God of Gamblers (1989) User Reviews

A nice drama, comedy and actionfilm

[action-6 · 8/10 · 5 June 2000]

God of Gamblers is a bit of a hybrid of different genres. There`s intense drama, lively comedy and ultraviolent action. Chow Yun-Fat is God of Gamblers. Because of an accident, his mental state is reduced to the level of a child, but he has not lost his gamblegift(nor his hunger for chocolate). The people responsible for the accident(they didn`t mean to by the way) soon discover the unusual gift of their "patient", and begin to take advantage of it. Chow Yun-Fat gets a chance to prove his great acting abilities, without so much use of a gun(he also uses a gun, but rather rarely).

God of Gamblers has intense drama and a rather nice soundtrack(if a little bizarre at times). The comedy part is also all right, but a Western audience might find quite a few of the jokes a little TOO chinese for their liking. Overall though, God Of Gamblers is a quite tasty hongkong-movie that every fan should see. 8,5/10

Odd mix of knockabout comedy and gambling gangster thriller

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 6 February 2015]

One of Wong Jing's better directorial efforts, GOD OF GAMBLERS sees man-of-the-moment Chow Yun Fat playing an ultra-slick gangster/gambler who has a kind of supernatural ability to win at gambling. His activities soon bring him into contact with small-time crook Andy Lau, and after a bout of amnesia he finds himself caught up in a completely unpredictable adventure.

GOD OF GAMBLERS is a bit of an odd movie, plot-wise. Part of it feels like a slick John Woo thriller, complete with a lengthy and violent shoot-out in a multi-storey car park which wouldn't be out of place in the likes of THE KILLER. The other part of it is a more traditional Hong Kong comedy, a bit like the Jackie/Sammo flick HEART OF THE DRAGON, with some low brow humour and lots of situational stuff mixed in.

I have to say that I found the amnesia sub-plot to be overlong; it dragged the pacing of the film down as a whole, so my favourite parts were the first and final thirds. Saying that, it's still a pretty good little movie, with strong acting from Yun Fat and Lau, who make a good tag-team. The best bits are inevitably the stylish gambling sequences, which are funny and exciting in equal measure, filled with neat twists and some wonderful card tricks. Given this film's success at the box office, numerous sequels followed.

Five Card Stud.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 6/10 · 14 July 2018]

With a Hong Kong viewing challenge coming up,I started keeping a look out for films from the country on DVD. Mesmerised by his performance in John Woo's The Killer,I was happy to find in a local DVD shop another Chow Yun Fat title from the era,which led to me going on a gambling spree.

View on the film:

Hitting the tables in the Heroic Bloodshed era, writer/director Jing Wong folds the stylisation of the genre into the most striking scenes of the film, via a weaving camera following the moving of cards around the tables building up tension towards Chun's next gamble, along with bursts of slow-motion in pans around Mexican stand-offs and short hits of Gun-Fu. Placing these elements to the side for a big chunk of the flick, Wong aims for zany Comedy that zips along Chun's screwed-up face,which becomes grating as glimpses of flashback show the thrilling part of the tale the film should be focusing on.

Picking up Chun's cards, the opening 30 minutes is given an enticing slickness in Jing Wong's screenplay, as the calculation Chun puts towards his card playing has the thrill of a heist movie,and swift setting up of ruthless gangsters (backed by the chimes of Lowell Lo's score.) Knocking Chun out and giving him memory loss, Wong attempts to play frantic slap-stick Comedy for the next hour,but unveils a bad hand as the repetitive "wacky" antics become increasingly grating, and undermine the build-up,which is just about saved by a return to the wheel of fortune gambles in the ending. Bringing a feeling of Heroic Bloodshed loyalty in his scenes with Andy Lau's Little Knife,Chow Yun-Fat gives a terrific performance as Chun,who retains a blazing charisma even when stuffing his mouth with chocolate, which melts as Yun- Fat gets Chun to reveal himself to be the god of gamblers.

High stakes... And the movie does deliver...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 8 September 2012]

It is kind of odd that it is only now 23 years after the movie was released that I actually got around to watching it, especially since I am a huge fan of Hong Kong cinema, and "God of Gamblers" is one of the heavy-weighters of Hong Kong cinema. Why? Well when it was released it wasn't easy to get a hand on the VHS copy here in Denmark, and not even when I lived in Hong Kong did I acquire it.

