Casino Raiders 2 Cast
| Casino Raiders 2 | ||
review notes theme song awards availability | ||
| Year: | 1991 | Andy Lau does David Copperfield |
| Director: | Johnnie To Kei-Fung | |
| Producer: | Jimmy Heung | |
| Action: | Ching Siu-Tung | |
| Cast: | Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Wu Chien-Lien, Dave Wong Kit, Monica Chan Fat-Yung, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Lau Siu-Ming, Lau Kong, Kelvin Wong Siu, Lee Siu-Kei, Wong Yat-Fei | |
| The Skinny: | There's not much gambling going on in this mildly entertaining melodrama from Johnnie To. If the film comes off as a bit underwhelming, it's not for a lack of trying. After some card playing tomfoolery in the initial reel, EVERYTHING GOES TO HELL! Enjoy. | |
| Review by Calvin McMillin: | At first glance, the cover art of Casino Raiders 2 looks absolutely ludicrous. With the customary action movie 'wall of flame' in the background, a leather-clad Andy Lau walks toward the camera, flanked to his right by a morose-looking Dave Wong and a blank-faced, but otherwise cute, little girl. Both of them, mind you, are sitting astride a snazzy black motorcycle. Oh, and I almost forgot: Andy and Dave are holding katanas too. Peculiar as these individual facets seem, as the film unfolds, little by little, each and every element is featured in the movie. Andy Lau sporting a Fonzie jacket with requisite motorbike in tow? Check. Dave Wong with a pig-tailed cherub? Double check! How about that huge fireball of death? You got it! Katanas? Well, no. In fact, there's nary a samurai sword in the entirety of this Johnnie To-directed flick. Now, lest you think that I am about to launch into an extended diatribe on the perils of false advertising, let me just say that this digression on the merits of the film's poster art—an exercise in seeming futility—does have a purpose. In many ways, the sheer nuttiness of the poster parallels the 'kitchen sink' philosophy embodied by the filmmakers in the creation of this movie. Instead of merely piling on the stock action imagery as the cover art does, the film itself is a veritable deluge of shlocky, tear-jerking occurrences. Andy Lau and Wu Chien-Lien, the popular couple from the hit film A Moment of Romance, reunite for this unnecessarily bleak conman movie. In fact, there's so much melodrama going on that one has to wonder whether Casino Raiders 2 is supposed to be a freewheeling gambling movie or a daytime soap opera. All evidence points to the latter since the list of traumatic events occurring in this movie is seemingly endless. There's a little homicide going on, a sad case of infidelity, a harrowing scene of self-amputation, some Andy Lau strip blackjack, a few ridiculously impossible card tricks, a high speed wheelchair-bound chase of doom, unplanned parenthood, child neglect and/or abuse, blindness by lightsaber, assorted grisly gunshot wounds, and at least one hanging. But no matter what, Andy Lau still looks cool with a cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth. The plot? Ah, yes, that little contrivance. Well, Casino Raiders 2 centers on the gambling misadventures of Uncle Fan (Lau Siu-Ming), Chicken Feet (Lau), Lin (Wu), and Kay (Lee Sui-Kei). As related in flashbacks, a trusted gambling pal named Mr. James (Kelvin Wong) turned against Uncle Fan, leaving the elder gambler confined to a wheelchair and the old man's son, Kit (Dave Wong), taking the rap for murder! After Uncle Fan pays a visit to Davy Jones's locker, Kit coincidentally returns from prison, but is hesitant to join Chicken Feet in his plot for revenge. But Mr. James and Pow (a delightfully sleazy Anthony Wong) just won't leave things alone. It seems they're after a miraculous piece of green jade that was once owned by the God of Gamblers (sorry, no Chow Yun-Fat cameo), and was supposedly in the possession of Uncle Fan. In addition to all the aforementioned human tragedy, the film contains a welcome dose of good stuntwork thanks to action director Ching Siu-Tung. Wu Chien-Lien driving a car underneath the low trailer of a truck, a boat zooming onto a pier, and Andy Lau battling evildoers as fireballs explode dangerously close behind him are just some of the highlights. Of course, our heroes get pushed to the limit by the film's antagonists, leaving Chicken Feet and Kit no choice but to 'get back what's theirs' in the twisty, but wholly predictable, gambling finale. Sure, Casino Raiders 2 manages to be somewhat entertaining thanks to its winning cast and interesting plot setups, but it's by no means a film you'll want to watch again and again. (Calvin McMillin 2003) | |
| Notes: | • The sequel has nothing to do with 1989's Casino Raiders aside from the presence of Andy Lau in both films and, presumably, 'casinos' and 'raiding.' | |
| Theme song: | 'The Days We Passed By Together' by Andy Lau Request this song on HKVP Radio Vote for Andy Lau | |
| Awards: | The 11th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards • Nomination - Best Song ('The Days We Passed By Together', performed by Andy Lau Tak-Wah) | |
| Availability: | DVD (Hong Kong) Region 0 NTSC Universe Laser Widescreen Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks Dolby Digital 5.1 Removable English and Chinese Subtitles | |
image courtesy of Universe Laser and Video Co., Ltd. | ||
Not Yet Rated 2 hr 5 min Action. Full Cast & Crew. Chicken Feet (Andy Lau) assists in running an honorable gambling den owned by the crippled Uncle Fan (Siu-Ming Lau) and his son Kit (Wong Kit).
