Best Hong Kong Films Ever

No kidding,  Future Cops (Siêu cấp học giáo bá vương, 1993) của Vương Tinh quả thực có tên trong danh sách này.

(Viện hàn lâm vừa công bố các ứng viên cho giải Oscar 2013, nhưng chủ đề này hay hơn)

Tình hình điện ảnh Hồng Kông có vẻ ảm đạm, phim ăn khách hiếm, mà phim "đỉnh cao" lại càng hiếm hơn, một phần vì thế hệ vàng 80, đầu 90 chẳng có người thay thế (Nhất đại tông sư của Vương Gia Vệ vừa công chiếu ngày hôm qua - 9/1, có lẽ đây lại là một tuyệt phẩm nữa của họ Vương, nhưng những tác phẩm kén người xem, kém doanh thu như của Vương Gia Vệ thì chưa, và có lẽ sẽ không bao giờ có thể là cứu cánh cho cả nền điện ảnh Cảng Thơm), một phần quan trọng nữa là vì điện ảnh Hồng Kông giờ đang đứng vào cái thế lỡ dở, cố gắng giữ vững bản sắc "Hồng Kông" nhưng cũng lại phải cố hòa mình vào dòng chảy điện ảnh Trung Quốc để tận dụng thị trường khổng lồ với nguồn tài chính và khán giả vô tận của người "anh cả" Đại lục.

Có lẽ vì cái sự ảm đạm ấy mà trang web tôi rất yêu thích - Lovehkfilm, quanh đi quẩn lại chỉ sôi nổi nhất có hoạt động bầu "Best film", hết của thập niên 2000, 1990, 1980 và bây giờ là "Best Hong Kong Films Ever". Nghe tiêu đề thì oai nhưng chưa bầu thì cũng biết phần đông những người sẽ bầu toàn dạng fanboy từ thủa bé của những Ngô Vũ Sâm, Từ Khắc, Vương Gia Vệ, thế nên kết quả quanh đi quẩn lại sẽ chỉ xoay quanh những bộ phim đã xuất hiện trong các cuộc bầu chọn trước kia. Và kết quả cuối cùng thì ... đúng thế thật.

Dưới đây là top 10:

10. Đội bóng Thiếu Lâm (Shaolin Soccer, 2001, Châu Tinh Trì)

9. Đao Mã Đán (Peking Opera Blues, 1986, Từ Khắc)

8. Thiến nữ u hồn (A Chinese Ghost Story, 1987, Trình Tiểu Đông)

7. Câu chuyện cảnh sát (Police Story, 1985, Thành Long)

6. Lạt thủ thần tham (Hard Boiled, 1992, Ngô Vũ Sâm)

5. Điệp huyết song hùng (The Killer, 1989, Ngô Vũ Sâm)

4. Tâm trạng khi yêu (In the Mood for Love, 2000, Vương Gia Vệ)

3. Bản sắc anh hùng (A Better Tomorrow, 1986, Ngô Vũ Sâm)

2. Vô gian đạo (Infernal Affairs, 2002, Lưu Vỹ Cường & Mạch Triệu Huy)

1. Trùng Khánh Sâm Lâm (Chungking Express, 1994, Vương Gia Vệ)

Nhìn vào Top 10 có thể thấy một điều rằng phim võ hiệp (wuxia) tinh tuyền hoàn toàn vắng bóng! Phim võ hiệp xếp cao nhất trong danh sách này là Túy quyền 2 (Drunken Master 2, 1994, Lưu Gia Lương) chỉ xếp thứ 14. Điều này chứng tỏ là ngay cả trong đội ngũ fanboy phim Hồng Kông thì tâm lý đánh giá thấp phim võ hiệp vẫn tồn tại, đây quả thực là điều đáng tiếc vì trong số 4 thể loại "tinh tuyền" của điện ảnh Hồng Kông (võ hiệp - cảnh sát/xã hội đen - hài - tình cảm lãng mạn, không tính phim cấp III) thì võ hiệp mới chính là thể loại lâu đời và có sức sống bền bỉ nhất, có lẽ kết quả này cũng phản ánh một điều rằng dù Chân Tử Đan vẫn chăm chỉ đóng phim nhưng võ hiệp chẳng còn được vị thế như xưa. 