So did the movie deliver and live up to my expectations? Well, yes and no. Yes, because it was a very interesting movie and a genre defining one for the time it was made. No, because there was a little bit too much juvenile attempts at incorporating comedy into the movie, which failed miserably.

The story in "God of Gamblers" is about gambling savant Ko Chun (played by Chow Yun-Fat) who is known as the God of Gamblers amongst the gambling circuit of Hong Kong. Chun is living the good life, lots of money, fame and everything he could ask for, but it is all taken away one fateful night as he has an accident which leaves him with amnesia. With all memories gone, except for his unprecedented knack for gambling, small time hustler Knife (played by Andy Lau) takes advantage of Chun in order to further his own ambition. With lots at stake, can Chun recover his past and win the all important upcoming gambling event?

Actually the story was quite interesting, good and entertaining, however the laughable and juvenile attempts at incorporating comedy into the movie somewhat brought down the overall impression of the movie as a whole. Had director Jing Wong opted to not make use of this inappropriate comedy, the movie would have worked on a whole other level.

As for the cast, well of course you know what you get with Chow Yun-Fat, however this movie was fairly early in his career and he hadn't honed his actual acting talent all that much, it is heavier on the action parts (though thankfully later in his career the acting picked up). And opposite him there is Andy Lau with also is one of the major names in Hong Kong cinema.

"God of Gamblers" proved to be good entertainment (if you look past the comedy parts) and is a definite must have to any DVD collection to fans of Hong Kong cinema everywhere. And having seen this first movie now, I am looking forward to actually getting around to watched the sequel (and perhaps even the spin-offs as well).

Awesome - One of the best movies ever made

[TD-11 · 10/10 · 3 October 2004]

All I can say is WOW! This movie has it all. There is action, comedy, drama, suspense. I have never seen a movie combine all elements as well as this one. I've seen about 10,000 movies in my life and this one rates in the top 5. It is that great! Chow Yun Fat is brilliant and certainly would have deserved an Oscar if this film had a proper US release. His comic genius is present in all aspects of his character. The supporting cast does a fine job, but he is the God of Actors and not just the God of Gamblers. The direction is superb as well. The timing, the camera angles and the music make this movie an absolute pleasure to watch. I just finished watching the DVD and will order the remainder of the series as soon as I'm finished typing here. WATCH THIS FILM!

Great Movie

[Pornstar_Zen · 5 March 2002]

This is an amazing all round film containing just the right amounts of comedy, drama and gunplay.

Although the Uk edition of VHS suffers terrible subtitling it is still a must see.

play your cards right

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 10 September 2013]

Part of the reason why I was a little confused about the plot of Wong Jing's "Du shen" ("God of Gamblers" in English) is that the copy that I watched cut off most of the subtitles at the bottom of the screen. From the amount that I could understand it was a very entertaining movie, casting Chow Yun-fat as a gambler with an almost supernatural gift. One of the best scenes takes place on scaffolding. Even if you can't read all the subtitles it's still a pleasant romp. Partially a study of the underbelly of gambling and partially a look at Hong Kong during its final years as the last British colony on Earth, the flick is a fun ride. Maybe not to the extent of a Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan movie, but enjoyable nonetheless. You'll probably like it.

A brilliant film!!!

[Matty_01 · 10/10 · 24 June 2006]

It's rare that you see a movie that's so cheap yet so cool. How do you define 'cool'? What makes a guy 'cool'? If you would like to know the answers to these questions, there's one person you can ask, Chow Yun Fat (Yun-Fat Chow). He basically defines cool in this movie. However, that's not the only kind of character he plays in this film. Try and think of the coolest person you know. Now, try and imagine someone really childish. Now imagine both as one person. Sound like a difficult role for an actor to play? After you see the acting in this film, it won't look difficult at all. If you didn't think much about Chow Yun Fat before this movie, I can almost guarantee you will after seeing it. He is clearly a brilliant actor.

