David Chan
29 May 2020
Every person has her/his own movie-going tastes and needs.
Some want to see their favorite stars. Some want to see scenes expensively shot. Some want to have a great time laughing. Some want to have a meaningful time shedding tears.
After all, different individuals have different movie-going objectives. Some go after a single objective. Others pursue several objectives. Apart from the four movie-going objectives listed above, other common longings include: twists and turns in plot, crème de la crème acting, passionate depiction of romance, eye-opening and mind-blowing action, unforgettable dialog, spectacular cinematography, visionary science fiction universes, inspirational exploration of themes, breathtaking singing and dancing, exotic foreign locations, historic costumes and sets, highbrow cinematic styles, etc., etc., etc. They are so diversified and yet so unique in their own ways.
Therefore, it would be a difficult task to recommend movies to our readers.
Let us start with movies in the past. A workable scenario of recommendation is to list movies that are masterpieces in meeting certain criteria. If any of these movies appeal to our readers, such movies can be enjoyed through buying their DVD’s.
The criteria I recommend include:
1.Chinese language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing Chinese language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.
2.English language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.
3.Chinese language movies acclaimed by the Hong Kong movie industry: Hong Kong Film Awards’ yearly Best Picture, 1981to2019.
4.English language movies that appealed to popular American taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in North America, 1960 to 2019.
5.English language movies acclaimed by the American movie industry: The yearly Academy AwardBest Picture, 1960 to 2019. 6.Romance movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
7.Comedy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
8.Drama movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
9.Musical movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
10.Epic movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
11.Detective movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
12.Cop movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
13.Spy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
14.Fantasy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
15.Modern-dayaction movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
16.Science fiction movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
17.Animation movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
18.Courtroom drama movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
19.Heist movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
20.Superhero movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
21.Chinese swordsman movies: Recommending 5 Chinese language masterpieces.
22.Kung Fu movies: Recommending 5 Chinese language masterpieces.
23.Movie Westerns: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
-
Chinese language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing Chinese language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.
(click open)
-
Yearly Top Grossing Chinese Language Movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019 |
Year |
Movie Title |
1970 |
The Chinese Boxer |
1971 |
The Big Boss |
1972 |
The Way of the Dragon |
1973 |
The House of 72 Tenants |
1974 |
Games Gamblers Play |
1975 |
The Last Message |
1976 |
The Private Eyes |
1977 |
The Pilferer's Progress |
1978 |
The Contract |
1979 |
The Fearless Hyena |
1980 |
The Young Master |
1981 |
Security Unlimited |
1982 |
Aces Go Places |
1983 |
Aces Go Places II |
1984 |
Aces Go Places - Our Man from Bond Street |
1985 |
My Lucky Stars |
1986 |
A Better Tomorrow |
1987 |
Armour of God |
1988 |
The Eighth Happiness |
1989 |
God of Gamblers |
1990 |
All for the Winner |
1991 |
Fight Back to School |
1992 |
Justice, My Foot! |
1993 |
Flirting Scholar |
1994 |
God of Gamblers Return |
1995 |
Rumble in the Bronx |
1996 |
First Strike |
1997 |
Mr. Nice Guy |
1998 |
The Storm Riders |
1999 |
King of Comedy |
2000 |
Needing You |
2001 |
Shaolin Soccer |
2002 |
Infernal Affairs |
2003 |
Infernal Affairs III |
2004 |
Kung Fu Hustle |
2005 |
Initial D |
2006 |
Fearless |
2007 |
Lust, Caution |
2008 |
CJ7 |
2009 |
All's Well Ends Well 2009 |
2010 |
Ip Man 2 |
2011 |
You Are the Apple of my Eye |
2012 |
Cold War |
2013 |
Unbeatable |
2014 |
Golden Chickensss |
2015 |
Ip Man 3 |
2016 |
Cold War 2 |
2017 |
Love Off the Cuff |
2018 |
Agent Mr. Chan |
2019 |
Integrity |
-
English language movies that appealed to popular Hong Kong taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019.
