Gallants (film)
Encyclopedia
Gallants is a 2010 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Derek Kwok and Clement Cheng and stars Leung Siu-lung
, Chen Kuan-tai and Teddy Robin. The film is set in modern times but is in the style of Hong Kong action comedy films from the 1960s and 1970s. The film premiered at the Hong Kong Film Festival on March 26, 2010. The film has received favorable reviews on its festival shows in North America.
) and Dragon (Chen Kuan-tai) who are being bullied by the young Chung Sang-mang (MC Jin) and his crew. Chung wants Dragon and Tiger to sell their lease on a teahouse which was used as a training dojo by their comatose master Law San (Teddy Robin). When Law suddenly wakes up from his 30 year coma, and is determined to restart his school by taking on Chung and his master Pong Ching (Michael Chan).
on March 26, 2010. It was released in China and Hong Kong on June 4, 2010. Gallants had its North American premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival
on July 6, 2010. In Hong Kong, Gallants was the third highest grossing film on its opening weekend. It grossed a total of $585,848 on its theatrical run.
praised the actors in Gallants, noting the charisma of Bruce Leung and Chen Kuan-tai while saying that Teddy Robin "steals the show". Film Business Asia gave Gallants a 6 out of 10 rating, calling it a "Likable but over-loose tribute to Hong Kong martial arts films of the '60s and '70s." The Independent Film Channel
gave the film a positive review, noting "This could have been an exercise in cheap nostalgia, and it's not. Taken entirely on its own, it's a wholly entertaining and touching movie about friendship and growing old." The Montreal Gazette gave the film three and a half stars, praising the comedic skills of Bruce Leung and Chen Kuan-tai, stating that Gallant "has plenty of successful gags, if a few that seem a bit too suited for Nickelodeon at prime-time." Now
magazine gave the film a four out of five rating, calling it a "very entertaining salute to old legends" comparing the film to Kung Fu Hustle
.
Gallants won the awards for best film and best actor (Teddy Robin) at the 17th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.. On The 30th Hong Kong Film Awards, held on April 17th, 2011, low-budget 'Gallants' won the prestigious 'best movie' award.
Leung Siu-Lung
Leung Siu-lung, born in 1948 in Hong Kong, is an actor who has appeared in many Hong Kong martial arts movies. He often appeared billed as "Bruce Leung," "Bruce Liang," "Bruce Leong," or "Bruce Leung Siu-lung," and is thus generally grouped among the Bruce Lee clones that sprang up after Lee's...
, Chen Kuan-tai and Teddy Robin. The film is set in modern times but is in the style of Hong Kong action comedy films from the 1960s and 1970s. The film premiered at the Hong Kong Film Festival on March 26, 2010. The film has received favorable reviews on its festival shows in North America.
Plot
In modern day Hong Kong, Leung King-cheung (Wong You-nam) received a job from his real estate company to handle a dispute in a village in the New Territories. Leung arrives and meets with two old martial artists, Tiger (Leung Siu-lungLeung Siu-Lung
Leung Siu-lung, born in 1948 in Hong Kong, is an actor who has appeared in many Hong Kong martial arts movies. He often appeared billed as "Bruce Leung," "Bruce Liang," "Bruce Leong," or "Bruce Leung Siu-lung," and is thus generally grouped among the Bruce Lee clones that sprang up after Lee's...
) and Dragon (Chen Kuan-tai) who are being bullied by the young Chung Sang-mang (MC Jin) and his crew. Chung wants Dragon and Tiger to sell their lease on a teahouse which was used as a training dojo by their comatose master Law San (Teddy Robin). When Law suddenly wakes up from his 30 year coma, and is determined to restart his school by taking on Chung and his master Pong Ching (Michael Chan).
Production
Gallants is the directoral debut of Clement Cheng and the third film for his friend director Derek Kwok, , as well as a production debut of actor Gordon Lam. Gallants was originally conceived as being about a group of people who were in a music group in the 1960s and 1970s. One members gets a stroke and begins to realize he has not done anything in his life. Feeling that he may die soon, his last wish was to go back to his youth, find all his friends and do one final show. On finding it difficult to sell the story about musicians, the writers changed the theme of the plot to being about kung fu masters instead. For the cast, Cheng and Kwok felt that they could not get the actors Chen Kuan-tai and Bruce Leung, they would not make the film. Gallants was shot in 18 days.Release
Gallants had its premiere at the Hong Kong International Film FestivalHong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
on March 26, 2010. It was released in China and Hong Kong on June 4, 2010. Gallants had its North American premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival
New York Asian Film Festival
The New York Asian Film Festival was first held in 2002, growing out of the previous year's New York Korean Film Festival...
on July 6, 2010. In Hong Kong, Gallants was the third highest grossing film on its opening weekend. It grossed a total of $585,848 on its theatrical run.
Reception
VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
praised the actors in Gallants, noting the charisma of Bruce Leung and Chen Kuan-tai while saying that Teddy Robin "steals the show". Film Business Asia gave Gallants a 6 out of 10 rating, calling it a "Likable but over-loose tribute to Hong Kong martial arts films of the '60s and '70s." The Independent Film Channel
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
gave the film a positive review, noting "This could have been an exercise in cheap nostalgia, and it's not. Taken entirely on its own, it's a wholly entertaining and touching movie about friendship and growing old." The Montreal Gazette gave the film three and a half stars, praising the comedic skills of Bruce Leung and Chen Kuan-tai, stating that Gallant "has plenty of successful gags, if a few that seem a bit too suited for Nickelodeon at prime-time." Now
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
magazine gave the film a four out of five rating, calling it a "very entertaining salute to old legends" comparing the film to Kung Fu Hustle
Kung Fu Hustle
Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 action comedy film directed and produced by, and starring Stephen Chow. The other film producers were Chui Po-chu and Jeffrey Lau, while the screenplay was written by Huo Xin, Chan Man-keung, and Tsang Kan-cheung...
.
Gallants won the awards for best film and best actor (Teddy Robin) at the 17th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.. On The 30th Hong Kong Film Awards, held on April 17th, 2011, low-budget 'Gallants' won the prestigious 'best movie' award.