15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie (if you don't know chinese read this!), August 7, 2002
This review is from: God of Gamblers (DVD)
If you like Chow Yun-Fat, you will like this movie! I bought this movie first on vhs. The vhs is wide screen with chinese subtitle, and english under it. When they put it to DVD, they made it fit to television (ie not widescreen). In doing so they
cut off the english subtitles. IF YOU DON'T KNOW CHINESE DON'T BOTHER BUYING THIS, UNTIL THEY COME OUT WITH A BETTER VERSION!!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
God of Gamblers-Showcase for Chow Yun-Fat's versatility!, May 3, 2002
This review is from: God of Gamblers (DVD)
Underappreciated as an actor in the west, Chow Yun Fat shows his versatility in this Hong Kong Comedy/drama. Chow stars as Ko Chun a gifted gambler with an almost supernatural gift for gaming, hence his exalted title.
Ko Chun is suave and sophisticated, master of his gaming, monetarily successful and comfortable in his abilities. This makes him enemies among not only opponents, but as it turns out, supposed friends.
Having narrowly escaped an assasination attempt, Chow unwittingly walks into a trap set by Knife, a young gambler wannabe who has little success in his endeavors. Knife meant to teach someone else a lesson by sabotaging a trail below his home, instead, Ko Chun is the victim. Finding the head injured gambler, Knife and his family take him in and nurse him back to health, not knowing who has fallen into their laps.
Ko Chun awakens from his trauma with no memory and regressed to a childlike demeanor with an insatiable hunger for a particular brand of chocolate (one carry over from his former life), and as Knife and Co. find out, a talent for gambling. Knife and his crew make good use of their new friend's abilities--becoming upwardly mobile thanks to "Chocolate"--the nickname they bestow upon him.
Chow Yun Fat has never been more endearing and charming as the brain injured "Chocolate". Where other actors might come off as goofy, pitiable or even laughable attempting this shift, Chow makes it believeable and incredibly touching. The viewer wishes to protect Chocolate from a world he no longer understands and which is by turns baffling and inhospitable--just as Knife and his crew come to love and protect their friend.
Their sudden success brings unwanted attention, which leads to pursuit, kidnapping, ransom and gunplay, and further trauma to poor Chocolate, leading to a showdown that highlights the God of Gamblers uncanny ability to win, even when opponents cheat and "friends" betray.
While Chow Yun Fat's ability and charisma are at the heart and soul of this film, the supporting players are excellent, especially Andy Lau and Joey Wong.
A must see and a must own for any Chow Yun Fat fan! Getting increasingly hard to find--get your copy now! (Review of the VCD unedited version. The DVD is edited and several scenes of the group becoming upwardly mobile have been deleted).
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A TAILOR MADE ROLE FOR CHOW, October 9, 1999
By A Customer
I've been a MAD Chow Yun Fatt & GoG fan when this original movie was produced. I think they made a mistake; this was a 1989 movie, not 1990. Still, it's a real CLASSIC, spawning lots of copycats as well. It is indeed a TAILOR-MADE role for Chow, who is incredibibly charismatic!! See, even 10 years after the movie was produced people are still talking about it!!! Yes, of course, I couldn't agree more, Chow is the coolest actor in the world....and many say he's cool with the guns, but I prefer him handling cards. He's just sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo charismatic!!! This classic flick....
Mind and Dexterity....
Deft and Cunning.... Loyal and Humble....
God of the dices....
God of the mahjong tiles....
God....
OF GAMBLERS.
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