Hong Kong 1941

Rating:
Summary: A superb film.
Review: As has been said, Hong Kong 1941 deals with friendship against the backdrop of the Japanese invasion of that year. The way this film examines the strength of the friendship between Chow, Man and Yip is excellent and the tension created by the impending danger of the Japanese is well realised. This would have to rank as one of Chow Yun-Fat's strongest performances and Alex Man has never been better. With Ceilia Yip also putting in a quality performance, this is an all-round classic. It reminded me of some of Chang Cheh's best films and for anyone who appreciates Hong Kong cinema, that should be praise enough.

Rating:
Summary: This is a story of friendship and love in wartime.
Review: As the title indicates, this movie begins in Hong Kong in 1941--not a great place to be at that time, because the Japanese Army is about to invade the city. Chow Yun Fat plays an out-of-work actor who befriends a coolie (played by Yip Man,) and the coolie's girlfriend. The three of them struggle to survive and to maintain their dignity as Chinese under the Japanese occupation. Chow Yun Fat and Yip Man give great performances as two men who become fast friends, but whose friendship is complicated by the fact that both are falling in love with the same woman--who also dearly loves both of them. Everyone in this film is good, but Chow Yun Fat is great in his range of expression. There is an excellent fight scene between the protagonists and the Japanese occupying general. The movie is fast-paced and realistic, patriotic without being sentimental. The movie never drags and has great characterization and plot. It will appeal not only to fans of Chow Yun Fat, but anyone who likes war movies, adventure movies, or movies about romance or friendship. A must-see!

Rating:
Summary: Not as great as the reviews would have you believe.
Review: I like Hong Kong Cinema and have seen several of the Neo style Hong Kong classics from the mid eighties to the mid ninties. In fact a couple of the reviews I read here peeked my interrest in watching it. I have to say however, that this film was a real snoozer for me.

The plot centers around three freinds who stick together during the Japanese occuapation of 1941. During this time the British have been temporarily defeated in Hong Kong, and several Hong Kong residents turn on there own in order to profit from the Japnaese. Chow Yun-Fat and his two new found friends scheme to escape Hong Kong but are delayed when they fail to make it out together. Over the course of the film Chow Yun-Fat and Ceclia Yip begin to develope an attraction to one another, even though she is arleady attached. A pathetic love triangle type scenario starts to arise but is never fully realized. Things between the three sort themselves out in the end. I won't spoil it for you.

I tried watching Hong Kong 1941 twice and had a hard time getting into it. I finally finished it the second time but was unimpressed with the characters and their plight. The love triangle never goes anywhere, the Japanese occupation is not potrayed well enough, (in my opinion) and the side plots seem like filler to make the movie more dramatic and lengthy.

One of my two stars is for Chow Yun-Fat's presence, which probally saved the film from bombing. The second is for the occassionl stunnig cinematography throughout the film. Other than than that, I can't think of anything else deserving of a star.

I'll also worn those of you who view this film on the DVD release from 20th Centruy Fox. (subsiderary is Fortune Star) The Englsih dub version is awful and makes the film seem more like a cheap B movie with it's poor choice of voice dubbing actors (particualarly Chow Yun-Fat and Ceclia Yips characters) and the re-orchestrated synthiser sounding score which replaces the original films score is just as awful. At least they included the origianl language track and score which was a good choice on the part of 20th Century Fox. It makes the movie easier to take. 20th Century should take some lessons from Taiseng's recent releases. They take the job of dubbing and scoring more seriously.

Overall I would say if you're interested in Hong Kong 1941 you might consider renting it. I can't really recommend it, but who knows, maybe you'll find more in it to admire than I did.

Rating:
Summary: Not as great as the reviews would have you believe.
Review: I like Hong Kong Cinema and have seen several of the Neo style Hong Kong classics from the mid eighties to the mid ninties. In fact a couple of the reviews I read here peeked my interrest in watching it. I have to say however, that this film was a real snoozer for me.

The plot centers around three freinds who stick together during the Japanese occuapation of 1941. During this time the British have been temporarily defeated in Hong Kong, and several Hong Kong residents turn on there own in order to profit from the Japnaese. Chow Yun-Fat and his two new found friends scheme to escape Hong Kong but are delayed when they fail to make it out together. Over the course of the film Chow Yun-Fat and Ceclia Yip begin to develope an attraction to one another, even though she is arleady attached. A pathetic love triangle type scenario starts to arise but is never fully realized. Things between the three sort themselves out in the end. I won't spoil it for you.

I tried watching Hong Kong 1941 twice and had a hard time getting into it. I finally finished it the second time but was unimpressed with the characters and their plight. The love triangle never goes anywhere, the Japanese occupation is not potrayed well enough, (in my opinion) and the side plots seem like filler to make the movie more dramatic and lengthy.

One of my two stars is for Chow Yun-Fat's presence, which probally saved the film from bombing. The second is for the occassionl stunnig cinematography throughout the film. Other than than that, I can't think of anything else deserving of a star.

I'll also worn those of you who view this film on the DVD release from 20th Centruy Fox. (subsiderary is Fortune Star) The Englsih dub version is awful and makes the film seem more like a cheap B movie with it's poor choice of voice dubbing actors (particualarly Chow Yun-Fat and Ceclia Yips characters) and the re-orchestrated synthiser sounding score which replaces the original films score is just as awful. At least they included the origianl language track and score which was a good choice on the part of 20th Century Fox. It makes the movie easier to take. 20th Century should take some lessons from Taiseng's recent releases. They take the job of dubbing and scoring more seriously.

Overall I would say if you're interested in Hong Kong 1941 you might consider renting it. I can't really recommend it, but who knows, maybe you'll find more in it to admire than I did.

Rating:
Summary: What was it like back then?
Review: I saw this in a video format in the sale accidentally yesterday, the only copy left. There are so few movies made about this period in the history of Hong Kong, my birth place ( I might not have been able to keep up-to-date with the movies produced there.) I grabbed this one out of sheer necessity to know something about my homeland and my people. The thing that struck me most is the wonderful expression on the face of Chow Yun-Fat who conveys the transformation of an easy-going, ambitious young man to a real man who loves his country, who summons up the courage, dignity, intelligence, profound human dignity, and calmness to face down the brutal, devious, humiliating conquest by a foreign power. The other main actors are also quite good. Overall, the movie struggles a bit between being an epic of monumental historical importance and the intimate stories of three young people. But to a Chinese like myself, the opportunity to enter into the mind and world of a character such as Chow is gratifying enough. Chinese people are very serious about their national identity, and being a traitor is just the worst thing if one is a Chinese. China did not fall to the Japanese despite being vastly overwhelmed by the enemy's military might because there were enough, far more than enough, Chinese who were like Chow's character.

Rating:
Summary: This is the REAL STUFF of which great movies are made!
Review: This is one of my favorite Chow Yun Fat and Hong Kong movies. I just loved this movie. It's kind of a Chinese Casablanca.

The Story: Hong Kong is captured by the Japanese early in World War II. Three young people try to survive the occupation. And yet, it's the fear before the invasion, the reactions and changes that the people go through to cope with the horror and the strength and heart of the resistance. And to top it off an intense love triangle. Excellent!

Best of all, you really can identify with the characters. There is real suffering and sacrifice here that leads to growth of character. This is the REAL STUFF that great films are made of. I highly recommend it. And the whole time you will keep asking yourself, "What would I do in if I was put in that same situation?"