6 Best Movies to Watch by Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk

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1. In the Mood for Love, 2000

Called a masterpiece by many and featured on many best-of-the-21st-century lists, Director Wong Kar-wei has created a thing of singular beauty. Every frame is an artwork (painted, as it were, with help of cinematographer Christopher Doyle) in this meticulously and beautifully crafted film about the unrequited love of two people renting adjacent rooms in 1960s Hong Kong. These two people, played by Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, struggle to stay true to their values rather than give in to their desires, while they both suspect their spouses of extramarital activities. The flawless acting, stunning visuals, and dream-like beauty of In the Mood for Love perfectly captures the melancholy of repressed emotions and unfulfilled love. The cello motif of Shigeru Umebayashi's main theme will haunt you long after you finished watching.

Genre: Drama, Romance

Actor: Chan Man-Lei, Charles de Gaulle, Cheung Tung-cho, Chin Tsi-Ang, Joe Cheung, Joe Cheung Tung-Cho, Julien Carbon, Kelly Lai Chen, Laurent Courtiaud, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Mama Hung, Paulyn Sun, Ping Lam Siu, Rebecca Pan, Roy Cheung, Siu Ping-lam, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tsi-Ang Chin

Director: Wong Kar-wai

Rating: PG

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2. Irma Vep, 1996

In this film-within-a-film, we and a fictional version of actress Maggie Cheung are brought through the disorienting experience of French filmmaking. The film’s washed-up director wants to remake the classic silent film Les Vampires to revive his career. But as with all plans, everything inevitably goes wrong. On top of depicting the regular chaos of a movie set, this film presents the anxieties of the modern-day French film industry—about how it may be past its prime, and how it can still compete on a global level. And through the steady, inscrutable face of Maggie Cheung, we remember the creative collaborations we've had ourselves—the energetic passion, the behind-the-scenes power dynamics, and the pure chaos of the process.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Alex Descas, Antoine Basler, Arsinée Khanjian, Balthazar Clémenti, Bernard Nissile, Bulle Ogier, Dominique Faysse, Estelle Larrivaz, François-Renaud Labarthe, Françoise Clavel, Françoise Guglielmi, Guy-Patrick Sainderichin, Jacques Fieschi, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Laurent Jacquet, Lou Castel, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Nathalie Boutefeu, Nathalie Richard, Nicolas Giraudi, Olivier Torres, Philippe Landoulsi, Pierre Amzallag, Smaïl Mekki, Valerie Guy

Director: Olivier Assayas

Rating: Not Rated

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3. Police Story, 1985

After an initially disappointing breakthrough attempt to Hollywood, Jackie Chan pivoted back to Hong Kong, unexpectedly creating an iconic film franchise and maybe perhaps one of the best martial arts movies ever made. Police Story seems to be a simple story at first, but it was through this film that Chan’s spectacular stunts evolved for a more modern setting, incorporating slapstick and action choreography into a definable style, while also questioning the ways Hong Kong police conducted themselves at the time. Police Story is Jackie Chan at his best, pushing an entirely new standard for action films all over the world.Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Actor: Ben Lam, Benny Lai Keung-Kuen, Bill Tung, Brigitte Lin, Chan Chi-Fai, Chan Chuen, Chan Dik-Hak, Charlie Cho, Chen Chi-Hwa, Cheung Wing-Hon, Chi-Wing Lau, Choi Kwok-Keung, Chor Yuen, Chow Kong, Chris Lee Kin-Sang, Clarence Yiu-leung Fok, Danny Chow Yun-Kin, David Lau, Fung Hak-On, Ha Kwok-Wing, Jackie Chan, Johnny Cheung Wa, Kam Hing-Yin, Ken Tong, Kent Tong, King Lee King-Chu, Kwok-Hung Lam, Lam Foo-Wai, Lam Hak-Ming, Lam Kwok-hung, Lau Chi-wing, Lau Dan, Lau Fong-Sai, Lau Nga-Lai, Lau Shung-Fung, Luk Ying-Hong, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Mars, Michael Lai Siu-Tin, Money Lo, Paco Yick Tin-Hung, Paul Chang Chung, Paul Wong Kwan, Robert Siu Leung, Tai Bo, Tsang Choh-Lam, Wan Fat, Wan Ling-Kwong, Winnie Yu Ching, Wu Fung, Yasuaki Kurata, Yuen Chor
Director: Chi-Hwa Chen, Jackie Chan
Rating: PG-13

