It Is Getting Harder To Define What Is A HK Movie

[Azyiu]

How do you define a Hong Kong movie these days? Let's discuss.

Back in the 80's and 90's, you can easily tell which movie is made and shot in Hong Kong. They just have this unique look and feel to them. However, with the mainland market opened in the pass several years, and capital coming from the mainland, I think it is getting harder to define what is a "HK movie".

I mean, say, the Infernal Affair with almost an entire cast of HK local actors and actresses, along with a local director and all, it is easy to call it a HK movie. But what about big budget films like the Red Cliff? No doubt, many of the cast members in the film come from HK, along with John Woo the director, but it was shot in the mainland with mainland capital; and Mandarin is the language instead of Cantonese. Of course, the language thing is not an important factor, IMO; after all it is still Chinese.

Ok, let's read about your thoughts.

[OrlandoEastwood]

I've never really categorized my Chinese films into HK or Mainland China. Both places are still China even though they speak Cantonese and Mandarin.

[steve_dave]

I use the same definition as a Hollywood movie...

Main country of production or distribution is the country of origin.

Examples:

Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, and Rush Hour 3 are Hollywood films despite the large Asian cast. Turner Classic Movies even aired Rush Hour 2 as a "positive" example of Hollywood embracing Asian actors.

Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever is a Hollywood film even though it was directed by a Thai filmmaker.

"P" is a Thai film directed by a British filmmaker.

The Coffin is a Thai film with Panasian actors and is in English.

Naked Weapon is a Hong Kong film with Panasian actors and is in English.

Heck, Initial D is a Japanese manga and Anime that was adapted into a Hong Kong film.

[kndy]

Originally Posted by Azyiu

doubt, many of the cast members in the film come from HK, along with John Woo the director, but it was shot in the mainland with mainland capital; and Mandarin is the language instead of Cantonese. Of course, the language thing is not an important factor, IMO; after all it is still Chinese.

Not just mainland capital, Japanese entertainment company avex invested millions to the film. But I think you will see a lot of larger scale films in China or HK to look towards foreign investment because Red Cliff was quite expensive to make.

Also, we are seeing Asia doing many collaborative work within different countries. Before it was HK/Japan then HK/Korea and now we are seeing more collaborative projects.

But as for HK films, I guess it depends what you're looking for. I love HK romantic comedies and typically if it stars Louis Koo, Sammi Cheng, Charlene Choi, Richie Ren, Cecilia Cheung...I tend to buy them.

[almo89]

I miss the old HK movies. There is almost too much mandarin in HK films now. When the Hui brothers made their breakthrough movie, Games Gambers Play, it really started the trend of Cantonese movies. Since then we really saw how unique HK movies are. Stephen Chow movies were great because it was mainly using HK cantonese humor. Movies like Her Fatal Ways will never be made now.

Now it's hard to tell what is a HK movie.

[Evangelion]

Things changed nowadays in movie business, directors, producers, actors/actresses...etc, they are all from different nations, as long as they're putting their heart in it to make a good movie. But still, action movie in Kung Fung fighting is kinda HK style exclusive(IMO), all these moves and fighting styles, still look very cool to me, back in the days, we got Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. They all got different unique ways of performing in their movies, and recently I love watching Donnie Yen's movies, his fighting styles are pretty intense.

[mugupo]

Most wetern think HK movie is only about kung fu action then they are wrong, many titles are martial art and action related but lately there's rise of more title that deal with crimes, love story, and few comedy.

Still most acting is bad because they usually hirs look than talent, many actor/actress are also singer. Is like Michael Jackson and Britney Spear dominate in the movie another word.

[xradman]

If the original dialog is in Cantonese, then it's almost always a HK movie. If the original dialog is in Mandarin, then more than likely, it's a mainland Chinese movie.