Author: Yves Wu

Writing about the Lucky Stars series is a hard thing to do, as its lack of mainstream appeal makes it hard for me to find clips from it to show. In retrospect, it’s easy to see why the 7-film franchise has never been able to leave its cult film status. Even though the franchise has featured the likes of Cantonese film legends like Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Eric Tsang, Andy Lau…and even Michelle Yeoh. How would you describe the Lucky Stars franchise? Comprised of 7 films (not including spin-offs), the franchise revolves around a cast of colorful vagrants named…

In the present blockbuster landscape today, it is easy for a smaller-budgeted movie to be drowned out by a larger one in the same release window. Occasionally however, a smaller movie can defy studio expectations and become a major hit through sheer word-of-mouth. Such movies are usually labelled to as “sleeper hits”, and Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum* definitely fits that aforementioned label. Released in the spring months of 2018, Gonjiam became somewhat of a box office hit, not just edging out Hollywood blockbusters like Ready Player One, but also setting new box office records for locally made horror movies. After watching…

Who is Yuen Woo-Ping? For people familiar with martial arts movies or Cantonese cinema, the name “Yuen Woo-Ping” is a familiar one. Whether it’s launching Jackie Chan’s career as a viable film star in movies like Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow or directing martial arts classics like the original Drunken Master, Yuen’s storied career has not only earned him a star on Hong Kong’s Avenue of Stars but a permanent seat in the pantheon of great Hong Kong action movie directors. Even if you’re not a martial arts movie fan, there’s a high chance that you’re familiar with his work.…