The Island Of Greed
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''Island of Greed'' is a 1997
Hong Kong action Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. Action films from Hong Kong have roots in Chinese and Hong Kong cultures including Chinese opera, storytelling and aesthetic traditions, which Hong Ko ...
political Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...
crime thriller film directed by Michael Mak and starring Andy Lau and
Tony Leung Ka-fai Tony Leung Ka-fai (; born 1 February 1958) is a Hong Kong actor who is a four-time winner of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor. As he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony," while Tony Leu ...
. The film is set and filmed in
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
and deals with corruption in the
Government of the Republic of China The Government of the Republic of China, is the national government of the Republic of China whose ''de facto'' territory currently consists of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other island groups in the "free area". Governed by the De ...
.


Plot

While investigating in
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
's gambling arcade scene, Captain Fong Kwok-fai ( Andy Lau) of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau's Tactical Squad discovers the mastermind to be Chow Chiu-sin (
Tony Leung Ka-fai Tony Leung Ka-fai (; born 1 February 1958) is a Hong Kong actor who is a four-time winner of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor. As he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony," while Tony Leu ...
), a businessman and leader of the Chung-lam
Triad Triad or triade may refer to: * a group of three Businesses and organisations * Triad (American fraternities), certain historic groupings of seminal college fraternities in North America * Triad (organized crime), a Chinese transnational orga ...
who has decided to run as a member of the
Legislative Yuan The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in Taipei. The Legislative Yuan is composed of 113 members, who are directly elected for 4-year terms by people of the Taiwan Area through a parallel v ...
and has bribed his way into office. Fong infiltrate one his arcades and prosecutes him for operating an underground casino, but Chow had paid the presiding judge and gets dismissed. Fong then convinces Chairman Lam Ching-piu of the Tak-cheong Construction Company to report Chow for blackmailing him, and record evidence of Chow in bid rigging for the construction of Coastal Highway. Chow catches Lam and drags him on a fishing hook through a plantation as Fong and his squad give chase while evading Chow's attack dogs and manage to rescue Lam. Fong exposes Chow to the public, so the
Kuomintang The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
decides to nominate his rival, Ting Chung-shu, to run for the Legislative Yuan instead. Angered, Chow matches into Ting's press conference to announce that he is running for the Legislative Yuan without a political party. During this time, Fong is also suspended from his duties as his superior officer, Suen Ching-lim, is also corrupt. As Chow and Ting rally, rival taxi driving company leaders Country and White Cloud, who respectively supports Chow and Ting, fight each other for customers. With support of Country Taxi director Kwan, Chow turns the disputes into a riot. Chow instructs his wife Miu-heung ( Pauline Suen) to attend a ball, where National Police Agency Commissioner Tung's wife is present so Tung would plead Chow to stop the riot and Chow would be touted as a hero to the public. Fong's father, who is a taxi driver, gets caught in the riot but Fong manages to save him, as both manage to escape an explosion. With the help of his journalist girlfriend Ling Fei ( Annie Wu), Fong convinces the Justice Minister Fung King-chung to reinstate his position and fully supports him in combating corruption. However, Ting sends killers after Fong, who manage to take them down but one of his subordinates, Nicotine, who is killed. Ting attempts to frame Chow for the murder of Nicotine, but Miu-heung manages to help her husband win public support. Afterwards, Chow hires a prostitute to seduce and murder Ting, as Chow gets elected into the Legislative Yuan with 125,000 votes, and Fong returns to work after his superiors give him the order to take down Chow. Fong later captures Sung Miu-tin, a fraudant cult leader and drug trafficker in cahoots with Chow, using him to enter Chow's mansion as Fong and his squad go undercover. Chow meets other twelve members of the Legislative Yuan who are also triad leaders and suggests starting their own political party, during which Fong and squad takes down Chow's guards and gain evidence of his crimes from his computer. Chow then kills Deputy Minister Hau of the Kuomintang, who has been taking advantage of him. Outnumbered and lost, Chow attempts to flee Taiwan in a thirteen-vehicle entourage, while Fong intercepts him in a helicopter and fires missiles which blows up several entourage vehicles. Chow retaliates by firing a rocket launcher at Fong, who escapes narrowly and engages in a scuffle with Chow. They are interrupted by an explosion which kills Miu-heung, as Chow breaks down before being arrested. Chow is subsequently sentenced to prison for disfranchisement and
death row Death row, also known as condemned row, is a place in a prison that houses inmates awaiting Capital punishment, execution after being convicted of a capital crime and sentenced to death. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of ...
, while Fong resigns from the Investigation Bureau due to public pressure and involvement of manipulating high officials. He announces his bid to run for Mayor of
Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...
in 1997 and marries Fei.


