Caught this on DVD the other day...and I was laughing and smiling until the shopping mall sequence...where it abruptly shifted gears and positively reveled in cruelty and heartbreak...and then went back to being a goofy(but still blood-soaked) spoof. Well , I guess that 's part of the craziness of Hong Kong cinema that we all love....and I'm still smiling about the hilarious weapons and gadgets...the "solar flashlight" is priceless. Well worth seeing. Bond fans will love the riotous imitation of Maurice Binder's main title visuals...opening action sequence is as good as anything you'd see in a Bond film and Anita Yuen makes an adorable foil/adversary/partner for Chow. (But as I said, it is pure Stephen Chow nutball fun...like the guys who made "Shaun Of The Dead" and "Hot Fuzz", Chow takes no prisoners when he's out to bend a genre inside out and backwards.)
17 Reviews
A lovely James Bond spoof with heart and spirit...
paul_haakonsen30 June 2020
"From Beijing With Love" (aka "Gwok chaan Ling Ling Chat") turned out to be a very enjoyable Hong Kong action comedy that stars Stephen Chow.
Needless to say that a movie that stars Stephen Chow is bound to be enjoyable. There is just something about his movies and the characters he portrays that is highly enjoyable and entertaining. And "From Beijing With Love" was no different.
This is a wonderful spoof on the "James Bond" movies, but with a Hong Kong comedy twist to it. And it works out quite well, truth be told. It is a combination of a good storyline, interesting characters and nice acting performances that really brings this movie to its potential.
There is a good amount of comedy in the movie. Of course there is, as this is a movie with Stephen Chow in the leading role. But "From Beijing With Love" also has enough action and drama to make it interesting. And the mixture works out quite well in favor of the movie.
"From Beijing With Love" definitely is a remarkable movie from actor Stephen Chow, no doubt about that.
My rating from this 1994 movie from directors Stephen Chow and Lik-Chi Lee lands on a seven out of ten stars. I was highly entertained by the movie and was enjoying what transpired on the screen. High recommendable if you have an interest in the light-hearted side of Hong Kong cinema.
Needless to say that a movie that stars Stephen Chow is bound to be enjoyable. There is just something about his movies and the characters he portrays that is highly enjoyable and entertaining. And "From Beijing With Love" was no different.
This is a wonderful spoof on the "James Bond" movies, but with a Hong Kong comedy twist to it. And it works out quite well, truth be told. It is a combination of a good storyline, interesting characters and nice acting performances that really brings this movie to its potential.
There is a good amount of comedy in the movie. Of course there is, as this is a movie with Stephen Chow in the leading role. But "From Beijing With Love" also has enough action and drama to make it interesting. And the mixture works out quite well in favor of the movie.
"From Beijing With Love" definitely is a remarkable movie from actor Stephen Chow, no doubt about that.
My rating from this 1994 movie from directors Stephen Chow and Lik-Chi Lee lands on a seven out of ten stars. I was highly entertained by the movie and was enjoying what transpired on the screen. High recommendable if you have an interest in the light-hearted side of Hong Kong cinema.
Almost a perfect parody...
CronoClone29 December 2001
In the grand tradition of Get Smart, we have here a wonderfully wacky send-up of 007 action films. For the first roughly 2/3 of the movie, I was literally rolling out of my seat laughing with this film's ontarget, brilliant skewerings of spy film cliches. As much as I hate to say it, though, at the 2/3 point the film begins to lose its focus. It starts to concentrate too heavily on creating the Bond mood, and consequently ends up being far too serious. Up until that point, though, it was really something special. The only other qualm I have is that it is far, far too violent. You have fingers getting sliced off, a man getting glass shoved into his face, necks being slashed, etc. Heck, just as the movie is building its comedic potential, a minor character gets brutally stabbed in the head. Had this been done in an over-the-top manner, it could have been very funny, like the Black Knight scene in Holy Grail. But they instead opted for a hyper-realistic look, that, when introduced into a heavily comedic environment, presents an uncomfortable clash of styles and makes the often startling violence uniquely disturbing and grotesque. Still, if you can overlook its flaws, this is definitely a movie worth seeing.
