Xin xi ju zhi wang

Went to the cinema wasn't expecting much. Was pleasantly surprised, really good movie to watch during Chinese new year. Light hearted movie fun for all. Acting was top notch too!

Stephen Chow Stephen Chow Stephen Chow... Where do I even begin. The New King of Comedy does have the signature Stephen Chow humour, but is definitely not on par with his previous works. It pains me to see that his dazzle is truly peeling off. This work feels like an insult to the original King of Comedy which produced so many classic lines and plots that are ingrained into a generation of movie goers, and nothing in this film is even close to matching that. As the plot unravels, things don't seem congruent or match up and the funny bits feels more awkward than enjoyable. Even so, I look forward to his future works, no matter how bad, his signature slapstick style of humour is something that I grew up with and I'm willing to give him as many attempts as possible.

Don't come in expecting the Looney Tunes level of insanity from Kung Fu Hustle; this flick is subdued in comparison. It still got tons of laughs, slapstick comedy and heart. It lags a bit in the middle but hey, any new Stephen Chow film is always welcome. Even his lesser movies are way more fun than most of the dreck they populates streams like Netflix.

You have to like Steven Chau as a writer, a sharp social critic, before you're qualified to evaluate his work. It's like being totally in tune with a particular person on aspects of life, views, taste, interaction, to be critical of him/her as a person. I'm a diehard fan of Steven Chau from day one and everything he does (and I believe he puts his heart and soul in every project he's made) I appreciate. I of course is a Cantonese person, and grew up in the same social environment as he, despite our age difference.

This film was at first not intended to be made, much less shown. I heard (no proof here) Steven had a contract with a conglomerate to produce 5 blockbusters in 5 years but by the last Chinese New Year season his current film for this season wasn't ready so instead he produced this film just in time as a substitute. At first I thought such a hurriedly made film must be cheaply made, and shoddy in many areas that required careful handling, but on seeing it, the contrary was found to be true.

In this film, Steven's dialogues, characterisations, plot turns are all meticulously written. Outstanding characterisation are the main character's father, her betraying boy friend, the exaggerated parody on film actors and directors. The story contains many heart rending turns in personal failures, loss, betrayal of trust and love, hopelessness which are typically imbedded in all of Steven Chau's drama, to be given balm at some point in the film with moral victory, love reciprocated, the good's final prevalence.

The film didn't do particularly well in the box office, perhaps because today's viewers didn't appreciate these fine classical qualities for they had expected more slapstick laughs and the like from Chau. But to write a piece that impelled its audience not just to laugh (for the many silliness in the film) but to tear in earnest in compassion for the characters and events is a sure sign of Steven Chau's greatness.

I like Chow's old movies made in Hong Kong. They are all with casting with super new actors, brilliant and logical plot, ultra funny. His school undercover movie series are the most memorable. That are classics for most of the Hong Kong people.

This movie, though still full of funny elements, and again super new actors, however, the plot is not rich enough. The story is too simple and one dimensional.

But by watching his new movies I can have the feel of his old movies. The hairstyle of a knife stick on the hair of the female lead with blood, the male snow white..... All remind me of his past movies. His out of frame thinking and shots are simply amazing. It just stimulate your mind to be more creative.

Not a very successful movie, but still worth seeing.