There's really no point to have a really good actor if you can't even have a good story. Luckily though, God of Gamblers succeeds in this aspect as well. I don't really want to say anything, as the plot is kind of weird at parts, but if you just follow along with it, you should pleasantly enjoy it. The characters are all performed fairly well, and are enjoyable to watch. There is also a great sense of humour to this film, which may seem weird at times, but always funny.

The directing is well done and the music is absolutely awesome, and fits the film perfectly. This movie also has what could be considered as one of the greatest endings of all time. This movie is brilliantly executed and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys watching movies.

Uneven Chow Yun-Fat movie

[Red-Barracuda · 6/10 · 12 November 2021]

Here is one of Chow Yun-Fat's Hong Kong movies. In it he plays a supreme gambler who is tasked with defeating a crime lord at cards but winds up losing his memory after an accident and is taken under the wing of some low level card sharks. This one begins and ends really well, with a good mixture of humour and suspense. The problem is the part in the middle, where Chow Yun-Fat loses his memory and is reduced to acting like a little kid. Even though it is quite interesting having Yun-Fat totally playing against type and stretching his acting range somewhat, the humour does get a bit grating and annoying after a bit (Hong Kong comedy is very broad in general). So, the movie is a bit of a mixed bag, but there is definitely good stuff in here, mainly at the beginning and the end.

Chow Yun Fat's versatility captivates.

[laadolf · 10/10 · 20 July 2002]

Under appreciated as an actor in the west, Chow Yun Fat shows his incredible versatility as a performer in this Hong Kong comedy/drama.

Chow stars as Ko Chun a gifted gambler with an almost supernatural gift for gaming, hence his exalted title. Ko Chun is suave and sophisticated, master of his gaming, monetarily successful and confident in his abilities. This makes him enemies among not only opponents, but as it turns out, his allies.

Having narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, Ko Chun unwittingly walks into a trap set by Knife, a young gambler wannabe who hankers after a big score. Knife meant to teach someone else a lesson by sabotaging a trail near his home,instead, Ko Chun is the victim. Finding the head injured gambler, Knife and his family take him in and nurse him back to health, not realizing who has literally tumbled into their lives.

Ko Chun awakens from his trauma with no memory and regressed to a childlike demeanor. He's an appealing manchild with an insatiable hunger for a particular brand of chocolate (one carry-over from his former life), and as Knife and Co. find out, a talent for gambling. Knife and his crew make good use of their new friend's abilities--becoming upwardly mobile thanks to "Chocolate"--the nickname they bestow upon him, knowing no other.

Chow Yun Fat has never been more endearing and charming as the brain injured "Chocolate". Chow makes believable and incredibly touching this dramatic transformation from genius to idiot savant. Viewers may find themselves wishing to protect Chocolate from a world he no longer understands and which is by turns baffling and inhospitable. Knife and his crew come to love and protect their friend, mortgaging all they have to provide him with a surgery that might restore his sensibilities.

Their Chocolate-aided success brings unwanted attention, which leads to pursuit, kidnapping, ransom and gunplay. Further trauma to poor Chocolate follows which leads to a showdown that highlights the God of Gamblers uncanny ability to win, even when opponents cheat and "friends" betray. While Chow Yun Fat's impressive talent and charisma are at the heart and soul of this film, the supporting players are excellent, especially Andy Lau and Joey Wong.

A must see and a must own for any Chow Yun Fat fan! In DVD versions of this film the subtitle problems noted in other reviews can be overcome by using the zoom feature on the remote. By slightly shrinking the image and adjusting it upward on the screen, the English subtitles will be perfectly visible and readable 99% of the time. Note:The DVD version of the film is edited, with several original scenes cut that track the ascendency of Knife and Co., and one pretty major plot point that would clarify the denouement at the film's end. VCD versions which are unedited can be sometimes found, but the subtitle problem reasserts itself--VCDs cannot be adjusted to compensate for the problem. But for anyone who has seen the DVD and has the general plot and dialogue down, the search for the unedited VCD version is worthwhile.

An above average gambling-gangster epic, but unfortunately too much of a sensory overload on Chow Yun-Fat.

[tntokmenko · 6/10 · 7 February 2013]

First off, most likely the reason your interested in this film to begin with is because of Chow Yun-Fat. Well in that case this movie is the absolute "Chow-iest of the Chow". Interpretation is up to the viewer and this is why: Traditionally CYF divides the charisma of his typecast roles into three genres: Light-hearted comedies, witty romance-dramas, or violent crime-dramas. Sometimes he may blend 1 or 2 of these genre- based roles together in one feature, however in God of Gamblers we have a blend of all three. Unfortunately the writing doesn't make this a positive attribute, as the movie feels like a disjointed combination of two main separate roles for CYF. For instance here, gangster and toddler. Yes, Chow plays both a gangster and a toddler. The film IS as strange as that sounds. If you have an affinity for the actor and are prepared to suspend your disbelief however, this is a very fun movie with silliness and violence slapped across the entire run time. Chow plays Ko Chun, "The God of Gamblers" who becomes a magical legend of every casino he enters. A problem arises where one day he loses his memory due to an unexpected incident, and becomes a silly wandering man-child. By coincidence he meets Andy Lau a low level street thug, and after some misadventures together Chow is able to slowly remember the legend that he was, and then will continue to enforce. Despite a horribly bizarre portion of the film being dedicated to an infantile CYF, overall God of Gamblers is a fun ride with an epic ending which will leave you highly entertained plus eager to go out and gamble. In conclusion, the TVB CYF and John Woo CYF don't mix well, but a bipolar CYF translates to ridiculous fun on-screen. -6/10

gambling, intellect, and guns, is anything missing??

[ballazrus · 9/10 · 28 August 2002]

No, not much is missing at all. The movie has great actors performing great all around whether it is comedy or action. The action wasn't much emphasized as in rather friendship, but when the action does kick in, it brings you to the same level as John Woo's bullet exchange, and heck, even Dragon (the bodyguard) knows some kick ass moves when he fights.

I did not expect much of this movie at first knowing it wasn't john woo who directed it, but after just the first 5 min i was totally into the movie and had forgotten who directed the movie, because it was equally great, and i couldn't ask for more

get this movie! i can't wait til i get my hands on it's sequels

An enjoyable movie from the golden age of Hong Kong cinema

[The-Sarkologist · 6/10 · 7 December 2012]

This is one of those movies from the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, and it seems that it managed to spawn three or four sequels. The problem with Hong Kong films (and I did actually buy this one in Hong Kong) is that the translations are quite bad, and sometimes the humour can be lost not just in the translation, but also in the fact that it is a different culture. The thing about Hong Kong is that you can't go there and expect it to be simply an extension of European culture (in the way that Australia and America and extensions of European culture), but rather it is a sophisticated mix of European and Chinese culture. As one person told me, Hong Kong is effectively east meets west (and when you go there it is very obvious that that is the case).

The movie is about a man named Ko Chun who has an almost supernatural ability to win at games of chance. It is not that he is skilled, or lucky, but that he is supernaturally endowed with the ability to win (even when the odds are stacked against him, meaning that the other side is cheating). However, one night, after escaping some assassins, he is walking along a path (I suspect) in the New Territories when he steps on a trap, rolls down and hillside, and hits his head a number of times, and loses his memory. The small time crooks that set the trap have an attack of conscience and instead of robbing him and leaving him for dead, they decided to nurse him back to health.

Much of the film simply involves these small time crooks trying to work out what to do with this guy, and they do discover that he has this uncanny ability to win, however because of his injury, it comes and goes, so when they try to use his abilities to make themselves rich, they end up landing up in a lot of trouble. However, there is still the background plot, namely the trap where they are trying to lure Ko Chun into a game with a big time crook who lives on a boat in international waters. However, because he has gone missing, people are at a loss as what to do, though they do end up finding him again, restoring his memory, and bringing the film to a conclusion with a high stakes poker game.

Disappointing

[kapitane2002 · 5/10 · 18 March 2006]

I'm a big fan of the actors involved, but I was disappointed by this film. Be warned, the movie isn't like the cover suggests.

It's like Chow Yun Fat phoned his agent one day and said "I'm tired of being a total badass of excellence - I want to do a film where I act like an annoying retard for most of it, but become badass for a few seconds just to remind people of what they're missing in the rest of the film and save the day at the end". By a crazy coincidence, Andy Lau had chosen a random word to define his next character, and that word was "incompetent annoying fool".