Hong Kong action at it's silliest
grross3 June 2000
If you have ever watched a James Bond film and aren't all that particular about having a believable plot then you will more than likely find this to be a screamingly funny film. It sends up the genre and makes no apologies,from the over the top villain, to a 'Q' clone who borders on the insane,to a Femme Fatale of questionable allegiance this film has it all. A definite must see for anyone who likes a good laugh.
Stephen Chow's Bond has to be seen to be believed
Leofwine_draca31 August 2016
FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE is a fun and low budget scattershot spoof of the James Bond films, Hong Kong style. It's an outing for star, writer, and director Stephen Chow, who brings his quirky eccentricity to all three roles: this is the type of film that can have cheesy romance in one scene, violent death and murder in the next, and mix it up in a plot absolutely chock full of humour from film references to slapstick to some quite surreal moments.
Chow plays an ordinary butcher from the mainland who has a second life as a secret agent. When a dinosaur skull is stolen (this film came out after JURASSIC PARK) he is tasked with tracking it down, beginning a fraught relationship with female aide Anita Yuen (who is very good). The twosome face internal conflict and lots of low rent action scenes, most of which are rather funny. There's a Jaws clone and Pauline Chan as a hot femme fatale. The low budget is very apparent in the staging and occasionally in the special effects, but overall the film works very well indeed and I had something of a ball with it. Sure, it's not as polished as the bigger budgeted likes of SHAOLIN SOCCER and KUNG FU HUSTLE, but it always entertains.
Chow plays an ordinary butcher from the mainland who has a second life as a secret agent. When a dinosaur skull is stolen (this film came out after JURASSIC PARK) he is tasked with tracking it down, beginning a fraught relationship with female aide Anita Yuen (who is very good). The twosome face internal conflict and lots of low rent action scenes, most of which are rather funny. There's a Jaws clone and Pauline Chan as a hot femme fatale. The low budget is very apparent in the staging and occasionally in the special effects, but overall the film works very well indeed and I had something of a ball with it. Sure, it's not as polished as the bigger budgeted likes of SHAOLIN SOCCER and KUNG FU HUSTLE, but it always entertains.
A nice spoof on James Bond Stephen Chow style
chrichtonsworld18 July 2007
As many of Stephen Chow movies this movie is some sort of parody. This time James Bond has to answer. The way Stephen Chow makes fun of the perfect Bond is something you have to see for your selves. In stead of being a skilled shooter Stephen Chow is skilled in using a butcher knife. He has all sort of gadgets which aren't very useful. As a spoof it isn't entirely perfect. Most of the jokes were lost to me since you have to know Chinese to understand. The subtitles that came with the movie weren't good translations. The comedy in this movie isn't as visual as most of Stephen Chow's work but it is still funnier than other movies like this. There are some brilliant scenes that are typical of Stephen Chow's talent (as a comedian). This movie is nice enough but not quite up to the level of Chows's usual work. (I give this 6,5 out of 10)
if you liked Kung Fu Hustle...
DanStarkey15 July 2005
To Western eyes, Stephen Chow's comedies are uneven. "Kung Fu Hustle" is clearly a masterpiece, but why is "Shaolin Soccer" considered so funny? "From Beijing with Love" is an early Chow effort that does work for both East and West, perhaps because the Bond and Star Wars scenes and pretensions that he parodies are so immediately recognizable.
Westerners love violent films with massive body counts, but have a strong and somewhat contradictory aversion to the gore that would ensue in real life, so like most Asian action films, this one would require some heavy editing for Western release. The juxtaposition of death and mutilation with absurd comedy is not Hollywood's style. From Beijing with Love is definitely not for children. But there are some good laughs here for adult Bond fans with strong stomachs, especially those who remember the lamentable Roger Moore effort, "The Man with the Golden Gun."
Worth watching, and the soundtrack is surprisingly good too.
