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Malevolent Mate- Grisly violence bookends this well shot but poorly paced police procedural. It's a pretty standard go. The villain is caught and the story id told through investigation and flashback. A butcher takes a mistress. His wife finds out. She confronts the mistress. Something bad happens. Though a bit slow the film is moody and shot with heyday grit. I enjoyed it. 6.5/10

Hong Kong Emmanuel- The entire story of this CAT III turd is lifted from part of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut; the masked sex party. This has gobs and gobs and gobs of sex and nudity but is so freaking excrutiating to watch. Sometimes boobies aren't worth it. The dvd includes a cut sex scene that had to be digitally fogged. This movie sucked. 0/10

Devil Girl 18- The majority of this film appears to have been produced around an unfinished Mark Cheng/ Yukari Oshima project. Both are seen briefly in flashbacks to try and tie together the poor story. Cheng's character is seen throughout the film, victim of an accident, in full body cast with his face heavily bandaged, of course. Obviously not Cheng. But this only adds to the lunacy of the film. It's an off the wall, all over the place, Joseph Lai/ Wong Jing, everything but the kitchen sink kinda film. Parts good, parts ridiculous, but always curiously entertaining. There are some naughty bits too. Oddly enjoyable and fun. 7.5/10

Passionate Dream- When a film stuntman finds that the girl he pines for, a comic book artist, hooks up with his best bud, he flips his lid. He disappears from the world only to resurface as a gangsters right hand man. His transfomation changes him from clean cut average joe to 80's hairband look-a-like complete with long permed locks and leather trenchcoat. He's quite funny looking. He wants revenge for being scorned. There is some decent action in the Taiwanese production. So-so. 5/10

Shark Busters- Herman Yau directs this seriocomic look at HK police who find themselves heavily in hock to loan sharks during the HK economic crisis. They are constantly stalked and harassed by triad debt collectors. They have had enough and decide to band together and become......Shark Busters! Gwailo actor, Brian Ireland, is given a large role and does quite well with it, playing a barrister who enlists as an auxillary cop. Danny Lee, Jamie Luk, Alfred Cheung, and Ken Lo also star. Lam Suet plays a triad. Pretty decent movie. 6.5/10

Owl, I agree that it was simplistic but I didn't mind that at all. I think Ip Man was produced to paint him as 'the next chinese legend' a la Wong Fei Hung. Though it was a bit obvious, i didn't mind the wire work. The fight scenes were a bit too much (and i'm really sure Wong Fei Hung had a bad ass ladder fight too) but are there to maybe give Ip Man his legendary kung fu status. I think it works because it is a simple story with simple and clear cut good guys and bad guys. I agree it is not in the same category as Flashpoint. Ip Man is intended to be a series of films like the Once Upon a Time in China series.

How cool was Fan Siu Wong? He's had a tiny resurgeance in 2008. Ip Man, Connected, and The Moss. Granted his role in Connected was tiny. He had a larger role in The Moss but his character was ridiculous. I hope he gets more oportunities to star or have a meaty co-star role in the years to come.

Neil, by the way, i love the avatar

Fury- Heyday actioner from 1988 involving the usual themes of honor, brotherhood, betrayal, and revenge is an excellent find. The action is nice, the characters and acting are great. Michael Wong, Waise Lee, Ku Feng, Philip Chan, and Carrie Ng star. Kirk Wong has an excellent bit role as a dick head crooked cop. Has some holes but can be overlooked as this is a very good film. There is also a scene where Michael Wong is in a nightclub break dancing and poppin' and lockin'! Worth the watch itself. Good stuff! 8.5/10

Black Dream- Hack director Joe Hau directs one of his better films (which isn't saying much) as two hitmen are double crossed by their boss. The film tries to layer the hitmen by giving them personal lives. Key sympathetic characters were dispatched half way through; an element of the film I found very cool. Unfortunately, the film is slow, meandering, and boring. Skip it. 3/10

Hidden Desire- Sleaze director Ho Fan directs this dull Cat III erotic drama. Veronica Yip is the only name of note and she shows her boobies. Slow and interminable. Charlie Cho is my idol. He always shows up crappy sleaze and gets to bed young starlets. This movie stinks. 0/10

The Best of Best- Herman Yau directs this drama/actioner from 1992 starring Jacky Cheung, Ng Man Tat, Carrie Ng, Paul Chun, and a young Sammie Cheng in her first film role. The action scenes are few and far between but the story and characters, though thinly layered, are acceptable. The last 15 minutes are actiuon filled. Slow in parts but a goodie. 6.5/10

