The Lucid Nightmare: Margaret Tu Chuan

Monday, December 7, 2015

Thursday, September 19, 2013

i SPY ASIASPY: Interpol 009

Interpol 009

Director: Ko Nakahira

Year 1967

Interpol 009 is a swinging Asiaspy flick which focuses more on the ridiculous aspects of the spy genre, more so than the action oriented ones. Immersed in a 60's vibrant style and overflowing with zany flavor, this unusual espionage feature dives headlong into the absurd yet comes out smelling like roses thanks to the charismatic efforts of its lead character and the wild antics he gets into. With its eye-catching photography and its tendency to get a little silly, Interpol 009 is a highly enjoyable entry in the shamefully forgotten genre of Asiaspy.

The film follows the smooth spy Chen Tianhong, AKA Agent 009, as he is assigned to a mission in Hong Kong, where an international counterfeiting gang is printing U.S. Bills and distributing them throughout the Asian territories. Armed with his lethal wit, attuned fashion sense, and unparalleled fighting skills, 009 embarks on a wild mission to take the gang down, but he won't go it alone. Making allies in the most unlikely of places, 009 befriends a local pickpocket named Huang Mao and the two take the counterfeiters head on. Disguised as gamblers at the gang's casino, the pair infiltrate their headquarters from the inside, but unfortunately everything doesn't go to plan. Femme-fatales, nameless thugs, and hired hitmen begin coming out of the woodwork, and they do all they can to take the two heroes out of the picture.

Tang Ching takes on the role of Agent 009 and he does a wonderful turn as the suave ladies man with a license to kill. Extremely confident and always effective, the character of 009 is a classic portrayal of 60's secret agent prowess and Ching does an amazing job with the material. Always on point and extremely magnetic, Ching knocks the role out of the park as he gives an extremely entertaining performance as the lead man and uncompromising hero. Ching is no stranger to the genre, or Shaw Brothers films for that matter, as he has had two memorable roles in Summons to Death and Angel Strikes Again, two highly enjoyable Asiaspy productions. In Interpol 009, his first stab at playing a secret agent, he does a fabulous job, giving that highly contagious charisma and unabashed coolness that the role demands.

As for the rest of the cast they fill out their roles respectively, allowing Tang Ching's Agent 009 to interact with a colorful assortment of characters, while in the process getting himself into a wide array of ridiculous situations. Li Kun plays the role of Huang Mao, a pickpocket and overall goof. Kun fills in for the slapstick and comedic portions of the film, doing the usual comic relief shtick that is customary for a sidekick. He does a great job with what he is given and his efforts inject an added sense of fun into the proceedings. As for eye-candy, Margaret Tu Chuan and Shen Yi give memorable performances as just a few of the lovely ladies that 009 romances throughout the film. Yi plays a sultry nightclub singer who catches the eye of Agent 009, while Margaret embodies the evil villainess Pai-Lan Cheng, the leader of the counterfeit gang. They both do great things with the little time they have on screen, and each hold their own against Ching's Agent 009's overwhelming charisma.

Aside from the excellent cast of characters, the film is brimming with a great array of fun aspects that help keep it engaging as the story rushes along. Gadgets, guns, and girls is the name of the game in this entry, and 009 has an abundance of said items at his disposal. The gadgets range from a lighter that doubles as a smoke bomb, a watch that serves as a listening device among other things, and chewing gum that can change into metal when combined with perfume. Strange to say the least, but 009 uses each of these devices with great effect, including the chewing gum when placed inside a key hole and then hardened to forge a make-shift key. Now that's unusual, but ridiculously fun to see in action.

Speaking of action, the film isn't particularly catered to displaying much, but when it does kick in it ignites to absurd levels. For instance, when cornered by an army of henchmen after infiltrating their mansion, 009 decides the best course of action in confronting these goons is to jump onto a chandelier and proceed to firing wildly at the surrounding attackers. The scene is without a doubt beyond logical, but it makes for a sequence that is so damn fun to watch and infinitely unpredictable. The photography of Interpol 009 is also a great asset of the production, giving a great deal of eye-pleasing moments in most every scene the film throws at you. From lavish mansions, to colorful nightclubs, to sun covered beaches, to bustling streets, the film works wonders with the locations that it covers. All in all, the movie may not be the best example of the Asiaspy genre, but it is one hell of a fun time.

Interpol 009 is a fantastically silly Asiaspy entry which seems to have a blast playing in the 60's espionage playground. Cinematically robust and colorfully presented, this grand Shaw Brothers production is without a doubt an interesting experience and one you're not likely to forget. The wild nature of the film and the unrestrained absurdity that it possesses is sure to please even the most critical of the genre.

Tang Ching as the lead hero, Agent 009, is an absolute gem and his witty banter and promiscuous hijinks are what make the film so enjoyable and appealing. Filmed in visually pleasing splendor by director Ko Nakahira, the vibrant colors and picturesque locales match perfectly against the lively characters and spirited atmosphere. This delightful combination adds up to a highly enjoyable entry in the Asiaspy cannon and one that is sure to tap into the interests of all of you out there that enjoy this type of wild, wild cinematic ride. Interpol 009 is a.....

Badass Staring Contest..... GO!

Roger that... I think someone stole my pants!

Agent 009 is just too cool for school.

Eyes on the road asshole!

Have you seen this pervert?

This movie is A OK.

Cold as ice girl!

If these walls could talk.... then this would probably make more sense.

Pull my finger you little shit.

I can't believe you made him pull your finger. You make me sick.

I'm sorry I made you pull my finger.... But do it again.

Worst wake-up call ever!

You're not going to shoot me in the ass with that are you?

