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.

To get the bad out of the way:
it's expensive, there are no pictures, and the cover leaves something to be desired.

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.

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)

This is a very good Late Night city as this map makes clear and I had one those all nighters I have not had in years care of the HK Groovy Guide!

My first trip to HK and I didnt know the 'in' places to go, how to get there, where the expats hung out, where to find good cheap food, live music, whatever. I was there for 2 days only, but this map really helped me out.

great stuff - i used it when i was there for a few days last month. tells you where to go for a fun night out in HK if you have no clue where to go and dont want to end up in a hell-hole and get mugged. good going!

A fascinating window into the lives of Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong. Details the many facets of exploitation, abuse and discrimination experienced by these maids. A fine balance between portraying maids as victims as well as agents in their own right, adopting a rather Foucauldian theme of discipline or oppression begetting resistance. Constable's work shuns naive generalizations of maids as passive victims (as many other works have), although I felt that domestic workers' acts of resistance and agency could be interrogated in greater scope and detail. Also provides a well-rounded picture by examining the geopolitics that give rise to demand and supply of domestic workers in Asia and Hong Kong in particular. A thorough and well-researched book synthesizing themes of race, class and gender!

A devastating critique of the capitalist world system, an anthropological study drawn from first-hand case studies, statistics, and the theoretical works of Gramsci, Bourdieu, and Foucault among others. Absolutely compelling reading.

Let me begin by confessing my bias. I met Dr. Constable at a book signing and have since maintained a warm e-mail friendship. Having said that, I think any one who is interested in the culture of the Philippines, the culture of Hong Kong, the Filipino Diaspora, or the multi-variate roles of women in the emerging cultures of Asia will find a great deal of interesting material, conveyed thoughtfully and with sensitivity.

Not just the best book about Hong Kong cinema but the best ever written about a popular commercial movie industry. It is a model of practicality, fresh observation, and original on-site research in an academic field dominated by received ideology and sociological condescension. Bordwell pays tribute to the highly specialized film craftsmen of Kowloon, world-class experts in delivering intense pleasure to a large audience. We hope that he plans to write many sequels. Are you ready for "Planet Bollywood"?

For the history of Hong Kong cinema, Stephen Teo's HONG KONG CINEMA : THE EXTRA DIMENSION can't be topped; but this impressive book is far and away the best yet to examine this vital art film from the aesthetic angle. Bordwell also covers some of the financial makeup of the Hong Kong film industry, and even devotes space to the often-ridiculed Wong Jing. His chapters on Hong Kong editing styles are not just informative, they're absolutely inspiring. This book should be required reading for every film student!

Bordwell's book manages to balance the enthusiasm of a fan with the sharp analysis of a trained film scholar. Of all the books on Hong Kong film in English that I've read, this is the one that I keep returning to--it's chock full of original criticism (his shot by shot breakdowns of classic HK flicks are superb), that is well written and accessible (even if you don't have a PhD in cultural studies). Planet Hong Kong has led me to at least a dozen wonderful films I might otherwise have overlooked.

Helen Kwok's book catches the reader up immediately and continues to hold the attention throughout the book. She skillfully and dramatically, but without sementality, portrays the intricate psycological interrelationships between the main characters and the conflicts and connections between cultures. She provides insights which provide better understanding to an American reader of the stresses and strains that can be created when different cultures meet. Strongly recommended to other readers.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Concubine's Daughter. I found the story interesting, the characters memorable, and the situations completely believable. Here I wish to mention a number of things that made a special impression on me. The novel is about Elizabeth Lee, depicting her life as a student and academic, and also on a personal level. It describes how she encounters a series of obstacles and how they are overcome. One's interest is sustained; we want to know how each new crisis will be resolved. The language used in the novel, including the use of short chapters, helps to convey a quick tempo. The story does not drag on; one gets the feeling that time is streaming forward, at a fast pace. The theme of alienation runs through the story. Alienation is often dealt with in connection with immigrants adjusting to a new culture in a foreign country. In The Concubine's Daughter, Elizabeth, ethnically Chinese and living in a British colony, shares with new immigrants the same feelings of alienation. Like them, she lacks a clear sense of identity and belonging. The story is told through the thoughts, experiences, and feelings of the main character. The readers are in a position of suspense, in which we know no more than the characters. We are watching the story as it is happening, and neither the readers nor the characters in the novel know the outcomes ahead of time. Sometimes things do not turn out as we expect them to, and often, on re-reading the story, we find certain outcomes to be the exact opposite of what the characters have predicted or wished for. We might say this device contributes to give a special kind of irony. I recommend The Concubine's Daughter strongly, without reservation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a must for those interested in China and things and people Chinese!

