Red Trousers: The Life of the Hong Kong Stuntmen

Caught this film at a film festival and was greatly impressed. I wasn't expecting much, but I was treated to an in-depth and interesting look of the lives Hong Kong stunt men. I didn't realize I could learn so much more about them.

I didn't care too much for the movie within the movie as a movie itself, but I appreciated it for the way it showcased the stunts being set up in the documentary portion of the film. By the end of the it you're left to wonder just how more stunt men aren't killed. Of course, it's their skill and training to fall without being hurt. Mortally, that is.

Very inspirational !! I was in awe watching the stunt men perform and the dedication it takes in training to correctly execute the stunts !! Robin Shou has done a great service to the Hong Kong stunt men by allowing us regular people a peak at what really goes on behind the camera. Of course now I have a brand new passion/interest and would love to see these stunts first hand ! The historical account of the Red Trousers beginning and clips of young men and women training in the schools was impressive. I was overwhelmed by the students hard work and the hopes they expressed at succeeding in the industry. Lost Time was smooth, edgy and sexy..would like to see that expanded into a full length film.

Well, I've seen a lot of reviews on here giving it 10 out of 10 but they seem like duds in order to get people to buy the DVD...which i just bought and watched..so heres my sch-nickel Mikkel...

Bad points - the short film'lost time' - the cheese just oozes of this mutha and boy does it grate...on and on.

Written, directed and sprinkled with cheese by Robin Shou, I'm sorry but this mutha with its mortal combat techno-music droning away in the background and its cheese-laden dialog,needs EXCISING from the main documentary and is just an excuse for a toilet break - that is until you realize you've run out of toilet.

'embarrassing' and 'unnecessary' are two words that id use if i were having lunch with him right now.

Secondly, there's not much point to this Doc except to say, Hong Kong stunt-men would die for their art. Which is a great thing to say, except that it kinda drags like an extended outtakes from a Jackie Chan flick.

Shou as a personality, is a nice enough guy but lacks charisma as an actor which is a shame seeing as we have to watch him act his way out of a paper-bag in 'lost time'

O.K... 'nuff bitching - now the good stuff. Interviews with Sammo Hung rag on about pussy Hollywood stunt-men ...heart tingling moments where graduating kids from Beijing opera school cry over an unknown future in an ever-commercialised China....tough-nut Chinese stuntmen breaking their necks for a living , then not paid enough for the bus ride home...All in all...THAT'S DEDICATION.

I think if this Doc cut out the cheesy segment of 'Lost A-HOLE' and combined itself with 'Jackie Chan my stunts' - showing how Hong Kong stunts are done - i would have given this beast 8 out of friggin 10.

On the whole, thumbs up for showing how tough Chinese MEN really are ( Hollywood pussies bring it on ) and their dedication to their art.

Finally id give a 10 out of 10 to Robin Shou's mullet - in fact, last thing I heard is that Madonna is planning a remake of Shanghai surprise with Robin's mullet as her co-star.Ah the beauty of Hollywood rumours.

People will look back on this movie and say it was the best ever in Hong Kong action! It's really two movies in one! The Red Trousers part refers to the Peking Opera School days and how many stuntmen/actors came from that kind of background. These guys are for real! It's awesome! I don't know how they can do those crazy stunts! It's really cool the stuntmen had Robin do this movie because they don't get much credit - not according to the film anyway. In Hong Kong you are just expected to do it and if not you someone else. Those guys bust up their bodies and for not much money. My favorite though is Lost Time, the movie where Robin Evan is in a fantastic world of martial arts and magic and legend and Forest Devils. Won't explain that part - go see the movie, it'a winner! Jason

Red Trousers is a fantastic work of art, intertwining a full-feature documentary with an action short. It transports the audience into a world of life-endangering stunts and uncovers the hardships and motivations that are the driving force for these Hong Kong stunt men. The documentary includes interviews with well-known martial artists such as Sammo Hung, Lau Kar Leung, and writer/director/actor Robin Shou as well as aspiring "red trousers" from a Peking Opera school in China, who all have heart-warming stories to share. "Red Trouser: The Life of a Hong Kong Stuntman" is a truly fascinating look at stunts as an art, a career, and a way of life.