Ngoài bất ngờ của phim võ hiệp thì các kết quả còn lại có lẽ không có gì ... đáng bàn vì những bộ phim đã được đứng ở đây đều đã được thời gian thử thách, phim "mới nhất" là Vô gian đạo ra đời cách đây cũng đã 11 năm. Vị trí đầu tiên của Trùng Khánh Sâm Lâm cũng là điều không ai có thể bàn cãi, một phần vì phim quá hay, một phần nữa là vì tất cả phiếu bầu cho bộ phim này có lẽ đều chất chứa sự tiếc nuối đối với điện ảnh Hồng Kông của một thời "tinh tuyền" đã qua mà Trùng Khánh Sâm Lâm là đại diện tiêu biểu nhất, một bộ phim của những câu thoại lãng đãng, u uất, của những gương mặt thoảng nét buồn, của những ngôi sao đã mãi đi vào quá khứ (Lâm Thanh Hà).

Dưới đây là Top 20 phim do tôi bầu chọn, trong ngoặc là vị trí thực tế của phim trong "bảng phong thần" cuối cùng (tôi là fan ruột của Châu Tinh Trì nên bầu cho họ Châu hơi bị nhiều, và vì thế bỏ qua nhiều phim của Ngô Vũ Sâm, thực ra tôi vẫn bầu theo kiểu phim "đáng nhớ" nhất chứ có lẽ chưa chắc đã phải phim hay nhất, nếu bầu phim hay nhất thì Hứa An Hoa đã phải có vài phim trong list):

20. 2046 (2004, Vương Gia Vệ) (51)

19. Bạch phát ma nữ truyện (The Bride with White Hair, 1993, Vu Nhân Thái) (62)

18. Người trong giang hồ (Young and Dangerous, 1996, Lưu Vỹ Cường) (110)

17. Tân Tây Du Ký (A Chinese Odyssey, 1995, Lưu Trấn Vỹ & Châu Tinh Trì) (22)

16. Thần ăn (God of Cookery, 1996, Châu Tinh Trì & Lý Lực Trì) (24)

15. Thập tam thái bảo (Shanghai 13, 1984, Trương Triệt) (-)

14. Cương thi tiên sinh (Mr. Vampire, 1985, Lưu Quan Vĩ) (37)

13. Tuyệt đỉnh công phu (Kungfu Hustle, 2004, Châu Tinh Trì) (20)

12. Hoàng Phi Hồng 2: Nam nhi đương tự cường (Once upon a Time in China II, 1991, Từ Khắc) (23)

11. Kế hoạch A (Project A, 1983, Thành Long) (30)

10: Hắc xã hội (Election, 2005, Đỗ Kỳ Phong) (34)

09. Bản sắc anh hùng (A Better Tomorrow, 1986, Ngô Vũ Sâm) (3)

08. Tâm trạng khi yêu (In the Mood for Love, 2000, Vương Gia Vệ) (4)

07. Lâm Thế Vinh (The Magnificent Butcher, 1979, Viên Hòa Bình) (148)

06. Đội bóng Thiếu Lâm (Shaolin Soccer, 2001, Châu Tinh Trì) (10)

05. Vô gian đạo (Infernal Affairs, 2002, Lưu Vỹ Cường & Mạch Triệu Huy) (2)

04. Thiến nữ u hồn (A Chinese Ghost Story, 1987, Trình Tiểu Đông) (8)

03. Câu chuyện cảnh sát (Police Story, 1985, Thành Long) (7)

02. Thiếu Lâm tam thập lục phòng (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, 1978, Lưu Gia Lương) (41)

01. Trùng Khánh Sâm Lâm (Chungking Express, 1994, Vương Gia Vệ) (1)

Dưới đây là một số thống kê từ 200 bộ phim trong danh sách bầu chọn. Thật bất ngờ là Đỗ Kỳ Phong có tới 20 phim trong danh sách, chiếm 1/10 tổng số phim và gấp đúng hai lần số phim của đạo diễn đứng thứ hai là Từ Khắc. Nhưng MVP của danh sách này có lẽ phải là Vương Gia Vệ vì trong cả sự nghiệp chậm chạp của mình ông mới cho ra đời được 8 phim, và cả 8 đều đã nằm trong danh sách (không kể My Blueberry Night không được tính là phim Hồng Kông).

