1/ Fly Me To Polaris (1999)

Richie Ren and Cecilia Cheung as we liked her: hot, full-lipped and sweet. This was a really touching story with a surprise twist of sci fi thrown in for good measure.

2/ Golden Chicken (2002)

The penultimate post-1997 Hong Kong movie, it paid tribute to the city, recounting its good and bad times and hinting at what may come in the future. Forget the sequel; this is where it's at.

3/ July Rhapsody (2002)

If you needed more proof that HK movies can be intelligent, seductive and unforgettable, check this Lolita adaptation out. Anita Mui in one of her last roles, plus Karena Lam in one of her first.

4/ Chinese Odyssey 2002 (2002)

Cool comedy that showed there was still humor in Hong Kong after 1997, no matter what. A lot of old classic gags revisited, but in an interesting manner.

5/ Princess D (2002)

For once CGI that made sense and on top of that strong performances from Daniel Wu, Edison Chan and Angelica Lee. This was a truly memorable piece from the early 2000's.

6/ The Runaway Pistol (2002)

Absolutely indispensable look at a seedy, almost desperate side of Hong Kong that is seldom visited. Plus little of the niceties with regards to the mainland that have since become so normative. This was real commentary.

7/ The Stormriders (1998)

Although the wuxia heyday of the mid-90's was long over by then, Storm Riders made good on its promise of eye-catching visuals, nutty action and a decent story.

8/ One Nite in Mongkok (2004)

Tremendous nocturnal action and suspense just like you remembered it from when HK was establishing itself as a player in the movie biz. Unique atmosphere and a compelling tale to tell round up this masterpiece.

9/ A Battle of Wits (2006)

A nice send-up to those bloated epic ancient China war flicks coming out again in recent years, this one finally had Andy Lau in a powerful role and conveyed quite the message.

10/ The Mission (1999) - On the Edge (2006)

These two films are tied for best triad and underworld movies of the decade, so take you pick. A mood of real menace, potent characters, gunplay and poetic plots, what more do you need?