Movies

Ok, so he wasn’t always the versatile actor he is now and everyone develops their own style and appearance over time.  Consider Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in People’s Hero, then in In the Mood For Love. See?

Like anyone just starting out, Aaron went where he was put. Small-time roles in small-time films meant little publicity, but that changed after it was discovered his Grief-Stricken/Vulnerable Face™ could sell tickets. This weapon was just the first in an arsenal designed to stop movie-goers of all ages in their tracks and propel him to greater heights. The Faces, such as the Serious Poker Face™ (GameBoy Kids), the Strong But Silent Pout™ (The Storm Riders) and the Arrogant Teeth-Revealing Lip Curl™ (And I Hate You So) made sure he was considered an emotional, animated actor. This helped change him from Floppy-Haired Music Idol to Muscled/Toned Movie Idol, and so inevitably, came weapon number two: The T-Shirts™. The Functional Yet Tight Flattering Top™ (China Strike Force), the Just Stand There and Look Good Enough to Eat T-Shirt™ (2000 AD)… Recently there has been of course the sleeping-in-space top from Love in Space, and even that ugly Don’t Care Shirt™ from Divergence.

But throughout it all was weapon number three: The Hair™. Starting off as thick, long and shockingly cute it changed over the years from Floppy’s Asking If You Want to Come Out and Play, to What Time Shall I Pick You Up? Whatever The Hair™ (and he) appears in, it always screams give this man a film award once in a while; he’s trying really hard.

“So what are they and where are these films?” I hear you shout. Well back in the day I had them all listed in one page, but as he’s churning out movies like Andy Lau these days, I’ve split them into different pages, one per decade (!).

On the pages below are all those yards of celluloid that are made so much more special by his very presence. They’re in date order of release in HK and the ones I’ve seen have my very quick overview or a link to a full-on review. Be on the lookout for the little content indicators for Scenes To Wear Out Your Remote By. Trust me, it’ll make trying to decide which film to watch much easier! Disagree with the content highlights? Let me know.

Content Indicators

W1 – weapon number 1, a Face™
W2 – weapon number 2, a T-Shirt™
W3 – weapon number 3, the Hair™
ICO – impossibly cool outfit
FF – fantastic fight (fights that make you go “嘩! 再做!”)
GBS – gratuitous butt shot
GAS – gratuitous abs shot (very rare)
SS – shower scene (also rare, but worth the wait)
SL – special look (detailed in review)
NOM – Hong Kong Film Award nomination
AA – Award Winner! Those rare occasions when people have forgotten to snub him and actually given him an award

Here we go – chairs from Japan, Shaw Brothers scripts, long-ass wigs, floppy hair, wewungwung, Taiwan Golden Horse Best Actor wins, Hong Kong Best Actor wins – it’s on like Donkey Kong!

This way to the 1990s – mushroom hair, big jeans, slapstick comedy and shameless song shoe-ins

This way to the 2000s – Serious Business hair, glasses, action-drama, actor awards, and more shameless song shoe-ins

This way to the 2010s – sequels, fantasy, every-film-has-its-own-hair, actor awards and Serious Thrillers

This way to the 2020s – Oscar-bait, unbelievable hair, more sequels and gritty action. Also includes upcoming titles and rumoured projects.