Cast Member: Michael Chan Wai-Man

At times, the film will have you slipping into a catatonic state and you’ll just be praying for the next bit of action to come along.

Unfortunately, ‘Beauty Escort’ is no old school classic and should probably only be viewed by complete-ists, or after you have exhausted many (many) other old school kung fu flicks or very late at night with a buddy who can make fun of it with you.

Chan Wai-Man and Lau Kar-Wing do make a good Sid James and Bernard Bresslaw-type double-act. Only with more fighting ability.

Comic maestro Michael Hui scores a resounding hit with this fast-paced combination of mirth and mystery.

Chan tries to introduce the new quick-cut style of action alongside a significant measure of pure entertainment and humour.

‘Gallants’ is, for the most part, a refreshing diversion that allows stars of the past to remind modern viewers that they still have much to offer to the future of Hong Kong cinema.

For the most part this is a perfectly enjoyable though undistinguished drama, but things step up a gear near the end.

‘Hero Of The Beggars’ is not a patch on ‘Security Unlimited’ or the many other classic Michael Hui hits, but it still achieves its simple edict of entertaining the audience.

Something of a minor undiscovered gem, it’s not hard to see why ‘I Love Lolanto’ was a box office hit in its day and remains well worth seeking out as a latter-day diversion.

‘Legacy of Rage’ may not even be in the same category as ‘A Better Tomorrow’, but it makes for relatively pleasing pop entertainment.

With characterisation so strongly emphasised in the film, it’s encouraging to see that both of the pivotal figures are empathetic enough to make Derek Yee’s goal successful.

With a studio-bound feel that ages it beyond its years and an ambling storyline that sees the useful sub-plots cast aside, ‘My Rebellious Son’ rarely shines.