Chinese Dramas/Movies Where They Speak In Cantonese?

[FloralPastel]

So I have the Cantonese level of a 4 year old. I was better at it as a kid but as I grew older, I've lost most of it and it's kind of sad that when I speak to my parent's it's 65% English and 35% Cantonese and I want to change that. I'm able to understand most conversations but I'm not surrounded by it enough for me to grasp onto it so I thought maybe watching dramas in Cantonese would help.

 

However, I've always had this feeling that Cantonese dramas kind of were on the lower budget side of things lol I'm not sure about movies but I'm probably wrong so this where I need your help...if there's even any to recommend. ;-; I'm quite picky but at the moment, as long as it's interesting I'm fine with it. Thanks!

[Hemlock]

Most people seem to agree that HK dramas suck now so if you want dramas you're probably better off watching some older ones. I can't help there though because i'm more of a movie guy when it comes to cantonese stuff. Most people would probably agree that older movies are better than modern ones too though lol. I watch mostly martial arts, triad/crime, and action movies though. Idk if that's your thing or not. 

[FloralPastel]

Most people seem to agree that HK dramas suck now so if you want dramas you're probably better off watching some older ones. I can't help there though because i'm more of a movie guy when it comes to cantonese stuff. Most people would probably agree that older movies are better than modern ones too though lol. I watch mostly martial arts, triad/crime, and action movies though. Idk if that's your thing or not. 

 

Damn, HK needs to step up on their drama/movie game.;;

No, I've watched Ip Man and most of Jackie Chan's movies lol so if you know of any other ones, I don't mind!~

[lovenatu]

I liked Triumph in the Skies, it's a TVB drama though.

[FloralPastel]

I liked Triumph in the Skies, it's a TVB drama though.

 

Thank you! Will be watching it now~ 

[GodBot]

Infernal Affairs - American Remake is "The Departed"

[cookjohnfood]

To be honest, Hong Kong past its golden age for a while now. i miss their high quality dramas and movies. if you want to watch cantonese dramas, just watch the older dramas from the 2000s to 2010. TVB had a lot of great dramas so you could check any of their old ones out. Movies were great in the 90s. 

[Hemlock]

Damn, HK needs to step up on their drama/movie game.;;

No, I've watched Ip Man and most of Jackie Chan's movies lol so if you know of any other ones, I don't mind!~

The only tvb drama i was able to finish was The Hippocratic Crush (aka On Call 36 Hours). It's basically cantonese Grey's Anatomy lol. I liked it though. War and Beauty is a good one too. I never finished it but it seems highly praised. 

 

For comedy movies you could check out older Stephen Chow movies like Fight Back to School 1 and 2 and Love on Delivery. I'm not much a fan of Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle. They are popular though. 

 

For action/crime you could look into stuff like The Stool Pigeon, Protege, Overheard, and the Infernal Affairs series (The Departed was a remake of the first one. I like Infernal more tho). 

 

If you're into artsy romance movies, there are the Wong Kar Wai movies. My favorites are In The Mood For Love and Chungking Express. 

[indigo]

There's no shortage of older films from the 80s and 90s that in Cantonese and excellent, Hong Kong cinema was in its golden age! Adding whats already recommended to Peking Opera Blues and A Chinese Ghost Story some of my favs. 

[Locke03]

Most of the ones that I watch are from TVB. Again, as most people mentioned, TVB hasn't really step up to plate with their drama. 

Modern: 

1. Triumph in the Sky: About flying and the life of pilots

2. E.U: Talk about triad and cops (won some TVB awards and got some spin-offs)

3. Heat of Greed: About a family that owns an abalone shop and the struggle between each family members (won a lot of TVB award)

4. Forensic Heroes: Semi-mystery and detective

5. You're Hired: Something that is funny...(stars Wong Dayo, a famous comedian...if you like his acting then you might like "War of Genders"...it is very popular even though I don't like it and it is long since it is a sitcom)

There's many more...but these are old series (the ones I mentioned above) for example "Greed of Man" which is about stock market. Or "Looking Back in Anger"...both of these are considered to be classics. 

