Motorway

Decent tight actioner for Soi Cheang, who directed the superior and unrated "Accident"
Pretty standard cops and robbers, mentor/teacher plot which serves as cipher for the hi octane car chases.
Fortunately it's not all CGI driving in the Intial D style and alot of fun is derived from bare bones plot. However, even with a short running time of 90 mins, there is still a superfluous character in Barbie Hsu's hottie doctor. She has 3 scenes in the movie which could either be cut out or in the crucial middle scene, be replaced by an anoymous actor and the film wouldn't suffer but in fact be improved, as it would be punchier and wouldn't have the distraction of thinking "Isn't she too young to be a surgeon"?

But the film is certainly good fun and the action is pretty effective. Worth checking out.

Belated HK Film Award Results

Best Picture: A Simple Life
Best Actor: Andy Lau - A Simple Life
Best Actress: Deanie Yip - A Simple Life
Best Director: Ann Hui - A Simple Life
Best Screenplay: Susan Chan - A Simple Life
Best Supporting Actor: Lo Hoi Pang - Life Without Principle
Best Supporting Actress: Soh Hang Shuen - Life Without Principle
Best Newcomer: Hsiao Ching Teng - The Killer Who Never Kills
Best Cinematopgraphy: Derek Hui - Wu Xia
Best Art Director: Yee Chung Man, Lau Man Hung - Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Best Costume and Makeup Design : William Chang - Let the Bullets Fly
Best Action Choreography: Yuen Bun, Lan Hai Han, Sun Jiankui - Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Best Original Score: Chan Kwong, Peter Kam, Chatchai Pongprapaphan - Wu Xia
Best Original Song: Leung Sum Fa - Hi Fidelity
Best Sound Effects : Kim Suk Won - Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Best Visual Effects: Wook Kim, Josh Cole, Frankie Chung - Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Best New Director: Tsang Tsui Shan - The Big Blue Lake
Best Chnese Film : You are the Apple of My Eye
Professional Achivement Award: Fong Ho Yuen (stills photographer)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ni Kuang (screenwriter)

No real surprises in the main categories this year.4 Awards for "Flying Swords", but mainly for the technical prizes. It was the 2nd biggest winner after "A Simple Life" which took 5. It was a night for the veterans with the supporting actor awards dominating the wins and the nominations. It seemed like the industry was keen to award the supporting actors that night as it was unlikely they would be likely to be in this position again.