Q&D Guide to God of Gamblers Films

Basically speaking, there are two sets of God of Gamblers films, plus one spoof of the original film. Since many CYF fans have been disappointed by accidentally buying the wrong film (or the wrong sequel), here's a quick quide to which film is about what and who stars in it. I've put the films in chronological order, and highlighted the name of the star who plays Ko Chun (Du Shen) or his equivalent.

God of Gamblers. This is the original film that most people know and associate with the character of the God of Gamblers. It stars Chow Yun-Fat and Andy Lau, Joey Wong and Charles Heung. The picture you see above came from this film. Directed by Wong Jing, it is one of the most popular Hong Kong films ever made, it started a wave of gambling-theme films which included its own follow up as well as another complete series of films by Wong Jing who knew a good thing when he saw it.

All For The Winner.This is a parody of God of Gamblers, amazingly released only nine months after the original came out. They work fast in Hong Kong. This one stars Stephen Chow, known for such later films as God of Cookery and King of Comedy, and was directed by Corey Yuen Kwai and Jeff Lau Chun-Wai. Cheung Man, who played Janet (Ko Chun's girlfriend) in the original is in this one as well. True to Stephen Chow form, it's full of word-play and puns which don't translate well at the best of times and especially not when the movie is subbed in English in just a few days (or hours).

God of Gamblers II is another effort from Wong Jing - but it is not the sequel to the original, even though it features Andy Lau and Charles Heung from the original film. This film also stars Steven Chow, as the "Saint of Gamblers" who is trying to ingratiate himself with the God of Gamblers. Sometimes this film is advertised as also starring Chow Yun-Fat, but it doesn't. He appears for a very brief period, but only in a clip spliced in from the original God of Gamblers film, which in my book really doesn't count even as an appearance, let along "starring".

God of Gamblers III: Back To Shanghai is another movie starring Steven Chow, this time as the new God of Gamblers; the Saint of Gamblers (as introduced in God of Gamblers II movie) was promoted when Ko Chun went into retirement. (Confused yet?) At any rate, this movie finds Steven Chow transported back in time to 1937 Shanghai where he meets up with Gong Li playing two different roles. Charles Heung is in this one, too. Another Wong Jing effort.

God of Gamblers Return. This is the real sequel to the original, starring Chow Yun-Fat as Ko Chun, the God of Gamblers. Shocked out of retirement by the death of his wife (played by Cheung Man - she played Janet the girlfriend in the original, just to make things confusing) and unborn son, Ko Chun takes on the Devil of Gamblers (not the Saint). Wong Jing directed this one too. Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Ng Sin Lin and the ubiquitous Charles Heung co-star in this one.

God of Gamblers 3 - The Early Stage is not to be confused with God of Gamblers III. Got that? This one stars Leon Lai as a young Ko Chun. This one is primarly a trivia fest, and reveals why Ko Chun eats chocolate and wears his hair slicked back. This also stars Anita Yuen and Gigi Leung. Directed by guess who? Wong Jing.







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