The (single!) gunfight may be quite good, and the ending is trademark cool Chow Yun Fat - but it doesn't justify the hour of wasted time in the middle with Andy money-grabbing and Chow Yun Fat sobbing like a child, with the implications of bonding between the two that never really works.

When the cover shows Chow holding a deck of cards and Andy holding a gun , I expect the criminal population of the city to have dropped by at least ten percent by the end of the film, along with some tense and exciting card scenes. Instead you get some embarrassing situational humour and unfunny slapstick.

Gentle comedy and hard-hitting action seamlessly melded

[zoo-8 · 10/10 · 1 August 1999]

If you like action movies, this film is for you. If you like gentle comedy, this film is also for you. If you've only seen Chow Yun-Fat playing suave, "hard boiled" killers this film is *definitely* one you should see. Breathtaking action sequences pepper a sweet plot about the triumph of innocence over arrogance and the power of love and friendship.

Plus you get to see Chow Yun-Fat walking around with Mickey Mouse balloons.

5 stars out of 5. One of my favorite HK comedies.

The Golden God of Gambling

[jimniexperience · 9/10 · 28 December 2017]

If this is inspired by "The Color of Money" then Andy Lau would be Tom Cruise ..

Three part movie: First part introducing Ko Chun and getting gambling proposition from Wang to take down Chan .. Second part Ko Chun gambling adventures with Knife, whom is responsible for Ko Chun's memory loss .. Third part Ko Chun getting his sauce back and reestablishing himself as the God of Gamblers

Fun gambling movie with some action scenes and slapstick comedy sprinkled inbetween

8.5/10

Makes me want to become god of gamblers

[evilhinata · 8/10 · 14 April 2005]

This movie once again demonstrates Hong Kong cinema at its best. At the helm of the movie, Chow Yun Fat demonstrates magnificent acting skills as he is able to act in all types of characters, from being a man trapped in a child-like state, to ultimately being the "God of Gamblers". Andy Lau also gives a very note-worthy performance, as Chow Yun Fats sidekick (even though this is a much younger Andy Lau). The movie itself was pretty good, although I would have preferred if the movie was entirely serious instead of putting comic relief in the middle. Regardless buy this movie, it is a must for people who enjoy Hong Kong cinema!!

great movie!

[Streetwolf · 10/10 · 16 May 2003]

Okay so I didn't understand a word of the movie, but thank god for subtitles!

Summary: Ko Chun is the master, the god of gambling, no one can beat him at card games and dices. He is hired by a guy to take his place on a high-stake gambling circuit only Ko Chun ends up having an accident by a couple who had set up a trap for somebody else. They take him in and take care of him, but when he wakes up he has no memory of who he is except that he has a fondness for chocolate and starts behaving like a little child! Great movie, brilliant performance by Chow Yun-Fat as Ko Chun, I rate this movie 10/10!

Playing cards, guns and chocolate

[spider-31 · 13 April 1999]

Do you play the gamble?

While the British release is marred by terrible subtitles, this is still a great film. It isn't John Woo-style action all the way, but has so cool gambling, and John Woo playing a character who isn't just an action hero, but becomes an idiot, obsessed with chocolate.

And, regardless of everything else, the entire film is made near-perfect by the character of Dragon, the bodyguard of the God of Gamblers. He's the man we all would like to be.

If you like gambling, Honk Kong movies, or Chow Yun Fat, give it a try... you may like it...

A Retarded Chow Yun Fat Is NOT Entertaining

[ebossert · 5/10 · 6 July 2007]

I am a massive fan of East Asian cinema. Having watched over 1,400 such films and having heard of God of Gamblers and reading the IMDb reviews, I was expecting an enjoyable film. In addition, I was excited to see Chow Yun Fat and Andy Lau play off of each other.

After the opening sequence the viewer will recognize that this film explores wildly unrealistic outcomes for the benefit of entertainment value – and it works for about 20 minutes. At that point this viewer was thoroughly hooked.

