Carina Lau

Rich and Famous [VHS]
$19.95
I've seen the other reviews for this movie here and was quite surprised. I bought this and Tragic Hero together because I simply love Chow Yun-Fat. The movie is obviously not up to the standards of the early John Woo's but non-the-less, it is a quality film! Yun-Fat delivered well, the story was proficient, and the pacing was good. All in all, I love this film - it has charm even if not a budget. The over the top emotions and fight scenes are truly the beauty of it, though it's obviously not enough for most people to love it. Strangely enough, people will watch bad American 80's movies for less reason than that (I confess, I am among them). Who can resist the simpering B movie quality wrenching hearty emotions that ooze from the screen? If you're into Chinese low-budget high-emotion gangster flicks, as all irrational beings out be, then this movie is a must see!

Rich and Famous
$9.95
I've seen the other reviews for this movie here and was quite surprised. I bought this and Tragic Hero together because I simply love Chow Yun-Fat. The movie is obviously not up to the standards of the early John Woo's but non-the-less, it is a quality film! Yun-Fat delivered well, the story was proficient, and the pacing was good. All in all, I love this film - it has charm even if not a budget. The over the top emotions and fight scenes are truly the beauty of it, though it's obviously not enough for most people to love it. Strangely enough, people will watch bad American 80's movies for less reason than that (I confess, I am among them). Who can resist the simpering B movie quality wrenching hearty emotions that ooze from the screen? If you're into Chinese low-budget high-emotion gangster flicks, as all irrational beings out be, then this movie is a must see!

"Rose, Rose I Love You " [VHS]
$39.99

Infernal Affairs 3 (Special Collector's Edition)
$14.95
I don't think this is overrated one bit; a travelogue of madness, corruption, and the looming shadow of slain innocence, "INF3" is damn near perfect. Andy Lau definitely takes the cake here as the corrupt and just about totally crazy Inspector Ming, now head of Internal Affairs.

The dreamlike flow of the film takes it's cues from David Lynch; and you can tell that the director was very flattered that Martin Scorsese adapted "INF" for "The Departed"--when Wai (likable as always playing undercover cop Yan in Ming's demented flashbacks) smashes an ashtray over a rival Triad's head just as DiCaprio smashed a glass over someone's head in Marty's version. Plus, the corrupt officer from the original is now renamed "Officer Billy", like "Billy Costigan". So I guess people who complain about Scorsese "ripping off" "INF" should stop, since the creators themselves seem tickled pink.

Rather than people just getting shot constantly and elevator doors opening and closing, we Mak's real writing and directorial talent as he depicts the tortured soul of Ming, a man awash in the blood he has on his hands: it is clear that his mission to "be the good guy" was a failure from the getgo. As Shen, the undercover cop playing arms dealer says, "Men are changed by events, not events by men"--true, and Ming can never escape the events he changed.

We are also treated to some of the things we didn't see in the original: Eric Tsang is touching as the confused Triad Hon Sam, so loyal to Yan that he breaks a bottle over his head to protect from ultimate retribution from another gang. The theme of self sacrifice is strong in this film, and vengeance as well: the unforgettable last scene in which Ming finally "answers for his crimes" (without managing to accomplish the goal of getting rid of himself entirely) is unforgettable. This movie is art.

A brilliant conclusion to the trilogy.