HI EVERYBODY
this is my first post in this site.
I'm a new new new newbie in hk movies, but all the stuff i've seen i like it so much.
this is my only knowledge of hk film:
the killer by john woo
fallen angels by Wong Kar-Wai

My favourite genre is crime/noir/hardboiled stories
so please can you tell me what are in your opinion the best 5 film in hk movies to start!!!
thanx!!

Off the top of my head, you might try the following classics:

Hardboiled
On the Run
Organized Crime and Triad Bureau
Righting Wrongs
Full Alert

They are all winners, especially if you like crime/noir films.

Vicki

Five great ones:

FULL CONTACT (directed by Ringo Lam)

HARD BOILED (directed by John Woo)

INFERNAL AFFAIRS (directed by Alan Mak and Andrew Lau)

YOUNG AND DANGEROUS SERIES
- Young and Dangerous 1-5
- Born To Be King (part 6)
- Portland Street Blues (spinoff)

SPL (directed by Wilson Yip)

The following are stylistically similar pieces either produced or directed by Johnnie To

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED (directed by Patrick Yau)
THE LONGEST NITE (directed by Patrick Yau)
THE MISSION (directed by Johnnie To)
A HERO NEVER DIES (directed by Johnnie To)

Of course, Hong Kong has so many crime films that you'll never run out of things to watch!

I left out Hardboiled since it will make almost all lists of this type, even if the number of entries on the list was one.

Five that I can recommend are:

One Night in Mongkok

Full Alert

The Longest Night

A Better Tomorrow

PTU

Besides John Woo films, I do recommend these films:

Crime Story
Organized Crime and Triad Bureau
Long Arm of the Law
City On Fire
One Nite in Mongkok
Full Alert
Infernal Affairs trilogy
The Mission
Too Many Ways to be No. 1
Century of the Dragon
As Tears Go By
Moment of Romance, A

For more action oriented films there are:

Police Story series (primarily the first 2)
New Police Story
Big Bullet
Full Contact

For something more grisly you may want to check out The Untold Story, but since you're new to the stuff, hold off on that one for a while.

Five that I've enjoyed:

A Better Tomorrow

The Long Arm of the Law

A Killer's Blues

Coolie Killer

Prison On Fire