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Andy Lau
A star of over 100 films and one of Asia's most popular singers, Andy Lau Tak-Wah was born on September 27, 1961 in Hong Kong. He grew up in a very poor area where there was not even running water -- the young Tak-Wah had to make up to eight trips a day to collect water for his family. Despite financial problems, Andy's parents encouraged him to do well in school, and upon graduating, he entered the TVB academy, where he studied acting and martial arts. After appearing on television for a couple of years, Lau moved onto films with 1982's Boat People.
As was the norm for many young stars at this time, there was an attempt to diversify Lau by having him record an album. While these types of albums usually provide some extra publicity and money for the actor, for Lau they became a second career. Though it took quite a while -- his first album (I Only Know I Love You) came out in 1985 to a minor buzz. It was not until 1990, when Lau had established himself as one of Hong Kong's top actors and TVB came up with the "Sky Kings of Cantopop" gimmick (which also promoted Aaron Kwok, Jackie Cheung and Leon Lai) that he became a bonafide pop star as well.
Lau's musical career intertwined with his acting, as he began to record songs for the movies he appeared in. Despite his success, Lau's career almost suffered a fatal flaw early on when he refused to sign a contract with TVB. Lau was blacklisted from Hong Kong television, and it was only through the intervention of Chow Yun-Fat (who was a friend of the director of Boat People, Ann Hui) that Lau began to find more work in movies.
Though having never really gained the respect of local critics or many Western fans, Lau's list of film credits is pretty impressive. Unlike many "idols," Lau has never really seemed to be pigeonholed into a certain role. While he is probably best known for romantic comedies like 2001's Love on a Diet, Lau's career has included everything from action (1991's The Last Blood and Saviour of the Soul) to comedy (1991's Tricky Brains) to art-house fare (with two Wong Kar-Wai movies, 1988's As Tears Go By and 1990's Days of Being Wild). Lau has also become a mainstay of the modern gambling movie, appearing in many of the most popular films of the type, including 1989's Casino Raiders, which re-launched the genre.
Despite having a reputation of being hard to work with (one story has Lau refusing to smile because he thought it might make wrinkles show), Lau continues to be one of Hong Kong's most prolific and bankable actors. In fact, there were times when Lau was so popular that he was working on multiple films as well as recording songs all at once, s Leeping in his car as time allowed. This dedication to work seems to have finally paid off in one respect; in 2000 Lau won the Hong Kong Film Award for his work in Running Out Of Time.
News |
What members say |
Filmography
Andy Lau - news / articles
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Hong Kong star Lau loses appeal in film stunt suit -
3 July 2009
-Hong Kong singer/actor Andy Lau is facing an increased compensation payout to a Taiwanese airline after he wrecked a helicopter in a failed film stunt.-
-Bosses at flight company Daily Air loaned Lau a chopper in 1997 for his film The Island of Greed. -
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Andy Lau - what members say
review by from Sheffield
How it should be done... 10 July 2004
review by from Truth or Consequences, Scotland
Traitors, traitors everywhere. This Hong Kong blockbuster shows us how Cop dramas should be done. 15 March 2004
review by Stevieb47 from poole
A fine follow up 6 February 2005
Andy Lau - filmography
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Shaolin
on DVD
(2011)
Starring: Andy Lau, Jackie Chan, Bingbing Fan
Director: Benny Chan
Certificate: 
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
Chinese war drama in which a humbled warlord helps the Shaolin monks defend themselves against threatening forces. With China's last imperial dynasty crumbling, the country is up for grabs to the likes of General Hou Jie (Andy Lau), a warlord who will stop at nothing to gain power. So ruthless is ..read more »
 
75%
from 1,061 member
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A Simple Life
on DVD
(2011)
Starring: Andy Lau, Deannie Yip, Sui-man Chim
Director: Ann Hui
Certificate: 
Inspired by a true story, the film tells about a heart-warming relationship between a young master a big family, Roger and the servant of the family who raised him, Sister Peach.
