Top Ten 2006 Hong Kong movies

In recent years, I've gotten into the habit of writing up a Top 10 list of the year's Hong Kong movies for Hong Kong Cinema: View from the Brooklyn Bridge. (Go here for the 2001 list, here for that for 2002, here for the 2003 list, here for the 2004 equivalent and here for that for 2005.)

However, thus far this year, Brian, the site's webmaster, has been on the road for the most part. So he hasn't posted his or any other person's Top 10 list of 2006 Hong Kong films on the site (but has received and proceeded to post guest contributor Steve Barr's over on his "while on the road" blog.)

For all I know, he may yet do so. In the meantime though, in the wake of my having viewed my first 2007 Hong Kong film last week as well as having written a few weeks back already about my submissions for the Mobius Home Video Forum's "Best of..." 2006 movie poll , I figure that I might as well go ahead and post my Top 10 list of 2006 Hong Kong movies over here (and before the second month of 2007 comes to an end). So without any further ado...:-

1) Exiled
Johnnie To’s virtuoso quasi-sequel to the fan favorite that is The Mission (Hong Kong, 1999) is a filmic masterpiece that can stand alone full well on its own. Distinguished by bravura performances by actors at the top of their game (like Francis Ng and Anthony Wong Chau-Sang) as well as the kind of masterfully choreographed, enacted and lensed set-pieces that make film critics -- not just fan boys and girls -- drool, this cinematic offering is one of those that's truly a delight to watch unfold on a big screen.

2) My Name is Fame
The more I reflect on this deceptively modest film's merits, the more it rises up in my estimation. Hence my decision to place it at number two on this list even though I'm on the record as having awarded it only an 8.5 -- rather than three other movies' 9.0 -- on brns.com's 2006 (Hong Kong) Films Ratings list! And this on top of sticking to my earlier contention that this Lawrence Lau (AKA Lawrence Ah Mon)-helmed offering is "one of 2006’s better along with more admirable and well-meaning cinematic efforts."

3) Fearless
As can be seen by comments previously made by a few of this blog's readers, this action-infused historical bio-pic from director Ronnie Yu is by no means universally liked or admired. However, here's taking this opportunity to point to a suggestion made by a Twitch reviewer that the Jet Li starrer might be worth taking a second look at, particularly by way of a lengthier Director's Cut DVD version of the film. (This from someone who's yet to check out that particular DVD but has viewed the theatrically-released version of the film twice already!)

4) Election 2
Looking back at my Top 10 (Hong Kong) Films of 2005 list, I got to remembering that I had placed the first Election at the number two spot on it. Although I hadn't thought that 2006 had been all that good a year for Hong Kong cinema, seeing that Election 2 only is number four on the equivalent list for that year makes me think that maybe it wasn't too bad a year after all; this because, in all honesty, I found this 2006 offering from Johnnie To to offer more intellectually plus emotionally than the preceding gripping 2005 work which I had described as -- and still will maintain to be -- "a cinematic as well as technical masterwork."

5) Mcdull: The Alumni
An anomaly of sorts in the Mcdull universe in that it contains more live action than animation, this Samson Chiu-helmed offering is an altogether uneven hodge-podge of moods and genres as well as visual styles and filmic techniques. And if truth be told, when taken as a whole, it's hard to make a solid case for it being a cinematic gem. However, like the other Mcdull movies, it possesses some moments and scenes which are truly inspired, if not downright sublime. Then there's the plain fact of the matter that not since the made-for-charity The Banquet (1991) has there been a Hong Kong movie that's so star-studded and fun cameo-filled! ;b

6) Dog Bite Dog
Grim and gritty doesn't even begin to describe this nihilistic Soi Cheang effort which most definitely is not for the easily squeamish and/or faint of heart. For my part though, I genuinely appreciated as well as admired that -- in a move that probably didn't help it as far as the commercial side of things go -- this intense, Category III-rated crime drama -- which, more than incidentally, features Sam Lee's best acting in years and Edison Chen's best ever -- didn’t shirk from showing the brutality and inhumanity that it does.

7) 2 Become 1
One of those movies which gets me thinking "Only in Hong Kong..." Not because it contains any spectacular stunts and incredible martial arts action, mind. Rather, it's because I just can't imagine the likes of Hollywood thinking that a story centering on a woman who has breast cancer would make for an entertaining as well as engaging romantic dramedy. But the strange thing is that, in the hands of the people who are responsible for this 2006 Hong Kong movie (who include Johnnie To -- who is its producer -- as well as director Law Wing Cheong and co-scripter Ivy Ho), this Miriam Yeung and Richie Ren starrer actually did!

8) The Heavenly Kings
A confession: I've long had a soft spot for Daniel Wu. But even this admirer of "dear Daniel" (as I jokingly like to refer to him in honor of Hello Kitty's boyfriend) didn't realize that the acting star could have the ability to come up with a directorial debut which puts such as those of fellow "pretty boys" Stephen Fung and Nicholas Tse's firmly in the shade. And, in the process, produce the sort of cheeky mockumentary that takes on-target pot shots at himself and his friends along with the Hong Kong gutter press, the boy band phenomenon and the Cantopop industry as a whole as well as has the viewer(s) yearning for more.

9) Mr. 3 Minutes
This movie gets my additional vote for being the least likely to be on other people's Top 10 lists. This not least since I can't even find a positive review of it to link to! So what can I do besides admit that its being on my list probably attests to: a) my love for Hong Kong movies possibly bordering on the irrational; b) my really having been surprised to find that Ronald Cheng is capable of moving me to tears as well as making me laugh; and c) Cherrie Ying's sweet presence in a movie alone often can make it all worthwhile for me?! ;D

10) Isabella
The winner of a Silver Bear at last year's Berlin Film Festival, this surprisingly art-house style work from director Edmond Pang is visually impressive but maybe actually overly so -- to the extent that everything comes across as just a little bit more calculated than was necessary, never mind ideal. At the same time though, there's no disputing that this father-daughter drama works well as an evocative mood piece, and that is graced by unexpectedly strong performances from EEG starlet Isabella Leong and comedian cum character actor Chapman To.