Writer: Susan Chan

‘A Simple Life’ is the perfect marriage of arthouse style and heart-rending substance.

Although the state of Hong Kong cinema is much approved now, it’s hard to forget the wretched state just a few years ago. ‘Big Bullet’ really stood out when it was released and remains a class act.

‘Executioners’ carries over the comic book vibe of the previous instalment but ladens on the seriousness and melodramatics this time around.

The film sags in the middle and therefore loses it’s way, however it remains undemanding entertainment.

‘Run Papa Run’ is a story we may have seen before with style that may initially be jarring, yet is ultimately delivered with aplomb.

Though there’s far less of the ghastly CGI that marred ‘The Touch’, ‘Silver Hawk’ still continues to remind the viewer of the chasm between the choreography of the 80s/early90s and today.

While ‘Summer Holiday’ has no major weaknesses, it is a traditionally clichéd romantic comedy that doesn’t attempt to throw anything more challenging into the blend.

‘Tokyo Raiders’ therefore is a top-notch piece of entertainment that, with a little more care in certain departments, could have been even better.

‘Wait ‘Til You’re Older’ is commercial film-making at its most polished, yet contains a few brave decisions by director Teddy Chen.

‘Who Am I?’ may not be the ‘Drunken Master 2’ successor that many fans are searching for (in vain), but it does still contain plenty of top notch action and enough enjoyable Chan-isms to make it well worth a watch.

A few moments allow you to think you’re watching a better film than you actually are and Jingle Ma utilises his former skills as a choreographer to make Beijing look as splendid as possible.