Westerners love violent films with massive body counts, but have a strong and somewhat contradictory aversion to the gore that would ensue in real life, so like most Asian action films, this one would require some heavy editing for Western release. The juxtaposition of death and mutilation with absurd comedy is not Hollywood's style. From Beijing with Love is definitely not for children. But there are some good laughs here for adult Bond fans with strong stomachs, especially those who remember the lamentable Roger Moore effort, "The Man with the Golden Gun."
Worth watching, and the soundtrack is surprisingly good too.
Timeless comedy made in 1994
zhixiong11 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I have watched this movie on cable television re-runs several times and is always amused by the comedy. I have a high humour threshold and have to admit that 'From Bejing With Love' meets my expectations.
The living room scene where Siu Kam (played by Anita Yuen) tries to shoot Ling Ling Chai (played by Stephen Chow) is extremely funny. She was greeted by a reverse shot by the gun. Ling Ling Chai heard the gunshot and turns around to explain to her that the gun shoots the opposite direction. While Ling Ling Chai is testing the gun's silencer, Siu Kam points the gun towards herself and shoots Ling Ling Chai again. To our surprise, she gets shot again. Ling Ling Chai explains that the gun's bullet alternates every shot. Looking defeated and injured, Siu Kam runs comically into the toilet with both her arms badly wounded.
Another scene worth mentioning is when Ling Ling Chai enters the bathroom while Siu Kam is wrapped in a towel. Ling Ling Chai with a smoking pipe and two iron balls resting on his palm, looks cool. (In the early days of Chinese gangsterism, a stereotyped powerful boss usually rotates two iron balls on a palm.) The angry Siu Kam tells him to close the bathroom door. Ling Ling Chai closes the door but he is still inside the bathroom. Siu Kam shouts him to get out and close the door.
Towards the end of the movie, Ling Ling Chai was in a party function and tries to take a glass of wine from the waiter's platter. However someone took it before he has the chance. Then Ling Ling Chai and the waiter looks at the platter, waiting for a miracle to happen. This is actually a parody of the famous Guinness beer commercial endorsed by George Lam.
Made in 1994, this movie is still a classic. With several notable comical 'nonsense' scenes and the funny scene of 'extinguish cigarette butt on a hand' that was repeated in Shaolin Soccer (2001).
Mao points: 9/10
The living room scene where Siu Kam (played by Anita Yuen) tries to shoot Ling Ling Chai (played by Stephen Chow) is extremely funny. She was greeted by a reverse shot by the gun. Ling Ling Chai heard the gunshot and turns around to explain to her that the gun shoots the opposite direction. While Ling Ling Chai is testing the gun's silencer, Siu Kam points the gun towards herself and shoots Ling Ling Chai again. To our surprise, she gets shot again. Ling Ling Chai explains that the gun's bullet alternates every shot. Looking defeated and injured, Siu Kam runs comically into the toilet with both her arms badly wounded.
Another scene worth mentioning is when Ling Ling Chai enters the bathroom while Siu Kam is wrapped in a towel. Ling Ling Chai with a smoking pipe and two iron balls resting on his palm, looks cool. (In the early days of Chinese gangsterism, a stereotyped powerful boss usually rotates two iron balls on a palm.) The angry Siu Kam tells him to close the bathroom door. Ling Ling Chai closes the door but he is still inside the bathroom. Siu Kam shouts him to get out and close the door.
Towards the end of the movie, Ling Ling Chai was in a party function and tries to take a glass of wine from the waiter's platter. However someone took it before he has the chance. Then Ling Ling Chai and the waiter looks at the platter, waiting for a miracle to happen. This is actually a parody of the famous Guinness beer commercial endorsed by George Lam.
Made in 1994, this movie is still a classic. With several notable comical 'nonsense' scenes and the funny scene of 'extinguish cigarette butt on a hand' that was repeated in Shaolin Soccer (2001).
Mao points: 9/10
boring, slow, not funny
digdog-785-71753826 September 2021
I mean, what can i add? FBWL is slow, boring, unfunny, horrid in pacing, exceptionally mediocre in acting, and only really interesting for people who are not aware that asians. Actually. Exist.
