Golden Chicken (2002)

As a fan of Hong Kong cinema, I remember watching this movie back in 2003 or 2004, on VCD nonetheless, and remembered the movie only fondly. And now finally getting it on DVD, it is time to revisit the "Golden Chicken" ("Gam Gai").And the visit was just as great as I initially remembered it. This is indeed a funny and also interesting movie. By Hong Kong standards it is a bit deviant from the usual movies seen in the comedy genre.The story is about Kam (played by Sandra Ng Kwan Yue), an aging prostitute who is in an ATM booth, when the thief James Bong (played by Eric Tsang) shows up to rob her account of money. As the electricity fails, they become trapped inside the booth, and Kam starts telling stories from her life.The tales that Kam tells are funny and exciting, but they are also stories of warmth, compassion and finding her own place in life. It is also the stories of how the prostitution business works and has changed in Hong Kong with the passing years, and of how a flood of mainland China girls came into the market. And these individual stories through the years are nicely accompanied by the cast and some really impressive cameos by some of the 'heavyweight' actors in Hong Kong cinema; Andy Lau, Tony Leung Ka-Fai and Eason Chan. But I will say that Sandra Ng really carried the movie quite well, and it was a real treat to watch her in this role."Golden Chicken" will have you laughing and smiling, and it will also make you feel happy with the story, because it is the kind of story that sinks in and stays with you.I can warmly recommend "Golden Chicken" to anyone who enjoys Asian comedies and/or Hong Kong cinema.

This story is about a Hong Kong prostitute ("chicken" is slang for prostitute) who winds up trapped in an atm with a would be robber. To pass the time till power is restored, she tells her life story. This film is a Sandra Ng tour de force. She is great in this role, playing it to the hilt, having fun, enduring heartache and just being her. The movie is told in flashback and while its essentially a comedy there are some sweet, poignant moments. Tony Leung and Andy Lau give some good performances, but this is Sandra's film. I can't imagine this film being remade in the U.S. and that is a great thing. Over her career, Sandra Ng has shown incredible versatility in her acting. She manages to look pretty, sweet and funny, all in the same scene. She won the Golden Horse for Best Actress and she deserved it. Eric Tsang, as the would be robber, is fine, but you'll be blown away by Sandra's performance. Its nit a vulgar film, despite the plot. I highly recommend this film.

This movie was really funny, not only was it about Kam's life as a hooker but the hardships,the ups and downs Hong Kong went through during those decades. If they did this film later, she could've described what it was like to live through the SARS scare in Hong Kong.I loved Sandra in this movie, she was totally being herself..haha

Sandra Ng probably should have won HKFA Best Actress award. Comedy is an under-appreciated art and Sandra Ng is a true artist, if under-appreciated. This movie shows the trials and tribulations of a Hong Kong woman through her career as a "fish ball" girl, club hostess, masseuse and prostitute while showing a unique view of HK history. I've watched this movie twice and I intend to watch it several more times. There is so much to catch--cameos, social history, irony, subtleties. It's a real treat!