Sha Po Lang – 4.5/5, A well-made movie with some good acting performances. There’s a decent amount of fighting in this one and Donnie looks great. His fights with Wu Jing and Sammo at the end are both high standard, particularly for the weaponry bash with the ruthless Wu Jing.
Beginning today, Film Combat Syndicate contributor Graeme Noble will be host to wide array of short reviews for beloved old school Hong Kong kung fu and comedy films. Films will be listed in random groups of five depending on titles, actors and franchise, etc. Most of these titles you might be fortunate to find on DVD or Blu-Ray, including today’s list, the Sam Hui/Karl Maka five-film pair and subsequent part six outlining the Aces Go Places film series. Take a look!
Aces Go Places – 4/5, a great entertaining and funny movie. Chemistry between Karl Maka and Sam Hui is fantastic and some of the fun action scenes are great. The movie drags in places and it’s old fashioned but it’s a good example of quality Hong Kong cinema!
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
The famous thief, King Kong, has stolen a bag of diamonds from a group of gangsters, and asks his good friend Ah Chuen to look after it. After Ah Chuen has hidden the diamonds in a safe place, he is kidnapped by his enemy, Mad Max, and his fate remain unknown. While the gangsters sends White Glove to find out where the diamonds are, the police invite Bald-head Detective to work with Superintendent Ho to solve this case. Actually, Superintendent Ho possesses more courage than wit, but Bald-head Detective possesses both qualities. He forces King Kong to admit of his theft and they follow Ah Chuen’s hints to locate the diamonds. However, they fall into Mad Max’s trap, but are saved by Superintendent Ho. Finally, King Kong and Bald-head Detective succeed in finding the diamonds, but they are caught by White Glove. They manage to let off a small bomb and escape. White Glove shoots at Bald-head Detective and wounds him. King Kong chases after white glove until he falls into the sea. King Kong regrets that the detective is seriously wounded. In fact, he isn’t and succeeds in deceiving King Kong again.
Aces Go Places 2 – 4/5, probably even better than the original, this sequel is very similar but contains even funnier scenes than the hilarious original. There are even 2 fights scenes here, choreographed by Lau Kar Wing, and they’re both credible, but not outstanding.
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
King Kong was attacked by the robot – Black Knight I which was sent by the Italian Mafia to avenge the capture of White Gloves. He also hired an internationally notorious killer Black Gloves to kill King Kong as well as diamond transfer deal with the underworld. King Kong join forces with the police to capture Black Gloves who sends Black Knight II to attack……
Aces Go Places 3 – 2/5, a disappointing movie this. Not a patch on the first two and Tsui Hark directs this one instead of Eric Tsang. There is too much emphasis on spoofing James Bond movies and it doesn’t work. Drags and the comedy is limited! No Kung here either.
Style: Comedy
King Kong is commissioned by a man who claims to be Mr. Bond, special agent from the British Secret Service to recover for the Queen precious stones stolen from her crown which are now in Hong Kong. Back in Hong Kong, a Secret Service man from the Bond Street Headquarters. Mr Tom Collins, has just arrived to find out a gang of notorious international crooks led carried out his mission successfully for Mr Bond, he is summoned by the Governor to assist Collons in retrieving the stolen goods and catch Mr Bond’s gang.
Aces Go Places 4 – 3/5, an improvement on part 3 but not as good as part 2. This one has a few good fights that are well choreographed. There is some nice comedy but I think the producers knew that they were running out of ideas, and it shows. Still enjoyable stuff here.
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
The invention of a prism – a special brain stimulant, gets King Kong and Inspector into a series of dangerous adventures. The lives of Inspector Ho and her son, Baldy Junior are also threatened by the villains.
Aces Go Places 5 – 1/5, the worst of the series despite there being a few fight scenes involved. The fights are weak apart from the finale, which is only good in parts. The movie is poor and Hui and Maka get less screen time than before.
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
White Glove steals terra-cotta warriors and Brother and Sister disguise themselves as the “ACES” partners King Kong and Kodajak steal the Sword of Chin Dynasty from White Glove swears to revenge on the “ACES” partners. The real and new “ACES” partners will join together with police to fight against White Glove.
97 Aces Go Places – 2/5, this is better than part 5 and it features the best fighting out of the entire series thanks to Chin Kar Lok’s choreography. Christy Chung vs. Billy Chow at the end is very good and she looks very hot in this movie which saves it from being a poor movie!
Style: Comedy, modern day fighting
Man Ling conned two million dollars from Big Brother Lui in a dirty deal. Lui then ordered to have Ling killed. Ling escaped from the fight. Meanwhile, Philag was a kind and righteous student studying law in the States. He was expected to help his father to do illegal business. His father was killed during a transaction which also involved Ling. Philag needed to go back to Hong Kong to tend to his father’s business and root out the murderer.
Written by FCSyndicate Asian Cinema contributor Graeme Noble (5/9/13). Noble is an acclaimed independent filmmaker and actor, and represents one-half of his award-winning independent film company, Noble Brothers Productions with brother John-William Noble. For more information on his work, visit http://www.noblebrotherproductons.org.