I strongly recommend you watch literallly anything else. God Of Cookery, Tampopo, anything Kurosawa, anything Jackie Chan, any Shaolin Soccer, or i seriously mean ANYTHING else.
My vote: a sad 5.5/10.
I strongly recommend you watch literallly anything else. God Of Cookery, Tampopo, anything Kurosawa, anything Jackie Chan, any Shaolin Soccer, or i seriously mean ANYTHING else.
My vote: a sad 5.5/10.
From Beijing with Love
jackson_ro15 February 2020
One of Stephen Chow's finest works, so many iconic dialogues and characters. Yes, it is a little derogatory, but it reflects the views of many Hong Kong people at the time, but it is done mostly as comic relief. At the heart of it, I don't think Stephen was being racist, but more as a poke at the system. The movie is only a little less than 1.5 hours long, it's amazing how such a simple film can get so much done in such a short period of time with enough plot and character development to make it a classic. Watching the movie so many years later, I get to see a lot of things I couldn't understand as a kid, and appreciate this film even more. It serves as a token of the past, and in a way reflects how society and perception have changed over the years.
Not Chow's greatest work, but a fun film with his usual charm.
stephenhensley1 June 2023
Although primarily a parody, "From Beijing with Love" also serves as homage to classic films from the action and spy genre. Take the opening gunfight for example: it is a direct inspiration from John Woo cinematograph, but then Stephen Chow injects his usual wit and comedy. This blend enables Chow to have plenty of fun satirizing beloved films while also filming cool action sequences that are entirely original.
This is far from Chow's greatest work, but it holds his usual style: a never-ending machine gun of jokes punctuated by strikingly sincere, emotional moments between the main characters. If you are a fan of Chow, then you will certainly enjoy this film.
This is far from Chow's greatest work, but it holds his usual style: a never-ending machine gun of jokes punctuated by strikingly sincere, emotional moments between the main characters. If you are a fan of Chow, then you will certainly enjoy this film.
It's a terrific movie
brasco-55 August 2009
I think Stephen Chow is the most genius director and actor in Hong KONG,China. The way he demonstrate something is first class in Hong Kong. After seen all 9 comments i want to say something about the "gore" and something else that make some people feel uncmofortable.Actually this film has criticism to Hongkong films through the contrast of two kinds of performance,make-up,consum and other things. You can find the different way to perform violence.The shot of the robbery in the mall has nearly no blood but only with the way criminals eat,silence and few words the horror can be felt.And the next scene is the usually way diretors used in Hongkong,two people was stabbed with knives in their body and one people was sliced off his fingers.But this scene cant be compared to the previous one with respect to convulse in the audience. There is another example.The bullet removal scene nearly don't have any detail about the wound.They haven't shot the wound since they begin to work but the pain can be still strongly felt. That is what i talk about, Stephen Chow want to say performance is the best way to impress audience.The excessive detailed scene without decent performance backfired. Watch carefully,the difference of two rhythms of conversation, ways they make up, switches of scenes can be found in the movie.
Don't bother
countvasquez12 September 2012
I am amazed about the fairly high ratings this rather boring picture got. As far as James Bond spoofs go this one is forgettable. It suffers partly from being a JB parody - JB is in itself a parody - and more from an uneven script which can't decide if the main hero is a kind of Uber James Bond (with knives) OR kind of stumbling wannabee (Get Smart, Austin Powers).
The suits remember more (bad taste) gangsters of the 70s than Secret Agent "dressed to kill"-code.
For better spoofs from Hong Kong try "Magnificent Warriors" (Indy Jones "coveress").
Rating 3.5/10
The suits remember more (bad taste) gangsters of the 70s than Secret Agent "dressed to kill"-code.
For better spoofs from Hong Kong try "Magnificent Warriors" (Indy Jones "coveress").
Rating 3.5/10
yay! another Stephen Chow movie!
secrective17 October 2002
Standard comedy about a wannabe spy who gets double crossed by his boss, except hes got a chopper (butcher knife) and knows how to use it!