Và cuối cùng là danh sách đầy đủ:

1. CHUNGKING EXPRESS (1994), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

2. INFERNAL AFFAIRS (2002), directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak

3. A BETTER TOMORROW (1986), directed by John Woo

4. IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (2000), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

5. THE KILLER (1989), directed by John Woo

6. HARD BOILED (1992), directed by John Woo

7. POLICE STORY (1985), directed by Jackie Chan

8. A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987), directed by Ching Siu-Tung

9. PEKING OPERA BLUES (1986), directed by Tsui Hark

10. SHAOLIN SOCCER (2001), directed by Stephen Chow

11. THE MISSION (1999), directed by Johnnie To

12. DAYS OF BEING WILD (1991), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

13. BULLET IN THE HEAD (1990), directed by John Woo

14. DRUNKEN MASTER II (1994), directed by Lau Kar-Leung

15. RUNNING OUT OF TIME (1999), directed by Johnnie To

16. COMRADES, ALMOST A LOVE STORY (1996), directed by Peter Chan

17. ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA (1991), directed by Tsui Hark

18. ASHES OF TIME (1994), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

19. FALLEN ANGELS (1995), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

20. KUNG FU HUSTLE (2004), directed by Stephen Chow

21. EXILED (2006), directed by Johnnie To

22. A CHINESE ODYSSEY PART I: CINDERELLA (1995) and A CHINESE ODYSSEY Part II: PANDORA’S BOX (1995), directed by Jeff Lau and Stephen Chow

23. ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 2 (1992), directed by Tsui Hark

