bruce-leroy
06-02-2004, 14:01
Men Suddenly in Black (http://global.yesasia.com/assocred.asp?LU83C65N+http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002885870/did-0/code-c/section-videos/)
Infidelity has always been a popular theme for comedy, and it has rarely been deployed more effectively than in this utterly fantastic, and frequently hilarious, tale of four guys and their quest to cheat on their other halves. When their partners take a trip to Thailand, Tin and his friends take a vow to taste fourteen hours of freedom and rejoice in commiting ultimate acts of betrayal. Unfortunately for them, the women suddenly become savvy to their dastardly plans. What follows is a series of (mis)adventures, as the guys try earnestly to succeed in their mission, while their ladies close in....
Eric Tsang has come a long way since playing the butt of everyone's jokes in the Lucky Stars movies. Here, he is on fine comic form, with able support from Jordan Chan and Chapman To (in his least irrating performance so far). As the women scorned, relative veterans Teresa Mo and Candy Lo steal the acting honours from their younger (and some might say) prettier proteges - Marsha Yuen and Tiffany Lee.
One of the main sources of enjoyment is the way in which classic action movie scenarios are parodied. For example, one set piece involves our four (anti?) heroes escaping from a brothel, being chased by ruthless paparazzi (who have been tipped off by their wives that said brothel may have underage girls). The difference being that the sequence is shot like a John Woo movie, with the paparazzi closing in like proffesional hitmen, and instead of guns, the guys use water hoses and cameras to fend them off. You really have to see it yourself to understand what I am trying to convey. I haven't seen anything like it for a while.
Throw in a host of great star cameos, the best being Tony Leung Kar Fei as a serial philanderer known as Uncle Kau - the Don Vito Corleone of philanderers such is the level of respect and worship bestowed to him by the guys - makes Men Suddenly in Black one of the most refreshing and intelligently executed comedies I have seen in quite some time (and not just restricted to Hong Kong). On this evidence, writer/director Edmond Pang is certainly one of the best emerging talents from Hong Kong in the 21st century. Time to watch You Shoot I Shoot.
4/5
DVD
I have the Mei Ah R0 2 disc release, and it maintains the high standard of recent Mei Ah dvds. AV is very good with anamorphic picture and a vibrant Dolby Digital 5.1 track. I watched the movie with the Cantonese track, but it is also available in Mandarin. English subs are very good quality. A big bonus is the the audio commentary featuring director, producer, cinematographer (I think - it could be the editor) also comes with English subtitles!
Disc 2 has extras including making of, deleted scenes, outtakes, and storyboard comparisons. I haven't watched disc 2 yet.
The 2 disc set is under £6 (exc. postage) at yesasia and I would definitely recommend throwing it in with your next order if you are after something different, and fed up with all the rubbish to come out of HK in recent years.
Infidelity has always been a popular theme for comedy, and it has rarely been deployed more effectively than in this utterly fantastic, and frequently hilarious, tale of four guys and their quest to cheat on their other halves. When their partners take a trip to Thailand, Tin and his friends take a vow to taste fourteen hours of freedom and rejoice in commiting ultimate acts of betrayal. Unfortunately for them, the women suddenly become savvy to their dastardly plans. What follows is a series of (mis)adventures, as the guys try earnestly to succeed in their mission, while their ladies close in....
Eric Tsang has come a long way since playing the butt of everyone's jokes in the Lucky Stars movies. Here, he is on fine comic form, with able support from Jordan Chan and Chapman To (in his least irrating performance so far). As the women scorned, relative veterans Teresa Mo and Candy Lo steal the acting honours from their younger (and some might say) prettier proteges - Marsha Yuen and Tiffany Lee.
One of the main sources of enjoyment is the way in which classic action movie scenarios are parodied. For example, one set piece involves our four (anti?) heroes escaping from a brothel, being chased by ruthless paparazzi (who have been tipped off by their wives that said brothel may have underage girls). The difference being that the sequence is shot like a John Woo movie, with the paparazzi closing in like proffesional hitmen, and instead of guns, the guys use water hoses and cameras to fend them off. You really have to see it yourself to understand what I am trying to convey. I haven't seen anything like it for a while.
Throw in a host of great star cameos, the best being Tony Leung Kar Fei as a serial philanderer known as Uncle Kau - the Don Vito Corleone of philanderers such is the level of respect and worship bestowed to him by the guys - makes Men Suddenly in Black one of the most refreshing and intelligently executed comedies I have seen in quite some time (and not just restricted to Hong Kong). On this evidence, writer/director Edmond Pang is certainly one of the best emerging talents from Hong Kong in the 21st century. Time to watch You Shoot I Shoot.
4/5
DVD
I have the Mei Ah R0 2 disc release, and it maintains the high standard of recent Mei Ah dvds. AV is very good with anamorphic picture and a vibrant Dolby Digital 5.1 track. I watched the movie with the Cantonese track, but it is also available in Mandarin. English subs are very good quality. A big bonus is the the audio commentary featuring director, producer, cinematographer (I think - it could be the editor) also comes with English subtitles!
Disc 2 has extras including making of, deleted scenes, outtakes, and storyboard comparisons. I haven't watched disc 2 yet.
The 2 disc set is under £6 (exc. postage) at yesasia and I would definitely recommend throwing it in with your next order if you are after something different, and fed up with all the rubbish to come out of HK in recent years.