong Kar-Wai film Grand Master , about the life of Ip Man, Bruce Lee's teacher. I'm not much of a martial arts fan, but the casting of Tony and Chang Chen , plus the rumored participation of Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia and Gong Li lends an irreducible fascination to this project. Maybe the pairing of these two ultimate icons of Chinese film could help erase 1994's The Dragon Chronicles: Maidens of Heavenly Mountain.

Anyway, speedy recovery to Tony and all possible joy to you both. (Not really a hint; after all, this opens possibilities for more time, uh, around the house.)

A sweet commemoration of their 18 year courtship, brought to us courtesy of Tony Ham

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

To (Vicky) Zhao Wei just chosen as the lead for Jingle Ma's Mulan. Her first success came in the 1998 TV series Princess Pearl, and continued with A Chinese Odyssey 2002, So Close and last year's The Painted Skin, with the less showy but richer portrayal of Peirong, quiet and determined wife fighting for her life and creditability against Zhou Xun's vampiric villainess. She is also said to be working on her master's degree in directing. You go, girl!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

To Cecilia Yip Tung, shown here as "Kiddo" from Swordsman (1990). Winner of Best Actress, at 21, for "Let's Make Laugh" (1983) and Best Supporting Actress for "Beyond The Sunset" (1989), she received five more nominations over a twenty year span. She also nearly stole 1995's "Peace Hotel" from Chow Yun-Fat of all people, and was truly the emotional center of "Hong Kong 1941" (1989), also starring Chow. Thankfully she did not retire young as many HK girls do and we can hope for more.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

To Moon Lee Choi-Fung, February 14, 1965. From 1983 to 1998 this tiny beauty was one of the premier action stars of Hong Kong film. A former dancer, she used her physical abilities to delight and awe moviegoers and reviewers alike. Reading about her at the time could give the impression that her first name was "The ferocious"(Moon Lee), as she was often styled. She was also an excellent dramatic and comedic actress. Since her retirement, Moon has returned to the world of dance, teaching in her own school. Let's hope her students absorb some of the grace and style she represents.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

To Zhang Ziyi, best known for her 2001 release Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and much more outstanding work. Do check out HelloZiyi.us, a terrific site with lots of news, pictures and downloads.

Red Cliff I (And last)

 

Or, "...a tale told by an idiot; full of sound and fury, signifying nothing..." Macbeth, - Act 5, Scene 5:

What were they thinking? After watching this leaden mix of hyper-extended and curiously remote battle scenes and obvious boredom from the actors, I wanted to go straight to the computer and order The Promise. To watch some of the finest actors in the business, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Zheng Fengyi and Chang Chen, act with all of the subtlety and panache of John Woo's American fence posts, John Travolta and Tom Cruise, is truly painful.

And Takeshi Kaneshiro. Couldn't Woo have found someone with a bit more macho energy than this wooden icon of mopey soulfulness, say, Gigi Leung or Vivian Hsu? In fact, the only warlike character of the leading cast was Zhao Wei. Maybe she repeats a little of her pert, spunky routine from other work, but she has the life and color otherwise completely lacking and does seem a credible warrior. And she's gorgeous.

Speaking of color, the film is competently shot, if a bit gray and flat; most of the CGI scenes are passable set pieces without any Wow! moments or notable artistry. It is the director's hand that inflates the film with more padding than Love on a Diet. Oh, for the hand of Ching Siu-Tung at the helm.

It is obvious that I'm not a John Woo fan. The repetitive blood-soaked odysseys of the past may have made stars of Chow Yun-Fat and Woo himself but he hasn't made a decent film since Bullet in the Head (1990) and yes, I count the ridiculous Hard Boiled (1992), apparently the ultimate wet dream for a lot of folks I never want to know. When there is consistently so much reviewer yapping over style, one might be inclined to overlook the matter of substance. Could this be an accident?

At least I don't have to wait to see if there will be an integrated release with Part II for the West, I can save my money for something valuable like Pink Force Commandos or Holy Weapon.

Oh Yes; I already know how the story ends and if I was smart I would have left it at the history books (and Wikipedia). This film is NOT recommended.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

To Joey Wong - Wang Tsu Hsien Most noted for her ethereal beauty (and height) and the Chinese Ghost Story films, she has retired (2004) and we hope is living in peace and prosperity. Joey's last appearance was the mostly unseen Shanghai Story and in Yon Fan's Peony Pavillion (2001)

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

To Gillian Chung Yun Tung  , singer and actress. Member of Twins with partner Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin . This screen shot is from the rather unfortunate Protege De La Rose Noir as the girls do a hilarious and pretty convincing take on Jackie Chan in Drunken Master II. The movie's faults certainly aren't their responsibility. And regardless, sometimes cute is it's own reward.

A note to the CPC thugs at SARFT and the cowards who produced Mei Lanfang and then removed Gillian's footage - said to be excellent. May you spend your next ten lives building igloos in the Sahara and sand castles in Greenland. Supervised by Red Guards.

"Watashiwa!"

Princess Raccoon - Operetta tanuki goten (2005) Director Seijun Suzuki's radical departure from his Yakuza themed films such as Pistol Opera and Tokyo Drifter is a flight into fairy-tale land. A thoroughly engaging mixture of live-action, Anime, CGI, cut-out animation ala Terry Gilliam and looniness this film more closely resembles Gaja Gamini or The Happiness of the Katakuris than anything else I can recall. There's even a hint of West Side Story - "Men must not be with Raccoons, Raccoons must not be with Men". And yes, it says "Operetta", so we have song and dance, rap, tap, show tunes and a samurai Calypso marching band. And Raccoons.

Sometime, probably in the 17th century, (there are Spaniards) the vain and brutal king, Mkijiro Hira, is told by the palace seeress, the (Christian) Virgin Hag that he has been supplanted as "fairest of them all" by his son, Joe Odagiri, thereby vowing to exile the lad and devise his demise. In the course of his wanderings the prince comes across a Raccoon Princess in human guise, Zhang Ziyi and the quest for love begins, encountering a number of the expected pitfalls, including the language barrier - "You speak a language I have never heard"; this being explained by her coming from "Cathay", thereby giving Ziyi the opportunity to speak her dialogue in her native toungue while the rest of the cast speaks in theirs.

We meet many odd characters, including the Ostrich Monk, a set of Gibson Girl - like handmaidens ("You girls are weird") and even the "Frog of Paradise". I can not pretend to give this movie it's due but it is deliriously lovely and loads o' fun.

The post title will be clear on watching the film