Gap tung kei hap (1989)

Gap tung kei hap: Directed by Clarence Fok. With Biao Yuen, Wah Yuen, Maggie Cheung, Lai-Yui Lee. A frozen Ming Dynasty royal guard and the equally frigid rapist-killer he’s tracking are thawed out in modern-day Hong Kong.

“I really like this beautifully shot and choreographed action-fantasy/time travel yarn from Clarence Fok, the director of the moody u0026quot;Gun and Roseu0026quot; and the highly regarded u0026quot;Naked Killeru0026quot;. It is an ambitious, rich production that boasts several stunning martial arts sequences and not a few jaw-dropping stunts. It is such an aesthetically rich and varied piece of entertainment that it never fails to please.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYuen Biao plays the filmu0026#39;s hero, a Ming Dynasty palace guard who resumes his pursuit of a nasty rapist/butcher, the great Yuen Wah (u0026quot;Eastern Condorsu0026quot;), in the 20th century after their bodies, long encased in ice, are thawed. There are elements of Schepisiu0026#39;s wonderful u0026quot;Icemanu0026quot; here and aspects borrowed from Mulcaheyu0026#39;s u0026quot;Highlanderu0026quot;, but, despite the filmu0026#39;s varied influences, this is a fresh, fascinating synthesis of its raw elements and a damn great example of energetic film-making.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBiao is excellent as the naive palace guard who comes into contact with sweet-natured callgirl Maggie Cheung. He is totally believable as the fish out of water and stunning when asked to demonstrate his extraordinary physical skills. A fight atop a crane is masterful, as is a snow-bound sword fight, a duel inside a museum and a heart-stopping leap over a speeding car on a freeway. Yuen Wah, whose character warms immediately to 20th century firearms and criminality, is also amazing in his demanding, bone-punishing role.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFok, who always brings a strong visual style to his movies, directs the sometimes brutal action with consummate professionalism and fills the cast list with memorable character actors and assorted beauties. A great score helps, too.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA gem.”