The things that happened throughout the movie felt too random and one scene wasn't really leading up to the next. I didn't really feel that there was a fully cohesive and constructed narrative to the movie.

It felt like writer and director Jing Wong was just making things up as the filming of the movie was progressing. However, I have to admit that I found the storyline in the movie to be somewhat erratic and skittish. Not having seen the 1992 Hong Kong crime action drama 'Do Sing Dai Hang: San Gor Chuen Kei' (aka 'Casino Tycoon') before now in 2022, I must admit that I was actually looking forward to watching it, as the movie had Andy Lau in the leading role. CASINO TYCOON features plenty of twists and turns, a large dose of villainy, some brief but cool action, and lots of drama. Alex Man's stalwart buddy is a great asset in the movie and features in some of the most intense moments, while Paul Chun (one of David Chiang's brothers) has one of those love-to-hate bad guy roles. Lau is an intensely likable figure from the era and Chingamy Yau and Joey Wong both do well as his rival lovers. The above average central cast members certainly work hard to bring the story to life and by and large they succeed. In fact it feels much like an updated Shaw-style movie along the lines of Takeshi Kaneshiro's HERO, although it isn't an action movie.

CASINO TYCOON is more of a laidback and mannered piece of work, reminiscent of GOODFELLAS in the long-term, expansive storytelling, told on a budget which does the story justice without it ever feeling epic in scope. CASINO TYCOON is another gambling-themed movie from director Wong Jing, here re-teaming with star Andy Lau after the success of the breakneck HARDBOILED 2: THE LAST BLOOD.

Casino tycoon movie review