1. God of Gamblers (1989) starring Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Joey Wong, Cheung Man)
Chow Yun Fat stars as Ko Chun a professional gambler who got the title of The God of Gamblers due to his amazingly insane ability to beat the odds of the gambling arts. This means he's crazily good at counting cards, hearing dice, psychological intimidation etc. Basically Ko Chun wins every game he plays and he wins it with flair and more than enough coolness.*drools* Sadly Ko Chun suffered brain damage because of a childish trap set by Dou Chai (Andy Lau). Dou Chai is a amateur gambler who set the trap to trick some Indian guy but Ko Chun got caught in the trap. Ko Chun basically reverted back to the mentality of a seven year old boy. To make things short, Ko Chun basically still has his talent for gambling and he won in the end not without some gun-toting action of course.
I love this movie so much regardless of some cheesy and tacky parts.I mean it was Chow Yun Fat in his heyday when he was the epitome of cool. He was stylish,cool and I alternately drooled and clapped my hands in glee when I see him trashed his enemies through gambling. And Chow as a man who reverted to a child-like state is also cute enough. I personally don't think many actors can portray this character with the same oomph Chow did. As for Andy Lau's character...well he's basically a sidekick. And as much as I love him now and even back then when he wasn't that good in acting, he definitely can't hold a candle to Chow's acting in this movie. And as cool as he is now not many if not any Hong Kong can hold a candle to Chow in terms of acting or just plain being cool. I mean his roles in those John Woo's movies!! To quote a good friend of mine.... nuff' said
2. God of Gamblers 2 (1991) starring Andy Lau Tak Wah, Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Ng Man Tat, Cheung Man
This is the sequel to the God of Gamblers but it doesn't star Chow Yun Fat (what a pity!!) Anyway Andy Lau reprises his role as Dou Chai now a formidable gambler after undergoing training from his master, Ko Chun. Stephen Chow and Ng Man Tat play nephew and uncle who wants to earn big bucks, Stephen Chow is Sing Chai has psychic abilites. He and his uncle decided the best way to exploit this talent of his is to become the apperentice of the God of Gamblers. However Ko Chun is on sabbatical so they have to settle for Andy Lau's character Dou Chai now known as the Knight of Gamblers. Dou Chai is unhappy with Sing Chai's presence and wants to get rid of him. However when evil guy (Tan Lap Man) usurps Dou Chai's title, Dou Chai and Sing Chai team up to defeat him and basically they make him and other baddies look stupid.
This movie is funny but it wasn't as good as the first film. But I do like the teaming of Andy Lau and Stephen Chow. I mean Stephen Chow is doing wha he did best back then acting wacky and making all the bad guys look stupid. Honeslty I prefer his movies back then maybe because now he plays roles which I don't really like for example God of Cookery. Don't ask me why....
3. God of Gamblers' Return (1994) starring Chow Yun Fat, Wu Chien-Lien, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Chingmy Yau Suk Ching
Chow Yun Fat returns in one of his most famous and recognized roles: Ko Chun, God of Gamblers. In this long awaited sequel , Ko Chun is now living in France with his wife (Cheung Man). However evil bad guys led by Wu Xing Guo show up and basically challenge Ko Chun by killing his wife and leaving her unborn fetus in a jar (Major eww!!) Tony Leung Ka Fai and Wu Chien Lien play siblings who con people (mainly Tony Leung) by doing some amateur tricks to win. Basically Chow Yun Fat managed to get his vengeance a year after his wife died.
The sequel is no way as good as the original. Chow Yun Fat also gained quite some weight so he doesn't look as cool but fat or not Chow is charismatic and I STILL am a huge fan of his Hong Kong movies. Wu Chien Lien and Chow Yun Fat do have chemistry together which a good thing. As for the rest of the cast I'm only ok with their performance afterall it is a Wong Jing film so stupid stuff does occur.
I know I know all these movies are basically the God of Gamblers. But I love these movies particularly God of Gamblers and God of Gamblers 2. I just watched God of Gamblers' Return because it has Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung Ka Fai in it.Anyway i'm gonna be watching "Tricky Brains", "Dances With Dragon", "Bodyguarf drom Bei Jing" and the Wong Fei Hung movies most probably part 2 (my fav Wong Fei Hung movie!!)and if I have time "Eagle Shooting Heroes"
2 comments:
Whoo Hoo!!! I love the God of Gamblers!! Fat Guo is so cool in it!! Although he looks really fat in the last one! Actually I still prefer Western movies but I used to watch these movies with my family when I was younger!! Ahh....brings me back......
I still prefer Andy Lau now back then he's just handsome but he's now looking more manly. Chow Yun Fat I think he's cool but too old and now he's too fat for me. I know how much you love his movies especially his old action movies but u gotta admit he's out...peace,L
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