1980s Hong Kong action cinema drew upon new elements such as romance and burlesque. This fine example has heart-warming love stories, fun tricycle chases and spectacular fights. The sparring between Sammo Hung and Lau Kar-leung is particularly memorable.
Starting in the 1980s, Hong Kong action movies began to break with the tried-and-tested kungfu formula of training to beat an enemy; instead, they started to mix elements of romance, comedy and action together into a whole new hybrid genre. Pedicab Driver tells of the love affairs of two pedicab drivers, neatly blending romantic scenes with breathtaking action sequences. The Star Wars-esque lightsaber battles are hilarious, and the mad cap chases between cars and the tricycles truly thrilling. The most jaw-dropping scene of all, however, is the showdown between Sammo Hung and Lau Kar-leung: Lau, trained in the orthodox Southern school of martial arts, confronts Hung, with his background in Peking Opera. Both are Hong Kong masters of choreography in their respective styles – their fighting ranges from fists to sticks, creating a powerful and supremely memorable visual spectacle. –Rotterdam
Sammo Hung (born Hung Kam Po, 7 January 1952) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, producer and director, known for his work in many kung fu films and Hong Kong action cinema. He has been a fight choreographer for, amongst others, Jackie Chan, King Hu, and John Woo. Hung is one of the pivotal figures who spearheaded the Hong Kong New Wave movement of the 1980s, helped reinvent the martial arts genre and started the vampire-like Jiang Shi genre. He is widely credited with assisting many of his compatriots, giving them their starts in the Hong Kong film industry, by casting them in the films he produced, or giving them roles in the production crew. Hung has starred in 75 films, and worked on over 230, beginning as a child actor whilst still attending the China Drama Academy. Upon leaving the opera school, he worked as an extra and stuntman, and progressed through other roles including fight choreographer, stunt co-ordinator, action director, actor, writer, producer and director. —IMDb… read more
A question for you. In Pedicab Driver (Sammo Hung, 1989) the roly-poly Hung (star and director) crashes his bike, along with his girlfriend
Pedicab Driver
Directed by: Sammo Hung
Stars: Sammo Hung, Max Mok, Nina Li Chi, Fennie Yuen, Suen Yuet, John Sham, Billy Chow and Lau Kar-Leung
First up in our new feature is… read review