Highway Man- Herman Yau co-directs this street racing action drama with action director Chu Kai-Sang (most noted for his car stunts). You would think this is a match made in heaven but the racing scenes are quite dull and the film almost entirely straight up drama. While the story and acting are good the film is very slow. You might feel duped by the cover art for thinking this is an actioner. Julian Cheung, Rachel/ Loleeta/ Loretta Lee, Tommy Wong, Christine Ng, and Anthony Wong star. Michael Lam plays the villain, Lion King, and his character is so absurd yet so welcome, he almost saves the film. 4/10

Passion 1995- Christy Chung and Simon Yam star in this turgid mish mash directed by hack Clarence Fok. All of the characters here are ridiculous and act accordingly. The low budget, independent feel, and short running time are the only things going for this unfunny and unentertaining comedy. There are a 2 sing and dance sequences, one in the middle and one that ends the film, that are out of place and inexplicable. The film, including the dance scenes, reminded me a bit of Godard's 'A Band Apart', in which the 3 protagonists stop the movie dead in its tracks to dance The Madison in a bar. Could this be Fok's homage to the French New Wave? If so, it stinks. 2/10

Didn't enjoy Lady Cop, Papa Crook. Cheng and Chan's characters were unbelievable and the film was neither funny or exciting. I did just watch Sammi Cheng's debut film 'The Best of Best with Jacky Cheung. It was a decent crime drama with a little character depth to it. She was fine in it as well. Sometimes a bit slow but the ending was a goodie. It was directed by Herman Yau and also starred Ng Man tat, Carrie Ng, and Paul Chun. She did look rather hot in Lady Cop, Papa Crook. She aged very well as she looks a bit chubby faced and awkward in Best of Best.

Possessed- Director Billy Chung has never quite made an entirely succesful film. He enlists A list talent but he lacks A list direction. Though he does try his best and sometimes scrapes goodness. Possessed is another ghost film from HK with an 'Exorcist' (including vomitus from a possesed young female) type storyline and decent acting. For the most part things are aloof until we see the flashback that makes the story possible. I laughed so damn hard I almost pissed. Mediocre but the flashback is so worth it. 5.5/10

Under the Rose- One of my favorite Cat III directors Otto Chan directs the late James Wong in this often hilarious docu-mocu-mentary where Uncle James takes us on a tour of sex in Hong Kong. The tour includes live locales and spans the last few decades pointing out certain activity and hot-spots throughout Hong Kong. Very, very funny. 8/10

Fun and Fury- Frankie Chan is usually reliable in the fast paced HK action we all have come to love. Fun and Fury is a misstep. Some scenes are energetic but they are few and far between. Most of the film is rather dull. Stars Frankie Chan, Leon Lai, the great Kent Cheng, and the always nice to look at Vivian Chow. 5/10

Look for a Star- Andrew Lau directs Andy Lau and Shu Qi in this harmless but maddening New Year film. It's a lovers from the wrong side of the tracks who try to come together despite different lives kinda film. It's been done to death but every character is so damn likeable that the film gets a passable grade. Made me angry with its ridiculousness...but damn it....I couldn't hate it!!! Passable. 6/10

On Fire- Clarence Fok directs what could have been a gem involving two obssessed fans who kidnap the beautiful (and real) Francoise Yip. This should have been a great black comedy, but in HK, silly comedy prevails. Ng Man tat co stars and some of his shenanigans are actually funny. Louis Koo stars. I was hoping this would be great but I was wrong. 4/10

Sex for Sale- All over the map balls to the wall mayhem in this crazy actioner. It sometimes looks to be spliced form different movies but I think it might be a genuine film....I think? Pauline Chan is featured on the cover in an enticing state of undress but does not show skin. She is actually a kick butt inspector. Her action scenes enlist a body double which makes the film that much better because of their terrible obviousness. It is sometimes slow, sometimes out of control. Chock full of bad aim gun spraying, magic bullets, and some awkward sex scenes involving nubile young women and nasty old men. Some of the sex scenes appear to be editied. Not great but damn entertaining. 7/10

True Women For Sale- Herman Yau once again keeps it esoteric for the fans and once again tells the story of HK women in the sex trade like his 2007 Whispers and Moans. This one is a serio-comic look at the worlds oldest profession and incorporates the strife afflicted on the middle-lower class of HK during the economic and mainlanders right of abode crisis. The acting is exceptional and aside form a few miscues the film is sometimes touching and funny. Anthony Wong is once again excellent as an insurance salesman trying to help out the widowed and illegal alien Race Wong. Race Wong and Prudence Liew are standouts and unforgettable. 7/10