This is the first of two films the issue to star one of my personal favourites - the consistently entertaining Francis Ng. As the title of the film indicates this is an entry into the genre of prison films (which are popular the world over although sub-genre might be the more applicable term) and they are a type of film that Hong Kong filmmakers seem particularly adept at making - what kind of film aren't they good at making? Don't answer that!

The first "Chinese Midnight Express" film was made about three years ago and starred the versatile Tony Leung whose namesake appeared in the classic Hong Kong prison film "Prison On Fire" with the man himself Chow Yun-Fat. That (the first CME film) like this (CMEII) is a solid if not classic example of this breed of film. The producer of this film also has a role in it - now there's a good way to ensure you have a job!

Francis Ng plays Chan Siu Hong - a lawyer - who finds himself in jail when he assaults a police officer whilst trying to prevent them from hitting his client who is celebrating his winning a court case in a local bar (unlucky for them the police officer has "friends" at the jail). En route to jail Siu Hong is consoled by his client who blames himself for his lawyer having to defend him in a non-legal sense against the police. The films depiction of prison conditions is certainly not glamorised and in an interesting side note the film is prefaced by an introduction that says that it is set in the 1960's and that reforms have since improved conditions - truth or a cheeky way of avoiding trouble with the authorities? I'll leave you to decide that!

I wouldn't imagine that this was a particularly big budgeted movie and despite that showing now and again the cast and crew do a very creditable job. Category III stalwart Elvis Tusk (the guy with the bald head & moustache that usually plays sex maniacs) gives a good turn as the chief warden and there is a hilarious minor character called Fairy whose only line is the enigmatic statement "An observation : torn trousers can be mended" which he says to all and sundry for no particular reason.

Chan Siu Hong (Francis Ng) is something approaching a hero to the prisoners having defended most of them. He uses his oratory skills or "honey lips" as they are called to try to get his fellow inmates to exercise a little grey matter when dealing with prison disputes. The showdown or finale occurs when a well-liked inmate is brutally killed by the villainous guard known as Mr John and everyone including Siu Hong begins to plot their revenge and he (Siu Hong) has added motivation when he learns that Mr John has after "showing interest" killed one of his sisters. This is no major gem of a movie but it is quite diverting and those involved both in front of and behind the camera give of their best.