Despite the numerology, 1993's Casino Raiders 2 is actually the second in-name-only follow-up to 1989's smash-hit after Lau and Tam co-starred in No Risk, No Gain - The Sequel to Casino Raiders but it's perhaps more notable for being that rarest of Hong Kong commodities, a poor Johnny To film. Casino Raider 2 ini menceritakan dua orang penjudi di Hongkong (diperankan oleh Andy Lau dan Wang Chi Wei). Mereka kerap melakukan kecurangan dalam bermainnya, sehingga ketika diketahui oleh lawan mainnya mereka dibuat cacad, yaitu dibutakan matanya dan dipotong tangan.
| Casino Raiders II | |
|---|---|
| Traditional | 至尊無上II之永霸天下 |
| Simplified | 至尊无上II之永霸天下 |
| Mandarin | Zhì Zūn Wú Shàng Èr Zhī Yǒng Bà Tiān Xià |
| Cantonese | Zi3 Zyun1 Mou4 Seong6 Zi1 Wing2 Baa3 Tin1 Haa6 |
| Directed by | Johnnie To |
| Produced by | Jimmy Heung |
| Screenplay by | Tsang Kan-cheung |
| Starring | Andy Lau Dave Wong Jacklyn Wu Monica Chan |
| Music by | William Hu |
| Cinematography | Horace Wong |
| Edited by | Ng Kam-wa |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Orange Sky Golden Harvest |
Release date | 13 June 1991 |
| 91 minutes | |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Box office | HK$26,889,659 |
Casino Raiders II is a 1991 Hong Kong actiondrama film directed by Johnnie To and starring Andy Lau, Dave Wong, Jacklyn Wu and Monica Chan. Despite the title, the film is the third installment in the Casino Raiders film series, following Casino Raiders (1989) and No Risk, No Gain (1990). The films in the series are unrelated and merely share the same principal actor Andy Lau.[1][2][3][4]
Plot[edit]
According to the legend, before the God of Gamblers retired, he gave two piece of jade tablet to two people whom he is gracious to and whoever has a piece of the jade tablet can invite the God of Gamblers to help them win in a gambling competition. Later, one piece has returned to the God of Gamblers, while the other one is in the hands of someone.
Chicken Feet, Kit and James were Uncle Fan's apprentices. One time when Uncle Fan brought them to Osaka to compete with Taro Yamamoto, James killed Yamamoto for money and betrayed Fan, which caused Fan crippled and framed Kit for the murder of Yamamoto, leading him imprisoned. After Kit is imprisoned, Fan and Chicken Feet were forced too open a gamble table in a boat but James does not stop. James needs the jade tablet to participate in the Asia Gambling Competition and he believes Fan knows the whereabouts of the jade tablet.
In order to pull Chicken Feet and Kit from danger and have the two avenger him later, Uncle Fan jumps into the ocean and commits suicide. Later Kit is released from prison and intends to lead a normal life but he could not escape from James's pestering. In order to save his daughter and to escape from James's pestering, he cuts off his own hand. Chicken Feet and others had heard the news that Fan spread before and his death, which leads them to find the jade tablet. Because of this, James tries to kill them and Chicken Feet's girlfriend Siu-mui dies as a result. Kit later throws the disastrous jade down the ocean.
