cityonfire.com | A War Named Desire

	A War Named Desire "Many intense moments of feeling and violence circulate the film as well as some clever action sequences..." - Mighty Peking Man A War Named Desire (2000) Director: Alan Mak Writer: Joe Ma, Alan Mak and Clement Cheng Producer: Joe Ma Cast: Francis Ng, Daniel Chan, Dave Wang, Gigi Leung, Sam Lee, Pace Wu, Grace Lam Running Time: 89 min. Plot: Chun hears no news from his elder brother, who left him and grandma behind when Chun was eight years old. What the kid, grown-up now, remembers is his older brother stole $50,000 from his poverty-stricken family. Years later, Chun travels to Thailand with his girlfriend to gain back the long, lost, brotherly affection. Years later when grandma passed away, it was said in town that his brother climbed the hierarchy of a powerful mob in Thailand, the long lost brotherly affection echoes in Chun's heart. He decides to head for Thailand with his girlfriend. Reviews EKU®'S REVIEW: Definitely a memorable experience. This is the kind of movie that reassures my confidence in HK cinema. It's a movie that gets you interested in the rich environment that movies had to offer. The last movie that did it was "Those were the Days". Also with Gigi Leung. I must admit, she sometimes has some awkward lines. But she does a good job overall. The story is about Daniel Chan, who goes to Thailand in search of his brother Francis Ng. Daniel claims Francis owes him money. There is tension between the relationship of these two brothers. Francis's character is played wonderfully. I must say, he is one of the best actors out there. He is a master at acting different roles. Being a mob boss, and together with his best friend, played by Wong Kit, they are almost like invincible in the chaos of gang wars. Gigi is Wong Kit's sister and she plays a cool calm woman killer/mobster... hehehe. This is the world that Francis lives in, and Daniel comes one day and interrupts it all and will forever change their lives. This story is heartbreaking and can get quite emotional at times. The music score was done very well and it provides several songs sung by Daniel (i think) and Gigi. EKU®'S RATING: 8/10 GWAILO'S REVIEW: Stylish action film co-scripted by director Alan Mak and prolific HK director/producer Joe Ma. The plot concerns all the ingredients of an old goody, code, honor, betrayal, and brotherhood. It pulls it off with class and style to burn, showing that while the boundaries of brotherhood in triad society can be easily crossed, the ties that bind family are unbreakable. The film offers nothing new by way of story, but it's technical flourishes( Matrix type shenanigans aside) more than compensate. The action is set against a backdrop that is painted with gorgeous hues of red, blue, and yellow, illuminating an ominous Thai nightscape that doubles for the mean streets of HK. Not unlike the lights of a HK food-stall or mahjong den filtering into a dark alley during a showdown. Gigi Leung and the great Francis Ng are at their aesthetic best in this sound film, enjoyable and excitingly executed. GWAILO'S RATING: 8/10 MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: Director Alan Mak, who had impressed me with "X-mas Rave Fever", does it again. "A War Named Desire" is an excellent , heartfelt drama/crime film which exploits the theme of "brotherly love". Daniel Chan travels to Thailand to search for his brother, played incredibly by Francis Ng, with an ulterior motive to take back what was taken from him and his family years ago -- love. The only problem is Francis Ng is now a top-notch triad figure - and just as his brother pays a visit, both their worlds become a living hell when rival gangs spoil the party. Dave Wang, who plays Ng's trigger-happy right hand man is impressive. Gigi Leung, who is even more trigger-happy, gets the job done. Her role is rather one-dimensional but her character practically calls for just that. Many intense moments of feeling and violence circulate the film as well as some clever action sequences (one involving a wheel-chaired Dave Wang). Beautifully filmed with a sense of style and a neat soundtrack, this film is not to be missed. It's opening sequence will grab you and get you ready for what's to come. This is what Hong Kong cinema is all about. MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 8/10

A War Named Desire

"Many intense moments of feeling and violence circulate the film as well as some clever action sequences..."

- Mighty Peking Man

A War Named Desire (2000)

Director: Alan Mak

Writer: Joe Ma, Alan Mak and Clement Cheng

Producer: Joe Ma

Cast: Francis Ng, Daniel Chan, Dave Wang, Gigi Leung, Sam Lee, Pace Wu, Grace Lam

Running Time: 89 min.

Plot: Chun hears no news from his elder brother, who left him and grandma behind when Chun was eight years old. What the kid, grown-up now, remembers is his older brother stole $50,000 from his poverty-stricken family. Years later, Chun travels to Thailand with his girlfriend to gain back the long, lost, brotherly affection. Years later when grandma passed away, it was said in town that his brother climbed the hierarchy of a powerful mob in Thailand, the long lost brotherly affection echoes in Chun's heart. He decides to head for Thailand with his girlfriend.

Reviews

EKU®'S REVIEW: Definitely a memorable experience. This is the kind of movie that reassures my confidence in HK cinema. It's a movie that gets you interested in the rich environment that movies had to offer. The last movie that did it was "Those were the Days". Also with Gigi Leung. I must admit, she sometimes has some awkward lines. But she does a good job overall. The story is about Daniel Chan, who goes to Thailand in search of his brother Francis Ng. Daniel claims Francis owes him money. There is tension between the relationship of these two brothers. Francis's character is played wonderfully. I must say, he is one of the best actors out there. He is a master at acting different roles. Being a mob boss, and together with his best friend, played by Wong Kit, they are almost like invincible in the chaos of gang wars. Gigi is Wong Kit's sister and she plays a cool calm woman killer/mobster... hehehe. This is the world that Francis lives in, and Daniel comes one day and interrupts it all and will forever change their lives. This story is heartbreaking and can get quite emotional at times. The music score was done very well and it provides several songs sung by Daniel (i think) and Gigi.

EKU®'S RATING: 8/10

GWAILO'S REVIEW: Stylish action film co-scripted by director Alan Mak and prolific HK director/producer Joe Ma. The plot concerns all the ingredients of an old goody, code, honor, betrayal, and brotherhood. It pulls it off with class and style to burn, showing that while the boundaries of brotherhood in triad society can be easily crossed, the ties that bind family are unbreakable. The film offers nothing new by way of story, but it's technical flourishes( Matrix type shenanigans aside) more than compensate. The action is set against a backdrop that is painted with gorgeous hues of red, blue, and yellow, illuminating an ominous Thai nightscape that doubles for the mean streets of HK. Not unlike the lights of a HK food-stall or mahjong den filtering into a dark alley during a showdown. Gigi Leung and the great Francis Ng are at their aesthetic best in this sound film, enjoyable and excitingly executed.

GWAILO'S RATING: 8/10

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: Director Alan Mak, who had impressed me with "X-mas Rave Fever", does it again. "A War Named Desire" is an excellent , heartfelt drama/crime film which exploits the theme of "brotherly love". Daniel Chan travels to Thailand to search for his brother, played incredibly by Francis Ng, with an ulterior motive to take back what was taken from him and his family years ago -- love. The only problem is Francis Ng is now a top-notch triad figure - and just as his brother pays a visit, both their worlds become a living hell when rival gangs spoil the party. Dave Wang, who plays Ng's trigger-happy right hand man is impressive. Gigi Leung, who is even more trigger-happy, gets the job done. Her role is rather one-dimensional but her character practically calls for just that.

Many intense moments of feeling and violence circulate the film as well as some clever action sequences (one involving a wheel-chaired Dave Wang). Beautifully filmed with a sense of style and a neat soundtrack, this film is not to be missed. It's opening sequence will grab you and get you ready for what's to come. This is what Hong Kong cinema is all about.

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 8/10