Cheap The Hong Kong Filmography, 1977-1997: A Complete Reference to 1,100 Films Produced by British Hong Kong Studios (Book) (John Charles) Price

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Now the good stuff...this book is amazingly detailed: cast/character listings, synposis, video distributors and more! The HKF has introduced me to a lot of new films and talked about a number of others I had found no real information about besides fanboy newsgroup ravings. Great index too. I don't agree with the review below: the book is nowhere near as negative as At the Hong Kong Movies and the amount of plot synopsis versus criticism is reasonable IMO, more so than Sex and Zen and a Bullet in the Head. I don't always agree with his reviews but I think Charles offers reasonable evaluations. I love HK movies but let's face it: there are many bad ones! I hope Charles does a HKF Sequel and covers movies from 1998 onwards.

Disappointing, despite its noble ambitions
THE HONG KONG FILMOGRAPHY 1977-1997 (McFarland & Company, 2000): More than virtually any other Western critic, Canadian writer John Charles has helped to foster a mature consideration of Hong Kong cinema which extends far beyond the narrow confines of cop thrillers and kung fu dramas so beloved of cult movie fans. From his pioneering reviews in 'Video Watchdog' magazine to his ongoing Internet coverage, Charles takes his place alongside the likes of Tony Rayns, Bey Logan, Derek Elley and Paul Fonoroff as both an authority and champion of Chinese popular entertainment, combining personal knowledge of Asian history and culture with an appreciation of the personalities and traditions which underpin much of the HK movie industry. 'The Hong Kong Filmography' (subtitled 'A Complete Reference to 1,100 Films Produced by British Hong Kong Studios') represents the culmination of Charles' love affair with the subject, an encyclopedic overview of the most creative period in HK cinema history, complete with credits and video availability and an incredible index which provides an instant overview of the lives and careers of several hundred actors, directors and technicians. Except for the front cover, there are no illustrations, only columns of closely-packed text, and there's an appreciative foreword by 'Video Watchdog' editor Tim Lucas.

And yet, for all its virtues and noble ambitions, the book is a disappointment. Many of the reviews are heavy on plot description and light on critical assessment, which is both a curse and a blessing, given that few of these films have been covered in detail anywhere else, though it's difficult to comprehend the benefits of a lengthy plot outline followed by a brief analysis (often no more than a couple of sentences) in which the movie is summarily dismissed out of hand. Concision is one thing, abruptness is quite another. And if many of the titles under fire correspond with the reader's own preferences, it can seem more than a little galling, especially since publishers McFarland & Company are charging a small fortune for the privilege. Charles' brand of informed opinion is always welcome, of course, and the book will probably work best for casual readers seeking information on individual films rather than those who opt to plough through the entire volume from start to finish, but too many entries here are trashed for being 'ludicrous', 'derivative', 'badly plotted' and/or 'weakly constructed', and there's an excess of withering scorn which may alienate more readers than it impresses. While any given movie industry will always produce its fair share of turkeys, the book seems less a celebration of HK cinema than a catalog of complaint. In fact, the text only really comes to life when Charles indulges his own personal favorites (his appraisals of ASHES OF TIME, THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR and PEKING OPERA BLUES, for example, are insightful and entertaining), and the author makes a number of salient observations regarding the prejudices inherent in HK cinema (homophobia, racism and misogyny are prevalent in many highly-regarded movies), whilst also taking care to warn readers about scenes of animal cruelty, but these are minor points in an otherwise cheerless work.

That said, however, the book is a great deal more comprehensive than most other volumes on Asian cinema, and the credits provided in the main text are invaluable. This reviewer is especially grateful that theatrical aspect ratios have been included for each title, a small - but crucial - detail sadly lacking in most other movie books. However, while many HK movies photographed in anamorphic widescreen don't always provide an on-screen credit for the actual process (Panavision, Shawscope, etc.), it would have been nice if Charles had included it where known, rather than simply providing a note of the relevant aspect ratio (the various sound formats, including Dolby and DTS, are all properly credited). Overall, though intended as a definitive text on this particular subject, 'The Hong Kong Filmography' falls short of the mark, a labor of love undermined by an accumulation of biting criticisms which serve only to diminish the very industry Charles' book seeks to honor.

Terrific Resource
Despite boasting one of the worst covers I've seen in quite a while, Charles's book is an essential reference guide for anyone with the slightest interest in the rich cinema of Hong Kong. While I may not always agree with the author's assessments of these films, to have all of these films carefully reviewed along with their cast and crew information is invaluable. Boasting an unbearable cover price and no pretty pictures to distract the less literate (like me), The Hong Kong Filmography isn't perfect but it's darned close. (ISBN: 0786408421)