Considering it came out in the midst of a constant flow of Category III movies (some of which were shockingly bad but knew sex and that the rating sold tickets) and it's a Hong Kong Fatal Attraction essentially, one time director Biu Ga-Chun delivers unexpected sharpness and focus. Shame there was no other movies to follow then as this is largely devoid of comedy and does well within the familiar template, especially psychologically for the character of Carrie (Yip San). Not dealing well with rejection and men behaving badly against ANY women, hammer murders, cat castration and mutilation follows. The erotica is part of the focus as well even though Biu clearly wants to get in and out quickly out of certain sex scenes. You've seen it before but knowing Obsession and its place in the timeline, it's nigh on a terrific standout. Michael Chan appears in support as largely a hungry cop.

Hopefully showcasing the start of an ongoing trend where Asian performers and filmmakers go back and forth in order to be seen more globally in glossier action pictures in the West and progressing themselves as artists in the East by choosing personal projects, the Jet Li starring vehicle Ocean Heaven clearly represents this. Li plays Wang, the father of the 21 year old and autistic boy Dafu (Wen Zhang). Trying to commit suicide with his son but failing, Wang takes it as a sign that Dafu doesn't want to be taken (he swims away and enjoys swimming at local sea world where Wang also works) and makes it his mission to teach him take care of himself while also looking for caretakers. The latter being especially important because Wang is in the late stages of terminal liver cancer...

The structure is essentially the loving father trying to lay as much positive groundwork as possible before dying and really it's a love letter to parenthood (not a preachy one) by restrained director Xue Xiaolu. Initially distressing with the failed suicide, the difficulties of making Dafu understand how to get dressed, ride a bus, cook breakfast himself with Wang also concealing his illness from his caring surroundings (among others neighbour Chai played by Zhu Yuanyuan), Ocean Heaven does of course stir emotions but is still incredibly beautiful in its simplicity. Jet Li projects the love and physical pain he's in without the need of going big on dialogue and action while his young co-lead Wen Zhang is equally impressive expressing himself from within the shell of his condition. Especially infatuated with water, he also encounters possible love for the first time in Ling (Guey Lun-Mei). It's a lot to juggle because the need of projecting a simplicity in narrative and emotional beats but Xue does it beautifully. There's glossy shots captured by Christopher Doyle but no aim is made by Ocean Heaven to be abstract arthouse. It just need to be, need to reach the audience and the recipients of the love letter. They need the simple, heartfelt language. They and we get it.

Buy the DVD at:
Yesasia.com

Considering the title O.C.T.B Case - The Floating Body (OCTB being short for Organized Crime & Triad Bureau), you would think someone like Danny Lee would've used it as an excuse for a a gazillion movies long, cheap series, all detailing one case per flick. This never happened as such, at least not in name or on the big screen. This Category III thriller from the director of Liu Jai (Home For The Intimate Ghosts) contains the oddities and pleasures you've come to expect from the genre, and also a minor dramatic element that's not entirely unworthy. Ben Ng plays the violent brother of Wong Wan-Choi's character and despite trying to be the sweet guy, it can't co-exist with the violent streak of his. All leading to the accidental murder of his brother's wife (Lily Chung, in a fully clothed role for a change) and subsequent chainsaw dismemberment of her remains. The latter being a gloriously satisfying sequence for us gorehounds and it seems remarkably enough left untouched by the censors. Director Lam certainly never does showcase a knack for subtlety though, including in this sequence and the bizarre choices that begins to pile up after this. While a standard murder investigation thriller follows (with the cop heading the case being played by Bobby Au, a character with only a select crew of bumbling idiot cops by his side. Now THAT is a change for the genre), Lam never underplays any critical moment, especially evident in his choice to feature a highly aggressive, sweeping score that feels more like library cues.

Ben Ng is a worthwhile element here though, staying true to his rep amongst fan circles as one of the most dangerous actors on two feet and it's a role that draws similarities to his Red To Kill-stint, only with a hint more sympathy directed towards him. Despite ticking off the genre requirements such as setting parts of the movie in flashback, O.C.T.B Case - The Floating Body has sporadic, very memorable elements despite. Yeung Yuk-Mui, Kwan Hoi-San and Teresa Ha co-stars.

Buy the VCD at:
Yesasia.com

Rarely have generic, all too familiar content in a kung-fu movie felt this entertaining, jaw-dropping and exciting. But Ting Chung's (The Mars Villa) does just that, introducing us to our Jackie Chan-esque hero played by Jacky Chen (also the film's action director) training cooking kung-fu under the watchful eye of his master (Ga Hoi). A masked opponent having to with the past enters the arena and all that bla bla you know is going to happen, DOES happen. Combine a winning male lead that is kept away from excessive comedy to instead focus on the power he can bring to screen and a plethora of incredibly complex fight scenes and you have one of the best basic, generic genre experiences out there.