71%
from 446 members
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The Great Revival
on DVD
(2011)
Starring: John Woo, Andy Lau, Wei Tang
Director: Sanping Han, Jianxin Huang
Certificate:
CHOW YUN FAT (Confucius, Bullet Proof Monk, Crouching Tiger) gives a phenomenal performance as a powerful warlord in this jaw dropping action adventure, with stunning cinematography.Based on a true story, The Great Revival is the epic re-telling of the revolutionary army who rose against the ..read more »
51%
from 87 members
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A Simple Life - Blu-ray
(2011)
Starring: Andy Lau, Deannie Yip, Sui-man Chim
Director: Ann Hui
Certificate:
Inspired by a true story, the film tells about a heart-warming relationship between a young master a big family, Roger and the servant of the family who raised him, Sister Peach.
74%
from 133 members
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The Founding of a Republic
on DVD
(2009)
Starring: Andy Lau, Jet Li, Jackie Chan
Director: Jianxin Huang, Sanping Han
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Big budget Chinese historical epic examining the climax of the Chinese Civil War in the 1950s. The film opens with the leaders of the two main factions in the civil war, Mao Zedong (Tang Guoqiang) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chiang Kai-shek (Zhang Guoli) of the nationalist party ..read more »
45%
from 288 members
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Founding of a Republic - Blu-ray
(2009)
Starring: Andy Lau, Jet Li, Jackie Chan
Director: Jianxin Huang, Sanping Han
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Big budget Chinese historical epic examining the climax of the Chinese Civil War in the 1950s. The film opens with the leaders of the two main factions in the civil war, Mao Zedong (Tang Guoqiang) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chiang Kai-shek (Zhang Guoli) of the nationalist party ..read more »
38%
from 196 members
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Warlords
on DVD
(2008)
Starring: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Director: Peter Chan, Wai Man Yip, Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Lavish historical action film telling the story of a trio of warriors in the era of the Qing Dynasty - General Ma Xinyi (Jet Li), Cao Er-Hu (Andy Lau) and Zhang Wen-Xiang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) - who make a pact of brotherhood to one another vowing that anyone who harms one of the brothers will be ..read more »
62%
from 8,293 members
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Warlords - Blu-ray
(2008)
Starring: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Director: Peter Chan, Wai Man Yip, Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Lavish historical action film telling the story of a trio of warriors in the era of the Qing Dynasty - General Ma Xinyi (Jet Li), Cao Er-Hu (Andy Lau) and Zhang Wen-Xiang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) - who make a pact of brotherhood to one another vowing that anyone who harms one of the brothers will be ..read more »
63%
from 2,810 members
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Three Kingdoms - Resurrection of the Dragon
on DVD
(2008)
Starring: Andy Lau, Maggie Q, Sammo Hung
Director: Daniel Lee Yan Kong
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
This sweeping martial arts epic - a co-production of Hong Kong and Korea - stars Asian screen idol Andy Lau as Zhao, a layman caught up in a rising tide of chaotic violence as his country is ripped in half by the blight of civil war. In desperation, Zhao draws from his inner resources and rises up ..read more »
63%
from 1,850 member
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Protege
on DVD
(2007)
Starring: Andy Lau, Anita Yuen, Zhang Jing Chu
Director: Derek Yee
Certificate: 
Thriller about an undercover drugs agent who goes native. Remaining deep undercover for the past eight years, narcotics agent Nick (Daniel Wu) works as understudy to 'Banker' (Andy Lau), boss of the Hong Kong heroin trade. Although he has enough evidence to convict, he's told to remain in place in ..read more »
60%
from 1,324 member
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Battle Of Wits - Blu-ray
(2006)
Starring: Andy Lau, Zhiwen Wang, Si Won Choi
Director: Chi Leung 'Jacob' Cheung, Chi Leung Cheung
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
It's 'The Magnificent One', as warrior Ge Li (Andy Lau) holds back the forces of marauding general Xiang Yanzhong (Ahn Sung-ki) in 370 B.C. China. During the civil war period of China's history, from the fifth to the third century B.C., the Zhoa state sets out to conquer the small city state of ..read more »
62%
from 378 members
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Battle Of Wits
on DVD
(2006)
Starring: Andy Lau, Zhiwen Wang, Si Won Choi
Director: Chi Leung 'Jacob' Cheung, Chi Leung Cheung
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
