The Reviews

Don't ask. You really don't want to know.

About my reviews
I'm not going to attempt to provide really in-depth plot descriptions or critical analyses of these films. I don't have the patience for that, and besides, plenty of other sites do a good job of that already (just check my links.) I'm here to give my general impressions on the films--what I liked, what I didn't, whether it had any good slash potential or not. Most of these are Hong Kong films, although I have included a few films featuring HK stars in other productions. And even though my primary objective is highlighting slashy films, sometimes I just can't pass up recommending a film I love even if it isn't slashy--especially when it comes to my favorite boys, Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow Sing Chi.

The reviewed movies are divided up into the following categories, for easier browsing:

1. Highly recommended - The films that I love. Films that even the un-initiated should find highly enjoyable and may serve to win over a new fan to the Hong Kong side of the force. Not all of these films are slash bonanzas, but they certainly are ones I would not miss and have plenty of other things to recommend about them. Good acting, good action, decent plotting and some beautiful "scenery" are all factors that I consider when putting a movie in this category. These are the ones I consider definite "keepers" in my collection.

2. Recommended - Movies that I personally like a lot, but that maybe have a few problems, or I can guess that they won't be for everyone. These are films I'd probably recommend to friends I knew shared my tastes, but wouldn't be surprised if others didn't necessarily enjoy them. These will generally have an overall grade of B.

3. Proceed with caution - Rhese movies didn't really do it for me or are seriously flawed, but still have some redeeming qualities that could make it worth a rental for the curious. These will generally have an overall grade of C.

4. Avoid at all costs - just what it sounds like. Stinkers. Clunkers. Movies that should never have been inflicted on a viewing public and aren't even funny-bad, just bad-bad. These will generally have an overall grade of D or F.

The throbbing hearts indicate the films I'd say are of particular interest to slash fans. One heart = mildly slashy. Two hearts = the really good stuff. And three hearts = it's virtually an episode of Queer as Folk.

Please remember that all the opinions here are just that--opinions, and solely my own. I may pan a movie you loved, or you may hate one of my recommendations. That's the way it goes! As I said earlier, I'm trying to review these films with slash fans in mind, not necessarily people who only watch these films for the action, great drama, etc. But if you feel the need to talk to me about one of my reviews, maybe offer up a rebuttal review which I may consider adding to the site, feel free to email me at sockii@earthlink.net. I'd also be happy to get some recommendations for more HK movies I should check out.

Highly recommended:

A Better Tomorrow
Cheap Killers
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Curry & Pepper
Drunken Master 2
Final Justice
God of Gamblers II
Heart of Dragon
A Hero Never Dies
The Killer
Running Out of Time
Rush Hour
Shanghai Noon
Shaolin Temple
Tricky Brains