|
Cast:
Chiu
Man Cheuk
Josephine
Siao
Ken
Lo
Blackie
Ko
Desiree
Lam
Action:
Yuen
Tak
Producer:
Leung
Sam Choi Man
Director:
Yuen
Kwai
David
Lai
Score:
 
|
MAHJONG
DRAGON
AKA:
N/A
Year:
1997 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
The
directorial teaming of Yuen Kwai and David Lai managed to
create a definite cult hit with 'Saviour
Of The Soul'. It combined a unique visual style with
exciting action and goofy comedy - this proving to be a
successful blend. The partnership then subjected audiences to
a dreadful sequel before returning with this action comedy. 'Mahjong
Dragon' seeks to combine the popular elements of the gambling
film with the differing talents of Chiu Man Cheuk and
Joesphine Siao. The result is the ultimate 'mixed bag'.
Mainland
gambler 'Quick Hands' (Chiu Man Cheuk) is well known for his
gambling skills and his fighting ability. After completing a
prison sentence for the murder of a vicious rival, Quick Hands
seeks a way out of the cut-throat world of the triads.
Unfortunately he has a new enemy on the scene who wants to
make use of his powers and rule the underworld. Entering this
world is a gambling-obsessed, debt-ridden policewoman (Siao)
who has come to the Mainland looking for a husband. Seeing the
opportunity to gain a vital passport, Quick Hands decides to
apply for the position and therefore travels with his new wife
to Hong Kong. His new wife is under no illusions as to his
intentions, but agrees to get him a passport in exchange for
his help on the gambling circuit. Their relationship is
complicated when both acquire admirers; a local villager takes
an interest in her and the villager's niece takes a shine to
him. Then there's the small matter of Quick Hands' nemesis who
arrives in Hong Kong looking for the couple. Throw some young
triad youths into the blend and all is set for a climax where
all the loose ends are finally tied up.
It's
hard to think of a film that attempts to mix so many elements
together, trying to please just about every potential viewer.
Sadly this desire to attract every kind of audience means that
it very rarely hits any of its targets properly. There's the
straight-forward gambling narrative, the comedic love story
between Siao and Ko, the dramatic love story between Chiu and
Lam, the redemption of the local triad youth and finally the
typical revenge plot which culminates in the final fight
between Chiu and Lo. With all of this in one film, it's
inevitable that none of the story's threads are well enough
developed to hold sustained interest. The comedy is obviously
forced and often too heavy-handed to raise even the most
sympathetic of smiles and the drama is awkwardly shoe-horned
in by the directors. In fact Kwai and Lai appear to be pulling
in very different directions in the making of this film; it's
hard to guess exactly which way the viewer is supposed to take
this. The result of this indecision means that, even at just
over 90 minutes, the course of 'Mahjong Dragon' runs far from
smoothly.
Thankfully
for fans of the stars, there are enough reasons to still watch
this. It's certainly an unremarkable effort, but Josephine
Siao and Chiu Man Cheuk are again a joy to watch - for very
different reasons. Siao savours another comic performance
along the same lines as her role in 'Fong Sai
Yuk'; she is again
playing a character who elicits sympathy even though she's on
the edge of sanity. Chiu's Jet Li-esque aptitude is highly
entertaining to watch and electrifies the screen when given
the chance. His closing battle against Ken Lo is easily the
film's main highlight and will please fans of Yuen Kwai's
exciting choreography.
'Mahjong
Dragon' offers a widely inconsistent action fix. While it may
never fully please anyone, such is its very confusing nature,
it is still a fair diversion.
|