The plot is pretty thin, but this is still a funny movie, as are most of Chow's movies. Be sure to add this to any Stephen Chow marathons you might be hosting, otherwise, you can miss this one for another of his better films.
The plot is pretty thin, but this is still a funny movie, as are most of Chow's movies. Be sure to add this to any Stephen Chow marathons you might be hosting, otherwise, you can miss this one for another of his better films.
James Bond meets Austin Powers
buddhi1 January 2001
When I first saw this film I didn't know what to make of it - is it a Chinese James Bond or is it a Chinese Austin Powers. Well its neither and both at the same time if you get the drift.
Nevertheless it is totally insanely funny with its very silly plot and characters that had no credibility and I really enjoyed watching it. Fairly violent - but what else would you expect from a Hong Kong action film.
Nevertheless it is totally insanely funny with its very silly plot and characters that had no credibility and I really enjoyed watching it. Fairly violent - but what else would you expect from a Hong Kong action film.
So underrated... Chow's best satire deserves a 9
Raffinato26 June 2020
There's a saying that Chow's movie often appears to be a laugh-out-loud comedy until 20yrs later you're old enough to realize it's pure satire.
The movie was never released in China due to its sensitive political contents, and it's possible that we won't see another movie of this kind of transparency again, safe to say it's going to be banned as soon as it reaches post-production, going straight to oversea online streaming at best.
I don't feel safe just writing this, that's how true this movie relects the near-modern era on how officials deal with conflicts and crisis in all aspects. the bureaucracy, the silencing, 2-face hacks, corruption and scandals, etc. And the beauty or what made it overly sensitive was it doesn't beat around the bush with the message and make hints, it pinpoints to exactly whomever it's "accusing", --short, cruel, and straightforward. It's jawdropping for anyone who lives in this part of the world to see someone come forward with that kind of firm and mocking message.
From Beijing with Love, also known as "Chinese 007" marks an iconic chapter in the movie industry, it's not widely promoted, but always there for anyone who wants to take the message.
The movie was never released in China due to its sensitive political contents, and it's possible that we won't see another movie of this kind of transparency again, safe to say it's going to be banned as soon as it reaches post-production, going straight to oversea online streaming at best.
I don't feel safe just writing this, that's how true this movie relects the near-modern era on how officials deal with conflicts and crisis in all aspects. the bureaucracy, the silencing, 2-face hacks, corruption and scandals, etc. And the beauty or what made it overly sensitive was it doesn't beat around the bush with the message and make hints, it pinpoints to exactly whomever it's "accusing", --short, cruel, and straightforward. It's jawdropping for anyone who lives in this part of the world to see someone come forward with that kind of firm and mocking message.
From Beijing with Love, also known as "Chinese 007" marks an iconic chapter in the movie industry, it's not widely promoted, but always there for anyone who wants to take the message.
Stephen Bond Chow
kosmasp30 August 2022
Well I reckon you could also compare him to the Pink Panther - or Johnny English. Although more like the former I assume ... tough to really put him anywhere but you get the jist. Obviously if you have seen a Chow movie, you know how ridiculous his movies can be.
The jokes work fine, even if you do not know the movies they are based on. There are the evil maniacs who do their best to plot against .. our main character or the world in general. There is the love interest ... that is more than that by the way. Quite feisty and with a mind of her own.
What you may not like is how this handles the jokes and the serious stuff. It is not a fine line - no pun intended. The movie walks all over the place when it comes to that. Because silly meets blood and violence. Sometimes both meet each other and cuddle with each other. What you won't have is nudity, but other than that this really goes all out.
The jokes work fine, even if you do not know the movies they are based on. There are the evil maniacs who do their best to plot against .. our main character or the world in general. There is the love interest ... that is more than that by the way. Quite feisty and with a mind of her own.
What you may not like is how this handles the jokes and the serious stuff. It is not a fine line - no pun intended. The movie walks all over the place when it comes to that. Because silly meets blood and violence. Sometimes both meet each other and cuddle with each other. What you won't have is nudity, but other than that this really goes all out.
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