Cops Porky (Kent Cheng) and Big Mouth (Wong Ching) stumble upon violent criminals, the former gets a promotion, the latter is disgruntled and the rest of the movie is an unfunny mix of cops attempting to gamble so their Western superior won't see. Plus, there's some more criminals and a modeling agency/prostitute ring. Very much structured as a series of skits, few of which amuses, Stanley Fung as a new superior more obsessed with his farm doesn't add anything either but Lung Tin-Sang is terrific as Rocky who's got a temper to say the least. Danny Lee himself comes in and says a few words of wisdom at the end and that's it so it's age old Hong Kong cinema like they don't do anymore. Thank god. Also with Pat Ha and Liu Wai-Hung.

Buy the VCD at:
Yesasia.com

Out of all people that would not honor the part of a homosexual man, insane whirlwind Eric Kot should've been a candidate but his work in In Between (aka The New Age Of Living Together) and here in Derek Chiu's Oh! My Three Guys reveals an actor able to flourish a bit under set stereotypes and familiarity. It's the bright spot of an otherwise uneven drama-comedy about three lifelong and now homosexual friends. Chung Yu Hoi (Lau Ching-Wan) works as a marketer for condoms and establishes a connection with his co-worker Fok May (Wu Chien-Lien) to the point where love might actually be in the air. Kot's Kau is a movie extra mainly only capable of playing it feminine, the wife role if you will. Something that shows up all to evidently when he's asked to be a butch policeman, much to the amusement of the actor played by Anthony Wong. Finally there's Fa (an amazingly non-annoying Dayo Wong), a scriptwriter with dramatic intentions in his writing but within an industry demanding tits and sleaze to hail someone as creative. The trio have their share of shaky relationships to the point that Kau literally acts as the wife/boyfriend to get his pals out of situations and shaky belongs to the verdict of the film too. Talky passages and quirky dialogue within them, when entering the key plot with Lau Ching-Wan and Wu Chien-Lien. there are no steps conveyed that has us believing in her infatuation with him. It just is after a while and when going the expected places of homosexual prejudice and the issue of AIDS, parts of the film showcases really poor narrative skills. Crucial moments turn flat and it's only through Eric Kot's presence we sense some kind of emotional momentum happening. But it's supposed to be a quartet of goals accomplished across the board and Chiu strikes out the majority of the time. Also with Simon Loui and Manfred Wong.

Ersao (Siqin Gaowa - The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt) manufactures sesame oil derived from an old family recipe for a living. The village she lives in is about to be put on the map though as the product is being picked up for larger distribution in the cities. With that fame comes the biggest hardships for the family. Matters that were brewing underneath the surface anyway, having to do with the lake crucial to Ersao's product. A lake of tragic legends. It starts with the mentally handicapped son Duanzi getting married to Huan Huan (Wu Yujuan) and the abuse that comes with it. It's a pattern repeated as Ersao also had an arranged marriage, choosing very little herself and she's living out a rebellious side as she has an affair going on well...

Awarded the Golden Bear at the 1993 Berlin International Film Festival (an honor shared with Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet), Xie Fei's Mainland drama manages to echo a reality of its tale by shooting on village locations and transforming each aspect and on-screen talent into a valid real subject. It's top notch technical direction in combination with attention to character, anchored beautifully by Siqin Gaowa but riveting on a master scale Oilmaker's Family is not. Rarely unclear, it merely lands on many notches above solid so there was power to be had that never developed fully. To me personally. Also known as The Women From the Lake of Scented Souls.

KENNETH'S REVIEW: While this immigrant drama doesn't necessarily fall into the "If you've seen one, you've seen them all"-category, Kong Lung's direction of Lillian Lee's (Rouge) screenplay never really coheres. More episodic than structured around a plot, at center are mostly kids of slightly varied social status. Some newly arrived immigrants and some with a secure place, mostly it turns out they have in common a continuing search of the key to life. Even old time immigrants cross their paths, mainly bathroom attendant Lu (Liu Wai-Hung) and also a cop (Roy Chiao) with civil servant duties but also a heart. The running time plods along without a true sense of purpose and character-revelations merely makes the the film sink into heavy melodrama that no one benefits from. The style is suitable street and intentions noble but no weight is ever added, not even from the adult performers. In a truly mind bending scene, humane cop played by Chiao has a young girl attached to a leash like a dog, for almost comedic purposes but it won't sit well with viewers. Director Kong Lung co-starred in Long Arm Of The Law as well as directing The Red Panther.