Get down from there you little monkey!

I think I crapped my pants! You sure did Mao... you sure did.

Cool shades bro!

What time is it? It's time to get ill!

Oh 009... You smooth operator!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

i SPY ASIASPY: The Black Falcon

The Black Falcon

Director: Takumi Furukawa

Year 1967

The Black Falcon is a fun and inventive Asiaspy flick brought to us by the always entertaining Shaw Brothers and the intrepid filmmaker, Takumi Furukawa. Steep in James Bond mimicry and splashed with a vibrant color palette, this engaging spy effort showcases enough action, romance, and wacky antics to satisfy anyone out there who happens to love this particular genre. With its charismatic lead and its string of strange characters, The Black Falcon is a tremendous second effort for the Shaw Brothers, which following in the footsteps of 1966's The Golden Buddha, comes off as a damn fine and ridiculously fun production.

The film follows the exploits of the secret nefarious agency known as Black Falcon, an illusive group which specializes in mayhem, murder and all things illegal. Frustrated that they can't seem to recover enough evidence to take the organization down, the Hong Kong authorities assign international spy Zhang Shijie to the case as he attempts to infiltrate their ranks by courting the daughter of the organization's leader in order to expose the group and their various activities. What follows is a wild ride into uncharted territory for our hero, as he comes to find out that the organization is in the midst of an internal takeover, sparking a bloody civil war within Black Falcon, which results in making Zhang's mission that much more perilous and unpredictable. Good luck buddy, you'll need it.

Paul Chang takes on the role of super agent Zhang Shijie, a Bond-esque spy who has all the right moves and doesn't mind showing off a bit. When it comes to charisma and style, Chang's got it down, as he injects a healthy dose of debonair driven confidence into his lively hero while staying sympathetic and genuinely entertaining. He fits the visual bill of a secret agent to perfection with his good looks and sure-headed disposition, and on top of that he pulls off the action portions of this espionage entry with splendid ease and a classy swagger. Of course if you're treading on James Bond territory, you have to infuse your agent with an insatiable appetite for women and Chang does just that as he woos multiple lovely ladies, often bedding them at random. It's safe to say that the greatest aspect of The Black Falcon is Paul Chang's enthusiastic portrayal as agent Zhang Shijie.

Accompanying and opposing Chang in this most dangerous of missions is Jenny Hu as Julie Tan and Margaret Tu Chuan as Hu Mei. Jenny Hu's character plays the love interest to agent Shijie and also the daughter to the leader of Black Falcon. Ambiguously performed and delightfully portrayed, Hu does a commendable job with the character, forcing us to ponder over her affiliations and intentions towards our dynamic hero. On the other side of the fence is the vivacious and highly venomous Chuan as Hu Mei, the top femme fatale of the Black Falcon organization. Commanding and vicious in nature, Hu Mei is a force to be reckoned with in this movie and Chuan effortlessly demands us to take notice of her sexy curves and deadly ways. With the combination of these two lovely ladies, The Black Falcon makes for a beautiful smorgasbord of eye-pleasing imagery.

When it comes to action, The Black Falcon has that department covered as well, as there are a number of pulse-pounding sequences and hard hitting moments that amp up the pace of the picture with tremendous fervor. From car chases, to gun fights, to hand to hand combat, this film has it all and it's all displayed in the most energetic of ways. One moment in particular features our spirited and determined spy trading blows with a gargantuan of a man, played by Siu Gam, who comes off as Hong Kong's answer to Richard Kiel's Jaws character. Explosive in execution and brutal to boot, the scene depicts a whirlwind of a fight which joyfully displays actor Paul Chang getting the living shit kicked out of him by his larger than life foe. The scene is just relentless as the two fighters savagely go toe to toe and blow for blow, and the end result of this extended fight scene is quite a spectacle and highlight of the movie.

Another great fight scene occurs directly after this battle, as agent Shijie takes to the streets in an effort to escape from a handful of Black Falcon thugs. Surrounded in an expansive courtyard, Shijie deals out a series of deathblows in an outstandingly choreographed fight sequence which expertly showcases the film's kinetic style and fun-filled embrace. The great thing about all of these engaging fight scenes, is that they are filmed in some of the most picturesque and exotic of locations. Unlike the Eurospy craze, Asiaspy films tended to stay close to home in their location hopping and in this feature the filmmakers decided to use the beautiful backdrops of both Hong Kong and Macau to represent the style and panache of the picture. Even with its lack of spacial and cultural variety, The Black Falcon uses the stellar venues, interesting characters, and energetic sequences to its advantage, weaving an intricate little spy tale that is anything but ordinary.

The Black Falcon is an ambitiously derived little gem that has all of the trappings of a Bond film, yet transposed into a culture and environment that is anything but familiar to 007 and company. Immersed in a plethora of wacky characters and equally zany situations, the film relies on the fun-factor of the James Bond franchise as it highlights all of the formulaic elements that we all know and love. In this most mirrored of concepts, the movie surprisingly takes on a life of its own as it blends its own style and substance into the trademark etchings of the cinematic espionage world.

Paul Chang is fantastic in the role of super agent Zhang Shijie, and his charismatic turn as the unstoppable spy is one of the film's most enduring qualities. Not only that, but The Black Falcon has another pair of assets in the form of Jenny Hu and Margaret Tu Chuan, who both bring a much needed feminine touch to the proceedings. As for action, suspense and espionage, this film is jam-packed as it goes from one sequence to the next, guiding us across its plethora of pleasing venues and picturesque locations. In the end, the feature aims to do one thing and one thing only, and that's to make a movie that is a whole hell of a lot of fun to watch. Mission complete. The Black Falcon is an.....