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4. 2046, 2004

Director Wong Kar-Wai made this loose sequel to one of the best films ever made, his 2000 classic In the Mood for Love. Much of the story is set around Christmas eve.

In the far future, people take a train to the world of 2046, where no sadness or sorrow can be experienced. No one has ever returned from that world except for a lonely Japanese writer, who narrates the first part of the film.

There are four acts to the story and as is common to Wong Kar-Wai, they are listed in non-chronological order. Not that you will care but 2046 is far from confusing. Instead, it functions as a dazzling visual poem on unreciprocated love.

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

Actor: Akina Hong, Akina Hong Wah, Ben Yuen, Ben Yuen Foo-Wah, Benz Kong To-Hoi, Berg Ng, Carina Lau, Chang Chen, Chen Chang, Ching Siu-Lung, Dong Jie, Farini Cheung, Farini Cheung Yui-Ling, Faye Wong, Gong Li, Jie Dong, Li Gong, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Ping Lam Siu, Ronny Ching Siu-Lung, Siu Ping-lam, Takuya Kimura, Thongchai McIntyre, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Zhang Ziyi, Ziyi Zhang

Director: Kar-Wai Wong, Wong Kar-wai

Rating: R

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5. As Tears Go By, 1988

Before Wong Kar Wai made his signature romantic dramas, he first made his directorial debut As Tears Go By, a film that wouldn’t be out of place in the crime and action flicks that characterized 1980s cinema. There are moments that feel a tad derivative, such as the use of Take My Breath Away from 1986’s Top Gun, and the gangster love triangle reminiscent of Martin Scorcese’s Mean Streets, but Wong’s style starts to peek through with his use of color and light, and of course, the distinctive blurred action that transforms movement into lines. It’s not as sleek as Wong’s better known works, but As Tears Go By is still a good film to watch, marking Wong as one of the biggest names in the then-emerging Hong Kong New Wave.Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Actor: Alex Man, Andy Lau, Benz Kong To-Hoi, Chan Chi-Fai, Cheung Wing-Cheung, Chow Gam-Kong, Chun Kwai-Bo, Ho Wing-Cheung, Hui Fan, Jacky Cheung, Kam Shan, Lam Kau, Lee Chi-Git, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Pak Yan, Ronald Wong Ban, William Chang Suk-Ping, Wong Aau, Wong Chi-Wai
Director: Wong Kar-wai

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6. The Eagle Shooting Heroes, 1993

Usually, when your film is over budget, you rewrite scenes, cut down production costs, or maybe even try to renegotiate with suppliers and crew members to fit within the budget. Allegedly, when Wong Kar Wai was making Ashes of Time, however, his friend Jeffrey Lau decided to help him out by creating The Eagle Shooting Heroes, a parody of the same source novel Legend of the Condor Heroes. It is very silly, and the costumes are very stereotypical. But for fans of Hong Kong mo lei tau, and fans of either directors, it’s an interesting double watch, seeing all the actors that made viewers cry in Wong’s dramas now make us laugh with their antics instead.Genre: Action, Comedy
Actor: Benny Lai Keung-Kuen, Billy Ching Sau-Yat, Brigitte Lin, Carina Lau, Chan Tat-Kwong, Jacky Cheung, Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau, Joey Wang, Joey Wong, Johnny Cheung Wa, Kenny Bee, Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Pau Hei-Ching, Sze-Ma Wah-Lung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Veronica Yip, Veronica Yip Yuk-Hing
Director: Jeff Lau Chun-Wai, Jeffrey Lau

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