PORTLAND STREET BLUES (1998)

Starring: Sandra Ng, Kristy Yang, Alex Fong, Wan Yeung Ming, Shu Qi, Ng Man Tat, Francis Ng, Ng Chi Hung, Ekin Cheng

When the first Young and Dangerous film was made, no one could have expected it to become such a huge commercial success, generating countless spin-offs in every direction possible. Part of that success was due to the fact that it was based on an already successful comic series, and the younger generation (who brought these comics) wanted to watch their heroes come to live on-screen.

Portland Street Blues is focused on Thirteenth Sister (Sandra Ng), one of the characters in the original Young and Dangerous films, and charts her rise to fame as one of the branch leaders of the Hung Hing triad society. We witness her young life as a street-wise girl living in downtown Mongkok (in Portland Street) with her best friend, Yun (Kristy Yang). After the death of her father (played by Ng Man Tat), Teenie (real name of Thirteenth Sister) finds solace in the friendship of Coke (Alex Fong), who take her to mainland China after she is injured while helping him.

Yun goes to China to be with Teenie, but the latter becomes jealous when Coke takes an interest in Yun. They separate and Teenie returns to Hong Kong where she meets a strange woman named Scarface (Shu Qi), who has turned to drugs after her tearful (and tragic) break-up with her ex-boyfriend. Teenie takes on a mission handed down by the Hung Hing hiearchy - if she kills a corrupt cop, she would be promoted to leader of the Portland Street triads.

The mission is successful, and she soon becomes one of the branch leaders of the Hung Hung society. Of course, not everything runs smoothly, and there are a number of hiccups along the way, but these are all just the icing on the cake.

Sandra Ng won the Best Actress award for her brilliant portrayal of Thirteenth Sister in 1998, something that even astounded critics and moviegoers, as Sandra Ng is not famed for her serious acting ability. Usually stereotyped as a goofy comical actress, Sandra Ng has never really given the chance to show off her acting, and thankfully, in Portland Street Blues, she relished the opportunity to silence her critics. It is her cool and calculating persona that livens up the film, and hopefully, she is given more serious dramatic roles in the future.

The film is not perfect, and there is a huge moralistic flaw within - it implies that joining the triads, anyone can become rich and powerful. Surely, the wrong sort of message to give to impressionable uneducated youngsters hoping to be like them. Action is limited, and the film is more about raw emotions than throwing punches, and this is where the film shines.

A lot of effort has been put into the film to make sure there is a continuous timeframe that connects with the other Young and Dangerous storylines. An early mention is made of the recruiting of Chan Ho Nam and Chicken by Brother Bee (Ng Chi Hung) to Brother Kwan (Francis Ng), who remarks that they are only children. Ironic as it is Ho Nam who would be instrumental to Kwan's death. Ekin Cheng even puts in a cameo at the end of the film.

Anyone who watched Young and Dangerous: the prequel, would notice that Sandra Ng and Kristy Yang put in a very brief cameo as Teenie and Yun - another connection to the overall Y&D framework.

RATING

8 / 10