(click open)
-
Yearly Top Grossing English Language Movie in Hong Kong, 1970 to 2019 |
Year |
Movie Title |
1970 |
Tora! Tora! Tora! |
1971 |
Melody |
1972 |
Diamonds Are Forever |
1973 |
The Poseidon Adventure |
1974 |
The Sting |
1975 |
The Towering Inferno |
1976 |
Jaws |
1977 |
The Spy Who Loved Me |
1978 |
Grease |
1979 |
Moonraker |
1980 |
The Fog |
1981 |
For Your Eyes Only |
1982 |
Somewhere In Time |
1983 |
ET: The Extra-Terrestrial |
1984 |
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom |
1985 |
Rambo: First Blood Part II |
1986 |
Rocky IV |
1987 |
Robocop |
1988 |
Rambo III |
1989 |
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade |
1990 |
Ghost |
1991 |
Terminator 2: Judgement Day |
1992 |
Basic Instinct |
1993 |
Jurassic Park |
1994 |
Speed |
1995 |
Die Hard with a Vengeance |
1996 |
Independence Day |
1997 |
Titanic |
1998 |
Tomorrow Never Dies |
1999 |
The Mummy |
2000 |
Mission: Impossible II |
2001 |
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone |
2002 |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
2003 |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
2004 |
The Day After Tomorrow |
2005 |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
2006 |
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
2007 |
Spider-Man 3 |
2008 |
The Dark Knight |
2009 |
Avatar |
2010 |
Toy Story 3 |
2011 |
Transformers: Dark of the Moon |
2012 |
Marvel's The Avengers |
2013 |
Iron Man 3 |
2014 |
Transformers: Age of Extinction |
2015 |
Avengers: Age of Ultron |
2016 |
Captain America: Civil War |
2017 |
Beauty and the Beast (2017) |
2018 |
Avengers: Infinity War |
2019 |
Avengers: Endgame |
-
Chinese language movies acclaimed by the Hong Kong movie industry: Hong Kong Film Awards’ yearly Best Picture, 1981-2019.
(click open)
-
Yearly Hong Kong Film Awards Best Picture, 1981 to 2019 |
Year |
Award Year No. |
Movie Title |
1981 |
1 |
Father and Son |
1982 |
2 |
Boat People |
1983 |
3 |
Ah Ying |
1984 |
4 |
Homecoming |
1985 |
5 |
Police Story |
1986 |
6 |
A Better Tomorrow |
1987 |
7 |
The Autumn's Tale |
1988 |
8 |
Rouge |
1989 |
9 |
Beyond the Sunset |
1990 |
10 |
Days of Being Wild |
1991 |
11 |
To Be Number One |
1992 |
12 |
Cageman |
1993 |
13 |
C'est La Vie Mon Cheri |
1994 |
14 |
Chungking Express |
1995 |
15 |
Summer Snow |
1996 |
16 |
Comrades, Almost a Love Story |
1997 |
17 |
Made in Hong Kong |
1998 |
18 |
Beast Cops |
1999 |
19 |
Ordinary Heroes |
2000 |
20 |
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon |
2001 |
21 |
Shaolin Soccer |
2002 |
22 |
Infernal Affairs |
2003 |
23 |
Running On Karma |
2004 |
24 |
Kung Fu Hustle |
2005 |
25 |
Election |
2006 |
26 |
After This Our Exile |
2007 |
27 |
The Warlords |
2008 |
28 |
Ip Man |
2009 |
29 |
Bodyguards And Assassins |
2010 |
30 |
Gallants |
2011 |
31 |
A Simple Life |
2012 |
32 |
Cold War |
2013 |
33 |
The Grandmaster |
2014 |
34 |
The Golden Era |
2015 |
35 |
Ten Years |
2016 |
36 |
Trivisa |
2017 |
37 |
Our Time Will Come |
2018 |
38 |
Project Gutenberg |
2019 |
39 |
Better Days |
-
English language movies that appealed to popular American taste: The yearly top grossing English language movie in North America, 1960 to 2019.
