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Movie season's lesser gems

By Chen Nan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-26 09:40

Christmas season often means a bonanza for movie-goers, and this year is no exception - from director Zhang Yimou's latest comedy A Simple Noodle Story to Hong Kong director Teddy Chan's action-drama Bodyguards and Assassins. Now that you've watched the mega-budget productions of big stars and special effects, take a break - and try a light-hearted comedy or a screaming horror flick.

Midnight Taxi (pictured), an aptly named and terrifying thriller, marks the debut of young mainland director Zhang Jiangnan. Adapted from an online novel of the same title, the movie tells the story of a Beijing-based taxi driver's encounter with a mysterious woman and the series of accidents that occur. Scriptwriter Zhang uses all the traditional horror elements, such as darkness, blood and sudden illusions, but also leaves a lot of room for the viewers' imagination. Viewers can find traces of Japanese horror movies, such as the classic The Ring.

The movie stars Hong Kong actor Jordan Chan and mainland actress Deng Ziyi in the lead roles. Chan, who is famous for playing the funny nobody in Hong Kong gangster movies, manages to draw the laughs even while acting scared, as when he realizes that his girlfriend has been dead for years. Newcomer Deng proves she can be more than a beautiful face. Midnight Taxi is the only horror movie of 2009. Despite some logical weaknesses in the script, the movie is still worth watching.

Hong Kong has a long tradition of making movies about gambling, starting with God of Gamblers in the early 1990s. The latest offering in this genre is Poker King, set in the gambling world of Macao.

Directed by Chan Hing-ka and Janet Chun, it has Louis Koo playing Jack Chang, heir to a massive gambling empire. After his father's death, Jack is called back to Macao by Uno Cheuk, played by Lau Ching-wan, who wants to beat Jack and take over the family business.

While the plot is hardly new, the movie does call to the great gambling films of yore. But Poker King is likely to disappoint those who miss the roles once essayed by such actors as Chow Yun-fat and Stephen Chow Sing-chi.

Da You Cun Bright Future, directed by Deng Zhiheng, may be the best comedy of this movie-packed season. Focusing on a group of people living in Da You Cun, a poor village, the movie tells the story of making dreams come true. The head of the village, Li Biao, who wants to improve people's lives, comes across a Taiwan hotshot who promises to invest in the real estate market. Unfortunately, all the money is lost and the village becomes even poorer.

But the simple but optimistic villagers decide to build back their lives. After a series of battles with city folk, they eventually build a movie base in the village.

The characterizations are funny and the storytelling is smooth despite some strange twists. Da You Cun Bright Future is a good choice for those who just want to kick up their feet and have a good laugh.