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Chinese Midnight Express II


Reviewed by: David Harris
Date: 04/18/2001

This is the first of two films the issue to star one of my personal favourites - the consistently entertaining Francis Ng. As the title of the film indicates this is an entry into the genre of prison films (which are popular the world over although sub-genre might be the more applicable term) and they are a type of film that Hong Kong filmmakers seem particularly adept at making - what kind of film aren't they good at making? Don't answer that!

The first "Chinese Midnight Express" film was made about three years ago and starred the versatile Tony Leung whose namesake appeared in the classic Hong Kong prison film "Prison On Fire" with the man himself Chow Yun-Fat. That (the first CME film) like this (CMEII) is a solid if not classic example of this breed of film. The producer of this film also has a role in it - now there's a good way to ensure you have a job!

Francis Ng plays Chan Siu Hong - a lawyer - who finds himself in jail when he assaults a police officer whilst trying to prevent them from hitting his client who is celebrating his winning a court case in a local bar (unlucky for them the police officer has "friends" at the jail). En route to jail Siu Hong is consoled by his client who blames himself for his lawyer having to defend him in a non-legal sense against the police. The films depiction of prison conditions is certainly not glamorised and in an interesting side note the film is prefaced by an introduction that says that it is set in the 1960's and that reforms have since improved conditions - truth or a cheeky way of avoiding trouble with the authorities? I'll leave you to decide that!

I wouldn't imagine that this was a particularly big budgeted movie and despite that showing now and again the cast and crew do a very creditable job. Category III stalwart Elvis Tusk (the guy with the bald head & moustache that usually plays sex maniacs) gives a good turn as the chief warden and there is a hilarious minor character called Fairy whose only line is the enigmatic statement "An observation : torn trousers can be mended" which he says to all and sundry for no particular reason.

Chan Siu Hong (Francis Ng) is something approaching a hero to the prisoners having defended most of them. He uses his oratory skills or "honey lips" as they are called to try to get his fellow inmates to exercise a little grey matter when dealing with prison disputes. The showdown or finale occurs when a well-liked inmate is brutally killed by the villainous guard known as Mr John and everyone including Siu Hong begins to plot their revenge and he (Siu Hong) has added motivation when he learns that Mr John has after "showing interest" killed one of his sisters. This is no major gem of a movie but it is quite diverting and those involved both in front of and behind the camera give of their best.


Reviewed by: Chuma
Date: 07/12/2000
Summary: Remind me never to go to jail in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong prison movies seem to be fairly common nowdays after the success of the 'Prison on Fire' series, but this movie is different to those
action-based dramas in that it has a more realistic feel to it. It also
seems to have more credibilty since it is introduced as a historical account
of an incident that occured in the jail in 1968 (although I don't know
anything about the history of HK so I can't prove this).

'The Barrister' has had the bad luck of assaulting a police officer in a fight
who just happened to be best mates with the top warden (Piranha and Mr John) as is sent inside for 9 months.

On the ride in he is consoled by won of his clients Reddie, who says it was
'his fault' for defending himself against the police when he was punched
by a cop for trying to stop them hitting his client.

Once inside, Piranha makes it immediately clear that he doesn't want
The Barrister to cause trouble, then he takes him to his office and beats
the crap out of him.

Something this film gets right are the conditions inside the jail,
compared to POF, which glamorised prison life, it actually seems that
it could have actually been like that. As soon as The Barrister walks into
the 'Recreation Room' he sees a man smoking crack, men with bitches,
crooked wardens, and Keith, who is doing another bloke up the arse
(sorry, there's no other way to say it.)

The Barrister doesn't want to cause any more trouble, so he insists
the prisoners call him Brother Hong. He also finds out that the prisoners
regard him as an idol because he defended most of them and pleaded for
reduced sentences and he soon makes friends with to of the 'top men'
Brother Kei and Jelly Fish.

Settling down into prison life, he has the usual dramas, but is brefriended
by a rookie prison guard who has the same attitudes as him to violence and
he allows him to date his younger sister on the outside, little does
Brother Hong know that Mr John has already taken an interest in both his
sisters...

I liked this movie the most out of the two I saw, it has the right mix of
action and drama, as well as having very good performances out of most
of the cast - especially Fairy, whose only line is
'An Observation : Torn trousers can be mended.' the warden is suitably
wicked and prisoners (although they are criminals) come out looking better
than the law in many cases, much to the displeasure of the Government and
the Police.

I would recommend this movie to people who like action movies as well
as prison movies and even if you haven't seen 'Prison on Fire' this is
a good movie to watch if you are into Hong Kong movies.

Rating : 9 packs of cigarettes (9/10)


Reviewed by: j.crawford
Date: 07/09/2000

Screening 6/16/00 at the Music Palace in NYC with Clarence Fok's "Don't Look
Back...or You'll be Sorry!".

This sequel is a Jing's Productions, Ltd. film produced by Lee Siu Kei, who co-stars with Francis Ng, a brilliant actor who seems to be in every movie.
Prison films are a popular sub-genre of Hong Kong cinema. Even Jackie Chan
appeared in one [Island of Fire]. This one features all the usual stereotypes of prison life, but the well written script is driven by a subplot that takes place outside of the prison.

Chinese Midnight Express 2 features many actors who are part of Wong Jing's fine ensemble group that have appeared in many of his recent productions. Elvis Tsui is cast as the Chief Warden and he brings his usual fierce demeanor to this minor role. Though the warden is a bad guy, the real monster is his
superintendent, a character named Piranha. Producer Lee casts himself as Brother Kei, one of the "heroic" prisoners who befriends Francis Ng's character when he arrives in the prison.
Ng is cast as lawyer Chan Siu Hong who is welcomed by the inmates because he had many triad clients. He is jailed on an assault charge from an incident involving a client and a Hong Kong cop who happens to be Piranha's nephew. Though accepted by the inmates, Hong is severely beaten by Piranha, and his assistant, to avenge his nephew.

Hong quickly learns the rules of prison life. He uses his "honey lips" [speaking skills] to convince fellow inmates not to use violence to settle
every dispute. In the end, violence erupts in the prison when a beloved inmate is killed by Piranha and the inmates seek revenge.

In this sub-genre, prison life is always portrayed as harsh and horrible with corruption on both sides of the bars. This film has a humorous prologue that features the producer making the point that his film is telling a story that takes place in the 1960's and that, thanks to reforms that have been made since then, life is very different in prisons today. Wink, wink.

copyright 2000 J. Crawford

Reviewer Score: 7