As a Eurasian (english-chinese, no less) born and raised in Hong Kong, I was brimming with anticipation when I bought Tai-Pan (especially as I had already read the even more brilliant Noble House-- see its reviews! that book is an easy 5 stars).
Anyway, Tai-Pan is amazing in many ways and flawed in others. Clavell really captures a lot of the underlying tension, stereotypes, and often unfortunately true feelings of the british towards chinese culture (and vice-versa). Clavell tries very hard to present a fair view of the era and culture of the time, even so far as to really truly develop a genuine and believable love story between the Tai-Pan and his Chinese mistress (I think he MUST have had experience himself to understand the chinese female psyche so well!).
Anyway, besides certain comments that I did not like (that seemed to put down the chinese and especially 'half-caste' eurasians), the book is eminently readable and cannot be put down until finished!
Nevertheless, Noble House is even better-- but read it second!

Being in China at the time made James Clavell Tai-Pan even more special than the book by itself already is. It was no coincidence that I bought the book while being in Shanghai. I already read the book in a destant past. And I could clearly remember that I thought it was great. And it still is. Tai-Pan tells the story of a man called Dirk Struan who is the owner of a big trading house called Noble House. The setting is Hong Kong 1841. The island has just come under British rule and everything is not yet well. China is at that time still a big mystery for Europe and the different world powers of that time strife to conquer it. It's a bit the same as our present time in fact. The book is truly a masterpiece. I can really recommend it to anyone who like this kind of book. The good news is that the other books by James Clavell are as good as this one. The only one I havent read is Whirlwind because that doesn't especially appeals to me. It's also the only one which isn't set in the far East. Anyways if you haven't read any of his work yet, start reading!

...there are many similarities between "Shogun" and "Tai-pan", only the first is about Japan in 17th century, and the second is about China/Hong Kong in 19th century. However, both books have european (british) characters in the main role, and both books are based on the differences and struggling of these characters in a different environement.

Dirk Struan is the Tai-pan (supreme ruler) of the Noble House Trading Company, one of the Hong Kong-based companies that provide England and Europe with the middle-1800s wonder: tea. Along the book, Struan has to overcome rival companies, murder threats, malaria, love interests and the supposedly dettachment of Britain towards having an Asian base on Hong Kong.

Like "Shogun", "Tai-pan" has dozens of plot twists, many characters all involved with each other in one level or another, forces of nature, etc. Unlike "Shogun", "Tai-pan" has a very fast pace and the chapters follow one another with the speed of a Typhoon. In the beggining, the reader will struggle with the speed Clavell introduces his characters, and there will be at least 100 pages until you know who is who, but past that phase, "Tai-pan" is very enjoyable.

Dirk Struan, the main character, sure seems a little super-human sometimes, but that's not something that will spoil the reading. In fact, Struan is the kind of central character that the reader will always relate to. ...P>Now I'm surely moving on to "Gai-jin" and "Noble house".

I got this book to give to a friend when I visit her soon, then thought maybe I should try reading it first! I often pick holes at anything set in HK, as it is difficult for me to get the same feeling as someone else about the place. However, as far as setting goes this book is not too bad - part of it is remembered from the 70s, so it's before my time anyway.
A bigger problem might come from the plot, which is not exactly my thing, and also the way it jumps about in time and place. Some parts are fast-moving - one minute the protagonist is in New York, the next in HK - but in other places she is dwelling on her abandoned children for whole paragraphs, without saying anything new.
Apart from the iffy plot, the characters were not very well fleshed out: just drawn to 'type' I think. I found the final scene with the ex-husband ludicrous in the extreme. Then the next thing you know she is back in New York and everything is happening all at once again.
Otherwise the actual writing is not to bad - the short, blunt sentences will appeal to some readers. And it was nice to see a book set in Hong Kong that was more or less accurate (except for standing up on a mini bus which is not allowed!).

... This book in beautifully written with fascinating characters and a strong plot. The subject matter is a mother's need for her own life, as well as how a new life can be built, and new relationships with those from the past forged. Buy it. Read it.

I really liked this book. I liked it so much that I stayed up all night reading it and I keep thinking about it. My girlfriend gave it to me, I think because I grew up in Hong Kong.
Strong writing - good believeable characters. It doesn't try too hard or overreach like many books with this setting. I was drawn right in, and taken by the story. And then I was so sorry it had ended. It's really about being a parent. And about loyalty.
I recommend it to anyone even if they aren't interested in the setting and in fact am going to buy another copy right now to give as a gift.

I have been to Hong Kong once before but that trip came up so fast that I wasn't able to do proper research. I was able to find limited maps on the Internet and the HK Tourisim Assoc. had a map that was good for the areas it covered.