Afterwards, my enjoyment was severely crippled when Chow's character loses his memory and starts acting like a brainless halfwit. Seriously, he acts like a mentally retarded 5-year-old who likes chocolate. Now don't misunderstand me – I love chocolate too, but to see Chow Yun Fat munching on cocoa bars while acting the imbecile does not qualify as cinematic entertainment. Five minutes after this plot development was introduced, I was praying that Chow would snap out of it very quickly.

I apparently should have known better. This stupid plot line drags on for 75 friggin' minutes and single-handedly destroys the entire film. It should not be surprising that the screenplay was written by Jing Wong, who gave us the utterly overrated piece of crap-infested garbage known as Kung Fu Mahjong (2005) and other subpar efforts like Moving Targets (2004), My Schoolmate the Barbarian (2001), The Duel (2000), Naked Killer (1992), as well as other superlative pieces of trash like Naked Weapon (2002) and Her Name Is Cat (1998). His only good script was Casino Raiders (1989), but then again, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

The fact is simply that Jing couldn't come up with good material, so he made Chow Yun Fat a certifiable lunatic who does lots of stupid things that have no comedic value whatsoever. It's much easier than coming up with a clever screenplay.

I'm truly perplexed at the raving reviews of God of Gamblers here. Does everyone really enjoy seeing Chow Yun Fat act like an annoying retard for 75 minutes? It's simply unbearable.

my favourite 'heroic bloodshed' movie

[bavski-knovril · 21 February 2004]

Inspiring and often hilarious, this movie should not be missed by anyone.

Gasp in amazement as Chow Yun showes his 'mah jong' opponents no mercy!

Laugh as Chow's head is beaten again and again!

Grab your wallet and puchase a copy!

This movie is great - action, storyline, step-in part by the director, comedy: God of Gamblers has them all. Make sure you watch the dubbed version or the ending will not be the same... (you'll see what I mean)

Watch out for the product plugs for Disney and the blatent disrespect showed to Masterfoods corp. as Chow yun refuses to eat m&ms in stead of his 'favourite'

Now sit back and enjoy as Chow Yun and Andy Lau take part in one of HK's finest.

Original gambling movie unlike any other!

[FacemeltingFilms · 10/10 · 1 May 2011]

Unlike most gambling movies, God Of Gamblers does not address the addiction of gambling. It does not revel the dirty underside to casinos either. Most of all there are no plies of money floating down on a couple having sex. No, God Of Gamblers is something entirely different. With a fantastic mix of comedy, martial arts and high stakes poker God Of Gamblers set itself apart from all other gambling movie in a way only Hong Kong can do.

Ko Chun seems to have an almost supernatural ability to gamble. After nearly missing an assassination attempt Ko Chun falls victim to a prank set by a neighborhood hoodlum. After hitting his head, Ko forgets his past life and is left with a child's personality and an affection for chocolate. The hoodlum, Knife, brings Ko in and when he discovers the mans gift for gambling he uses Ko Chun to become rich. Only until Ko's past returns and the two worlds collide.

Chow Yun Fat plays Ko Chun and carries the film on his shoulders. With his excellent delivery as both the expert gambler and the innocent child we are captivated, watching his story unfold. Although the subtitles are horribly translated, the camera work is great and the fighting is better than expected.

Most action movies to come out of America or Hong Kong seem to have one problem in common. They focus on the action and forget the characters. This is why God Of Gamblers stands out from other martial arts movies. We take the time to get to know everyone in the story. The movie is just as much a comedy as it is an action movie. We aren't overloaded with long-winded action scenes. The action is short, to the point and interesting.

The film on the whole works well. Jing Wong has directed around 140 films and although I have only seen God Of Gamblers, I'm sure this is at the top of his list. One of the most interesting bits of trivia about the film is it spawned four sequels and six spin off films. It must have been HUGE over seas. And for good reason! Although the film is two hours long it moves fast and is highly entertaining. A must see for Chow Yun Fat fans or action nerds the world over!

I thought I was going to hate this but...

