Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong

As I stumbled upon the 2021 crime action movie "Chui Foo Chun Lung" (aka "Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong"), and seeing that the movie was starring Louis Koo, Franchis Ng and Tony Ka Fai Leung, I have to admit that I had some expectations to the movie. I hadn't heard about the movie prior to coming across it by random luck here in 2023.

The storyline in "Chui Foo Chun Lung" was watchable, for sure, but it was a rather bland viewing experience. So I am a little surprised that writers Kin-Hung Chan, Woody Hui Yan, Koon-Nam Lui and Jing Wong only managed to concoct that kind of generic script. I mean, the movie was watchable, but hardly a memorable or outstanding moment in Hong Kong cinema.

The movie does, however, have a rather impressive cast ensemble. With the likes of established actors such as Louis Koo, Tony Ka Fai Leung and Francis Ng. But also the likes of Ka-Tung Lam, Philip Keung, Kent Cheng and Parkman Wong. So there definitely is a good number of familiar faces and talents on the cast list.

While "Chui Foo Chun Lung" was watchable, the movie was just too generic and sort of forgettable. And thus, while I did managed to sit through all 105 minutes, I was only mildly entertained. And this is by no means a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time.

My rating of directors Woody Hui Yan and Jing Wong's 2021 movie "Chui Foo Chun Lung" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Set in 1973, with an emphasis of the corruptions in police enforcement in Hong Kong and the establishment of ICAC. Honestly, this can be a much better movie, but it just feel that the story is on a surface level, there was not a lot of depth into the characters. I cannot delve myself into the plot and this makes the movie unbearable. Movie should affect your emotions, and the good ones will enlight some part of you, and this is definitely not one of those.