Cast Member: Shu Qi

Andrew Lau has a very obvious formula for making comic book adaptations and it’s one that is ultimately not very satisfying.

Not a complete waste of time as it does provide some basic gangster movie stylings but ‘Blood Brothers’ is just that: an exercise in style and a style that has been done much better by other films.

‘City Under Siege’ plods along to something of an anti-climax after nearly two hours, never achieving logical pacing or suspense.

While it’s not always cohesive in tone and execution, ‘Extreme Crisis’ is nevertheless a solid action film and ideal for those looking for some simple action thrills.

The film though has some good special effects and does retain a certain entertainment value, but it stands as a masterclass in the way a director’s lack of self-control can hinder a film’s progress.

While there are flashes of his trademark fight scenes, it’s the fairy tale love story that always takes precedence.

‘Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons’ is a solid fantasy film that retains a fair amount of that Stephen Chow magic.

‘Legend Of The Fist’ is a film that promises so much but delivers far less, especially considering this is a collaboration between Donnie Yen and Andrew Lau.

‘Look For A Star’ will be welcomed by the legions of Andy Lau fans who are keen for the star to return to a genre he dominated at the end of the century.

‘Looking For Mister Perfect’ is the kind of light and fluffy film that one would associate with Wong Jing or Joe Ma and not the man responsible for savage hits like ‘City On Fire’ and ‘Full Contact’.

This may not be revolutionary film-making, but ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ is ninety minutes of entertainment that will keep a smile on your face.

‘My Name is Nobody’ (due to its budgetary constraints and modest scale) doesn’t hold a candle to the greats of the sub-genre, but it harbours one saving grace – and it’s a nasty one.