(click open)
-
Yearly Top Grossing English Language Movie in North America, 1960 to 2018 |
Year |
Movie Title |
1960 |
Swiss Family Robinson |
1961 |
West Side Story |
1962 |
Lawrence of Arabia |
1963 |
Cleopatra |
1964 |
My Fair Lady |
1965 |
The Sound of Music |
1966 |
The Bible: In the Beginning |
1967 |
The Graduate |
1968 |
2001: A Space Odyssey |
1969 |
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid |
1970 |
Love Story |
1971 |
The French Connection |
1972 |
The Godfather |
1973 |
The Exorcist |
1974 |
Blazing Saddles |
1975 |
Jaws |
1976 |
Rocky |
1977 |
Star Wars |
1978 |
Grease |
1979 |
Kramer vs. Kramer |
1980 |
The Empire Strikes Back |
1981 |
Raiders of the Lost Ark |
1982 |
ET: The Extra-Terrestrial |
1983 |
Return of the Jedi |
1984 |
Beverly Hills Cop |
1985 |
Back to the Future |
1986 |
Top Gun |
1987 |
Three Men and a Baby |
1988 |
Rain Man |
1989 |
Batman |
1990 |
Home Alone |
1991 |
Terminator 2: Judgement Day |
1992 |
Aladdin |
1993 |
Jurassic Park |
1994 |
Forrest Gump |
1995 |
Toy Story |
1996 |
Independence Day |
1997 |
Titanic |
1998 |
Saving Private Ryan |
1999 |
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace |
2000 |
How the Grinch Stole Christmas |
2001 |
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone |
2002 |
Spider-Man |
2003 |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
2004 |
Shrek 2 |
2005 |
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
2006 |
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
2007 |
Spider-Man 3 |
2008 |
The Dark Knight |
2009 |
Avatar |
2010 |
Toy Story 3 |
2011 |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 |
2012 |
Marvel's The Avengers |
2013 |
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire |
2014 |
American Sniper |
2015 |
Star Wars: The Force Awakens |
2016 |
Finding Dory |
2017 |
Star Wars: The Last Jedi |
2018 |
Black Panther |
2019 |
Avengers: Endgame |
-
English language movies acclaimed by the American movie industry: The yearly Academy Award Best Picture, 1960 to 2019.
(click open)
-
Yearly Academy Award Best Picture, 1960 to 2018 |
Year |
Award Year No. |
Movie Title |
1960 |
33 |
The Apartment |
1961 |
34 |
West Side Story |
1962 |
35 |
Lawrence of Arabia |
1963 |
36 |
Tom Jones |
1964 |
37 |
My Fair Lady |
1965 |
38 |
The Sound of Music |
1966 |
39 |
A Man for All Seasons |
1967 |
40 |
In the Heat of the Night |
1968 |
41 |
Oliver! |
1969 |
42 |
Midnight Cowboy |
1970 |
43 |
Patton |
1971 |
44 |
The French Connection |
1972 |
45 |
The Godfather |
1973 |
46 |
The Sting |
1974 |
47 |
The Godfather Part II |
1975 |
48 |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest |
1976 |
49 |
Rocky |
1977 |
50 |
Annie Hall |
1978 |
51 |
The Deer Hunter |
1979 |
52 |
Kramer vs. Kramer |
1980 |
53 |
Ordinary People |
1981 |
54 |
Chariots of Fire |
1982 |
55 |
Gandhi |
1983 |
56 |
Terms of Endearment |
1984 |
57 |
Amadeus |
1985 |
58 |
Out of Africa |
1986 |
59 |
Platoon |
1987 |
60 |
The Last Emperor |
1988 |
61 |
Rain Man |
1989 |
62 |
Driving Miss Daisy |
1990 |
63 |
Dances With Wolves |
1991 |
64 |
The Silence of the Lambs |
1992 |
65 |
Unforgiven |
1993 |
66 |
Schindler's List |
1994 |
67 |
Forrest Gump |
1995 |
68 |
Braveheart |
1996 |
69 |
The English Patient |
1997 |
70 |
Titanic |
1998 |
71 |
Shakespeare in Love |
1999 |
72 |
American Beauty |
2000 |
73 |
Gladiator |
2001 |
74 |
A Beautiful Mind |
2002 |
75 |
Chicago |
2003 |
76 |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
2004 |
77 |
Million Dollar Baby |
2005 |
78 |
Crash |
2006 |
79 |
The Departed |
2007 |
80 |
No Country for Old Men |
2008 |
81 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
2009 |
82 |
The Hurt Locker |
2010 |
83 |
The King's Speech |
2011 |
84 |
The Artist |
2012 |
85 |
Argo |
2013 |
86 |
12 Years a Slave |
2014 |
87 |
The Birdman |
2015 |
88 |
Spotlight |
2016 |
89 |
Moonlight |
2017 |
90 |
The Shape of Water |
2018 |
91 |
Green Book |
2019 |
92 |
Parasite |
-
Romance movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
You Are the Apple of My Eye (2011)
-
The Autumn’s Tale (1987)
-
Comrades, Almost a Love Story (1996)
-
Fly Me to Polaris (1999)
-
The Ex-File: The Return of the Exes (2017)
English Language:
-
Casablanca (1942)
-
Roman Holiday (1953)
-
An Affair to Remember (1957)
-
Ghost (1990)
-
Pretty Woman (1990)
-
Comedy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
Justice, My Foot! (1992)
-
All’s Well Ends Well (1992)
-
The Private Eyes (1976)
-
Shaolin Soccer (2001)
-
The Mermaid (2016)
English Language:
-
Home Alone (1990)
-
Tootsie (1982)
-
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
-
Ghostbusters (1984)
-
The Graduate (1967)
-
Drama movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
Little Big Master (2015)
-
After Shock (2010)
-
A Simple Life (2011)
-
Summer Snow (1995)
-
Dying to Survive (2018)
English Language:
-
Forrest Gump (1994)
-
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
-
The King's Speech (2010)
-
