Mahjong at the movies?

[Barticle]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone was in a position to share their experiences of watching MJ films? (specifically live action, not anime)

I came across the name Kung Fu Mahjong a few times when I was doing internet research for the game but just assumed the film was given that name after translation to add a little oriental colour. After reading some reviews though it turns out that it is about our game (or a version of it at least).

Further investigation reveals a listing of (mostly) Hong Kong movies on Wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong_films (EDIT: link is dead now - see my May 2012 posts below)

I would be interested to hear your opinions of any movies that feature mahjong - preferably with more than the few seconds of screen time in Joy Luck Club! :silly:

Bart

[Tom Sloper]

I have Kung Fu Mahjong, and it includes an interesting scene involving cheating at mahjong. A lot of the film revolves around playing the game.

I also have Mahjong Dragon and Mahjong Heroes. As I recall, they were mostly unwatchable, and I don\'t recall any particularly interesting mahjong scenes.

[ReachNL]

Don\'t forget the few seconds in Mission: Impossible III B)

[Barticle]

I have Kung Fu Mahjong, and it includes an interesting scene involving cheating at mahjong. A lot of the film revolves around playing the game.

Sounds cool, I´ll see if I can pick up a region-free copy. Thanks Tom.

Don\'t forget the few seconds in Mission: Impossible III B)

Oh really? I´ll look out for that bit when I watch it. Bedankt!

[Gamegrunt]

Here is a collection of YouTubes that I found interesting, in spite of the language barrier.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1qjT_Jb ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no0VblMl ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzMEW0zy ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDm5zey_ ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6SjWQtWR1U

Gg

[Barticle]

Here is a collection of YouTubes that I found

Ooh, good job. I didn´t think of that.

Will have a proper look at these after work.

Thanks. :)

[Fat Dragon]

What about \"Fat Choi Spirit\"?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Choi_Spirit
Should also be on Tube.

[Barticle]

I guess a lot of them could be on YouTube; the Wiki list (original post) gives the titles in both English and kanji so you can search both ways.

I think most of those are Hong Kong movies though. The clips that Gg posted above are cool because they´re playing modern Japanese MJ with riichi and dora (plus a few sneaky moves!). The end of the 10/12 clip was so climactic that I had to track down the next chunk...! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr5cgW0LoFQ

Also I now refuse to play MJ without cheesy 80´s movie soundtrack music playing. :silly:

[Gamegrunt]

The making-of-the-movie stuff at the end sure opened my eyes...because even if you don\'t know a ron from a howard, you sure want to look good while you\'re playing the game.

Gg

[Barticle]

even if you don\'t know a ron from a howard

Hehe! Surely it´s no coincidence that he became famous through playing a character called "Riichi" Cunningham. :silly:

I guess if your actors are new to MJ you have to teach them how to manipulate the tiles (and how to slam discards as hard as possible on the table of course) or otherwise use stunt-doubles for close-up shots!

I was thinking last night how it must be fun setting up a gaming scene in a mahjong movie - you´d have to write the "script" for the sequence of tiles drawn, taking into account calls that change the order of play while you construct the wall.

[carl]

Didn\'t a mahjong parlor owner get killed in Sonatine?

[Gamegrunt]

In my first post in this thread, I linked to three YouTube videos. What is the name of the Japanese actor pictured on the right in the first video?

I\'ve got to know...I\'ve developed a bit of a man-crush on this dude. :blush:

Gg

[Mcgreag]

In my first post in this thread, I linked to three YouTube videos. What is the name of the Japanese actor pictured on the right in the first video?

I\'ve got to know...I\'ve developed a bit of a man-crush on this dude. :blush:

Gg

Not 100% I got the right guy but I think it\'s Shimizu Kentaro 清水健太郎
That was the first name in the credits at least and it seems to look like him.
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85% ... A%E9%83%8E

Edit: When is this forum going to get support to display japanese chars...

Edit2: Reading up a bit more it seems that movie is supposed to be base on real events. The main character Shoichi Sakurai was a professional mahjong player who supposedly where "undefeated" for 20 years straight.

[HotelFSR]

Apparently Sakurai really was undefeated, but this had more to do with his incredible cheating techniques which he has since revealed.

[Gamegrunt]

Spot on! Here is a link to a movie poster image and a story about his current problems with the Japanese criminal justice system. Scroll down to see the story about Shimizu:

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2009/01/index.shtml

Thank you for filling in this blank.

Gg