The Adventurers (1995 film)

Last updated

The Adventurer
TheAdventurers.jpg
Film poster
Traditional Chinese 大冒險家
Simplified Chinese 大冒险家
Hanyu Pinyin Dà Mào Xiǎn Jiā
Jyutping Daai6 Mou6 Him2 Ga1
Directed by Ringo Lam
Screenplay byRingo Lam
Yip Kong-yam
Sandy Shaw
Produced by Tiffany Chen
Starring Andy Lau
Rosamund Kwan
Jacklyn Wu
Paul Chun
Ben Ng
David Chiang
CinematographyArdy Lam
Arthur Wong
Chow Kei-seung
Edited byWong Wing-ming
Music by Teddy Robin
Production
company
Distributed by China Star Entertainment
Release date
2 August 1995 (1995-08-02)
Running time
110 minutes
Country Hong Kong
Language Cantonese
Box office HK$14,839,584

The Adventurers is a 1995 Hong Kong action film directed by Ringo Lam and starring Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan and Jacklyn Wu. It was Ringo Lam's last Hong Kong film before going to Hollywood in 1996. The Adventurers film was filmed on location in Hong Kong, United States and Philippines, which shows Lam's ambition of going to the international routine.

Contents

Plot

In Cambodia in 1975, during the Khmer Rouge Era, the eight-year-old Wai Lok-yan witnessed the tragedy of his parents being killed by Ray Lui while hiding in the closet with his younger sister. Back then, Yan's father Wah, Seung and Ray were war comrades working for the CIA in Cambodia. Ray went rogue and worked for the Khmer Rouge and in order to take the information gathered by Wah, he killed Yan's parents, while Yan's younger sister also died in a fire. After this incident, Seung took the orphaned Yan to Thailand, where he became a Thai Air Force Pilot.

In 1995, Yan learned from the newspaper that Ray, who has become a billionaire from dealing arms for many years, is attending an event in a hotel in Thailand. Yan was determined to take this opportunity to avenge his parents, but Ray was wearing a bulletproof vest and the assassination hit failed. However, Yan's friend Mark, who is also Seung's son, was caught and killed. Yan managed to leave the scene with the help of Ray's mistress Mona, whom Ray only treats her as a doll.

In order to escape the mine on assassin searches form Ray since Ray has close ties with Thai Military officials, Seung arranges Yan to go to the United States. With help from the CIA, they decide to have Yan get close to Ray's daughter Crystal, who resides in San Francisco, and slowly get close to Ray and ultimately killing him.

At that time, Crystal was kidnapped by the Vietnamese Black Tiger Gang and the gang demanded Ray to return money that he owed. The CIA had close ties with another gang, Wah Fuk, and arranges Yan to be the temporary leader of the gang under the name Mandy Chan. Yan leads the Wah Fuk Gang to terrorize the Black Tiger Gang and rescues Crystal. Later, the Black Tiger gang leader is killed off-screen possibly by the Wak Fuk gang and Yan successfully develops a marital relationship with Crystal and Yan becomes his enemy Ray's son in-law.

In Yan and Crystal's wedding, a shootout occurs and General Buboei's son Major Bodar was shot and killed by the Hong Kong police. Ray decides to take Yan to Cambodia to see Buboei and use Yan as the scapegoat of Budar's death. During a pregnancy test at the hospital with Crystal, Yan gets a call from Mona telling him to meet in a hotel room. There, Mona informs Yan of Ray using him as a scapegoat. As Yan and Mona still love each other, they briefly make out in the room before being interrupted by Crystal's entrance. Mona pushes Crystal on a glass table and attempts to kill her until Yan stops her form doing so.

When Crystal is sent to the hospital, Yan explains to Ray of the incident by saying that Crystal caught him with a prostitute. Yan also sees Seung in the hospital who gives him a tracking device for him to take to Cambodia. Later, Yan reveals to the unconscious Crystal about his true identity and his intention to kill her father and stating either himself or his father will only return from Cambodia. Crystal awakes and asks him to promise her not to kill her father.

In Cambodia, Ray meets up with Bubeoi who show him pictures of Yan as a pilot and a photo of Ray with the CIA and he suspects Ray to be a traitor. Yan trigger the tracking device and the Thai Military arrive. Ray, who knew along that Mona injured her daughter, shoots and kills Mona while also attempts to kill Yan to prove he is not a traitor. A big action scene occurs where later Ray and his henchman Dog (Ben Ng) takes Bubeoi hostage and Yan chases them on a helicopter. Dog kills Bubeoi in the process, before he was killed by Yan with a firebomb. In the end, Yan finally confronts Ray at gunpoint, but he finally decides to not kill him and let him be taken by the military force instead.

In the end, Yan receives pictures of Crystal and their son from Seung. Seung also brings his son from Hong Kong and a letter written by Crystal to Yan. She states that Mandy is the past and she is not so familiar with the name Wai Lok-yan and wants to have some time to familiarize it, hinting that she might get together with Yan again in the future.

