Shanghai Grand (1996)

Another great Tsui Hark produced film

Directed and written by gangster movie veteran Poon Man Kit, we get taken back to Shanghai 1936 and man what a great experience it was. Everything from the clothes, cars, and facial hair, we really get the feeling that we are back in 1936. There is even a great old style tint to the film print to make it look unique.

There is a deadly lady who has caught all of Taiwan's revolutionaries on a boat and is torturing them to get the namelist of all of them. Superb actor Leslie Cheung plays the leader and has to make a great escape from the boat. So he hets to town and meets a young ambitious kid played by Andy Lau. Andy has very high hopes for himself and with Leslie, he is going straight to the top. What will happen if and when he gets there though?

I don't really want to give away the story. It has romance, shootouts, awesome cinematography, great acting, great story, and possibly the most realistic, brutal action sequence I have ever seen. When Andy and Leslie show up with the crabs, watch out!

Not quite a good enough movie all around to give it a 5, but it is still a great and should be experienced at least once.

The DVD release by Mei-eh/Tai Seng has good picture quality but is not perfect by any means. October 1, 2006

Another great Johnnie To film

This movie pays homage to many of the classic gangter/1930's crime films made in the USA in the past 40 years. When you watch this you can't help but be reminded of "The Sting", The first two Godfather films and Once Upon a Time in America. I'd even put it above Leone's film in that it knows where to cut out the unnecessary; which can be a problem in some Hong Kong films. Andy Lau steals the screen once again, and if you haven't seen him in Infernal Affairs 1 & 3, get it now before Scorcese releases his remake. Leslie Cheung also had played the drama and action into his already complicated character with pure professionalism.
The story is great, better than most of the crime films released in the US in the past 5 years, and the film is cut to leave you forced to rewatch the film to catch the subtleties that you missed the first time through. November 22, 2004

Great Gangster Movie With Almen Wong as the Assassin

Shanghai Grand is a great movie for an entrance point to Hong Kong movies in general. The film has a big budget feel with lush surrounding atmosphere. The acting is top notch and the plot is solid for gangster style movies. Who really stands out however, is a particularly sinister performance by (at the time) newcomer Almen Wong as the assassin. She was only in the film for about 10 minutes or so but is so vicious and evil that it just adds to the overall intensity of the movie. Multiple watchings are advised as several sub-plots keep the viewer occupied. August 20, 2001

Excellent Shanghai mafia fstory

An excellent movie similar to The Godfather Parts I & II and Sergio Leone's Once Upon A Time in America. Set in wide-open 1930s Shanghai, it follows the friendship of a marooned Taiwanese political activist (Leslie Cheung) who is rescued by an up and coming Shanghai mobster. Cheung saves the life of his mobster friend, but their agendas and love interests cross wires in a violent and emotional ending. Highly recommended. September 23, 2000

don't pass this up!!!

a movie for all hk movie goers. i fell in love with jackie cheung - he's so mysterious and adorable in this flick. ohmygosh - love him!!! January 19, 1999

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