Young and Dangerous (1996)

Literally: Triad Youths: Men in Jianghu (an enclosed world with its own professional ethical code)

Director: Andrew Lau Wai-Keung

Producer: Manfred Wong Man-chun

Writer: Manfred Wong Man-chun

Cast: Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Gigi Lai Chi, Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Ng Chi-Hung, Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Michael Tse Tin-Wah, Jason Chu Wing-Tong, Jerry Lamb Hiu-Fung, Suki Chan Sau-Yu, Lee Siu-Kei, Spencer Lam

Running Time: 99 min.

Plot: The very first installment of the immensely popular street gang film series based on a Japanese manga comic. It tells the story of triad life, with all of the key elements of the genre. Five young hoodlums sing karaoke, murder, joke around, get beaten up, win and lose women, and learn the value of blind loyalty in the Hong Kong triad gangster world. Chan Ho Nam and Shan Kai grew up together, both being the products of broken families. Their fascination with triad movies, naturally leads to them to becoming gang members. As they grow older and more famous within their "society", fame soon leads to hatred, and places on a rival's hit list.

Availability: This title is available at HKflix.com

LOONIEWEED'S REVIEW: Young and Dangerous holds a place in my heart, why? Because it's one of the first HK movies that I bought on DVD, You see, I'm one of the lucky ones to have a channel that shows HK movies every Saturday night. So one Saturday afternoon, I took a trip to Toronto picked up my first batch of HK DVD's (YnD 3, Fulltime Killer, My Schoolmate The Barbarian and this one) So when I got home, I popped this bad boy in first and wow... Triad life on my screen, boo fucking yah!

Ah yes, Triad life... the life of acting like a badass, getting tattoo's, hanging around with your buddies who have odd nicknames like, Beefeater, Watermelon A.T., Rooster, Toque Boy and Hoser! singing Karaoke, beating people up with plastic lawn chairs, chasing women, acting so 'righteous' and of course, getting in shit from your boss who happens to own a huge Porn company. Ahhh, Triad life.

Well, that's what you get with Chan Ho-Nam and friends. You see, they do all that. They love the life, but of course... shit can happen. And it all starts in Macau. Ho-Nam and his pals are sent to Macau and of course there mission goes awry and unfortunately one of them dies. Triad life has never been more brutal and now Ho-Nam and his friends now know what that is about.

I love this movie; something about it just makes me feel all funny inside. Sure, it makes me want to join the Triads but damn, when you saw A Better Tomorrow didn't you want to go off and buy those Shades? How about the Trench coat? Heh, I figured that.

I haven't been that much of a fan of Ekin, but he is the perfect man to play Ho-Nam, he is so wooden in most of his movies... but acting like a triad member can turn you into something else... plus that tattoo he has is awesome. Chicken and Ugly Kwan were two other reasoned I enjoyed this Triad opus, you got two guys. One is a psychotic freak who's fashion scents is still back in the 80's and then you have Chicken... Mr. Rainbow of hair who is the 'Hollywood Fashion Plate' of being cool (RIP Blassie) but then Chicken becomes more of a badass once he gets back from Taiwan... Good lord, he already has a fucking army!

There isn't much to say about Young and Dangerous, everybody who is a HK Cinema has at least scene one of these movies before (I hope)... I only need to see Parts 2 and 4... but I still think this part is up there with the best of them in the series (Portland Street Blues and The Prequel. IMO) Although I enjoy Part 3 more than this one... Young and Dangerous is a great movie. Now if only I could wear a suit and have about 500 people follow me... just like in the ending, I would die a happy man. Excuse me; I must go beat up one of my old friends with a plastic lawn chair. Bastard hasn't paid me yet!

*remember kids, Triads are evil*

LOONIEWEED'S RATING: A righteous 8/10 (Just for being my first HK Movie DVD Experience)

TEQUILA'S REVIEW: I felt that Young & Dangerous was a thoroughly enjoyable ride through the lives of 5 triads. Although this isn't a brilliant film, it is fun to watch and a good flick to watch Saturday night with a pizza and some beers.

This sin't the type of film to delve deep into because that spoils the enjoyment as you realise that there isn't perfect characterisation or a deep, original plot but this is pure entertainment. I hate it when people analyse a film meant purely for entertainment to the point of turning others away, which negative reviews for this could well do.

Y&D is one of the best Saturday night films around, so get it and check out it's sequels too.

TEQUILA'S RATING: 8/10 (DON'T take it too seriously, you wouldn't analyse Sammo flicks for plot now, would you?)

EKU®'S REVIEW: I can easily see why there were so many sequels to this movie. I don't know, I think "Those were the Days" got me hooked on these movies. Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan are amongs a group of friends who are rascals working under big boss Bee. They are actually fighting members of their own gang lead by Francis Ng. I must say, this guy Francis can pull off some good acting in a variety of roles. The first scene is pretty funny (check out the hair styles!), which shows us how the story begins when Chan Ho Nam (Ekin), accidentally pisses Francis Ng off in a local soccer field. This is in fact how Young and Dangerous: Prequel starts too. The story takes a dramatic turn when the group gets set up by Francis' people in a huge street fight. The ending seems a bit cheesy however, but I will forgive that since overall the movie was pretty entertaining. The priest character is very funny to watch. A cool thing about this movie is how it had screen freezes that converts to comic drawings.

EKU®'S RATING: 7.5/10