Cast

Theme song

Reception

Critical reception

Derek Elley of Variety praised director Ringo Lam's handling of action sequences and character development in between and also singling out the performances of Andy Lau and Jacklyn Wu. [1] Joey O'Bryan of The Austin Chronicle gave the film a score of 2/5 stars, noting its "slightly schizophrenic tone" and pales in comparison to Lam's best works and describes it as "a less-than-perfect, but adequately entertaining action/melodrama." [2]

Box office

The film grossed HK$14,839,584 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 2 to 30 August 1995 in Hong Kong.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>As Tears Go By</i> (film) 1988 film by Wong Kar-wai

As Tears Go By is a 1988 Hong Kong action crime drama film starring Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung and Jacky Cheung. The film was the directorial debut of Wong Kar-wai, and was inspired by Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets. The central plot revolves around a small-time triad member trying to keep his friend out of trouble. The film was screened at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, during International Critics' Week.

<i>A Moment of Romance</i> 1990 Hong Kong film

A Moment of Romance is a 1990 Hong Kong action romance film directed by Benny Chan, produced by Johnnie To, and starring Andy Lau, Jacklyn Wu and Ng Man-tat. For his performance in the film, Ng was awarded Best Supporting Actor at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards.

<i>Where the Legend Begins</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

Where the Legend Begins is a 2002 Hong Kong television series produced by TVB. The series is based on the life story of Zhen Fu, a noble lady who lived during the Three Kingdoms period. It contains embellishments from folktales about Yan's romance with Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. The series was first aired in Hong Kong on TVB Jade from 24 June to 26 July in 2002.

<i>The Legend of the Condor Heroes</i> (1994 TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in 1994.

<i>The Duke of Mount Deer</i> (1984 Hong Kong TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Duke of Mount Deer is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron, produced by TVB and starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung. It was first aired on TVB Jade in from 9 July to 31 August 1984.

<i>The Legend of the Book and the Sword</i> (1987 TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Legend of the Book and Sword is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Book and the Sword. The series was first aired on TVB in Hong Kong in 1987.

<i>The Emissary</i> (TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Emissary (獵鷹) is a 1982 Hong Kong crime drama television series produced by TVB and starring Andy Lau in his first television leading role, shooting him to instant fame. Since then, Lau's acting career began to take on a broad road. The series' theme song, titled Being at a High Game (胸懷大志), was composed and arranged by Joseph Koo, with lyrics written by Wong Jim, and was sung by Willie Fung.

The Romantic Swordsman is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian of the Xiaoli Feidao Series. The series was first broadcast on TVB in Hong Kong in 1978.

<i>The Condor Heroes Return</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

The Condor Heroes Return is a Hong Kong television series loosely based on the stories of two characters in Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The series was released overseas in October 1993 before broadcasting on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in March 1994.

<i>New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1986.

<i>The Mystery of the Condor Hero</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

The Mystery of the Condor Hero is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. It was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1993.

<i>The Duke of Mount Deer</i> (1998 TV series) Hong Kong television series

The Duke of Mount Deer is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron. It was first aired on TVB in Hong Kong in 1998.

<i>Danger Has Two Faces</i> 1985 Hong Kong film

Danger Has Two Faces is a 1985 Hong Kong action film directed by Alex Cheung and starring Bryan Leung, Paul Chu and Fei Xiang. The film is produced and distributed by Shaw Brothers Studio.

<i>To Live and Die in Tsimshatsui</i> 1994 Hong Kong film

To Live and Die in Tsimshatsui is a 1994 Hong Kong crime film directed by Andrew Lau and starring Jacky Cheung, Tony Leung, Jacklyn Wu and Power Chan.

<i>No Risk, No Gain</i> 1990 Hong Kong comedy film

No Risk, No Gain is 1990 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Jimmy Heung and Taylor Wong and starring Alan Tam, Andy Lau and Natalis Chan. It is the second installment of the Casino Raiders series.

<i>Dragon in Jail</i> 1990 Hong Kong film

Dragon in Jail is a 1990 Hong Kong action film directed by Kent Cheng and starring Andy Lau, Kenny Ho and Gigi Lai.

<i>Bloody Brotherhood</i> 1989 Hong Kong action film directed by Wang Lung-wei

Bloody Brotherhood is a 1989 Hong Kong action film directed by Wang Lung-wei and starring Andy Lau and Irene Wan.

<i>Touch and Go</i> (1991 film) 1991 Hong Kong film

Touch and Go, also known as Point of No Return is a 1991 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by Ringo Lam and starring Sammo Hung.

<i>The Old Miao Myth</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

The Old Miao Myth is a 1983 Hong Kong period suspense television series produced by TVB and starring Andy Lau, Ray Lui and Patricia Chong. The series centers around a statue and slowly evolves into a broad story with many bizarre twists and turns, which stirred up a sensation when it was first broadcast.

<i>Man from Guangdong</i> 1991 Hong Kong martial arts television series

Man from Guangdong is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts television series produced by TVB and tells the story of Leung Kan, portrayed by Aaron Kwok, the fictitious son of famed martial artist Leung Foon, whom was a favored disciple of folk hero Wong Fei-hung, portrayed by Shih Kien. Shih, who portrayed Wong in the series, was known for portraying antagonists in a series of Wong Fei-hung-related films during the 1940s to 1970s, while the series also features Sai Gwa-Pau reprising his role as "Buckteeth So" from the aforementioned series of films.

References

  1. "The Adventurers - Variety". 16 September 1996.
  2. "The Adventurers - Movie Review - The Austin Chronicle".