Hong Kong Babylon

Book excerpt: Over the past few years, Hong Kong movies have become more popular and studied by critics and film-goers alike. It is a cinema of incessant action, eye-popping effects and cartoon-like violence which has left its mark on the work of many young contemporary Western Film-makers. Conversely, Hong Kong film-makers like John Woo have crossed over and put their unique stamp on American films like Hard Target and Broken Arrow with John Travolta. In his book Fredric Dannen depicts the dark inner world of Hong Kong cinema: the brave and enigmatic actors who risk their lives performing dangerous stunts and explosive feats of martial arts; the movie producers, many of whom are involved with the criminal triad families and who will resort, literally, to murder to secure a deal or an actor for a film. Hong Kong Babylon is an indispensable guide to one of the most exciting national cinemas.