Genre: Action
Director: Daniel Lee
Starring: Sammo Hung, Michael Biehn, Simon Yam, Vanness Wu, Huh
Joon-ho, Maggie Q, Shawn Yue, Xia Yu, Eva Huang, Li Bing Bing
RunTime: -
Released By: GV
Rating: NC-16
Release Date: 11 November 2005
Synopsis :
A team of young Interpol agents arrive in Hong Kong to give
testimony at the trial of local crime lord Tiger Duen.
Among them are American agent Andy Hui (Derek Chou), Taiwanese
lawman Vanness Chang (Vanness Wu), mainland Chinese sharpshooter
Cheung (Derek Chou) and local cops Lok (Shawn Yue) and Suet (Eva
Huang). They are greeted by Hong Kong police commander Hon Sun
(Simon Yam).
The heavily armed convoy taking Tiger to court is attacked by a
ruthless team of North Korean agents, led by international
terrorist Petros Davinci (Michael Biehn). Petros is seeking revenge
for his brother in arms, who was killed by Puma and his brother,
Tiger Duen. At Petros side is his fierce enforcer, the former
Korean special forces officer Ko (Huh Joon-ho) and a lethal lady
sniper, Song (Maggie Q).
After Tiger is snatched, the Interpol team insists on tracking down
Petros themselves. Hon Sun rejects their request and places the
team in the care of veteran police officer Kong Long (Sammo
Hung).
A burned out cop who has never come to terms with either his
personal or professional history, Long Kong is reluctant to get
involved. Finally, inspired by his young charges, he rises to the
occasion, and leads the Interpol team on their quest for Petros and
his team.
Petros uses every available weapon, including Tiger Duens
girlfriend, Ching (Li Bing Bing), to outmaneuver his foes.
The mean streets of Hong Kong form a backdrop for a battle of
wills, wits, and urban warfare.
Movie Review:
Hong Kong crime dramas were very popular during the 1980s. Classic
examples of this genre include John Woos A Better Tomorrow (1987)
and The Killer (1989). The suave assassins and cops, coupled with
the slow motion shootout scenes were a joy to watch. In fact, this
has become a culture on its own in Hong Kong cinema.
How would you introduce this winning formula to todays MTV
generation then? Daniel Lees latest work attempts to do that by
putting together a mix of stylistic camerawork, fancy editing and
popular good-looking heartthrobs. However, the very essence that
makes old-school crime dramas so successful is lost in this
confused action thriller.
The plot is typical for a genre like this. Five young Interpol
agents arrive in Hong Kong to testify at the trial of local crime
lord. On the way to court, the crime lord gets attacked by a team
of merciless agents. Driven by grievances, the cold-blooded agents
will do anything to get revenge on the police and the older brother
of the crime lord.
The young and idealistic Interpol team insists on tracking down
these agents themselves, much to the disapproval of the local
police commander. Together with a world-weary veteran police
officer who is supposed to take care of the young lads, urban
warfare breaks out inevitably.
With so many characters, it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase
an international cast of eye candy. From Taiwan, we have Vanness
Wu, who has thankfully shaken off his boyband image. From Hong
Kong, we have the charismatic Shawn Yue, fresh from Andrew Lau and
Alan Maks Initial D (2005); and the charming Huang Sheng Yi of
Stephen Chows Kung Fu (2004) fame.
The list does not end there. There is the acclaimed Xia Yu from
China, the award-winning Heo Jun-ho from Korea and even Michael
Biehn from America. As if that is not enough, the movie also
features many other recognizable faces like Li Bingbing, Maggie Q
and Isabella Leung.
With so many characters squeezed into 110 minutes, it is no wonder
the movie falls into the trap of not being able to develop their
personalities properly, resulting in one-dimensional roles.
Although the plot sounds decent enough, it is ultimately let down
by the movies storytelling.
No doubt the camera work and editing are technically impressive,
but they are unfortunately overdone throughout the whole movie. The
grainy monochrome flashback scenes and the quick cuts seem rather
showy at times.
Also, the movies attempts at pseudo-philosophical lines and
voiceovers do not work as viewers do not feel enough for the
characters in the first place.
Do not shun this movie yet, because it is not without its good
moments. Old-school actors from the 1980s like Simon Yam, Ken Tong
and Ng Doi-yung may not have much screen time, but they play their
roles with such conviction that they easily leave a better
impression than their younger co-stars.
For the younger crowd, this movie may appeal in terms of its fancy
visuals and its attractive lineup of cool-looking cast. For the
more nostalgic crowd, it will be the veteran stars and the
old-school down-to-earth action sequences that will draw them into
the cinema.