 

Pre-Modern: 

1. Rosy Business: During the Qing Dynasty (won a lot of award that it got a spin-off called "No Reserve" which is about WWII)

2. War and Beauty: about the fight that occur in a palace among concubines

3. Step to the Past: a person went back in time before Qin dynasty starts (was very popular then)

4. Can't Buy Me Love: a funny spin between a marriage of a princess to man she doesn't like (the writers actually used a lot of ancient terms that might be hard for non-native speakers)

5. Safe Guard: about a family that work in something that is similar to modern day post-office. 

For some Wuxin: then "State of Divinity" which is hard to find since the actor and actress aren't famous but it has the most accurate retell of "Smiling Proud Wanderer." It's best to stick to old Wuxin production by TVB because they don't have any good one that is new. 

 

For movie...if you like actions, then definitely "Unbeatable" which won the actor a lot of award..."Overheard"..mystery "Running out of Time" (something similar to Catch Me if you Can)...and many more....

 

I don't know if I can tell you to download an app or not, but there is an app that allows you to watch some dramas from China, Korea, and Japan that are translated into Cantonese. I believe "Descendant of the Sun" was dubbed. If you want to know what is the app, I pm and I'll send you the info. 

[xingfenzhen]

I always loved the Greed of Man/大时代 back when I was a kid, it's probably one of the dramas when HK drama, movie and music dominated the Chinese speaking world as time passes by that role gradually shifted to Taiwan and finally back to Mainland China again. 

 

[HoneyJN]

If you want a quality HK drama you're out of luck. Most likely movies too even though I haven't seen one in a very long time. 

Although if you just want to improve your Cantonese then watching any TVB drama will do. They're not interesting enough for binge watching but it's quite entertaining when you're bored. (More) recent dramas are more up to date with the language which the older ones might not be, just saying. (I mean slangs etc). 

[blank_stare]

So I have the Cantonese level of a 4 year old. I was better at it as a kid but as I grew older, I've lost most of it and it's kind of sad that when I speak to my parent's it's 65% English and 35% Cantonese and I want to change that. I'm able to understand most conversations but I'm not surrounded by it enough for me to grasp onto it so I thought maybe watching dramas in Cantonese would help.

 

However, I've always had this feeling that Cantonese dramas kind of were on the lower budget side of things lol I'm not sure about movies but I'm probably wrong so this where I need your help...if there's even any to recommend. ;-; I'm quite picky but at the moment, as long as it's interesting I'm fine with it. Thanks!

 

Watch Stephen Chow's movies. They're gold. 

[Astray]

So I have the Cantonese level of a 4 year old. I was better at it as a kid but as I grew older, I've lost most of it and it's kind of sad that when I speak to my parent's it's 65% English and 35% Cantonese and I want to change that. I'm able to understand most conversations but I'm not surrounded by it enough for me to grasp onto it so I thought maybe watching dramas in Cantonese would help.

 

However, I've always had this feeling that Cantonese dramas kind of were on the lower budget side of things lol I'm not sure about movies but I'm probably wrong so this where I need your help...if there's even any to recommend. ;-; I'm quite picky but at the moment, as long as it's interesting I'm fine with it. Thanks!

Honestly this is 100% me. I feel like I should watch more Cantonese media, but just no time sigh. 

[YingYang]

there is also mainland drama's thats dubbed in cantonese, check out TVBI ones

[whitedove]

For newer TVB drama, I'm gonna suggest A Fist Within Four Walls. It's pretty good. Highest-rated drama this year and seem to be big-budgeted too.

[Zenist]

Idk what you guys are saying that HK cinema doesn't produce good movies anymore.

 

I think movies like Z Storm 2 w/ Ada Choi and Heartfall Arises w/ Nicolas Tse are some pretty fun flicks.

 

HK cinema still have that smooth storyline progression that you can't exactly produce in Mainland.

[whitedove]

Idk what you guys are saying that HK cinema doesn't produce good movies anymore.

 

I think movies like Z Storm 2 w/ Ada Choi and Heartfall Arises w/ Nicolas Tse are some pretty fun flicks.

 

HK cinema still have that smooth storyline progression that you can't exactly produce in Mainland.

And they can still make 'dark' endings, something that Mainland China movies can't have.

[vocabulary]

Watch Stephen chow's older movies!