Overcoming the small, subtle component of subtitles in movies opens an array of cinema that’ll enhance and strengthen any cinephile’s appreciation of the art form. Hong Kong cinema, in particular, is a favorite of mine, having been such a prominent influence on directors like Quentin Tarantino, Sofia Coppola, The Wachowskis, and countless others.
Hong Kong cinema is defined as its genre diversity and innovation while featuring fast editing and camera work, typically in urban settings. Much of it features stylized violence and heavily focuses on mood through its music, lighting, and pacing. It’s a remarkable feat of cinema— having been the third-largest motion picture industry—so here are a few of my favorites and must-watches in my mind.
7. Hard Boiled (1992)
Logline – A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to shut down a sinister mobster and his crew.
Few action films, if any, are better than Hard Boiled. This flick is from iconic action filmmaker John Woo and has everything you could want from an action flick. It rules.
6. Enter the Dragon (1973)
Logline – A Shaolin martial artist travels to an island fortress to spy on an opium lord – who is also a former monk from his temple – under the guise of attending a fighting tournament.
While technically an American-Hong Kong co-production, you can’t mention Hong Kong cinema without bringing up Bruce Lee. Enter the Dragon is his most acclaimed work, having premiered one month after Lee’s death, and is a classic.
5. Police Story (1985)
Logline – A virtuous Hong Kong Police Officer must clear his good name when the drug lord he is after frames him for the murder of a dirty cop.
Like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan is an icon of Hong Kong cinema. The Police Story franchise is his most acclaimed work. The first is the best, and while I don’t think you need to view the entire franchise, it is worth watching.
4. Infernal Affairs (2002)
Logline – Chen Wing Yan, a policeman, successfully infiltrates a gang while Lau Kin Ming, a tried member, becomes a mole in the police force. However, things change when both of them must seek each other out.
Admittedly, I’m not as crazy about Infernal Affairs as I am about some of these other flicks. However, it’s worth watching in my mind since one of my favorite films, The Departed, was adapted from it. It makes the list for that alone, and being a favorite of so many.
3. Happy Together (1997)
Logline – A couple takes a trip to Argentina, but both men find their lives drifting apart in opposite directions.
Wong Kar-wai is a top 5 director of all time in my mind, so it’s no surprise I have two of his films on this list. Happy Together is the perfect portrayal of a relationship past the point of healing that continues to bleed as two lost individuals try to figure themselves out.
2. Made in Hong Kong (1997)
Logline – Autumn Moon (Sam Lee), a low-rent triad living in Hong Kong, struggles to find meaning in his hopelessly violent existence.
Made in Hong Kong has a dark slice-of-life component to it that makes it so intoxicating. I wish I saw it a few years younger, but even in my mid-20s, it hits all the same.
1. Chungking Express (1994)
Logline – Two melancholic Hong Kong policemen fall in love: one with a mysterious female underworld figure, the other with a beautiful and ethereal waitress at a late-night restaurant he frequents.
Chungking Express floats around being my favorite film ever made, and with me already warning I’d have two Wong Kar-wai films on this list; here’s the other. I’ve never seen a film pull off a main character switch so well, and it blends getting over a relationship and falling in love among these characters beautifully.
In conclusion, exploring the subtle but impactful role of subtitles in Hong Kong cinema opens up a world of cinematic brilliance that can deepen any film enthusiast’s understanding and appreciation of the medium. From the genre-defying works of John Woo to the emotional depth captured by Wong Kar-wai, Hong Kong cinema continues to be a treasure trove of creativity, innovation, and influence on the global film landscape.
You may also like:
Leave a reply