Gam gai 2

I bought this DVD from HKFlix on the basis of a promising blurb and with near zero experience with HK or Chinese films. Minutes into the film, I was facing that old "if lions could speak English, we wouldn't understand them" phenomenon. Obviously, if a lion produced a film parodying his pride's identity crises, it too might be full of visually exciting gesture and roaring and absurd humor, but it'd be tough to grasp any elements of keen significance hidden in the lion slapstick and puns and ironic inside jokes.

Still, in forcing the uninitiated viewer to think fast - to figure out what heck's behind the near comic-book style parody - this film is in a sense strongly interactive. It's also quite exhilaratingly unique, a bit in the mold of The Tin Drum (Blechtrommel) - and with an oblique touch of the slacker view on life - but from a different age and place.

I'm eager to get my hands on Golden Chicken #1. It's encouraging to find films with such youthful voice, such daring to depart from the banal - with none of the brainless violence I associate with HK flicks - and with such thought-provoking presentation.

By the way, I viewed this film in Mandarin - I had to choose between three Chinese options - and that was a mistake. The dubbing wasn't great. But of course I didn't understand word of it, anyway.

I know it's futile to say this, but I have a young, but growing stack of Zone 3 (mostly Japanese) films by one old computer, a taller stack of Zone 2's by another, and I sometimes have difficulty finding something to view a Zone 1 with...

One thing, at least - I can't imagine Richard Gere or Julia Roberts in a remake of Golden Chicken - though I mustn't put anything past our Hollywood turkeys.

Gum Gai's entire focus was Kum's struggle in Hong Kong during its roughest times. It had a more meaningful sense as we could all relate to struggling to make it to the top and get some money. After the end of the first movie, the viewers get a feeling of hope, like we were born again and that we could do anything we wanted and achieve sucess.

The detail accounts of the events and problems that occured during Gum Gai and how Kum handled these situations was what made Gum Gai a interesting movie to watch.

Gum Gai 2 does the same thing, however switches to a more personal story rather then a social story during the second half.

The first part deals with how Kum sruggled through the SARS period of 2003, the darkest year in Hong Kong history. Many interesting characters are met, from the mentally challenged guy with an infatuation for hair to Leon Lai's doctor, everything plays out similar to Gum Gai 1. Even though we do not really know a whole lot about Leon Lai's character except about his wife and his job, the part where he broke down in the restraunt was sad.

The second part of the story, and actually the main story, dealt with a personal story. Kum's cousin returns to propose to her, at first through the flashbacks we see that he is a jerk who cheats Kum and other people, but then it gets extremely emotional at the end when they have to leave each other again.

I love how bits of the first movie was intertwined with the second movie to complete some of the unanswered questions in the first. This movie is great, and an emotional experience, but it felt like I was watching another melodrama when the second part came.

The saga of Kum continues, played by the excellent actress Sandra Ng. This time, the background of the film leaps to the year 2046 in which Kum, now over 80 but except for white hair looking not a day older than the first film, tells a young man who is having relationship problems about her life. This time, the movie focuses on less in terms of the flashbacks. The SARS epidemic is prominently part of this film, with the other major part being her relationship with a cousin. Its extraordinary that Sandra playing a teenager actually looks like one. This film is less played for laughs than the first, but it has some comedic overtones. Sandra's incredible acting virtuosity shows she can handle happiness, seriousness and even great sadness. If this film is not as immediate as the first in terms of entertainment, it is its equal in heart. Lee Sin-Je, Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau are all in the film, but this Sandra's film and she admirably portrays her character. Watch both films within a short time of each other. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Continuing along the same high standard typifying Golden Chicken definitely belongs in the tough nut to crack department, a fact evident in its sequel's much less inspiring results.

For those who don't recall, the first movie in the series has Sandra Ng as Kam, a golden hearted prostitute and massage parlor figurehead, telling viewers and a reluctant captive listener (Eric Tsang) her life story. Amid scores of hilariously witty revelries and endless tribulations, Golden Chicken pulls off a supremely sentimental homage to the great city of Hong Kong and all it's been through. Therefore, Kam really equals HK, and the two stories shouldn't be taken apart. Much the same formula resurfaces in GC2. An excellently funny opening segment presents Hong Kong circa 2046, as an old Kam climbs the peak to look at the place where she spent her life, and to ponder what it all means. The 2046 setting basically allows for expanding the film's time horizon, as well as a nice jab at Wong Kar Wai's oft-delayed sci-fi project, 2046. However, differing from its predecessor, GC2 mostly focuses on a short period in HK history, .i.e Spring 2003, or SARS. It does, however, go back and forth in time to shed light on various moments in its protagonists' existence, at one point rewinding to the early 80's, trailing Kam and her high school shenanigans.

But mostly, if you've seen Golden Chicken already, you'll undoubtedly know what to expect here. Once more, Kam latches on to a hapless witness as stories come pouring out of her. This time it's Chapman To, a rising star in HK at the moment, here doing a disaffected youth desiring erasure of all his memories to avoid remembrance of heartache and shattered expectations. To sway him from this despotic plan, Kam proceeds with her own sordid anecdotes, wanting to show there's a lot to say for having memories (and mammaries, in light of her occupational choices).

Tripping down history lane, we meet many a weirdo, like freaky love interest Mr. Chow (Anthony Wong), a fugitive mental patient (Ronald Cheng) and conman cousin Quincy (Jacky Cheung). Sadly, most of these leave you thinking what the hell, with both Wong and Cheng's characters culminating in annoyance rather than enjoyment. The film could have done better without them. On the other hand, Jacky Cheung comes back to the big screen in his most comprehensive role since 2002's July Rhapsody, depicting Kam's trickster relation and all-out business failure. However, through him we finally untangle some of the questions left unanswered from GC1, especially as per Kam's ATM experiences. No matter your take on the sequel, Cheung's sterling performance contributes volumes to its success, and literally eclipses Sandra Ng, who by now feels a bit samey and tired.

Injecting events with a more tragic note, Leon Lai comes into the picture as a SARS-fighting doctor frequenting Kam's newly acquired diner as the infection ravages HK. Suffering from fatigue and shun by all around him, the good doc seeks refuge in our leading lady's much vaunted bossom, although ultimately his screen time remains limited, not allowing Lai's character to develop.

What makes the original Golden Chicken so powerfully awesome lies in its sheer emotional potential, as one realizes the story parallels that of Hong Kong. Done through mesmerising, real life video sequences, particularly close to the movie's end, it's all that's needed to make audiences break down and commence weeping. Some of this effect finds its way into GC2, but to a far lesser extent. As a consequence, while specific moments in the movie do convey touching notions (mostly to do with SARS, naturally), overall it stands as less penetrating and more airheaded than its forefather.

Thus we reach GC2's primary downfall. Stripped of the same strong characterization, relevant sitcom placement and emotive impact of Golden Chicken, this follow up disappoints those keen on seeing the series continue unhindered. In general, Golden Chicken 2 probably maxes out the franchise's shelf-life, veering too close to standard comedy for comfort. It can all be excused as sophomoric blues syndrome, but even so, the let-down still stings.

Rating: * * *