Queen of Temple Street (1990)
Reviewed by: STSH on 2001-04-13
Summary: Couldn't follow it
I have watched hundreds of HK movies, and now I don't even ask before renting if the video is subbed or not. I have found that, in the vast majority of cases, the movie is either very easy to follow, or so obscure that subs really don't help.

Well, Queen Of Temple St is one of the exceptions. The print I watched had Chinese subs only. They were nice and large, and therefore easy to read. problem is, this film is very VERY talky. During the time I watched (I gave up after 30 minutes), I don't recall more than a few seconds where nothing was said and, most of the time, the subs ran to at least two lines.

Despite the nice clear Chi subs, and despite having first read YSTL's detailed review (see Links), I still had only the vaguest idea of what was happening. What I'm saying here is, if you are less than fluent in Cantonese, hold out for an English-subbed print.

I'm inclined to conclude that this is not my sort of film. Excessively talky, probably a high-grade soap opera, filled with characters I couldn't empathize with (apart from a monologue by my main man, the great Kwan Hoi San). It seems to belong in the same category as another film with which Sylvia Chang was involved (as producer, not actor), the dreadfully dull and unfocussed Game They Called Sex.

However, I am willing to suspend judgement until such time as I can secure a print with English subs.
Reviewer Score: 2