Just Heroes: Difference between revisions

Just Heroes
Just Heroes
Directed by	John Woo; Wu Ma
Produced by	Chang Cheh; Tsui Hark
Starring	Danny Lee; David Chiang; Chen Kuan-tai; Wu Ma; James Wong; Stephen Chow; Ti Lung
Music by	James Wong; Romeo Diaz; Sherman Chow
Production; company	Magnum Films
Distributed by	Golden Princess Amusement
Release date	14 September 1989;
Country	Hong Kong
Languages	Cantonese; Mandarin
Box office	HK$7,913,229

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Just Heroes (Chinese: 義膽群英) is a 1989 Hong Kong action-crime film, directed by John Woo and Wu Ma. The film stars Danny Lee, David Chiang and Stephen Chow.

Plot

Following the death of a triad leader, there is conflict within the Hong Kong organised crime syndicate as various possible leaders vie for power. Pak Wai attempts to bring the traitor in the midst of his own group to justice following a taped conversation of traitor admitting his crimes, but who cannot be found, while Sou, the elected leader of the triad has his family attacked as he fights unknown enemies to bring the organisation back under control. Their actions are hindered by Jacky who is attempting to build up anger between the two completing triads of Hong Kong. The film is brought to a bloody conclusion as the traitor leader of the group storms the triad safe house in a desperate attempt to gain control over the group, but is met by heavy resistance.

Cast

David Chiang as Cheung Pak Wai
Danny Lee as Sou
Chen Kuan Tai as Tai
Tien Niu as Annie, Sou's wife
Cally Kwong as Tai's wife
Wu Ma as Ma
James Wong as Solicitor Wong
Stephen Chow as 'Jacky' Yuen Kei-hao
Shing Fui-On as Wah
Nie Jun
Ti Lung as Loon
Yueh Hua as Mr.Elliot

Production

Just Heroes began production as a benefit for the Hong Kong Director's Union.^[1]^[2] The film was made to aid director Chang Cheh, who was broke.^[3] When actors Danny Lee and David Chiang found out about Chang's financial situation, they developed the story Just Heroes, which was made to be similar to the film A Better Tomorrow.^[3] John Woo directed about 60% of the film.^[4]

Release

Just Heroes was released on 14 September 1989.^[1] The film was not a major financial success in Hong Kong, making HK$7,913,229 and coming in 48th place in the year end box office.^[2] All the money from the film was given to Chang Cheh so he could retire.^[3] Rather than using it as retirement funds, Chang used the money to direct another film.^[5]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Morton, 2009. p.164
^ ^a ^b Morton, 2009. p.165
^ ^a ^b ^c Elder, 2005. p.55
^ Sharrett, 1999. p.411
^ Elder, 2005. p.56

References

Morton, Lisa (2009). The Cinema of Tsui Hark. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-4460-1. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
Elder, Robert K. (2005). John Woo Interviews. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 1-57806-776-6. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
Sharrett, Christopher (1999). Mythologies of violence in postmodern media. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-2742-7.

External links

Just Heroes at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
Just Heroes at Hong Kong Cinemagic
Just Heroes at IMDb
Just Heroes at Rotten Tomatoes

