Young and Dangerous 5
Reviewed by YTSL
Jordan Chan, Gigi Lai, Simon Yam, Francis Ng,
Chingmy Yau, Roy Cheung, Spencer Lam, Karen Mok, Michelle Reis. These
are some of the acting talent who graced previous episodes of the series of
movies that arguably made director (not just cinematographer) Andrew Lau
and producer Manfred Wong into the major players in the Hong Kong movie industry
that they now are. Understandably re most of them (but less so for
others), the characters which they brought to life are missing from the 1998
addition to the "Young and Dangerous" saga. With additional personalities
-- I think specifically of those played by Anthony Wong and Sandra Ng but
also Vincent Wan -- who contributed to my interest in the stories of the
Hung Hing society either being relegated to or remaining on the sidelines
for this installment, I was rather skeptical that I would be able to derive
that much interest from that whose Chinese title of "98 Wise Guys: Dragon
Contend Tiger Fight" has been culturally interpreted as the "Battle of the
Heavyweights".
As ever though, I found myself pleasantly surprised that intriguing and amusing
twists, turns, angles and personalities continue to be created or found to
keep things fresh (even if not all that unfamiliar). Once more, one
obvious way in which this was done involved travels to and bringing in characters
from other lands. In YOUNG AND DANGEROUS 5, some time is spent in Malaysia
(probably best known to Hong Kong moviephiles as the territory where the
stunt-filled climactic chase scene of "Supercop" took place and from which
Michelle Yeoh hails. In light of such as the latter fact, it is pretty
amusing to hear opinions voiced in this film about Malaysian "girls" being
known to be "always enthusiastic", there being quite a few in them to be
found in the brothels of Hong Kong's infamous Portland Street, and those
from Ipoh -- the real-life hometown of Ms. Yeoh and Angie Cheung -- being
particularly highly valued by the clients of those establishments!).
And it is in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur that we are introduced
to the characters played by Hsu Chi and Paul Chun Pui (One of whom starts
off seeming to be trouble but turns out to be a "good egg"; the reverse of
which applies to the other) along with an elderly personage named Uncle Six
whom Sister Thirteen (Sandra Ng) describes as dressed like "Wong Fei Hung"!
Back in Hong Kong, a challenger appears once more to Ekin Cheng's Chan Ho
Nam. Rather ironically and somewhat bizarrely, not only is he also
named Ho Nam but so too is the actor who plays him (Mark Cheng's Chinese
name really IS Ho Nam). Before too long, not only do the paths of Chan
and Szeto Ho Nam intersect but also theirs with that of the Malaysian individuals...all
of whom are involved in the kind of business that interest the Triads.
But as Chan Ho Nam states at one point in the film, what isn't?! And
therein lies another theme of YOUNG AND DANGEROUS 5: I.e., that as
Triad society and individuals mature, they (should) become more concerned
with making money -- irregardless of whether this is by legal or illegal
means -- than with just being hot-headed rascals.
Still, it seems that trouble will always dog Chan Ho Nam. Even though
he finds an unlikely ally (of sorts) in the new anti-Triad section head (As
one might expect, Danny Lee has few problems making his policeman character
into a substantial and credible figure), misfortune and tragedy of one sort
or another continues to befall him and his ever dwindling group of close
buddies. Lucky for him that he seems to as easily find new friends
and allies -- not to mention cute and sweet female admirers -- as lose old(er)
ones.
The way in which YOUNG AND DANGEROUS 5 ends (with more than a hint of nostalgic
yearning), the sense is that this is as far as the series will go.
Having now viewed all but the Prequel, I actually do think that it is a shame
that this is so. Though not without flaws (with regards to this production:
I thought that the fight scenes were unexpectedly badly choreographed, executed
and filmed), each and every Triad Boyz episode has definitely kept me engrossed
in the affairs and development of quite a few characters who really don't
seem all that individually interesting yet have worked well as a group.
My rating for the film: 8.