[juanmuscle · 10/10 · 30 October 2018]

As it turns out, I did not hate it at all, I became fond of it and by the by actually was rooting for the protagonist to hopefully convelesce himself back somewhere out of this lamo accident, or recrudesce or whatever but I was hoping that it would remain sweet and thoughtful but yes we had some obligatory violence, and although cool, probably could of done without it, and also the ending , it was nice with the whole going to Vegas I see here on IMDB that there is a sequel but I can't find anyone sharing it :( But upon the whole, I thought it was a genuine good fun with a great idea, this Asians' really know how to knock em out of the park especially with their writing , its as if they have free reign for their imagination, its as if someone is saying "hey good good , the more insane and crazy good times of happy jollified rollicking days of absolute out of bounds broaching the lines of god knows what, the better OK? OK! yeah!" hahaha got to love em those abroad trying whatever they can to out do the next guy abroad to entertain us out here who get the drab formulaic dull boring same ol' blue-print over and over until we drown in the billowy wavelets of hackneyed commonplace pedestrian did I mention boring scripts so yes got to give props where props are due and why not they deliver the good the abroad people! God who ever heard of producers who actually work with artists? Sounds like heaven over there! haha, anyway, this was a all around super entertaining smart piece of storytelling and hope to see more from this team! How did you all like the late 80's fashion assambles? yet the hairdoos were terrific , that's cause Asians have the best hair no matter what! Check out bands in the 80's like 'Loudness' and 'Anthem' rockin' hair folks! lol... although I would of changed the ending a bit instead of perpetuating the same debauched perfidity lest a million more people have to die and god knows what, my sequel would of been Chow Yo Phat in a little Gamblers Anonymous meeting abroad trying to build his life back up not only for society but for himself really, it would of made for a more thoughtful more serene more majestic setting seeing him instead of going for that mad rush in Gambling to just chilling out meditating on the edge of some mountain at dusk giving back to the community at dawn? No? haha... Love it or leave it Tommy!

Started the whole "gambler" phenomenon in Hong Kong

[jordondave-28085 · 9/10 · 15 October 2023]

(1989) God of Gamblers (In Chinese with English subtitles) ACTION/ COMEDY

Chow Yun Fat likable as a master gambler at the beginning gets amnesia upon bumping his head while going down a hill because people want to kill him as a result of his success. A small poor group of naive misfits finds Chow Yun- Fat and take him under their wing where they would then try to exploit him! As you're watching this, you're like why couldn't they have taken him to a hospital and so forth... and the reason is that it wouldn't be a much of a movie and no one would watch it! He builds a rapport with this family who is taking care of him with a mind of a child and an automatic hand as an ace gambler! More comedy slapstick, betrayal's and back stabbings happen along the way, and of course action- a true definition of fun Asian Trash cinema from Wong Jing! There is even a necrophiliac scene which is kind of kind of unnecessary in the overall film and not for everybody! This was a big box office commercial hit with Hong Kong audiences wanting to see more which also inspired many Hong Kong copycats such as "King of the Gamblers", "All For The Winner", "Queen of Gamblers", "Gamblers vs Gamblers".

One of Chow Yun-Fat's signature roles.

[OllieSuave-007 · 9/10 · 23 January 2016]

This movie contains one of Chow Yun-Fat's signature roles, where he plays super gambler Ko Chun, who possesses supernatural abilities during his card playing and has earned the nickname of "God of Gamblers." He was involved in an accident that resulted in him having partial memory loss and forgetting his title as the legendary "God of Gamblers." But, he inadvertently ends up showcasing his supernatural powers to street hustler Michael Chan (Andy Lau), who takes him in after his accident.

This movie has a little bit of a lot of things including action, humor, gambling, and the supernatural. The actors, which also includes Joey Wang, Charles Heung, Sharla Cheung, and Fui-On Shing, gave us quite a movie with a good balance of drama and comedy that made the film fast-paced for much of the film.

From Ko Chun blowing everybody away with his gambling abilities to the development friendship between him and Andy Lau and Joey Wang's characters, the God of Gamblers will definitely remain one of the most iconic movies in Hong Kong cinema and has spawned several sequels and some nonsensical knock-offs, and even inspired the role that launched Stephen Chow's stardom - The Saint of Gamblers.

Overall, it's an entertaining movie with Chow Yun-Fat at one of his best!

Grade A-