Made In Hong Kong: Volume #2 (Blu-ray)

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http://www.renaud-bray.com

*** Résumé en anglais seulement *** The cinema of Hong Kong is sometimes pigeonholed by outsiders, but a closer look reveals a vast array of styles and topical matters deftly handled by its many directors. Whereas Made in Hong Kong: Volume #1 focused on Category II & III horror films, this second volume expands the concept by showcasing broad diversity through three very distinct, powerful features. From gritty, exploitation action on the streets of Manhattan to drunkenly dancing in the rain, and from hiding out in Macau to the high tension of a courtroom, Made in Hong Kong: Volume #2 delivers a bold, wide-ranging trio of rarities. In NEW YORK CHINATOWN (aka New York Chinatown Massacre), the rarest of these three films, production did indeed land in 1980s New York City, telling a tale of inter-Triad conflict and betrayal on the streets of Manhattan's grimy Chinatown back when such filmmaking was still feasible for a non-Hollywood production. The film boasts eye-popping street scenes of the legendary Deuce (and its storied grindhouse cinemas) shot earlier in the 1980s, and action scenes as raw as the surroundings in which they were shot. Starring Alan Tang (Flaming Brothers), Melvin Wong (Yes, Madam!), and directed by Stanley Wing Siu (The Avenging Quartet), it also features the screen debut of actor/kickboxing champ Don The Dragon Wilson (Bloodfist, New York Ninja) in his only Hong Kong production. The police drama takes on a new twist in BEST OF THE BEST from director Herman Yau (Ebola Syndrome), as second-generation policeman Dee aims to be the proud supercop his troubled father was not. But when working with his elite Flying Tigers unit brings him into contact with Heidi, the spark between them is immediate, and romance ensues — even in the face of Heidi's notorious father, a cop-hating Triad leader. Meanwhile, Dee's own father, an alcoholic former-cop-turned-nightclub-host, tries to ease tensions, but serious, violent conflict is inevitable. A wild and highly stylized mix of action, suspense, and drama starring Jacky Cheung (Days of Being Wild), Sammi Cheng (Infernal Affairs), and featuring an exceptional performance by Man-Tat Ng (Shaolin Soccer). FINAL JUSTICE explores faith, justice, and loyalty, as Catholic priest Father Lee regularly endures giving forgiveness to Kim, a depraved gangster (and media mogul) who routinely demands absolution after his crimes. When Lee crosses paths with Donna, a woman attracted to the worst kind of men, he betrays his orders for a night of sexual abandon with her. After Donna accuses Lee of rape, Kim defends the priest and pays for his legal defense. Struggling between the Church, the legal system, and Lee's own beliefs, and with the handover of Hong Kong to China in the background, an eerie uncertainty colors both courtroom scenes and attempts to entrap Kim. This underseen powerhouse drama was directed by Derek Chiu (The Log) and stars Sean Lau (Mad Detective), Eric Tsang (Comrades, Almost a Love Story), and Carman Lee (The Wicked City).