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
-
Rain Man (1998)
-
Musical movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
I Have a Date with Spring (1994)
-
Para Para Sakura (2001)
-
Perhaps Love (2005)
-
Last Song in Paris (1986)
-
He’s a Woman, She’s a Man (1994)
English Language:
-
The Sound of Music (1965)
-
La La Land (2016)
-
My Fair Lady (1964)
-
Mamma Mia (2008)
-
Grease (1978)
-
Epic movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
Bodyguards and Assassins (2009)
-
Red Cliff (2008)
-
The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014)
-
The Soong Sisters (1997)
-
The Warlords (2007)
English language:
-
Titanic (1997)
-
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
-
Schindler's List (1993)
-
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
-
Gladiator (2000)
-
Detective movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
Blind Detective (2013)
-
The Bullet Vanishes (2012)
-
Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame (2010)
-
Eye in the Sky (2007)
-
Confession of Pain (2006)
English Language:
-
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
-
Chinatown (1974)
-
Side Effects (2013)
-
Body Heat (1981)
-
Fracture (2007)
-
Cop movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
Infernal Affairs (2002)
-
Project Gutenberg (2018)
-
Cold War 2 (2016)
-
A Better Tomorrow (1986)
-
Cold War (2012)
English Language:
-
Speed (1994)
-
Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
-
The Fugitive (1993)
-
The French Connection (1971)
-
Heat (1995)
-
Spy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
The Accidental Spy (2001)
-
Tokyo Raiders (2000)
-
Downtown Torpedoes (1997)
-
Hot War (1998)
-
Helios (2015)
English Language:
-
Casino Royale (2006)
-
Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
-
Mission Impossible – Fallout (2018)
-
Jason Bourne (2016)
-
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)
-
Fantasy movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
Monster Hunt (2015)
-
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013)
-
Young Detective Dee : Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013)
-
Painted Skin (2008)
-
The Monkey King 2 (2016)
English Language:
-
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
-
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
-
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
-
Maleficent (2014)
-
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
-
Modern-day action movies: Recommending 5 Chinese Language and 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
Chinese Language:
-
CZ12 (2012)
-
First Strike (1996)
-
Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
-
Who Am I? (1998)
-
Operation Red Sea (2018)
English Language:
-
Furious 7 (2015)
-
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
-
The Fate of the Furious (2017)
-
Fast Five (2011)
-
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
-
Science fiction movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
-
Avatar (2009)
-
ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (1983)
-
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
-
The Martian (2015)
-
Back to the Future (1985)
-
Animation movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
-
Frozen (2013)
-
Minions (2015)
-
Zootopia (2016)
-
Finding Nemo (2003)
-
Coco (2017)
-
Courtroom drama movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
-
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
-
The Verdict (1982)
-
A Few Good Men (1992)
-
And Justice for All (1979)
-
Erin Brockovich (2000)
-
Heist movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
-
Inception (2010)
-
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
-
Now You See Me (2013)
-
The Italian Job (2003)
-
National Treasure (2004)
-
Superhero movies: Recommending 5 English language masterpieces.
(click open)
-
-
The Dark Knight (2008)
-
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
-
Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
-
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
-
Black Panther (2018)
-
Chinese swordsman movies: Recommending masterpieces:
(click open)
-
-
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
-
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011)
-
Hero (2002)
-
Seven Swords (2005)
-
Dragon Inn (1992)
-
Kung Fu movies: Recommending masterpieces.
(click open)
-
-
The Way of the Dragon (1972)
-
Fist of Fury (1972)
-
Enter the Dragon (1973)
-
Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
-
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
-
Movie Westerns: Recommending masterpieces.
(click open)
-
-
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
-
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
-
A Fistful of Dollars (1967)
-
High Noon (1952)
-
How the West was Won (1962)
Now that I have recommended many movies of the past, next time, I shall talk about upcoming movies.
Thank you for reading.