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歲月風雲之上海皇帝 (1993)
Lord of East China Sea


Reviewed by: Yellow Hammer
Date: 05/10/2001

The movie is essentially a biography of Lu Yun San (Ray Lui), who rose from being an illiterate fruit stand seller to the most powerful man in Shanghai. Lu is a man with a heart of gold but with two flaws: too willing to help out his friends, and too willing to gamble. Lu's first big break came when he befriends Huang Quan Rong (Kent Cheng, a powerful Police Chief Inspector in Shanghai and getting a job working for him (at a very brutal price I may add). As Huang's right hand man, Lu is sent to investigate a missing opium shipment from Generay Yuan Su Chan (Elvis Tsui Kam-Kong). Lu does one better by getting an agreement between Huang and General Yuan. Not only does Lu get this agreement, the French in the French Concession are also persuaded to give the selling opium rights to Lu, Huang and Yuan. This makes them instant millionaires. Later on, the trio is forced to make the difficult decision of choosing sides - union (Communist) or Kuomintang.

This movie also uses sex and romance as a prominent part of the movie. Man Siu Tung (Cecilia Yip) is Lu Shan's first love, and Fu Chun (Carina Lau) is a woman that Lu also has deep affections for. In addition, Siqin Gaowa is the wife and equally strong person in the Huang household. Category III actress Chow Wang is the girl that Huang 'deflowers' in the sauna.

This was a big budget film, with many of the same characters from Johnny Mak's big hit movie from 1991, To Be Number One. It is easy to see why this film wasn't quite as successful as the To Be Number One. A complicated story line, requiring an understanding of Chinese history during the period after the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty, circa 1912-1930. There is no black-and-white good guy versus bad guy, there are many factions running China, each with their own warlords. In fact, though Lu is portrayed as a good guy throughout the movie, you wonder if he is really a good guy, given the people he is hanging around with.


Reviewed by: hkcinema
Date: 12/08/1999

The story of the rise to prominence of Luk, a Shanghai fruitseller who became one of the most powerful men in China in the first half of the 20th Century. Gaining favor with the local Shanghai Police Chief Wong for his courage and knowhow, Luk takes a job under Wong. When Wong sends Luk to foil the theft of an opium shipment by General Yuan, Luk, ever the opportunist, mediates an agreement between Wong and Yuan and soon, the French Consulate is "persuaded" to give the opium rights to the now rich threesome. After various conflicts and adventures, his fortunes then pit him on the side of the Kuomintang, who is poised to attack local laborers and student leaders. Realizing he has been used by the Kuomintang Army, Luk inventively creates an economic empire in order to destroy them.

[Reviewed by Rim Films Catalog]