Cast

* Andy Lau as Fong Kwok-fai (方國輝), captain of Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau's Tactical Squad who is determined in combating corruption in
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
. *
Tony Leung Ka-fai Tony Leung Ka-fai (; born 1 February 1958) is a Hong Kong actor who is a four-time winner of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor. As he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony," while Tony Leu ...
as Chow Chiu-sin (周朝先), leader of the Chung-lam
Triad Triad or triade may refer to: * a group of three Businesses and organisations * Triad (American fraternities), certain historic groupings of seminal college fraternities in North America * Triad (organized crime), a Chinese transnational orga ...
(松林幫) and businessman with a net worth of NT$3 billion and bribes his way to be elected as a member of the
Legislative Yuan The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in Taipei. The Legislative Yuan is composed of 113 members, who are directly elected for 4-year terms by people of the Taiwan Area through a parallel v ...
in order to obtain pardon of his past crime. * Pauline Suen as Tsui Miu-heung (崔妙香), Chow's wife who used to be a club girl in Singapore in the past. * Annie Wu as Ling Fei (淩飛), a journalist and news broadcaster who becomes Fong's girlfriend, sharing similar values with him. *Kelly Kuo as Mui Mei-lai (梅美麗), a member of Fong's Tactical Squad. *
Doze Niu Doze Niu (, also known as Niu Chen-zer; born June 22, 1966) is a Taiwanese actor, film director, show host, screenwriter, and producer. As a film director, he is best known for the Taiwanese film '' Monga''. Early life Niu was born in Taipei, T ...
as Ngai Kin-kwok (倪建國), nicknamed Nicotine (尼古丁), a member of Fong's Tactical Squad who was killed by Ting's killer sent after Fong at Shilin Night Market. *Lee Li-chun as Deuty Chairman Hau (侯副部長), a senior
Kuomintang The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
officials in cohoots with Chow but eventually turns against him. * Chin Shih-chieh as Suen Ching-lim (孫清廉), Fong's superior officer and mentor who turns out to be corrupt. *
Winston Chao Winston Chao Wen-hsuan (born 9 June 1960) is a Taiwanese actor. He came to international attention for his performance in the 1993 film ''The Wedding Banquet'' and ''Kabali''. He is also known for his roles in ''Red Rose White Rose'' and ''Eat D ...
as Fung King-chung (馮敬宗), the Minister of Justice of Taiwan who fully supports Fong in combating corruption even if it costs him his position. *Liu Fu-juh as Lam Ching-piu (林清標), chairman of Tak-cheung Construction Company (德昌建築股份有限公司) who is blackmailed by Chow and reports him to the Investigation Bureau. *
Wang Jui Wang Hsi-jui (; 25 July 1930 – 1 June 2016), known by his stage name Wang Jui (), was a Taiwanese actor. He won the Golden Bell Award three times. Wang died in Taipei of heart and lung failure on 1 June 2016 at the age of 85. Selected filmog ...
as Fong Kwok-fai's father who is a taxi driver. *Adam Chan as Wah Shu-tong (華恕堂), a member of Fong's Tactical Squad. *Wong Ching-lam as Sam Pau (三炮), Chow's second in command. *Kong Yeung as Commissioner Tung (董署長), commissioner of
Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...
's National Police Agency. * Wang Ping as Commissioner Tung's wife.


Theme songs

*''World's First Class'' (世界第一等) **Composer: Wu Bai **Lyricist: Preston Lee, Chen Fu-rong **Singer: Andy Lau *''Tears of a Lonely Star'' (孤星淚) **Composer / Lyricist: Wu Bai **Singer: Andy Lau


Production


Controversy

During the filming of a stunt sequence, Andy Lau damaged a helicopter that was rented from Taiwanese airline company, Daily Air Corporation. In 1998, Daily Air filed a lawsuit against Lau and production company,
Win's Entertainment Win's Movie and Television Production (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. () originally known as Win's Movie Production & I/E Co. Ltd. and Win's Entertainment (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., was a Hong Kong film production company that was formed by producer Charles He ...
, where the case dragged on for 16 years. In January 2014, Lau was found liable for brushing against the pitch stick of the chopper before jumping out of it. Initially, Lau ordered was to pay NT$5.1 million in compensation, but the amount was raised to NT$6.9 million after Lau lost an appeal. Following another appeal, the compensation was lowered to NT$2.6 million.


Box office

The film grossed HK$18,146,790 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run in
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
.


Accolades


References


External links

* *
Island of Greed
' at
Hong Kong Cinemagic Hong Kong Cinemagic, sometimes referred to as HKCinemagic, is a bilingual ( French and English) website providing a repository for information about Chinese language films from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, and the people who created them. The websi ...
*{{IMDb title, 0156588 1997 films 1997 martial arts films 1997 action films 1997 action thriller films 1997 crime thriller films 1990s political thriller films Hong Kong action thriller films Hong Kong martial arts films Hong Kong crime thriller films Police detective films Triad films 1990s Cantonese-language films Films set in Taiwan Films shot in Taiwan China Star Entertainment Group films Films directed by Michael Mak 1990s Hong Kong films