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Comedy is such a tricky thing to get right. Different languages and cultures mean that what plays well in one country may be incomprehensible to another. Slapstick is therefore more universal as visually it is easier to understand. With “They Came to Rob Hong Kong” we potentially have a classic example of what Hong Kong did so well in the golden era. That gelling together of fast paced action and knockabout humour that is unlike anything seen elsewhere. With a solid cast of both comedians and action stars, what could possibly go wrong?

Rick (Roy Cheung) barely escapes being captured by the police headed up by the Superintendent (Kara Hui). Plotting revenge, he hires a motley collection of misfits in China to use as a diversion from his actual intentions. Bringing them back to Hong Kong, he plans for them to rob a bank whilst he captures a politician and the superintendent.

All the world loves Jackie Chan, whose cinematic action pictures bridge the gap between silent-era virtuosity and slick modernity. As light comedy entertainment these first two Police Story smash ‘n’ bash epics of eye-popping jeopardy are suitable as ‘family entertainment’ as well. Jackie is a marvelous hero, while Maggie Cheung is an old fashioned girl who doesn’t mind being threatened, kidnapped and occasionally having her scalp split open. You will believe that men can tumble from high roosts onto concrete, and smash through acres of glass countertops without receiving a scratch necessarily going straight to emergency surgery. Criterion has created beautiful new masters, with original soundtracks and extras to make every foolish Jackie Chan fan try some ridiculously dangerous stunt for themselves!

Police Story / Police Story 2

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 971, 972

1985 & 1988 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 100 and 122 min. / Ging chat goo si / Ging chaat goo si juk jaap /available through The Criterion...

I thought it was about time i did a post on the great vampire buster of all time, yes you got it, lam Ching Ying. This will be listing all the movies and tv series where Lam Ching Ying either stars in or takes on the hopping vampires and evil spirits.

His roles in the Mr.Vampire movies show his skills as an actor, with great comic timing which goes well with his serious acting side, which we normally get to see on screen. This role would make him, not just a big star in Asia but also worldwide as the master of Vampire killers.

Other great movies which he starred in (But not in a vampire movie) were the likes of The Prodigal Son, School On Fire, Eastern Condors, The Magnificent Butcher and Painted Faces.

I have been a big fan of these movies since i first watched Mr.

Produced by Hong Kong favourite Johnnie To, tough revenge drama “Punished” is the latest from the popular Milkyway Image studio, which as usual means an emphasis on character and writing along with action and thrills. The film was directed by To regular Law Wing Cheong, who recently helmed “Ptu” spinoff “Tactical Unit: Comrades in Arms” and Miriam Yeung breast cancer comedy “2 Become 1”, and who also appeared in the likes of “Vengeance” and “Sparrow”. Headlining the film are another of his usual collaborators in Anthony Wong and Richie Jen, with support from Janice Man (“Frozen”), Maggie Cheung Ho Yee (“Men Suddenly in Love”), singer Candy Lo (“Split Second Murders”), Jun Kung (“Rebellion”), Charlie Cho (“Bet to Basic”), and Wong’s own real life teenage son Wong Yat Yat. The film follows Anthony Wong as property developer tycoon Wong Ho Chiu, whose daughter Daisy (Janice Man) causes him no end of trouble with her drug taking,...