Reviewed by: evirei Date: 09/02/2012 Reviewer Score: 9

Reviewed by: j.crawford Date: 10/21/2006 Summary: deliciously creepy Fruit Chan Goh's Dumplings is a deliciously creepy, deeply disturbing, and thought provoking film. If you can imagine that the beautiful Bai Ling could look in the mirror and see Hau Woon-Ling in her reflection, then you have an idea of the nature of the secret ingredient of Aunt Mei's famous dumplings. Firstly, I can't believe this film got made in post-Handover Hong Kong. Secondly, director Chan's master stroke of genius is the casting of Miriam Yeung Chin-Wah. I never would have thought, from all her romantic comedy work, that she had this performance in her. This horror film is a nice update of the "untold story" sub-genre. Reviewer Score: 7

Reviewed by: Sydneyguy Date: 10/07/2005 Summary: Something different I didn't have a idea of what this movie was about,but believe it or not i guessed the secret ingrediant to the dumplings early on, i thought what could make this movie,which seem tame at the beginning a cat 3 movie. It was confirmed when the female student went to see Bai Ling's character. Ok, enough about my boasting, with the female workers at my work always talking about beauty, looking young, have fat sucked out of them, i wondered what extremes they would goto and i beleive if these magic dumplings really did work in real life, that there would be people lining up for it, despite the magic ingrediant. In other words i find this movie beleiveable!! The others have said a lot, a fasinating movie to watch, do not be put of with the car 3 rating 7/10 Reviewer Score: 7

Reviewed by: JohnR Date: 06/27/2005 Summary: Vomit and Think Cinema This isn't what I think of as a "horror" film; so if you're looking for Freddie type butchery or The Eye type eerieness, you won't find it. But it is pretty creepy. And it's excellently done; I would say flawlessly. It's impossible to write about this movie w/o giving a spoiler warning, so be warned, though I think the spoilers are mild. Miriam Yeung plays a faded star (she's only 35 in the movie)who's husband cheats on her with 20-somethings (though he's at least 50 himself). The supporting role of the husband is played by Tony Leung Ka Fai; he gives just the right touch, as he often does. Miriam's character comes to Mei (Bai Ling's character) for the remedy - the thing that will restore her youth and get her back into Tony's bed - the dumplings; with a special ingredient that's revealed fairly early on in the film. (No surprise to Miriam, though, she knew it going in.) In addition to being gorgeous, Bai Ling does a great job playing Mei. She gestures and moves the way someone Mei's age would, while looking hotter than someone Bai Ling's age rarely is. I've never seen a Miriam Yeung movie because they get bad reviews and don't sound like something I'd enjoy, but I do know she's playing against type here and she does a very good job. We watch her change from being insecure and afraid (and almost as reluctant to eat the dumplings as any of us would be - I say "almost" because of course she does eat them) to becoming aggressive, in control, and if not a new master of the trade, at least a gifted apprentice. The difference between her at the end and Mei throughout, is the later is chipper and enjoys herself immensely, whereas Miram seems more like an angry junkie. During the course of the film, we are shown "the method" alongside Miriam. At first, we see Bai Ling making the dumplings, but have no real reason to think there's anything special about them except wondering "what was that" when Bai Ling pops something into her mouth and Miram's hesitation to put them into hers. Then, as Fruit Chan slowly fills in our knowledge of where and how the ingredient is obtained, he also shows us more and more of the ingredient and process itself; building our awareness layer by visually graphic layer. And we become like Miriam, more and more able to take the shock of the details, because we move forward a step at a time. In doing so, the message appears to be that the ends to which members of our society will go to maintain beauty, youth, and sexual attractiveness is not a ravine that only the truly depraved will leap, but a path down which we all travel. Thank goodness most of us have the sense to walk slowly and not too far! The sex scenes (tastefully, if lustfully done) did seem a tad long at the time, but in retropect I think they were necessary to show us how highly Miram (and others) enjoyed and wanted what the dumplings could provide. Because Youth and Beauty aren't valued by many of us for what they are in themselves, but for what they can bring. Excellent film.

