I hadn't realized it had been so long since I started listing all of Tsui Hark's films. Here is the last third or so of his work. Since 1979 he's worked on over 60 films and directed 45 of them. I've seen a lot of his films but this period has the most I haven't seen. Still he's an important and influential film maker who continuously pops up with something new and interesting. I'm not always interested in what he's done but I do like several of his films quite a bit. My favorites in this batch are Knock Off and the Detective Dee films. I have a higher percentage of favorites in the previous two posts. There's a Tsui Hark link in the Categories. If there was a copy on YouTube, I put a link in the title. Not as many of them are available for free than in the first two batches of his films.
Double Team 1997 director - Tsui comes to America and makes this Jean-Claude Van Damme film. It's got Dennis Rodman and Mickey Rourke in it. Jean-Claude is a retired counter-terrorist agent who's pregnant wife is kidnapped by the evil Stavros (Mickey). Dennis plays a goofy arms dealer that joins J-C in kicking Stavros's butt. There's plenty of international scenery and lots of action. It's pretty standard stuff and it got panned but I still enjoyed it more than any other JCVD film until Knock-Off. They want $7.99 to watch it on YouTube which is crazy when you can buy the DVD on Amazon for 32 cents and up.
A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation 1997 producer writer - It's an animated cartoon that I haven't seen. Now I can at the link above. The only version in English was the dubbed version.
Once Upon a Time in China and America 1997 producer writer - Tsui left the directing to Sammo Hung who also did the fight choreography. Jet Li had played Wong Fei-hung in the first three films in the series then missed 4 and 5 before returning in the 6th film. Wong, Clubfoot and 13th Auntie travel to the US to visit a relative. They get attacked by indians near the town the man lives in and Wong gets hurt and separated from the group. He's saved by an Indian tribe but has amnesia. Eventually his friends find him and return him to town. The mayor is a baddie who frames the Chinese for a bank robbery. Wong has to get his memory back and save the community. Not my favorite of the series but it's pretty entertaining. I remember seeing this on the big screen before getting a tape of it.
Knock Off 1998 director - This movie bombed at the box office like Tsui's previous American film. Not sure why, I liked it, I know other people who liked it. I think it's because it's very much more like a Hong Kong film than the typical Jean-Claude Van Damme action flick and lots of his fans didn't get it. It's an action comedy first and both JCVD and Rob Schneider are up to the task. They are pretty funny together. There's plot that puts them in trouble and they have to run around trying to save their collective butt cheeks. The movie's strong scenes are the action scenes. They are varied and pretty much fun to watch.
Time and Tide 2000 director producer writer - A crime film with terrorists and an assassination plot that I thought was ok when I saw it in 2002. I haven't seen it since and haven't had much desire to see it again.
The Legend of Zu 2001 director producer writer - You need to see the complete Hong Kong version, the US version is cut so badly it's hard to understand what's going on. The story is about a battle between groups of immortals for rule over the mythical mountain range named Zu. There's plenty of action and comedy. There's a good bit of CGI and some of it is pretty imaginative.
Tsui Hark's Vampire Hunter 2002 producer - Another one you need to see the Hong Kong version. Sadly it's still not a very interesting horror film and it lacks any humor. It's directed by Wellson Chin.
Black Mask 2: City of Masks 2002 producer director - I didn't see this one. It does have Tracey Lords in it.
Xanda 2004 producer - Another I haven't seen.
In The Blue 2005 director - Ditto!
Seven Swords 2005 director producer writer - A retired executionier gathers 6 men together, gives them each a nice sword, and attacks the rampaging of the Warlord Fire-Wind who's been killing people left and right. He plans to attack Martial Village, home to many martial arts practitioners, and they plan to stop him there. It's all serious and I found that I didn't need to see it again. A lot of people didn't like it when it came out but it seems to have it's fans now.
The Warrior 2006 director - I haven't seen this cartoon.
Seven Swordsmen 2006 producer - I didn't see this TV series either. You can find it on YouTube without English subtitles.
Triangle 2007 producer director - Not seen.
Missing 2008 director - Not seen.
All About Women 2008 director producer writer - Not seen yet.
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame 2010 producer director - I really liked this quite a bit and commented on it when we watched it at one of our Friday Night Movie evenings. It's got a great bit of action and plenty of nice CGI. G+CGI is great for the Chinese fantasy movies and they are catching up to the West in leaps and bounds.
The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 2011 director producer writer - I liked this when I saw it a couple of years ago but I still haven't picked up a copy.
The Great Magician 2011 actor - I haven't seen it.
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon 2013 director - Another good film that we watched at a Friday Night Movie night.
Tracks in the Snowy Forest 2014 director - It isn't due out until the 24th of this month. I'll probably see it sometime in the future.
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