When I was told I was returning to HK, I looked for several items, one which was a good map. I found it in Fodor's Hong Kong Citypack. Most of the guides give the same type of info that is easily accessable, covering the Central to North Point areas and Kowloon. This map won't give you the south side of the island with Stanley and Aberdeen but it covers everything on the north side from Kennedy Town on the far west to Chai Wan on the east side of Hong Kong Island.

The map covers the mainland as far north as Diamond Hill and it seems like if the MTR has a station there then this map covers that area. It shows the patsh the MTR takes but does NOT show all of the exits. This is the only bad part of the map that I have found. You can use the tourist assoc. map for that though.

The guide itself is okay and the 3rd edition is the one youwant to get. Where the 2nd ed. is orange on the bottom of the cover, the 3rd. is yellow. The guide seems to be more like they wanted X number of items on subject Y. Very basic information and some that is misleading. In one paragraph they talk about the Temple St. Night Market. In the next paragraph, they say "at the end of the street" near X & Y is the Jade Market. You won't find out until you examine the map that the jade market is a few block away from the end of Temple St.

There's nothing "illegal" about the merchant adding the cost of processing the credit card back into the transaction. I don't know how Visa Asia works it, they can and will cut off merchant banks that allow this. But you should expect to pay an extra couple of percent when charging.

A possible typo is that Amex holders can get cash at some "Jetco" ATM machines. I assume they mean "Jesco", the grocery store chain.

Finally, the guide is too big to be shoved into a back pocket. I would have preferred a smaller thicker guide.

There doesn't seem to be a great pocket guide on the market, I'm combining this guide with the Berlitz pocket guide which does fit in my pocket. If you need a good map though, this is the one to get.

Concise and articulate. The book is divided into six sections from a brief history of Hong Kong to travel facts. In the margins are quick tips (shopping,accomodations) and highlights of the top 25 sights to see while in Hong Kong. A detailed color pull out map is provided. Light weight and perfect to slip into a purse or pocket.

With so many books touting the amazing investment opportunities in China, it is good to see the other side of the coin. At times, somewhat of a polemic, but this does not detract from the scalpel sharp analysis which skewers company after company, politician after politician. Should not be read by either the politburo in Beijing - or that in Hong Kong!

fabulous expose of crooked Chinese govt practices

This is 1 of the 2 tour guides I recommend for Hong Kong besides Fodor's. As a local who grew up and used to live in Hong Kong, I was both surprised and excited about how much foreigners can dig deep through this city. Post-colonial Hong Kong still preserves the heart-beat of Chinese heritage underneath the burgeoning veneer of high-tech development and finances.

The official airline of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific unveiled its newest operation logo couple of years back with slogan "Heart of Asia". The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) strived to revive tourism that was correlated with the regionwide stock market plunge in 1997 by launching the campaign "Hong Kong: City of Life" in 1998 to attract visitors. Featured was a 7-day-6-night package from the US including airfare and hotel for $899 including tax.

Dubbed "Heart of Asia" and "City of Life", this volume of "Hong Kong Handbook" will surely be your pocket guide to explore this exotic capital of Asia. The book included history and remarkable events associated with this newest Chinese SAR (Special Administrative Region), along with its rich mixed cultures and lifestyles.

In addition to the usual tips on fine dining, hotels from 5-star to no-star, shopping bargains and transportation, this handbook devotes incredible amount of pages on almost all the districts within the city. It would be a tremendous loss for any Hong Kong visitor to stay in central (downtown) area and the usual tourist spot like The Peak, Ocean Park and Po Lin Monastery. This handbook guides you to local areas like Mongkok, Yaumatei, and even outlying islands Po Toi Island, Tung Ping Chau, and Cheung Chau. One of the preserved wildlife area, Sai Gung Peninsula, is illustrated with lucid photos. You might wish to allocate 3-4 days hiking through the trails that provides panoramic view of the South China Sea.

The Hong Kong Handbook offers more than just a packaged tour can satisfy. You might completely stay away from urban areas and venture through monasteries or explore one of the biggest man-made water reservoir Plover Cove. The border with mainland is just 15 miles from the main financial center. The guide would be a must-have for those who wish to see the other side of Hong Kong.

Anyone planning a trip to Hong Kong would be wise to pick up a copy of this book. I recently returned from a two-week exploration of the SAR, and I found this book to be invaluable. Not only did it give me maps and all the essentials, but it gave me insight into the people and culture that surrounded me. The only thing I found lacking was the glossary of Chinese phrases.

While the book is older than some, and may be in some regards a bit out of date (hint to publisher - bring out a revised version), for instance some of the restaurants no longer exist, I found this to be the best book (and I brought many with me). The recommendations are solid, the highlighted points of interest are the most consistant (and often off-beat) and the essays and comments are the best (this is the only book for instance that explained why bamboo is used as scaffolding),