I live in New York where they're doing the current Hong Kong series at the Walter Reade/Lincoln Center, and they're showing a lot of the usual suspects; Wong Kar-Wei, INFERNAL AFFAIRS 1, 2 & 3, and an amazing number of Johnny To films -- I've already seen PTU and The MISSION; I got a ticket to BREAKING NEWS because I'm aware of that one;

But what are the opinions, if any, of To's RUNNING ON KARMA & THROW DOWN?

Any comments on the other flicks playing would be welcomed as well:

http://www.filmlinc.com/wrt/programs/10-2004/hongkong04.htm

I'd rate RUNNING ON KARMA as the most essential Johnnie To film after THE MISSION, and THROW DOWN is up in the top league as well. Neither is perfect, however - particularly ROK has some questionable editing decisions that make a second viewing pretty much mandatory if you're going to make sense of the film. A second viewing is definitely recommended anyway, as it's a playful film with a lot of red herrings about where it's going... and even which genre it belongs to :blink:

THROW DOWN's weakness is its lead actor, Louis Koo, who is utterly incapable of letting his character's thoughts or feelings come through to the audience - so much so that the film's crucial plot point completely passed by several people that have watched it.

Another fan of RUNNING ON KARMA checking in. Certainly one to see in a cinema if you have a chance, though I second the opinion that another viewing on video would be a good follow-up. Very fun, intriguing material with plenty of surprises, and far from the style of BREAKING NEWS. Can't say much on THROW DOWN right now - I slept through a few bits in the theatre but what I saw looked very stylish and interesting. Must revisit it on video soon.

As for the others, that looks like a good selection of recent years' movies. I'll throw in some plugs GOLDEN CHICKEN, JULY RHAPSODY and TIME AND TIDE. GOLDEN CHICKEN's a colourful tale that both follows a local prostitute's career and chart's Hong Kong's ups and downs. One of the best movies of 2002 for me. JULY RHAPSODY's a great small-scale drama with superb performances, and TIME AND TIDE is a treat on the big screen if you're up for some terrific action set pieces. Also should add that the full title for the Jeff Lau flick they're screening is CHINESE ODYSSEY 2002.

"what are the opinions, if any, of To's RUNNING ON KARMA & THROW DOWN?"

Please add me to the list of fans of Johnnie To's movies -- and, especially, RUNNING ON KARMA. Also, am going to "third" the suggestion that RUNNING ON KARMA bears viewing more than once, and may be better appreciated the second time around.

"Any comments on the other flicks playing would be welcomed as well:"

Where do I begin?! Perhaps by saying that this is one excellent film series. Seriously, would recommend all the offered movies very highly -- bar for TIME & TIDE (which feels too much to me like Tsui Hark was trying to show Westerners that he can out do Wong Kar Wai -- think voiceovers, etc. -- and John Woo -- think lots of birds (though they're pigeons in this case rather than doves), etc. -- as well as generally be more outrageous them) and DARKNESS BRIDE (because I haven't seen it). Also, will throw out a caveat re A CHINESE ODYSSEY 2002 probably being more appreciable if you're already familiar with other Hong Kong movies (notably ASHES OF TIME and maybe also THE KINGDOM & THE BEAUTY).

In any case, Jim, hope you and other New York area folks will go and make the most of having these films shown on the big screen at the Lincoln Center.

I have to admit I'm going to skip TIME & TIDE -- I've never been a fan of Tsui Hark's direction -- he's a fine producer, but that's where it ends for me. I've never been fully satisfied with a film he's directed.

I'll probably have time to see one more To besides BREAKING NEWS (I saw PTU at the last film festival), so THROW DOWN looks like it'll happen (I already missed the date for KARMA). GOLDEN CHICKEN could fit my schedule, so I'm penciling it in...but, work and other pursuits do exist, alas, so I think that'll be it for me this go-round.

I've never been a fan of Tsui Hark's direction -- he's a fine producer, but that's where it ends for me. I've never been fully satisfied with a film he's directed.[QUOTE]

*Gulp* You've not been fully satisfied with SHANGHAI BLUES, PEKING OPERA BLUES, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 1-3, GREEN SNAKE, THE LOVERS, THE BLADE, THE CHINESE FEAST, etc., etc.??!! Oh my, if so... :(

As for myself, my preference is for Tsui Hark's works pre his collaboration with Jean Claude van Damme. And, when looking at that list, maybe also those of his works -- be they ones that he's directed or produced -- in which gunplay don't prominently figure (And for the record, PEKING OPERA BLUES does have gunplay but surely this is not the single most prominent feature of the film?).