It's 'The Magnificent One', as warrior Ge Li (Andy Lau) holds back the forces of marauding general Xiang Yanzhong (Ahn Sung-ki) in 370 B.C. China. During the civil war period of China's history, from the fifth to the third century B.C., the Zhoa state sets out to conquer the small city state of ..read more »
65%
from 1,214 member
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House Of Flying Daggers
(2004)
Starring: Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Director: Yimou Zhang
Certificate:
Set in the year is 859 AD, as China's once flourishing Tang Dynasty is in decline; unrest is raging throughout the land. The corrupt government is locked in battle with rebel armies that are forming in protest. The largest, and most prestigious of these rebel groups is the House of Flying Daggers, ..read more »
68%
from 64,330 members
Currently unavailable
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Magic Kitchen
(2004)
Starring: Sheila Chan, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng
Director: Li Chi Ngai, Chi-Ngai Lee
Certificate: 
Yau is the chef and owner of a speakeasy restaurant who cooks everything by the book. But her successful career can't compensate for an empty love life. During an appearance on the popular Japanese TV show "Iron Chef", Yau bumps into her old flame Chuen, who is about to marry Yau's best friend. ..read more »
50%
from 21 members
Currently unavailable
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A World Without Thieves
on DVD
(2004)
Starring: Rene Liu, Ge You, Andy Lau
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Certificate:
Action heist movie, set on a train, in which two sets of thieves do battle over the life savings of a passenger. Fresh from their latest scam, con artist couple Wang Bo (Andy Lau) and Wang Li (Rene Liu) catch a train to make good their escape. Befriending naive village boy Sha Gen (Baoqiang Wang), ..read more »
61%
from 253 members
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Jiang Hu
on DVD
(2004)
Starring: Edison Chan, Shawn Yue, Andy Lau
Director: Wong Ching Po
Certificate:
Ching-Po Wong directs this Hong Kong crime drama starring Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung. After the wife of Triad leader Hung (Lau) gives birth, Hung considers getting out of the 'Jiang Hu' gangland underworld once and for all. Word of his intention gets out fast and loyalties are tested as a brutal war ..read more »
51%
from 158 members
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Infernal Affairs III
on DVD
(2003)
Starring: Tony Leung, Kelly Chen, Andy Lau
Director: Wai Keung Lau
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Infernal Affairs III picks up where the first film left off. Ming (Andy Lau) is cleared of any charges involving Yan's (Tony Leung) death, and is eventually assigned to the Internal Affairs division. He discovers that another cop, Yeung (Leon Lai of Fallen Angels), quickly rising through the ranks ..read more »
63%
from 4,475 members
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Infernal Affairs II
on DVD
(2003)
Starring: Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang
Director: Andy Lau, Alan Mak
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
The prequel to Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's smash hit Infernal Affairs opens in 1991, with Inspector Wong (Anthony Wong) explaining the frustrations of police work to gangster Sam (Eric Tsang). He also expresses his desire to see the seemingly reasonable Sam take over he reins of the local triad from ..read more »
64%
from 7,475 members
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Infernal Affairs
on DVD
(2002)
Starring: Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Anthony Wong
Director: Siu Fai Mak, Andrew Lau
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
A cop goes undercover as a gangster while, simultaneously, a gangster infiltrates the police force, pretending to be a cop. These two sleeper agents live underground for a decade before a series of mistakes clues in all the wrong people as to what's going on and each mole is ordered to root out the ..read more »
72%
from 17,660 members
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Infernal Affairs - Blu-ray
(2002)
Starring: Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Anthony Wong
Director: Siu Fai Mak, Andrew Lau
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, INFERNAL AFFAIRS is a tense thriller featuring Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung. The film follows the parallel lives of Ming (Lau), a cop who secretly reports to ruthless Triad crime boss Sam (Eric Tsang); and Yan (Leung), an undercover police ..read more »
86%
from 169 members
Currently unavailable
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The Avenging Fist
on DVD
(2001)
Starring: Stephen Fung, Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung
Director: Andy Lau, Corey Yuen-Kwai
