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Born to be KingYoung and Dangerous 6 - 2000
Starring: Directed by: Andrew Lau Wei-Keung |
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The
characters have finally made the big time. Now they wear Armani suits instead
of jeans and teeshirts. Ho Nam ( Ekin Cheng) is still with Mei Ling ( Shu Qi)
but it is clear that the relationship is going nowhere, as he continues to dream
about his lost love Smartie.
When
later in the movie he sees a girl who resembles her he can't help but follow
her. Unfortunately, it is a doomed venture and Ho Nam's anguish is clear to
Mei Ling, who realizes finally that she can never win his heart.
The
main thrust of the plot is Chicken's (Jordan Chan) arranged mariage to Nanako,
(Anya) who is the daughter of the Kusakari Ichiro (Sonny Chiba) leader of a
prominent Japanese gang. The marriage is meant to cement ties between Taiwan's
San Luen Gang, Hong Kong's Hung Hing and the Japanese Yamada gang.
When
Akira ( Roy Cheung) Ichiro's adopted son, who also loves Nanako rapes her, the
Hung Hing boys are bought into the fray. Ho Nam declares that Chicken has been
his friend for ever.
Although
it would appear that Akira is the villian of the piece a much more deadly villian
materializes in the form of Lui (Peter Ho). He is determined to control all
the gangs in Taiwan and sees Chicken as a serious threat. He therefore sets
out to discredit him or better yet dispose of him.
Unfortunately,
he is not righteous and so Ho Nam and Ichiro are able to join forces to defeat
him.
The
culminating high speed car crash and subsequent beating of Lui by Ho Nam, takes
place while Chicken revenges himself on Akira for the rape of his wife. In the
end all villians meet their demise and the friends realize that China will not
attack Taiwan because of course, everyone is Chinese now.
Set
against the conflict between Taiwan and China as the Democratic Chen Shui Bian
is elected, Born to Be King is the longest and probably the most complicated
of the Y&D Series. The movie is not as cohesive as the earlier movies, seeming
instead to be a series of vignettes in the lives of Ho Nam and Chicken, who
were always the two central characters.
In
this movie Ho Nam's story is actually a side plot to the main action. However,
it is one of loss and letting go. Ekin Cheng gives an admirable performance
and the anguish as he dreams of his dead girlfriend is very touching. In the
gang world however, he has become calculating and rutheless and his intense
stares make the tension almost palpable.
Shu
Qi gives an excellent performance also, and while she is truly obnoxious through
most of the film, the desperation of a woman trying to reach the man she loves,
and not succeeding comes over strongly.
Sonny
Chiba was excellent as the head of the Yamada Gang. That when he fights with
Ho Nam, who proves he can hold his own against all comers, shows that Ho Nam
can indeed be the leader of Hung Hing. Unfortunately, Chiba was injured during
shooting and that limited the scope of his role.
Jordan
Chan also turns in an admirable performance although his hair style was a little
unorthodox. Things could have gone badly for him had he not wed into the Yamada
Gang and had the leader of Hung Hing as his best buddy.
Roy
Cheung turns in yet another fine villianous performance, will they they never
finally kill this villian. Peter Ho on the other hand did not have the look
of the rutheless vilian he was suppposed to be, being altogether too baby faced.
Also confusing was Michael Tse's ressurection as a bad guy.
Born to Be King is a fine film but you should be warned you will not get much
out of it if you are not familiar with the previous films. Andy Lau has matured
as a director and this movie is much more stylized than the earlier movies in
the series.
Copyright © cyklin
2002 - All Rights Reserved
