God of Gamblers' Return

Ko Chun has withdrawn from the gambling world and lives quietly in France with his pregnant wife, having sworn not to touch a card for a year. A Taiwanese gambler finds him and kills his family. Because of the oath he cannot play at once and has to wait out the year. Several people attach themselves to him in the meantime, and the account will be settled at the table. Wong Jing directs. Chow Yun-fat plays Ko Chun, with Tony Leung Ka-fai, Chingmy Yau and Wu Chien-lien. The series created a period in Hong Kong cinema. The first God of Gamblers appeared in 1989 and turned gambling films into a genre, followed by dozens of imitations and spin offs. What distinguishes this one is the tone. The narrative moves between comedy, extreme violence, melodrama and overblown gambling scenes without transitions, which is Wong Jing's known method. The gambling is not realistic and does not try to be; the cards turn in slow motion, the music rises, and the result is built like a fight scene. It was among the highest grossing films of the year at the Hong Kong box office. Chow Yun-fat plays the character entirely on style; the chocolate habit and the hair are as recognised as the character himself. Who it is for: viewers who like nineties Hong Kong popular cinema and gambling films. Who it is not for: the narrative is scattered, the shifts between humour and violence are harsh, and some references are lost without the first film.