So, the centrepiece stunt of this film involves Michael sacrificing himself to save Michelle from the remaining baddy, Bandana (played by Pai Ying - a regular actor in many of my favourite King Hu films). Suspended from the top of Energy Plaza by a rope, the baddy attempts to lure Michelle up with the dangling victim. What follows is a slo-mo wire fall by a very awesome stuntman, but I feel it could have been made more realistic if he flailed about more slowly because his moves make the fall seem slower than intended (i.e.makes the wire use more obvious). Anyway, this was all done at the top of Energy Plaza in East Tsim Sha Tsui. Props to Michael Wong for what looks like being actually dangled upside down from the top of the building.
We get some good high views of the surrounding area, including the plot of empty land where the Science Museum would be built. The phone box that features in the scene was located along this east section of Granville Road.
Looking down onto Granville Road, East Ocean Centre on the right
Looking from Granville Road back to Energy Plaza The most emotion Michael Wong has ever shown on film
Fun fact: Eddie Maher (who played an arms dealer in this movie) owned a gym at the top of Energy Plaza (Energy Gym? please feel free to correct). It seems it was a bit like the Hong Kong version of Golds Gym. Instead of famous bodybuilders though, all the 80s action stars went there to workout including the likes of Sammo, Yeoh and Donnie Yen etc. It was the place to be and be seen. Maher passed away in March 2019.
2 comments:
Eddie Maher's TST East gym had the imaginative name of "Eddie Maher's Health Club". Opened in 1984. I think it later moved to Mongkok.
I think Energy gym has a much better ring to it, so I think he missed an opportunity there haha, cheers for the clarification.
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