God of Gamblers (1989), Pioneer of Chinese Gambling Movies

God of Gamblers (1989) is indeed an old film. It is a film that tells the activities of legendary gamblers with all the fun and funny stories. When God of Gamblers was first launched on December 14, 1989. At that time, this film invited the top artists of its era, such as Chow Yun Fat and Andy Lau. The film duration is 126 minutes using Cantonese language.

This film was so successful that it gave birth to many sequels. In the sequel, Chow Yun Fat returns to play Ko Chun. The film was a hit, earning an income of HK $ 37,058,686.

Ko Chun, The God of Gambler

God of Gamblers tells the story of the legendary gambler named Ko Chun (Chow Yun Fat). He is known as a reliable gambler who has supernatural powers.

Ko Chun is also well-known among the gaming table through his appearances as the God of Gambling. He has supernatural abilities that always make him win when gambling. Although many have heard and admired the God of Gambling, not many know his identity.

Ko Chun gambled every time, always neat in a suit and smooth hair. And the god of gambling, the owner of supernatural powers, really likes to eat chocolate while gambling.

As the God of Gambler, Ko Chun always avoids media publication. However, he was easily identifiable by his features, namely sleek, wet-like hair, and a green jade ring on his left pinky.

Brief Synopsis of God of Gamblers

God of Gamblers is a thrilling tale that follows the life of Ko Chun, a renowned gambler with supernatural skills, who is drawn into a web of revenge and challenges. Here’s a quick look at the story:

1. The Challenge in Tokyo

Ko Chun, the legendary gambler, travels to Tokyo, Japan, to face off against Tanaka, a famous and top-ranked gambler. In a dramatic showdown, Ko Chun defeats Tanaka. However, after the loss, Tanaka seeks Ko Chun’s help for a personal mission—revenge.

2. The Memory Loss Incident

In exchange for his help, Ko Chun agrees to track down a famous gambler from Singapore, Chan Kam Sing, who Tanaka believes is responsible for his father’s downfall. As part of the arrangement, Tanaka offers Ko Chun a box of chocolates and bodyguards for protection.

However, things take an unexpected turn when Ko Chun is involved in an accident orchestrated by an amateur robber named Knief. The accident results in Ko Chun losing his memory, leaving him in a vulnerable state.

3. A Strange Return to Tokyo

Now with his memory erased, Ko Chun finds himself in Tokyo alongside his girlfriend, Janet. Tanaka, determined to regain his status, challenges Ko Chun to a series of games, including Mahjong and Craps. Despite his amnesia, Ko Chun’s exceptional gambling skills are undeniable, and he easily wins, forcing Tanaka to acknowledge his greatness.

4. The New Mission

Tanaka, still bent on revenge, urges Ko Chun to confront Chan Kam Sing, the gambler responsible for his father’s tragic death. Tanaka’s father had committed suicide after losing a large sum of money to Chan Kam Sing, which led him to depression and despair.

Ko Chun accepts the challenge, but in return, he asks for chocolate once the mission is complete. Tanaka agrees and even provides a bodyguard for Ko Chun, ensuring his safety during the dangerous confrontation.

5. The Strange Transformation of Ko Chun

As the story unfolds, Ko Chun, once the feared “God of Gambling” with supernatural abilities, begins to act strangely. Due to the accident and memory loss, he takes on a child-like demeanor, leading to moments of humor and confusion.

Despite his childlike behavior, Ko Chun’s skills remain unmatched, and his journey takes unexpected twists as he faces both personal challenges and high-stakes gambling competitions.

Review of God of Gamblers

When the film enters the boring minutes when The God of Gambler experiences amnesia and becomes like a child, Andy Lau manages to break the boredom with his funny acts.

Occasionally the audience is invited to see Chow Yun Fat’s performance as the God of Gambling, which is when fighting over Mahjong stones, shuffling cards, sorting cards, and throwing cards.

Two things that are a little disturbing from this film is the betrayal of Ko Chun’s closest people who seem sudden and too forced.

The function of Janet’s character as Ko Chun’s lover is also not very clear. Janet’s attempts to find Ko Chun during an accident don’t appear in the film either.

Regardless of the shortcomings, the meeting of two big Hong Kong stars, Chow Yun Fat and Andy Lau, in God of Gambler (1989), became a cure for the fans of mandarin movies.

Also read: The 25 Best Gambling Movies of All Time