The first time I saw Wu Chien-lien (often referred
to as Ng Sin-Lin) in the film Eat Drink Man Woman I was enthralled. Her
face is near perfection. I am not sure why exactly, but it has a combination
of angles and lines that is so elegant and yet still sweet and welcoming.
When she smiles it seemingly comes from the heart. I was thrilled when
I later discovered that she was a star in HK films and I have seen a few,
but need to catch a number of others. I would love to see her in more Taiwanese
films because I think her best work that I have seen so far was in Eat
Drink. She needs more opportunities like that to play real grown up characters.
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Eat Drink Man Woman - this Taiwanese family
drama with elements of comedy is easily one of my favorite films . WC-l
is the middle daughter in a family of three girls and their widowed father.
The story revolves around each girl and her relationship with the father
and the other men in their lives. WC-l is simply wonderful as she gives
a poignant, multi-faceted performance. It was love at first sight
for me. Before you start watching though, I advise that you order some
Chinese food to be delivered because believe me the craving for it will
come soon into this film.
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Beyond Hypothermia - WC-l plays against
type here as a professional killer with no room inside for emotion or sentiment
until she meets a gentle noodle maker.
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Treasure Hunt - an interesting, but flawed
film in which WC-l teams up with Chow Yun Fat. WC-l lights up the screen
whenever she is on it as she plays a woman with mysterious magical powers.
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Moment of Romance I - this 1990 film spring
boarded WC-l to popularity in HK. In this one, Andy Lau and the gang he
is in kidnaps her as a hostage after a robbery. Later he is told to kill
her. Not surprisingly, he prefers kissing that sweet face to putting a
bullet in it.
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Moment of Romance II - Three years later
they came out with this one, but it actually has no relation to the first
one besides WC-l starring in it and it being a marshmallow romantic story.
In this one it is Aaron Kwok who falls under her spell.
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The Returning - one of her best performances
as she plays a woman who has moved in to the house of a long dead - from
suicide - HK writer and slowly WC-l is possessed by her spirit.