As for tips, the biggest one is to look out for Wai Ka-Fai. If he's listed on To's work, then one should look a little harder than if it's just Johnnie To. Buddhism, karma, etc., they are present in a lot of their joint work – even the romantic comedies. And local culture matters too. I personally think Needing You is a great, great movie, and a lot of it has to do with how To and Wai capture local culture so well. Office politics, family, doing business – this stuff is portrayed so well in that film that it gives the film a depth, color and truth that you simply won't find in, say, Don't Go Breaking My Heart.

In the end, the biggest tip I have is research, research, research. A viewer can learn a lot from watching Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai's films. If one of their films doesn't make sense, a person should do some research or some reading before immediately dismissing it. More often than not, there's a method to the madness.

Wai Ka-Fai and Johnnie To at the Udine Far East Film Festival in 2008. Photo © Frédéric Ambroisine. Used with permission.

For myself, I factor in whatever information I have when writing a review of a Johnnie To film – or any other filmmaker for that matter. Previous work of course matters, as does information about the stars, their casting, the subject matter, or even the industry forces behind the film's production. All of this stuff makes a difference, as it helps play a part in whatever the intentions the filmmakers had when making their film. It also plays a part in audience expectations.

For western film critics, their context for To is largely related to genre and Internet reputation. Also, nowadays western film critics have the benefit of English language news sites for Asian films. The context may be slanted too much towards crime films, but in the end, there are many ways to review a film and no way is the real “correct” way. What's wrong is to not be honest or fair, like dismissing a film simply based on its genre. Or, you shouldn't claim authority when you really don't have any. Like saying that a film is “The best film Johnnie To has ever made” when you've only seen five or six of his films. But both western and eastern film critics make those mistakes.

Ross Chen: It's hard to choose one favorite Johnnie To film, as it ignores a film's individual merit and skews it towards my personal likes and dislikes. I'll try though. If I had to choose To's best solo film, I'd say it's either Election 2 or The Mission. The former is more mature and deals with local politics and culture, while the latter is a complete, enjoyable film that doesn't require lots of extra knowledge or thinking to get. Both are very well realized, though.

For a Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai collaboration, I'd probably go with Needing You or Running On Karma. The former is much more enjoyable and develops its standard romcom characters in unique cinematic ways. For me, the latter is great because it delivers a very prosaic cinema message – forgiveness, being the better man, etc. – and does so in a very compelling way.

Generally, I think films don't have much new to say anymore, and that it's all about HOW the filmmakers say those things that make the films special. Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai really know how to repackage common cinema tropes to make them feel new and interesting.

Ross Chen: Of course there are expectations when seeing a Johnnie To film! If I respect or admire someone, then I expect a great deal from them. That said, the expectations are not always fulfilled, but there are many factors that contribute to that. I think Johnnie To tries – perhaps not always successfully, but it's clear that he's trying SOMETHING when he makes his films. As such, I'm always willing to give his films a chance.

Ross Chen's LoveHKFilm.com, http://lovehkfilm.com/