[Morton164-1] Morton, 2009. p.164

[Morton165-2] Morton, 2009. p.165

[Elder55-3] Elder, 2005. p.55

[4] Sharrett, 1999. p.411

[Elder56-5] Elder, 2005. p.56

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 | narrator       =
 | starring       = [[Danny Lee (actor)|Danny Lee]]<br/>[[David Chiang]]<br/>[[Chen Kuan-tai]]<br/>[[Wu Ma]]<br/>[[James Wong (lyricist)|James Wong]]<br/>[[Stephen Chow]]<br/>[[Ti Lung]]
-| music          = Wong Jim<br/>[[Romeo Diaz]]<br>Sherman Chow
+| music          = [[James Wong Jim|James Wong]]<br/>[[Romeo Diaz]]<br>Sherman Chow
 | cinematography =
 | editing        =
-| studio         = Magnum Films(
+| studio         = Magnum Films
-| distributor    = [[Golden Princess Film Production|Golden Princess Amusement]]</small>(HK)</small><br/>[[Filmation]] </small>(USA)</small><br/>[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]</small>(actual USA distributor)</small><br/>
+| distributor    = [[Golden Princess Film Production|Golden Princess Amusement]]
 | released       = {{Film date|df=yes|1989|09|14}}
 | runtime        =
 | country        = Hong Kong
-| language       = Cantonese
+| language       = Cantonese<br>Mandarin
 | budget         =
 | gross          = HK$7,913,229
 }}
-'''''Just Heroes''''' ({{zh|t=義膽群英}}) is a 1989 [[Hong Kong]] [[crime film]], directed by [[John Woo]] and [[Wu Ma]]. The film stars [[Danny Lee (actor)|Danny Lee]], [[David Chiang]] and [[Stephen Chow]].
+'''''Just Heroes''''' ({{zh|t=義膽群英}}) is a 1989 [[Hong Kong]] [[action film|action]]-[[crime film]], directed by [[John Woo]] and [[Wu Ma]]. The film stars [[Danny Lee (actor)|Danny Lee]], [[David Chiang]] and [[Stephen Chow]].
 == Plot ==
-Following the death of a triad leader, there is conflict within the [[Hong Kong]] [[organised crime]] syndicate as various possible leaders vie for power. Pak Wai ([[David Chiang]]) attempts to bring the traitor in the midst of his own group to justice following a taped conversation of traitor admitting his crimes, but who cannot be found, while Sou ([[Danny Lee (actor)|Danny Lee]]), the elected leader of the triad has his family attacked as he fights unknown enemies to bring the organisation back under control. Their actions are hindered by Jacky ([[Chow Sing Chi]]) who is attempting to build up anger between the two completing triads of Hong Kong. The film is brought to a bloody conclusion as the traitor leader of the group storms the [[Triad (underground society)|triad]] [[safe house]] in a desperate attempt to gain control over the group, but is met by heavy resistance.
+Following the death of a triad leader, there is conflict within the [[Hong Kong]] [[organised crime]] syndicate as various possible leaders vie for power. Pak Wai attempts to bring the traitor in the midst of his own group to justice following a taped conversation of traitor admitting his crimes, but who cannot be found, while Sou, the elected leader of the triad has his family attacked as he fights unknown enemies to bring the organisation back under control. Their actions are hindered by Jacky who is attempting to build up anger between the two completing triads of Hong Kong. The film is brought to a bloody conclusion as the traitor leader of the group storms the [[Triad (underground society)|triad]] [[safe house]] in a desperate attempt to gain control over the group, but is met by heavy resistance.
 ==Cast==
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 == Production ==
-''Just Heroes'' began production as a benefit for the Hong Kong Director's Union.<ref name="Morton164">Morton, 2009. p.164</ref><ref name="Morton165">Morton, 2009. p.165</ref> The film was made to aid director [[Chang Cheh]] who was broke.<ref name="Elder55">Elder, 2005. p.55</ref> When actors [[Danny Lee (actor)|Danny Lee]] and [[David Chiang]] found out about Chang's financial situation, they developed the story ''Just Heroes'' that was made to be similar to the film ''[[A Better Tomorrow]]''.<ref name="Elder55" /> John Woo directed about 60% of the film.<ref>Sharrett, 1999. p.411</ref>
+''Just Heroes'' began production as a benefit for the Hong Kong Director's Union.<ref name="Morton164">Morton, 2009. p.164</ref><ref name="Morton165">Morton, 2009. p.165</ref> The film was made to aid director [[Chang Cheh]], who was broke.<ref name="Elder55">Elder, 2005. p.55</ref> When actors [[Danny Lee (actor)|Danny Lee]] and [[David Chiang]] found out about Chang's financial situation, they developed the story ''Just Heroes'', which was made to be similar to the film ''[[A Better Tomorrow]]''.<ref name="Elder55" /> John Woo directed about 60% of the film.<ref>Sharrett, 1999. p.411</ref>
 == Release ==
@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ==External links==
-* {{Amg movie|140251}}
 * {{hkmdb title|7217}}
 * ''[http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/movie.asp?id=46 Just Heroes]'' at [[Hong Kong Cinemagic]]
@@ Line 95: / Line 94: @@
 [[Category:1989 films]]
-[[Category:Hong Kong films]]
+[[Category:Hong Kong crime action films]]
-[[Category:Hong Kong crime drama films]]
 [[Category:1980s Cantonese-language films]]
-[[Category:1989 crime drama films]]
+[[Category:1980s crime action films]]
 [[Category:Triad films]]
 [[Category:Gun fu films]]
@@ Line 104: / Line 102: @@
 [[Category:Films directed by John Woo]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Wu Ma]]
-[[Category:Chinese films]]
+[[Category:1980s Hong Kong films]]

v t e Films by John Woo
Directed	The Young Dragons (1974/) The Dragon Tamers (1975/) Princess Chang Ping (1976/) Hand of Death (1976/) Money Crazy (1977/) Hello, Late Homecomers (1978/) Follow the Star (1978) Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) From Riches to Rags (1980) Laughing Times (1980) To Hell with the Devil (1982) Plain Jane to the Rescue (1982) The Time You Need a Friend (1984) Run, Tiger, Run (1984) Heroes Shed No Tears (1984) A Better Tomorrow (1986) A Better Tomorrow II (1987) The Killer (1989) Just Heroes (1989) Bullet in the Head (1990) Once a Thief (1991) Hard Boiled (1992) Hard Target (1993) Broken Arrow (1996) Once a Thief (1996) Face/Off (1997) Blackjack (1998) Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) Windtalkers (2002, also produced) Paycheck (2003, also produced) All the Invisible Children (2005, segment "Song Song and Little Cat") Red Cliff (2008, also wrote and produced) Reign of Assassins (2010, also produced) The Crossing (2014) Manhunt (2017) Silent Night (2023) The Killer (2024)
Written only	A Better Tomorrow (2010)
Produced only	A Better Tomorrow III: Love & Death in Saigon (1989) Peace Hotel (1995) Somebody Up There Likes Me (1996) The Big Hit (1998) Bulletproof Monk (2003) Blood Brothers (2007) Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina (2007) Seediq Bale (2011)