The cinema of Hong Kong holds legendary status around the world. Breakout star and enduring icon Bruce Lee helped to popularize the kung fu genre, and for a time the tiny territory was second only to the USA for international movie distribution.
The industry continued to prosper for two decades after Lee’s untimely death, although in recent years it has failed to reach the heights it enjoyed during this golden period. Although it may not be the powerhouse that it once was, Hong Kong cinema is still alive and well. Here we take a look at one particular cinematic niche that focuses on a significant aspect of the culture of the region – gambling.
One of the first successful gambling movies to be produced in Hong Kong was the 1974 comedy Games Gamblers Play. The top grossing movie in the domestic market that year, the film paved the way for subsequent on-screen explorations of this intriguing world. The gambling movie genre was later popularized by director Wong Jing, backed by the star power of actors like Chow Yun-fat and Andy Lau.
God of Gamblers (1989)
The first of what became a franchise spanning more than two decades, God of Gamblers stars Chow Yun-fat as the titular gambling master Ko Chun. After losing his memory in an accident, Ko Chun is taken in by a young wannabe gambler who recognizes his ability and hopes to exploit it. The action comedy was well-received, leading to a number of sequels and spin-offs.
Three related movies were released in the following two years, all with a comedy edge. One of the instalments, entitled God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai, even featured a time-travel storyline. It wasn’t until 1994 that Chow Yun-fat reprised his role for the first true sequel to the 1989 original.
The Return of the God of Gamblers features the return of Ko Chun, who is once more thrown into a series of escapades with underworld villains. More serious than the previous three releases in the franchise, the movie still contains a number of comic scenes. The final movie to feature Ko Chun was a prequel with Leon Lai taking on the role.
From Vegas to Macau (2014)
Also known as The Man from Macau, this movie reunites Chow Yun-fat with God of Gamblers director Wong Jing. Although it and the two sequels can be seen as part of the Gamblers franchise, the actors play different roles and the storyline focuses less on gambling.
Chow’s character Ken is another gambling master, but the stakes are raised in this trilogy with plenty of action involving gangsters, undercover police and nefarious plots. Although the connection to the earlier Gamblers movies is tangential at best, Chow puts in an appearance as Ko Chun in each instalment just before the end credits roll.
Morphing into a Bond-esque parody at times, the three Macau movies received less than favorable reviews from the critics. Some even accused Wong of destroying the very genre that he himself had invented. Audiences disagreed, and all three movies did well at the box office.
Casino Tycoon (1992)
Director Wong Jing also made two more gambling movies, both of which were released in 1992. Casino Tycoon and its sequel follow the story of Andy Lau’s Benny, a young man who flees to Macau during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong during World War II. Blending elements of crime drama with knockabout comedy, these classic Wong movies chronicle Benny’s rise from penniless graduate to Macau gambling kingpin.
Although the sequel was released barely six months after the first, the action takes place eighteen years later. Benny is now in charge of a casino empire, and must face some powerful enemies intent on destroying his family and his business. The films were less of an international success than Wong’s Gamblers movies, although both can now be found on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Poker King (2009)
Bringing the gambling movie up to date by incorporating online poker into the plot, this is another Macau-set comedy starring Louis Koo and Sean Lau. Unlike the other Hong Kong gambling movies so far discussed in this article, the film was directed not by Wong but by the duo of Janet Chun and Chan Hing-Kai, who also wrote and produced.
All is not as it seems in this good-natured comedy which pits disgraced casino heir Jack against magnate Uno. As they build to a climax that naturally involves a tense game of poker with the highest of stakes, there are plenty of laughs to be had. The movie was filmed during the Macau leg of the 2009 Asian Poker Tour, and features appearances from some prominent poker pros including Johnny Chan.
You can enjoy many of these via online streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, depending on your location. Watching these might be a good alternative to some other online activities during the lockdowns which are currently being implemented again across the world. Many governments are worried that online gambling during lockdown is especially risky and addictive. Some NGOs and businesses have implemented casino online test for visitors of their websites to help gamblers asses the risk. Instead of solving personality tests or checking reviews to see which casinos abide by strict customer protection standards, we still think stopping the gambling activity altogether is the best option. To avoid boredom, make sure to add these movies to your watchlist and enjoy them with someone you cherish. Â