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Science-fiction meets action adventure, set in the future in a city where violence and weapons are illegal. Then arrives a weapon called the Power Glove, which when worn activates hidden powers allowing those who wear it to have super powers. One falls into the hands of former special agent, War 21 ..read more »
50%
from 645 members
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Full Time Killer
on DVD
(2001)
Starring: Andy Lau, Cherrie Ying, Simon Yam
Director: Wai Ka-Fai, Johnny To
Certificate:
This thriller centres around the building tensions between two professional assassins, O (Takashi Sorimachi) and Tok (Andy Lau). O has been in the business of professional killing for years, and his secretive, isolated existence and dedication have made him the best there is. But when Tok, a ..read more »
62%
from 1,218 member
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The Duel
(2 discs)
on DVD
(2000)
Starring: Andy Lau, Nick Cheung, Ekin Cheng
Director: Wai Keung Lau
Certificate:
Sword Saint (Andy Lau) and God of Sword (Ekin Cheng) have agreed to meet at the apex of the Forbidden City and engage in a duel which will settle the question of who is the finest swordsman in the world. As the appointed date draws near, Imperial Agent Dragon 9 (Nick Cheung) is assigned to ..read more »
56%
from 557 members
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Running Out Of Time
on DVD
(1999)
Starring: Andy Lau, Wai Ai, Suet Lam
Director: Johnny To
Certificate:
Award-winning Hong Kong action thriller. Andy Lau plays Cheung, a master criminal who learns that he is suffering from a terminal illness and only has 72 hours to live. Determined to use this time to revenge himself on the police and his gang rivals, the criminal genius initiates a dangerous game ..read more »
57%
from 880 members
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The Conman 1999
(1998)
Starring: Andy Lau, Nick Cheung, Athena Chu
Director: Jing Wong
Certificate:
The God of Gamblers series continues. King, the successor to the original God of Gambler, accidentally kills an assassin and is sentenced to five years in prison. He eventually tries to help a friend win money on a gambling banker and his assistant, whose brother was the assassin King killed. The "..read more »
56%
from 14 members
Currently unavailable
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Island Of Greed
on DVD
(1997)
Starring: Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Paulyn Sun
Director: Michael Mak
Certificate:
When criminal kingpin Chou (Tony Leung) decides to take the step into legitimate politics, determined cop Fang (Andy Lau) does everything he can to ruin the campaign. Thanks to Fang's actions, Chau's nomination gets revoked, but this doesn't stop the gangster re-applying as an independent candidate...read more »
46%
from 224 members
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Rich And Famous
on DVD
(1997)
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Andy Lau, Danny Lee
Director: Taylor Wong
Certificate:
A John Woo classic tale of murder and intrigue. Bloodshed a-plenty, Hong Kong-style, in a story of violence, shattered innocence, cowardice, loyalty, brotherhood and betrayal, running the emotional gamut. Danny Lee and Andy Lau star.
47%
from 482 members
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Young And Dangerous 2
on DVD
(1996)
Starring: Lee Lik-Chi, Moses Chan, Chingamy Yau
Director: Andy Lau
Certificate:
In this sequel to 'Young and Dangerous', Chan Ho Nam (Dior Cheng) has celebrated his leadership of the Hung Hing society by opening a club with his childhood sweetheart, Smartie. San Luen representative Liu King, a figurehead of the Taiwan triad, arrives to form an alliance with the Hung Hings, but ..read more »
63%
from 298 members
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Young And Dangerous
on DVD
(1996)
Starring: Francis Ng, Jordan Chan, Simon Yam
Director: Andy Lau
Certificate:
Chan Ho Nam and his band of 'wise guys' have risen from being school bullies to become the leading lights of the Hung Hing Society triad. They enjoy the patronage of Uncle B and society head Chiang, but after a failed assassination attempt Chan finds himself ousted from the leadership. Long time co-..read more »
63%
from 414 members
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Young And Dangerous 3
on DVD
(1996)
Starring: Jordan Chan, Simon Yam, Ekin Cheng
Director: Andy Lau
Certificate:
The third instalment in the 'Young and Dangerous' series finds the young gangster Chan (Ekin Cheng) targeted by Crow (Roy Cheung), a new and up-and-coming member of a rival gang. The first stage of a devastating plot to depose Chan comes into effect during a visit to Holland, when he is set up to ..read more »
62%
from 274 members
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Naked Killer 2
on DVD
(1993)
Starring: Chingamy Yau, Simon Yam, Mark Cheng
Director: Andy Lau
Certificate:
A serial rapist (Mark Cheng) responsible for terrorising the women in his apartment block selects his attractive neighbour (Jacqueline Ng) as his next victim. She asks her friend (Chingamy Yau) to seduce the rapist and exact vengeance on him.