Reviewed by: bkasten Date: 01/16/2005 Summary: An American X-tian Fundamentalist's Nightmare There are few movies that delve into such deeply taboo subjects as those depicted in this movie. For that very reason, I highly recommend this movie! Spoilers follow. I suggest not reading further until you have seen the movie. But DO see the movie! ************* The subjects at hand are: abortion, cannibalism, and incest...and the movie has a simple message: to what lengths will rich middle-aged women (and men) go to retain the most prized of all treasures: youth and beauty. The answer is already provided. In a movie of deep moral ambiguities, it is starkly realistic at one moment, highly stylized at others, with a constant undertone of deep surrealism. The movie, in true art house form, is circuitous, sometimes confusing, and breathtakingly colorful and imaginative (Doyle is the cinematographer). It also delves into hideously gratuitous territory. And for someone like me, who has absolutely no limits regarding profane or offensive material, there were times when some of the material here "got to me" just a bit. The egg crushing scenes, the fetus scenes, Bai Ling's cannibalism speech, and most of all the sex (which seemed to me to have a very odd sinister twist and went on for way too long). Among all else, is a scene where Yang Qian-Hua (Miriam) fellates Liang Jia-Hui (Big Tony)...replete with sound effects. The movie made me explore my own (Western indoctrinated) feelings about these subjects in a way that no other movie ever has. After all, what higher praise could be given to a movie? On the other hand it goes just a little too far, I think. And at times I think Chen Guo is playing with the audience just a bit too much... Breathtakingly colorful beauty, surreal and sinister, morally relativistic. A landmark work to western eyes, I believe. Random thoughts: You may be asking who on earth is Bai Ling? I did too. She is mainland Chinese who emigrated to the U.S. in 1991. She's totally unknown in HK. She is incredibly beautiful, and despite the movie's attempts at confusing you over her true age (both in the movie and as an actress), she was born in 1970. I have done some looking over review material by both Western and Chinese reviewers, and I find the differences in reaction to this movie to be rather striking...and fully revealing of the tremendous cultural gap that exists between. Read them and see what I mean. Somehow I doubt any American distributor would get within several barge poles’ reach of this film. Reviewer Score: 8

Reviewed by: mrblue Date: 11/14/2004 I really love Chinese dumplings, but after seeing this movie, I don't think I'll ever look at them in the same light. Three... Extremes: Dumplings (which is an expanded version of Fruit Chan's contribution to the Three... Extremes compilation) is one of the more disturbing films I've seen lately. I sat through the much-hyped Saw while munching on nachos with extra cheese (and, frankly, the nachos were the best thing about that movie), but I wouldn't fathom doing the same with Dumplings. The fact that Three... Extremes: Dumplings is so creepy is all the more surprising since it's directed by Fruit Chan, who is known for weepy romantic dramas, not shocking thrillers. Chan does an excellent job here, though. I really have disliked Miriam Yeung in the films I've seen her in, but Chan actually makes her likeable here -- even though the actions she takes should make her anything but. In the movie, she plays an aging actress who comes to a former doctor (played by the smoking hot Bai Ling) who crafts dumplings filled with the "meat" of aborted fetuses, which return youth to the person who eats them. The dumplings become an addiction for Miriam, and soon she starts to go to any length to get them. Despite the plot and the film's Category III rating, Three... Extremes: Dumplings is not a gore-fest ala The Untold Story. The movie does have its' share of unsettling moments (most notably an extended abortion sequence), but it's what the viewer does not see (and is left to their own imagination) that leaves its' mark. Three... Extremes: Dumplings is also genuinely sexy without being sleazy (Bai Ling's cleavage is such a thing of beauty to behold), and there is a good dose of ultra-black humor as well. 2004 has been kind of a strange year for Hong Kong movies. Many of the big-budget "epics" have failed to live up to the pre-release hype, but there have been many excellent films that have come in "under the radar", and Three... Extremes: Dumplings is another one of those movies. It's scary and sexy, but most importantly, it's fun -- in a twisted kind of way. This is the kind of movie western Hong Kong film fans love: something off-kilter which would never be produced in the United States. While the US seems content in cranking out dull PG-13 fare like the remake of The Grudge, thankfully Asian film-makers are still willing to take chances. Even if you're not normally into horror/suspense films, do yourself a favor and check this one out. [review from www.hkfilm.net]