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Chasing the Dragon (2017) - Hong Kong Reviewed by Andrew Chan One of Hong Kong biggest film in 2017 comes in the reboot of two landmark 90s gangster films in the form of "Lee Rock" and "To be Number One". Starring Donnie Yen as the legendary Crippled Ho and Andy Lau as the infamous corrupted cop Lee Rock, "Chasing the Dragon" manages to be epic, ultra violent, unforgiving, while at the same time totally racist and bashing of the British colonial era. Above it all, directors Wong Jing combines so well with Jason Kwan that literally we see next to...

Colour of the Game (2017) - Hong Kong Reviewed by Andrew Chan As part of Wong Jing finale of the "Colour" trilogy that display a more serious version of the director's usual flair. "Colour of the Game" revokes many of Johnnie To's cinematic shoot outs and even many of the cast members including Simon Yam, Lam Suet and many other supporting players. In fact it feels like a To's film as there is plenty of stylish moments and random killings. The gangsters and undercover genre defines the Hong Kong cinematic 90s and this film shows that there is still an...

Blade Runner 2049 (2017) - USA Reviewed by Andrew Chan Deeply philosophical and will probably be further elevated with future repeated viewings, the sequel to the 1982's classic is most certainly epic. The tale of the human condition, the question of what makes us human are prominently questions raises smartly by the original Blade Runners. In this saga, we get some answers, but often shown the possibilities and choices as we need to dig deeper and deeper into our own existence to truly understands. To call this a great film will be an understatement as it leaves you yearning and...

Mad World (2016) - Hong Kong Reviewed by Andrew Chan Films about a people and unsung carers of mental health affected should be noted with bravery and an off hand compliment from the start. "Mad World" won most Hong Kong film awards and rightly deserved most of it. Largely realistically portrayed especially the mental health patients and the carers, debutant director Wong Chun managed to also fit in the social ills, cramped living places, high stressed work environment, selfishness of some religious people, the inapt public hospital system and how crazy the world of Hong Kong have become. These are...

The Big Sick (2017) - USA Reviewed by Andrew Chan This rom com works as a perfect companion for most films in Hollywood showing cultural diversity. Produced on a slick US$5 million budget, the film managed to wow Sundance audience and take US$50 million at the box office. It shows that when you have the right actors, chemistry and cultural factors into account, the rom com genre can still be reinvented.  It helps when you have stand up comedian Kumail Nanjiani as the lead role in crossroads between American and Pakistan origins where arranged marriages are the norm. Nanjiani is...