40%
from 394 members
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Moon Warriors
on DVD
(1993)
Starring: Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, Kenny Bee
Director: Sammo Hung
Certificate: 
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
An historical epic of doomed love, betrayal and revenge, Samo Hung's martial arts swordplay features explosive comabt and acrobatic fight scenes. Andy Lau plays Fei, caught up with the 13th Prince's bitter struggle with his evil younger brother to regain the Chinese Crown. Torn between his loyalty ..read more »
57%
from 1,306 member
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Days of Being Wild
on DVD
(1990)
Starring: Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung
Director: Kar Wai Wong, Wong Kar-Wai
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Luddy, a devastatingly handsome Hong Kong lothario, seduces and forsakes women without compunction. Abandoned at birth, Luddy's self-destructive search for love is really a Quixotic quest for a feeling of permanence and a sense of identity. When Luddy beguiles lovely shop girl Su Lizen, he ..read more »
62%
from 1,745 member
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God Of Gamblers
on DVD
(1990)
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Andy Lau
Director: Wong Jing
Certificate:
Chow Yun Fat stars as an unbeatable gambler who is seriously injured in a freak accident and is taken in by a small time hustler. Although the God of Gamblers now has the mind of a child his gambling prowess remains intact and the hustler plots to make a fortune.
63%
from 1,277 member
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Island Of Fire
on DVD
(1990)
Starring: Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Sammo Hung
Director: Yin-Ping Chu
Certificate:
When a corrupt prison warder begins faking the deaths of inmates so that he can later use them as expendable assassins, a Hong Kong cop (Tony Leung) goes undercover as a prisoner in order to investigate. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Andy Lau star.
55%
from 871 members
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As Tears Go By
on DVD
(1988)
Starring: Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, Jacky Cheung
Director: Kar Wai Wong, Wong Kar-Wai
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai makes his feature film debut with this gritty romantic crime-drama inspired by Scorsese's Mean Streets. The film opens with young gangster Wah (Andy Lau) getting a visit for the day from his beautiful cousin Ah-Ngor (Maggie Cheung), who is coming into Kowloon from the ..read more »
58%
from 1,029 member
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Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars
on DVD
(1985)
Starring: Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan, Yuen Biao
Director: Sammo Hung
Certificate:
Martial arts action comedy starring Jackie Chan. After one of his informers is murdered by a Thai gang boss, lawman Muscles (Jackie Chan) calls in his former orphanage pals, 'The Lucky Stars', to go undercover and infiltrate the boss's underworld establishment. The unorthodox Kistuff (Sammo Hung) ..read more »
60%
from 1,166 member
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Drunken Master 3
on DVD
Starring: Andy Lau, Gordon Liu
Director: Chia-Liang Liu
Certificate:
Hong Kong martial arts action comedy. Two martial artists are assigned to protect Princess Yu (Michelle Lee) after she receives threats from a nationalist group and a gang of militant cultists. When she is kidnapped by the cultists to be ritually sacrificed, they have to stage a rescue mission ..read more »
44%
from 154 members
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Tragic Hero
on DVD
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Andy Lau, Alex Mann
Director: Taylor Wong
Certificate:
A sequel, of sorts, to 'Rich and Famous', reuniting Chow Yun Fat and Andy Lau. Three men attempt to escape their violent criminal pasts, with less than successful and fairly bullet-ridden results.
53%
from 245 members
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The Three Swordsmen
on DVD
Starring: Andy Lau, Elvis Tsui, Brigitte Lin
Director: Taylor Wong
Certificate:
Hong Kong martial arts action. Two swordfighters decide the only way to settle the question of who is the greatest swordsman is to fight a duel to the death. Before they can fight however, they are framed for the murder of the empress and have to join forces in order to clear their name, while ..read more »
50%
from 178 members
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Andy Lau facts
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...ilmed with the kind of swagger that John Woo wishes he could pull off nowadays. Andy Lau brings his usual charisma to the role of Tok, the number 1 assassin around, and...
