To Live and Die in Mongkok

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Audience Member A very interesting film of how a broken child grew up in a mafia area and life and believe he is trapped in that world. Nice story and good acting Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Only watched this because of Nick Cheung... Not a fan of most of the other cast members... Don't really see the hype (at the time) around this film as it was mediocre at best. Jing Wong should just stick to his comedies... although hes out of new ideas in that department too... Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member One big selling point of the film was it had included all 4 winners (males & females in leadings & supportings) in the acting categories in the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards (2009) in the cast. The story is indeed typical & corny; & once again the dizzy, swinging photography is so unbearably annoying. What really impresses perhaps is Wong Jing's sentiment of the fall of (independency of) Hong Kong Cinema followed by the trend of co-production with the Mainland China investment & studios rising. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Director Jing Wong's first serious film in which he calls it a "cult" film. For the first time, we are finally able to see Jing Wong's ability to make a real film. We know his ability to make good films but he has been burying his true talent for so long. I fully anticipate his "second cult film." His motto was always, "Don't waste your investor's money, just make films that sells." He's been a commercialized filmmaker for the longest and has entertained us for this long. Now he's finally spitting out a real quality film after so many years. This film is really good as the story was practically filmed with a microscope about the dark side of the most densely populated district in the world--Mongkok--with multiple-stories that semi-intertwined together. (Mongkok is near Hong Kong.) One specific part in the film, Jing Wong put in a line, "Johnny To, My ass." It sounds like Director Wong is making an implication that Director To is still just a kid to him. Perhaps Wong is trying to make something this time to show him off. Jing Wong as we know, is an expert in making raw films. He's able to exaggerate, beautify, and ability to make real emotional moments. This time, he has put that talent into great use. This film though still has that "classic Jing Wong feel--the usual bloody violence and sex (boobs)." but his great talent is surely exposed on the silver screen this time. The film though is focused on Mongkok but it's actually a release of 30 years of Jing Wong's feeling. As we can see how he felt he's been in jail for 30 years. Now it's so hard for him to get out. That inner struggle and regrets from director Jing Wong is completely reflected in the film. "Johnny To, my ass! Sh!t!" This is perhaps one of the most IMPORTANT FILM in film history. It's a transitional film of the world-wide known commercial film director's first long forgotten "son." Every single scene is the reflection and parable of the film industry Wong is in--A gangster land. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member If you like Nick Cheung, this is a movie for you. Very good acting from him in this one and a different filming techniques than the other typical HK gangster related movies. Good story, good filming, good acting. Watch it if you want to see HK movies. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Just a fair drama. However, as a Wong Jing movie, it's one of his best in recent years. But, why would he classified this movie as "cult" movie? It's not cult as all! Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews

To Live and Die in Mongkok

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