John Woo!

[Crazy_dog no.3]

Anyone seen any of his original HK films? I've only seen Hard-Boiled but I've heard "the Killer" is even better. Only perhaps Face/Off comes close to the gratuitous but shall I say beautifull voilence in Hard-Boiled.

 

Anyone else like his movies?

[toms]

I used to think he was a god, unfortunately his films since moving to hollywood have proven him mortal. Hardboiled is indeed a favorite of mine, it is a shame there aren't any decent dvd versions available. Makes the matrix gun coreography look so bad.

 

if you want to try other stuf then i recommmend:

 

The Killer - All time classic film. not quite as full on action as hardboiled, but a bit more substance. (Get the UK, Hong Kong Legends version)

 

A better Tomorrow - The film that started it all and made Chow Yun fat a star. Probably not as good as the killer or hardboiled, but the early hit in the tea house is a classic scene.

 

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Most of his other films might be a bit harder for western audiences to appreciate, so you may want to start with those, but other ones i like are:

 

Better tomorrow II: standard sequel, but good fun. (Return to a better tomorrow (part 3) isn't by Woo)

 

Bullet in the Head: Good film, getting a HKL dvd release soon i think.

 

Heroes shed no tears: Fun, OTT war movie.

 

Once a thief: Veers a bit too much into Hong Kong comedy, but still interesting

 

I think he remade that last one in the US but it sucked.

 

Face/off is definately his best hollywood film to date, and i suppose Broken arrow was cool in places, but the rest of his hollywood stuff has been distinctly average.

 

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You may also want to check out Full Contact by Ringo Lam (also starring Chow yun fat) which is cool.

 

Not actiony or with many gunfights, but Infernal Affairs is really cool too, and i hear Infernal affairs 2 and 3 are nearly as good.

 

Oh, and watch out when buying hong kong movies in the US as us studios (especially disney/miramax) tend to hack them up, re-cut them, add rap soundtracks and basically ruin them so that they are "suitale for the US market". sigh.

[toms]

Oh, and word is that John Woo has optioned the rights to make a Metroid movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes!!!!!!!!

 

Of course, there is no guarantee he will use them, or even that he will direct and not just produce. But still...

[Crazy_dog no.3]

Originally posted by toms

 

Oh, and watch out when buying hong kong movies in the US as us studios (especially disney/miramax) tend to hack them up, re-cut them, add rap soundtracks and basically ruin them so that they are "suitale for the US market". sigh.

 

Don't worry I live in merry old England.