SEX SEDUCTION OF SHU QI (c. 1996)
Rating: 4/10

YVONNE YUNG TAKES TOKYO (2001)
Rating: 6/10
Cantonese: Yung Hung: Yat boon mung wan ji lui
Mandarin: Weng Hong: Ri ben meng huan zhi lu
English: Yvonne Yung: Fantastic Dream Japanese Vacation

Back in issue #201, I mentioned that some of the many Shu Qi pictorial discs on the market undoubtedly duplicated material available in other territories. Such is the case with SEX SEDUCTION OF SHU QI, a South Korean release that essentially replicates the contents of Winson’s HK disc, SHU QI: TRUE WOMAN. Actually, it would be more correct to say that it replicates part of that disc as the Dae Kyeong’s DVD is a somewhat different edit of the same material running 23 minutes shorter. Picture and audio quality on the Korean release is comparable with the HK platter but, alas, it carries the same prominent logo throughout (though in the upper right hand corner this time). Aside from a brief Korean profile of Shu, the sole extra is a half hour collection of video grabs (complete with that damn logo again) set to music, including a truly horrid cover of Paul Young’s "Every Time You Go Away." TRUE WOMAN may now be out of print but, if you are able to locate a copy, there is no reason to bother with this abbreviated variant. The 29 minute pictorial section is presented in a single chapter, with the 7 chapter options applying only to the supplement. While it is possible to skip back to the beginning of a chapter using your remote, the only way to advance to the next one is via scanning or by going back to the Screen Selection menu, a needless annoyance.

Although she has appeared nude in films like A CHINESE TORTURE CHAMBER STORY and DON’T STOP MY CRAZY LOVE FOR YOU, Yvonne Yung Hung keeps her "points" mostly concealed in YVONNE YUNG TAKES TOKYO. As suggested by the title, this follows the sweet looking Taiwanese dancer-turned-actress on an excursion to Japan. We start off with her arrival at the airport, no less, and watch Yung in various locations, including recreations of traditional towns and bathhouses, and an outdoor market. She also dons attractive period outfits and poses provocatively in various locations, including a lush villa. Yung provides a running narration (predominantly in Mandarin, with no subtitle options) and Chinese text also occasionally appears to set up the different segments.

As these programs go, YVONNE YUNG TAKES TOKYO is not very adventurous but its subject’s considerable beauty is befittingly exhibited, an adequate number of Japanese tourist locales are explored and the scoring shows some imagination, utilizing a few unusual, atmospheric pieces instead of just the typical pop numbers.