24. GOD OF COOKERY (1996), directed by Stephen Chow

25. THROWDOWN (2004), directed by Johnnie To

26. A MOMENT OF ROMANCE (1990), directed by Benny Chan

27. FIST OF FURY (1972), directed by Lo Wei

28. CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON (2000), directed by Ang Lee

29. GOD OF GAMBLERS (1989), directed by Wong Jing

30. PROJECT A (1983), directed by Jackie Chan

31. HERO (2002), directed by Zhang Yimou

32. FONG SAI YUK (1993), directed by Corey Yuen Kwai

33. RED CLIFF (2008) and RED CLIFF II (2009), directed by John Woo

34. ELECTION (2005), directed by Johnnie To

35. AN AUTUMN’S TALE (1987), directed by Mabel Cheung

36. INFERNAL AFFAIRS 2 (2003), directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak

37. MR. VAMPIRE (1985), directed by Ricky Lau Koon-Wai

38. COME DRINK WITH ME (1966), directed by King Hu

39. HAPPY TOGETHER (1997), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

40. FIST OF LEGEND (1994), directed by Gordon Chan

41. THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (1978), directed by Lau Kar-Leung

42. ELECTION 2 (2006), directed by Johnnie To

43. SWORDSMAN II (1991), directed by Ching Siu-Tung

44. THE PRIVATE EYES (1976), directed by Michael Hui

45. CITY ON FIRE (1987), directed by Ringo Lam

46. BEAST COPS (1998), directed by Gordon Chan and Dante Lam

47. MADE IN HONG KONG (1997), directed by Fruit Chan

48. ROUGE (1988), directed by Stanley Kwan

49. PEDICAB DRIVER (1989), directed by Sammo Hung

50. EASTERN CONDORS (1987), directed by Sammo Hung

51. 2046 (2004), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

52. ONE NITE IN MONGKOK (2004), directed by Derek Yee

53. KING OF COMEDY (1999), directed by Stephen Chow

54. IP MAN (2008), directed by Wilson Yip

55. DRUNKEN MASTER (1978), directed by Yuen Woo-Ping

56. SHANGHAI BLUES (1984), directed by Tsui Hark

57. NEEDING YOU… (2000), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Kai-Fai

58. RUNNING ON KARMA (2003), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Kai-Fai

59. ZU: WARRIORS FROM THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN (1983), directed by Tsui Hark

60. MAD DETECTIVE (2007), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Kai-Fai

61. THE PRODIGAL SON (1981), directed by Sammo Hung

62. THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR (1993), directed by Ronny Yu

63. A SIMPLE LIFE (2011), directed by Ann Hui

64. PROJECT A PART II (1987), directed by Jackie Chan

65. IRON MONKEY (1993), directed by Yuen Woo-Ping

66. FULL CONTACT (1992), directed by Ringo Lam

67. DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER - 1ST KIND (1980), directed by Tsui Hark

68. FLIRTING SCHOLAR (1993), directed by Lee Lik-Chi

69. THE BLADE (1995), directed by Tsui Hark

70. DRAGON INN (1992), directed by Raymond Lee - 48.5 points

71. LOST IN TIME (2003), directed by Derek Yee

72. LONG ARM OF THE LAW (1984), directed by Johnny Mak

73. BOAT PEOPLE (1982), directed by Ann Hui

74. ON THE RUN (1988), directed by Alfred Cheung

75. THE LONGEST NITE (1998), directed by Patrick Yau

76. HE’S A WOMAN, SHE’S A MAN (1994), directed by Peter Chan

77. THE WAY WE ARE (2008), directed by Ann Hui

78. CRIPPLED AVENGERS (1978), directed by Chang Cheh

79. DIRTY HO (1979), directed by Lau Kar-Leung

80. LUST, CAUTION (2007), directed by Ang Lee

81. PRISON ON FIRE (1987), directed by Ringo Lam

82. SPL (2005), directed by Wilson Yip

83. THE WAY OF THE DRAGON (1972), directed by Bruce Lee

84. CENTRE STAGE (1992), directed by Stanley Kwan

85. LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (2011), directed by Johnnie To

86. FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE (1994), directed by Stephen Chow and Lee Lik-Chi

87. THE BIG BOSS (1971), directed by Lo Wei

88. THE MILLIONAIRES’ EXPRESS (1987), directed by Sammo Hung

89. THE LOVE ETERNE (1963), directed by Li Han-Hsiang

90. BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009), directed by Teddy Chen

91. ALL ABOUT AH LONG (1989), directed by Johnnie To

92. HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY FATHER! (1993), directed by Peter Chan and Lee Chi-Ngai

93. LOVE ON DELIVERY (1994), directed by Lee Lik-Chi

94. THE WILD, WILD ROSE (1960), directed by Wong Tin-Lam

95. TOO MANY WAYS TO BE NO. 1 (1997), directed by Wai Ka-Fai

96. DRAGONS FOREVER (1988), directed by Sammo Hung

97. THE HEROIC TRIO (1993), directed by Johnnie To and Ching Siu-Tung

98. A HERO NEVER DIES (1998), directed by Johnnie To

99. SNAKE IN THE EAGLE’S SHADOW (1978), directed by Yuen Woo-Ping

100. WHEELS ON MEALS (1984), directed by Sammo Hung

101. GREEN SNAKE (1993), directed by Tsui Hark

102. PTU (2003), directed by Johnnie To

103. NAKED KILLER (1993), directed by Clarence Fok

104. FULL ALERT (1997), directed by Ringo Lam

105. ONCE A THIEF (1991), directed by John Woo

106 (TIE). POLICE STORY 2 (1988), directed by Jackie Chan

106 (TIE). SPOOKY ENCOUNTERS (1980), directed by Sammo Hung

108. ENTER THE DRAGON (1973), directed by Robert Clouse

109. THE ARCH (1968), directed by Cecile Tang Shu-Shuen

110. YOUNG AND DANGEROUS (1996), directed by Andrew Lau

111. FEARLESS (2006), directed by Ronny Yu

112. PERHAPS LOVE (2005), directed by Peter Chan

113. AS TEARS GO BY (1988), directed by Wong Kar-Wai

114. TIME AND TIDE (2000), directed by Tsui Hark

115 (TIE). JULY RHAPSODY (2001), directed by Ann Hui

115 (TIE). THE FIVE VENOMS (1978), directed by Chang Cheh

115 (TIE). WILD SEARCH (1991), directed by Ringo Lam

118. SONG OF THE EXILE (1990), directed by Ann Hui

119. OUR SISTER HEDY (1957), directed by Tao Qin

120. HEROES OF THE EAST (1978), directed by Lau Kar-Leung

121. CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (2006), directed by Zhang Yimou

122 (TIE). CHICKEN AND DUCK TALK (1988), directed by Clifton Ko

122 (TIE). MY LEFT EYE SEES GHOSTS (2002), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Kai-Fai