The Asia Gambling Competition begins, Kit participates to help Mr. Yeung, while Chicken Feet also participates to avenge Siu-mui and Uncle Fan. Finally, Kit, Chicken Feet, previous champion James and another competitor encounter in the final round. Kit follows Yeung's idea to lose all the money, since Yeung bet James to win. Finally, Chicken Feet, with an A spades, 3 spades, 4 spades, 5 spades and a 2 spades under competes with James, who has a J clubs, J diamonds, Q diamond, Q hearts and a Q spades under. Chicken Feet puts a fake jade and his own life at stake to bet with James's life. James quits before betting with Chicken Feet, and Chicken Feet wins US$40 million and becomes the new Asian Gambling Champ.
Later, Yeung learns that James bet US$5 million for himself to lose and the angered Yeung sends people to kill James.
Finally, Chicken Feet temporary leaves Hong Kong to avoid danger and right after seeing off Chicken Feet leave, Kit was shot by a group of thugs and the film ends.
Casino Raiders 2 Cast Original
Cast[edit]
- Andy Lau as Chicken Feet
- Dave Wong as Kit
- Jacklyn Wu as Siu-mui
- Monica Chan as Kit's ex-girlfriend
- Kelvin Wong as James
- Anthony Wong as Pau
- Chan Cheuk-yan as Yan
- Lau Siu-ming as Uncle Fan
- Lee Siu-kei as Uncle Kei
- Peter Yang as Mr. Yeung
- Tien Feng as Mr. Chung
- Wong San as Competition Judge
- Lau Kong as King Kong
- Lam Chung as Funeral Director (cameo)
- Lau Shun as Toro Yamamoto (cameo)
- Wong Yat-fei as Kit's cousin (cameo)
- Anna Ng as Kit's cousin's wife (cameo)
- Wong Wai-kei as Kit's ex-wife
- Au-yeung Yiu-yam as Poker cheat on Fan's boat
- Shing Wan-on as Mr. Shing
- Lui Siu-ming as Shing's man
- Choi Kwok-kuen as Pau's thug
- James Ha as Pau's thug
- Chang Sing-kwong as Pau's thug
- Lau Shung Fung as Pau's thug
- Fung Man-kwong as Yeung's bodyguard
- Hui Sze-man as Mahjong friend of cousin's wife
- Jameson Lam as James's thug
- Fan Chin-hung as James's thug
- Lam Foo-wai as James's thug
- Chan Sek as James's thug
- Tang Cheung as Funeral MC
- Ma Yuk-sing as Assassin with newspaper
- Ho Chi-moon as Gambling competition spectator
Music[edit]
Theme song[edit]
- The Days We Went Through Together (一起走過的日子) (Cantonese) / The Fate of Next Life (來生緣) (Mandarin)
- Composer: William Hu
- Lyricist: Siu Mei
- Singer: Andy Lau
Insert themes[edit]
- The Dream that Never Dies (不死的夢)
- Composer: William Hu
- Lyricist: Siu Mei
- Singer: Andy Lau
- Heartache (心痛)
- Composer: Dave Wong
- Lyricist: Dave Wong
- Singer: Dave Wong
Ending theme[edit]
- Cold Long Street (冰冷長街) (Cantonese) / Forget You Why Not Forget Myself (忘記你不如忘記自己) (Mandarin)
- Composer: Johann Ziller, Claus Lessmann
- Lyricist: Dave Wong (Cantonese), Cheung Fong-lo (Mandarin)
- Singer: Dave Wong
Land Raiders Cast
Box office[edit]
The film grossed HK$26,889,659 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 13 June to 11 July 1991 in Hong Kong.
Award nomination[edit]
- 11th Hong Kong Film Awards
- Nominated: Best Original Film Song (The Days We Went Through Together (一起走過的日子) - Composer: William Hu, Lyricist: Siu Mei, Singer: Andy Lau)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Casino Raiders II(1991)'. imdb.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^Mr Blue. 'Casino Raiders II (1991)'. hkmdb.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^'Watch Casino Raiders Ii (1993) Free Online'. ovguide.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^'Casino Raiders 2'. youtube.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
External links[edit]
- Casino Raiders II at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
- Casino Raiders II at Hong Kong Cinemagic
- Casino Raiders II on IMDb
- Casino Raiders II at LoveHKFilm.com