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阿孖有難 (2004)
Leave Me Alone


Reviewed by: j.crawford
Date: 08/20/2007
Summary: This is a very good film.

Please. Leave me alone. Danny Pang Fat writes, directs, and co-produces a dark, yet light hearted movie that explores the workings of the triad thriller while blending in spicy bits of romance. He does a nice job continuing the look and feel of his earlier work with his brother, Oxide Pang Shun, who co-produces here while directing a companion piece, Abnormal Beauty (2004).

The best thing about the film is the tight, inventive writing. It starts with the twin thing, works through a triad revenge scenario that includes murder, mayhem, drug dealing, and a sparking car chase. Ekin Cheng, playing twin brothers, and Gillian Chung do a nice job handling the nuances of the dark comedy that made me laugh out loud. Production design and editing are remarkable. This is a very good film. Leave me alone. Please.

Reviewer Score: 8

Reviewed by: Sydneyguy
Date: 07/01/2006
Summary: Ummm

Ekin plays to different but interesting characters but the plot itself is just all over the place. Everyone else is a cardboard cut out with very little to do!!

The action is standard, there are a few laughs but there is nothing in this movie which makes it better than an average movie

Reviewer Score: 5

Reviewed by: evirei
Date: 07/25/2005

Charlene and Ekin? I do have high expectations in the movie. Since it was promoted like crazy over the radio. Almost every 20 minutes I could hear the promo.

But well.... it was far beyond what I expected. To be honest with.. it's just a show with cleverly used of chinese words movie title.

To begin with... Charlene presentation in this movie is simply disappointing. She being a strong, brave and mature woman is just not right. It makes her character simply unbelieveable.

The only person I should say that deserves the credit in the movie is Kenny Bee. His appearence might be short, but memorable.

As a matter of fact, I dun even remember what Ekin does in the movie.

Rating 5 out of 10

Reviewer Score: 5

Reviewed by: pjshimmer
Date: 07/24/2005
Summary: Quite well done

this movie made quite an impression on me. Ekin Cheng is still Ekin Cheng, but better than you'd expect.

[7/10]


Reviewed by: JohnR
Date: 07/23/2005
Summary: Missable

Good points:
Ekin's work playing the gay brother. This isn't the stereotypical mincing queen almost alaways portrayed in HK movies. He comes across as a real person. Great job by Ekin.

Charlene Choi is trying to do what everyone's been praying for, leaving her bubbly woman child character behind to play a mature role.

Bad points:
The wardrobe person that dressed Charlene in that coat should be driven out of the industry. Maybe it's a Thai thing, maybe all the tough, street smart women in Bangkok wear ill-fitting trenchcoats, but I took it as a joke initially and kept waiting for her to rip it off in a grand flourish to reveal her real costume. She didn't. It was hideous.

Charlene just isn't convincing.as the gun-savvy girlfriend of the straight Ekin. She stays in character throughout, makes a very valient attempt, but falls short. This has me worried, because it could mean she only needs another try to two, or it may mean she just doesn't have it in her. Since she's been my favorite Idol the last couple years, the later thought is depressing, as I don't see anyone out there to take her place in my shrine. What happens to us when we have no Idol? Please, Charlene, or somebody, don't make me find out!

Bottom Line: It's a pleasant movie, but nothing to go out of your way for. You definitely don't want to go here for the action sequences, as they're very weak, at points laughable.


Reviewed by: mrblue
Date: 02/01/2005

Normally, the prospect of a movie starring Ekin Cheng and Charlene Choi isn't that exciting to me. So, I went into a viewing of Leave Me Alone with fairly low expectations. Happily, my expectations were met and, in fact, exceeded. While it's nothing too mind-blowing, Leave Me Alone is a surprisingly good movie that delivers some solid comedy and action.

In the film, Ekin portrays twin brothers. One is a gay fashion designer who lives in Hong Kong, and the other is a straight con artist who has moved to Thailand. During a visit to Hong Kong, the straight Ekin switches IDs with the gay one and borrows his car, which results in a big mess after an accident. Straight Ekin must try to fend off the advances of gay Ekin's lover and sort out the mess left in Thailand after gay Ekin (along with his girlfriend, played by Charlene Choi) fail to pay a tough loan shark back.

The first part of Leave Me Alone plays out as you might expect – it's a fairly lighthearted comedy. Actually, Ekin is very good in this part. While he's not going to win any Oscars anytime soon, at least he's not just trying to get by on his hair anymore. As the film goes on though, the story becomes more serious. There are a few comedic bits, such as gay Ekin teaching Charlene's dad (Kenny Bee) how to dress, but for the most part, the second half reminded me a lot of the Hong Kong action movies produced during the “golden years”. In particular, there's an exciting freeway chase that ranks up there with some of the best action work over the last few years. There's also a couple of nice shootouts that stand apart from a lot of the Matrix wannabes popping up nowadays.

Danny Pang is coming out as one of the strongest young directors working in Hong Kong right now, and Leave Me Alone puts another bright spot on his resume. The film could have used some tightening up, and the ending is a bit too upbeat. Also, as with his other movies, Pang tends to have a bit of a problem using overly “splashy” cinematography at inappropriate times. But overall, Leave Me Alone is a very solid movie that most Hong Kong film fans -- even the more jaded ones out there -- should enjoy.

[review from www.hkfilm.net]


Reviewed by: barrst
Date: 01/24/2005
Summary: Disappointing

All style, no substance. Charlene Choi fails to convince as any sort of femme fatal. Movie constains several logic-defying sequences which are only there for the visuals. There are some bad special effects during the car chase.