Casino Raiders (1989)

Casino Raiders is overshadowed by the similar HK franchise "God of Gamblers", although the story here really holds its own with strong performances by Andy Lau & Alan Tam along with solid writing by Jing Wong. Two of the best gamblers out of Hong Kong (Lau & Tam) are hired to work as analysts for a struggling US casino which is losing massive amounts of money to a Japanese group of poker sharks. Our duo of protagonists uncover the secret to the success of the Japanese sharks, and shatter their racket to earn any further winnings in the US. Bitter from their exposure, the Japanese sharks (which also happen to be Yakuza) vow to take revenge on Lau & Tam in which a series of incidents all boil down to one huge defining game of high-stakes Poker. The ride to the finish takes a few detours, however with some patience and character attachment to our duo, the time passes by fairly quickly and ends on a satisfying conclusion. I do believe the film could have been edited cleaner though, as there are a few scenes which just feel like filler and really weigh the rest of the movie down. Besides this one fault, Casino Raiders is an original story with no culturally specific elements like in God of Gamblers, to which Western audiences may enjoy better even with the absence of Chow Yun Fat. The tension is genuine because the stakes are set very high without being cheesy or predictable. If your looking for an out of the ordinary gambling-revenge tale, Casino Raiders is an excellent choice. -7/10

Sam (Alan Tam) and Crab (Andy Lau) are good buddies. They both gamble, but Crab can con people who he feels is "fair game". They get called to improve security at a casino located in Lake Tahoe. They get the Yakuzas who were cheating the casino, but Yakuzas tries to get even by kidnapping Crab's girlfriend Tong (Idy Chan). Crab goes to the Yakuzas to get Tong back. Yakuzas gives Crab the choice if he wins the bet he can take Tong, but if he loses, then he'll be poisoned by means of poisoned brandy. Crab cons them into thinking he won the bet and takes Tong home but he dies in the process from poisoning. Sam is also attacked by the Yakuzas, but he's more enraged over the loss of his friend and swears revenge a la gambler style.The story is cool but what's great is the friendship between Sam and Crab. Sam would go all the way to avenge his friend's death. This is one of the best movie of this genre and still a good movie to watch after 17 years since its making.

This movie has a nice plot, about brotherhood and friendship between 2 "tricksters". The best part was the revenging and final showdown on the gambling table. During this final short scene, most of the viewers will be offered an insight into the mind of a trickster and will have a feeling of "enlightenment". POSSIBLE SPOILERS***** Viewers who pay careful attention to find out who those machine guns guys will know that they are Italians. And thus they should be the Mafia. Viewers are in for another "enlightenment" even after the gambling showdown, the "Asia's first gambling king" not only win the game wonderfully, but having a setup such that his enemies(the Yakuza head and his godson) killed each other.

I think 'Wong Jing' is the Roger Coman of the Hong Kong. I think he must be rich. because he made a many garbage and trash movie for make money. sometimes watching his movie than I feel Angry. But this movie is great. He made Many gambling films. But there are only 3films are great. or Maybe that 3films is the only good films of his movie.once since this movie was released. after many gambling movie was made. but this movie is the best.