Security Unlimited (1981)

Security Unlimited (1981)


May 19th, 7:00PM in Garland 104 (2441 E. Hartford)

The Hui Brothers return for their last film together until the scathing 1990 parody of tabloid reporting, Front Page. In a way this marked an end of an era. An era in which Cantonese cinema was reestablishing itself and the new wave was exploring themes that were otherwise rarely covered. Directed by and costarring maverick Michael Hui who shortly would go on to make a string of biting comedies dealing with otherwise taboo social issues. Security Unlimited is an early example of this trend in that it explores notions of illegal immigration from mainland China.

Like the other films from the brothers, this installment drops them into an unusual situation, that of security guard for hire while they are free to explore their individual persona.

Hong Kong, Director Michael Hui, Cast Michael Hui, Samuel Hui, Ricky Hui and Marylinn Wong, 92 minutes, in Cantonese with English subtitles

Fist of the North Star: The Movie (1986)

Fist of the North Star: The Movie (1986)


May 12th, 7:00PM in Garland 104 (2441 E. Hartford)

Fist of the North Star has achieved something of a legendary status among the first wave of more adult themed Japanese animation that hit the United States in the 1980’s and perhaps more so in the UK where the feature film was among one of the first anime videos commercially sold. It has a strange, psychedelic and ultra-violent aesthetic. Through television series, manga, original video animations and a feature film, the franchise continues to grow. Beginning in 1983, the manga created the basic story and tone all other installments would come to follow. In the year 199X nuclear war destroys most of humanity, among the survivors is a man called Kenshiro, the heir to an unbeatable martial art that can explode the insides of its victims with the slightest touch.

This film is more or less a retelling of the first story arc of the manga and anime. Kenshiro is betrayed and maimed by a former friend. Left for dead, he survives and goes on a quest to get his kidnapped girlfriend back. The mostly silent protagonist hooks up with two children who live troubled lives and come to rely on him. But knowing the premise is nothing towards understanding what makes Fist of the North Star tick.

One answer to this is that it takes a lot of cues from the 152 episode anime. Because of budgetary constraints, the anime had to resort to some unusual means in creating its visual effects. These included filming through a fish tank and slamming ink violently between two sheets of paper among many others. Before long it had acquired an incredibly distinctive look. Perspectives were also frequently played around with. Characters could go from normal to giant in comparison to other characters’, frequently mirroring power relationships such as events seen from the eyes of the children were darker and more monstrous. The film also acquired an environmentalist message that is sometimes lost in its narrative insanity.

Outside of Japan, Fist of the North Star has always attracted attention including American and South Korean live action versions. But it is the cathartic simplicity of a world of madness where might is the only right and events take on a dream like quality that brings viewers back again and again.

Japan, Director Toyoo Ashida, Cast Akira Kamiya, Yuriko Yamamoto, Mie Suzuki, Kenji Utsumi and Toshio Furukawa, 110 minutes, in Japanese with English subtitles

Cops and Robbers (1979)

Cops and Robbers (1979)


May 5th, 7:00PM in Garland 104 (2441 E. Hartford)

The last few years of the 1970's marked the beginning of what would come to be known as the Hong Kong New Wave, an era of unparalleled originality. This film is arguably one of the most accomplished examples of that wave made by one of its greatest visionary directors. The story is deceptively simple, it follows the activities of a group of police officers and a rather pathetic wannabe criminal gang as they liver their lives before eventually colliding in a disturbing cinematic tornado.
Alex Cheung Kwok-Ming, the films director, was one of the few excremental film makers when he was only in his teens. Winning a series of student awards and competing against other young film makers including John Woo, Cheung became an accomplished director, screen writer and cinematographer eventually going into television commercials before directing this, his first feature at the age of twenty-eight. This disturbing tale had a gritty, raw feel that was highly unusual in Hong Kong cinema of this era.
You could, in all seriousness, favorably compare Cops and Robbers to the best films of Martin Scorsese as they are both similar in tone and the level of genius demonstrated. But Cheung was also able to include that strange, whimsically unbalanced and highly original quality of Hong Kong cinema. He would later go on to direct a diverse range of films including the late era Shaw Brothers science fiction comedy Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (1983.)
Hong Kong, Director Cheung Kwok Ming, Cast Wong Chung, Gam Hing Yin, Cheung Kwok Keung and Hui Bing Sam, 92 minutes, in Cantonese with English and Chinese subtitles