124. FORBIDDEN CITY COP (1996), directed by Vincent Kok and Stephen Chow

125. POLICE STORY 3: SUPERCOP (1992), directed by Stanley Tong

126. DUEL TO THE DEATH (1983), directed by Ching Siu-Tung

127. DR. MACK (1995), directed by Lee Chi-Ngai

128. ALL’S WELL END’S WELL (1992), directed by Clifton Ko

129. THE YOUNG MASTER (1980), directed by Jackie Chan

130. THE CHINESE FEAST (1995), directed by Tsui Hark

131 (TIE). LOST AND FOUND (1996), directed by Lee Chi-Ngai

131 (TIE). MEN SUDDENLY IN BLACK (2003), directed by Pang Ho-Cheung

133. FINAL VICTORY (1986), directed by Patrick Tam

134. MIRACLES (1989), directed by Jackie Chan

135. WU XIA (2011), directed by Peter Chan

136. CHINESE ODYSSEY 2002 (2002), directed by Jeff Lau

137. PROTÉGÉ (2007), directed by Derek Yee

138. A FIGHTER’S BLUES (2000), directed by Daniel Lee

139. ROYAL TRAMP I & ROYAL TRAMP II (1992), directed by Wong Jing

140. JIANG HU: THE TRIAD ZONE (2000), directed by Dante Lam

141. C’EST LA VIE, MON CHERI (1993), directed by Derek Yee

142. THE BEAST STALKER (2008), directed by Dante Lam

143. AH YING (1983), directed by Allen Fong

144. THE DEAF AND MUTE HEROINE (1971), directed by Wu Ma

145. THE EAGLE SHOOTING HEROES (1993), directed by Jeff Lau

146. THE BIG HEAT (1987), directed by Johnnie To and Andrew Kam

147. METADE FUMACA (1999), directed by Riley Yip

148. THE MAGNIFICENT BUTCHER (1979), directed by Yuen Woo-Ping

149. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED (1998), directed by Patrick Yau

150. ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN (1967), directed by Chang Cheh

151. ALL FOR THE WINNER (1990), directed by Jeff Lau

152. JUSTICE, MY FOOT! (1992), directed by Johnnie To

153. GOD OF GAMBLERS 2 (1991), directed by Wong Jing

154 (TIE). MY HEART IS THAT ETERNAL ROSE (1989), directed by Patrick Tam

154 (TIE). NOMAD (1982), directed by Patrick Tam

156. FUTURE COPS (1993), directed by Wong Jing

157. BIG BULLET (1996), directed by Benny Chan

158. WINNERS AND SINNERS (1983), directed by Sammo Hung

159. MAMBO GIRL (1957), Evan Yang

160. INTIMATE CONFESSIONS OF A CHINESE COURTESAN (1972), Chor Yuen

161. FULLTIME KILLER (2001), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai

162. BOXER FROM SHANTUNG (1972), directed by Chang Cheh and Pao Hsueh-Li

163. SCHOOL ON FIRE (1988), directed by Ringo Lam

164. MCDULL, PRINCE DE LA BUN (2004), directed by Toe Yuen

166 (TIE). THE TAI-CHI MASTER (1993), directed by Yuen Woo-Ping

166 (TIE). YOUNG AND DANGEROUS 3 (1996), directed by Andrew Lau

168. AIR HOSTESS (1959), directed by Evan Yang

168 THE STOOL PIGEON (2010), directed by Dante Lam

169 (TIE). A BETTER TOMORROW 2 (1987), directed by John Woo

169 (TIE). SUMMER SNOW (1995), directed by Ann Hui

171. THE BARE-FOOTED KID (1993), directed by Johnnie To

172. YOUNG AND DANGEROUS: THE PREQUEL (1998), directed by Andrew Lau

173. ODD COUPLE (1979), directed by Lau Kar-Wing

174. THE BLOOD BROTHERS (1973), directed by Chang Cheh

175 (TIE). ACCIDENT (2009), directed by Soi Cheang

175 (TIE). JUST ONE LOOK (2003), directed by Riley Yip

175 (TIE). THE ODD ONE DIES (1997), directed by Patrick Yau

178. REIGN OF ASSASSINS (2009), directed by Su Chao-Bin

179. JULIET IN LOVE (2000), directed by Wilson Yip

180. THE TWINS EFFECT (2003), directed by Dante Lam

181. SO CLOSE (2002). directed by Corey Yuen

182. THE EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER (1983), directed by Lau Kar-Leung

183. MY YOUNG AUNTIE (1981), directed by Lau Kar-Leung

184. SEX AND ZEN (1991), directed by Michael Mak

185. SPARROW (2007), directed by Johnnie To

186. GALLANTS (2010), directed by Derek Kwok and Clement Cheng

187 (TIE). CAGEMAN (1992), directed by Jacob Cheung

187 (TIE). THE CASE OF THE COLD FISH (1995), directed by Jamie Luk Kin-Ming

187 (TIE). THE MAGIC BLADE (1976), directed by Chor Yuen

190. KING BOXER (1972), directed by Jeng Cheong-Woh

191. MY LIFE AS MCDULL (2001), directed by Toe Yuen

192. OUT OF THE DARK (1995), directed by Jeff Lau

193. STORY OF RICKY (1992), directed by Lam Nai-Choi

194. HONG KONG 1941 (1984), directed by Leung Po-Chi

195. AFTER THIS, OUR EXILE (2006), directed by Patrick Tam

196. OVERHEARD (2009), directed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong

197. THE DIARY OF A BIG MAN (1988), directed by Chor Yuen

198 (TIE). LAST HURRAH FOR CHIVALRY (1979), directed by John Woo

198 (TIE). LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA (1982), directed by Lau Kar-Leung

200. IN THE LINE OF DUTY 4 (1989), directed by Yuen Woo-Ping