Casino Raiders (1989)

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Hong Kong filmmakers Jimmy Heung and Wong Jing co-directed this highly successful gambling film which begat a spate of unrelated sequels. Wong had actually written a similar (and highly profitable) film for television nine years earlier (The Shell Game), but this one marked the beginning of a… More Hong Kong filmmakers Jimmy Heung and Wong Jing co-directed this highly successful gambling film which begat a spate of unrelated sequels. Wong had actually written a similar (and highly profitable) film for television nine years earlier (The Shell Game), but this one marked the beginning of a mini-trend of casino-oriented theatrical crime films including the even more popular God of Gamblers. Alan Tam and Andy Lau star as Sam Law and Crab Chan, old con-artist friends who get back together and move to America after Crab's release from prison. Sam helps the owner of a casino catch a group of Japanese raiders who have bilked the establishment out of over 60,000,000 dollars in two weeks, falling in love with a wealthy heiress named Koyan (Idy Chan) in the process. Crab saves Sam's life when the Japanese crooks seek revenge, only to have his hand slashed in an injury which ends his ability to pull off scams. Koyan's father offers to help him and give him a legitimate job if he stops committing crimes as well, and Sam accepts, leaving Crab hanging out to dry when the Japanese come calling. Crab decides to rip off the raiders in a high-stakes game, but they learn what he did to them afterwards and kidnap Koyan, leading to a violent and vicious denouement. Rosamund Kwan co-stars with Lung Fong, Shum Wai, and Che-Kirk Wong. The unconnected Casino Raiders II and No Risk, No Gain: Casino Raiders -- The Sequel were among many knockoffs which followed. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi