Out of the four Chinese New Year Hong Kong movies, Andrew LAU's "The Duel" is the one that we cannot easily predict what will be in the movie. With the other three movies, you can tell their genres or even the plot summary quite easily. This movie is all the more interesting when we consider the casting -- Andy LAU, Nick CHEUNG and Ekin CHENG in an action comedy.

"The Duel" is a story partially adapted from CHA's popular novel using only the duel between Yeh Cool-Son (Andy LAU) and "Simon the Snow Blower" (Ekin CHENG). Dragon 9 (Nick CHEUNG), one of the emperor's main ministers, is assigned to sell the eight available tickets for an audience to watch the fight at the top of the palace. At the same time, Princess Fifung (Vicky CHIU) who admires Yeh, falls in love with him. However, she is ignorant of the conspiracy behind Yeh ....

"The Duel" is an action comedy which is a bit suprise when you consider the casting of Andy LAU and Ekin CHENG; it looks more like a decent historial action movie. In fact, it is really a historial action comedy! The main reason is the casting of Nick CHEUNG Ka-fai in the movie. Without the presence of Dragon 9 in the movie, the movie would become a typical historical action movie rather than a comedy.

The function of Nick CHEUNG becomes apparent in the first 5 minutes of the movie with the fight between Thief Ghost (TSUI Siu-keung), Dragon 9 and "Simon the Snow Blower". Dragon 9's dirty character in the movie has the audience laughing. Later on, when he returns to the minister, the sub-plot involving him, Dragon 7 (LAM Hiu-fung) and Minister (WONG Yat-fei) proves that it is a comedy. Throughout the movie, Nick CHEUNG has every chance to show off his skills as a good comedy actor. The lovemaking joke is a bit risque but really entertaining.

Andy LAU and Ekin CHENG seem to be cast in this movie only to attract an audience with their name rather than by their roles. Having seen Andy's box office drawing power for his films suggests that this is the reason for his presence here. In fact, he has done no more than what is expected in the movie. Perhaps Ekin CHENG's image as a hero from roles such as "Storm Riders" (1998) and "A Man Called Hero" (1999) is too deeply ingrained, his role in "The Duel" looks very close to that of "A Man Called Hero" (1999). Usually for Ekin's role there is a girl around him and Ziqing (Kristy YEUNG Kung-yu) fills this role in this movie.

Kristy YEUNG Kung-yu plays Ekin's girfriend; at first, after being misled by the real Ghost Thief, she mistakes "Simon the Snow Blower" for Ghost Thief but during the ensuing battle Simon saves her and she then becomes Simon's girlfriend. Her role in the movie is the female romantic lead which she plays quite adequately. However, her performance is overshadowed by that of another actress, Vicky CHIU.

Vicky CHIU, who commenced her rise to popularity in Hong Kong by playing a servant in a TV Drama about a Dynasty, now plays the mischievous Princess Feifung. One of her roles is to pair with Nick CHEUNG for laughs; she is cute in this movie though it is reminiscent of "Little Swallow" in TV Dramas, Vicky is natural in her acting.

Being an action comedy, action is important to the movie. CHING Siu-tung has done a great job with the action design. There are several major fights in the movie. The beginning and the end of the movie are well-done.

In short, "The Duel" is an historical action comedy as well as a showcase for Nick CHEUNG Ka-fai. His contribution to the movie is really remarkable. Without him, the movie wouldn't be at all outstanding.

Written by Ryan Law, from Hong Kong Movie DataBase, on 6 February, 2000.