Applauded director Li Han-Hsiang was one of few directors that made soft porn acceptable by mainstream audiences; using the thematic device of "sex on a mission" cynicism, suggesting that sex was the ultimate power. In the sex comedy The Scandalous Warlord, the true power that drove the country's many warlords were the prostitutes that these men would routinely visit. Therefore, the power in this film lies in the hands of the sassy Shirley Yu and the titillating Shaw Yin-Yin.
The chase may be long, but the action is fast and furious is this tale of a dart master-for-hire and the innkeeper’s daughter, Hsueh-niang (Li Ching) who loves him. Kou Ying (Yueh Hua) is under deadly threat from a police officer after he assassinates a Government Minister, while Hsueh-niang is the target of murderous local bandits. The consummately versatile director, Ho Meng-hua soon to be declared a master of the “esoteric weapon” kung-fu film, develops his style with this sharp thriller that really gets to the point.
“Queen Of Swords” Cheng Pei-pei exchanges her martial arts weaponry for a syringe in this exotic contemporary drama by Pan Lei. Paul Chang Chung plays Dr. Ho, who decides to move to a backward island off the coast of Taiwan to look for his missing father. He meets nurse Ya Lan (Cheng Pei-pei) who falls in love with him. But dastardly doings are afoot as Dr. Ho’s enemies plot against him. It is a joy to see Cheng flex her dramatic muscle against the more fragile Lily Ho.
Asian fans of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon recognized that its director Ang Lee was actually inspired by director Chu Yuan and novelist Ku Lung's wonderful tales of a "martial arts world" where all wushu warriors try to attain the "Deer Sword" and escape from the insidious maze-like "Toy Land." Master kung-fu choreographer Tang Chia leads the king and queen of Shaw - Ti Lung and Lily Li - to engage in a fascinating and entertaining swordplay adventure of consummate swordsmen and sorceresses.
A bad-tempered, womanizing cop (Lau Ching-wan) who always neglects his wife (Carmen Lee) is shot in the head as he was hunting down a drug dealer. Although he miraculously survives, he needs to depend on his wife to nurse him back to health despite her carrying another man's child. During the recovery, he has much time to re-evaluate his life and repair the damages of his broken marriage.
Water Clan Chief is severely wounded by a samurai killer shortly before the annual duel at Tai Lake. He sends his brother Bao Yu on a long journey to find an antidote for him. On the way, Bao Yu encounters Little Princess and falls in love with her, not knowing that she is hiding a secret plot…
Inspired by the story of Macau’s Casino King Stanley Ho, the movie traces his blood-splattered fight to the top from 1930s to 1960s. In 1941, a young graduate, Benny Ho, flees Hong Kong during the Japanese invasion and heads for Macau. Benny starts as a labourer but rises to the top of the city’s casino business with his courage, wisdom and diligence.
Stephen Chow takes on the role of delivery boy for a fast food joint, and Hong Kong's comedy diet is never quite the same. A top blockbuster of 1994, LOVE ON DELIVERY delivers laughs, romance, and kung-fu as only Chow can. He's a combination of Charlie Chaplin and Bruce Lee when, under the tutelage of sidekick Ng Man-tat, the mild mannered delivery boy becomes a Chinese boxing ace. He vanquishes the enemy and wins the heart of the voluptuous Christy Chung. How can she, or anyone, resist the sight of Chow dressed like Garfield the Cat? Asian audiences gladly surrendered to Chow, making LOVE ON DELIVERY one of the biggest Chinese New Year hits of the '90s.
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Music, Best Editing, Best Actress and special awards for outstanding performance, this sumptuous adaptation of a Chinese folk tale won them all. Glorious Betty Loh Ti stars as a beauty that disguises herself as a boy to get forbidden education. This sort of pre-Yentl gender-bender role-playing is traditional when it comes to Chinese opera, yet there is nothing old fashioned about the superlative screen treatment given to this all-time classic.
Some of Shaw Brothers' biggest female stars of the 1970s share the screen in this tale of young love and interfering parents, starring Lily Li, Shu Pei Pei and Essie Lin Chia.
Ting Chih-hua, pert and pretty, plans to steal a fabulous diamond ring from a shop. She orders the ring and tells the manager, Tang Chi-tu, to deliver it to psychiatrist Chow Tung-ming. He is to impersonate her husband. At the same time, Chih-hua calls on Chow and tells him that Tang, whom she claims is her husband, will be visiting him for treatment. Tang takes the ring to the psychiatrist's clinic. In the waiting room, Chih-hua receives the ring. Tang enters the psychiatrist's office to collect payment for the ring. Since Chow is under the impression that Tang has come to him for consultation, a series of misunderstandings ensue before the two men realize that they have been duped. Chih-hua, in possession of the ring, flies with her brother Wen-hua, from Hongkong to Singapore. To by-pass customs, Chih-hua slips the ring into the pocket of wealthy Chang Chih-yen. In the city Chih-hua and her brother lose Chih-yen and search frantically but unsuccessfully for him. One day, they spot Chih-yen and attractive Jennie Wang by a swimming pool. Chih-hua goes to search Chih-yen's car. Chih-yen and Jennie enter the car and drive off. Chih-hua is discovered inside and she lies that she is an old friend of Chih-yen's. Jennie, jealous and angry, pushes Chih-yen out of the car and drives Chih-hua home. Later, Chih-hua breaks into and ransacks Chih-yen's home for the ring. She is discovered by Chih-yen who hands her a jewel box supposedly containing the ring. On returning home, she finds only a razor in the box. Meanwhile, Chih-yen learns that the ring is stolen property and that Chih-hua's responsible for the theft. Chih-hua again visits Chih-yen at home. There is an amusing incident in which coffee is spilt on Chih-hua's dress and just as she is changing it, Jennie enters the house. Ever suspicion, Jennie dashes out of the place in a huff. Chih-hua and Chih-yen spend the night together. The following day, Chih-hua once more calls on Chih-yen. She reveals that her father is ill and the family is in financial difficulty. She had lied to them that she had gone on a tour of Europe. By now, Chih-yen has fallen for Chih-hua. He contacts Tang and tells him to go to Singapore for payment of the diamond ring. Tang collects his money, everything's settled and Chih-yen and Chih-hua are wed.
A sweet inn-keeper’s daughter is witness to a perverted rape, leading to more danger than most romantic dramas can handle. Can her true love rescue her in time? For this movie, the moonlight serenade is the sound of suspense, leading to more danger than most romantic dramas can handle.
Mulan disguises herself as a male soldier to replace her aged father in a war against the barbarians. Her courage brings her victory in battles and she was promoted to a general. When Mulan returns home with glory, the chief commander asks her to marry his daughter, forcing Mulan to reveal her true identity.
Ivy Ling Po, Chin Han, Yang Chi Ching, Chen Yin, Ching Miao
How To Marry A Millionaire is produced in Hong Kong and Japanese style, thanks to the stylish flair of Shaw Brothers' top Japanese director. In We Love Millionaires, three beautiful Hong Kong salesgirls journey north to masquerade as high society debutantes and make their dreams of a gold-plated walk down the aisle come true. Politically incorrect but fun complications ensue as they don their very 1970 micro-minis to pursue beaus who might (or might not) have bulging bank accounts.
Lily Ho, Ling Yun, Irene Chen I-ling, Lin Chih-yung
