2008 would be a good year for HK style action films if it was just for "Ip Man" which takes the traditional kung fu film of the early 1980's and updates it. Here we have an updating of the typical police action film of the late 1980's. Looks like 2008 has been a banner year.
Combining gangster genre with the sort of police action that Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock would be in, we have a well shot, exciting police drama with great kung fu action (no guns) and some light comedy. What takes this above the average film from the 1980's are the character touches that usually didn't happen in the older films. I found a lot of the films from that era to be boring or too stupid but this film held my attention for the full 80 minutes.
Good acting, great to excellent action choreography, fine direction and photography. I highly recommend this film.
6.1Plot summary
An assassin who is fresh from his latest kill becomes stranded in an island, when he inadvertently befriends a female police officer (Celina Jade). As the night progresses, the unspoken truth honored by the two sides of the law is broken. After the remains of a body that belonged to a drug lord and syndicate crime leader are found, chaos ensues and criminals ravage the once peaceful streets in a race against time to find the mysterious murderer that's loose and out for blood.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
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1980's style modern kung fu action drama updated.
Good entertainment
It doesn't make you think really nor cry, but it does provide with some good old fashion ass-kicking...
And what ass-kicking it is!
Very well orchestrated fights but of course it's not just all random fights it does have a story, and the story is fairly good although at times a little confusing possibly because of the way it was edited, it does feel a little bit like there was a scene missing here and there.
Not to the point that it takes you out of the movie or anything though.
2 likable leads in the shapes of Wu Jing and Celina Jade, who both do very well as does the rest of the cast.
Not flawless by any means, but enjoyable.
Solid action movie with some nice touches
This is not an art-house movie nor the most amazing action movie you will ever see. But it is a good, solid, entertaining action movie.
The relationship between Jacky Wu and Celina Jade was nice, the café scene was both funny and with great action, the scenes at the police station were a mixture of tension and comedy, and the climax fight scene was ridiculous but who cares?
I'd never seen Jacky Wu before and I found his silent stoic character rather enjoyable. This appears to be Celina Jade's first film and she was excellent, as well as rather attractive. Secondary characters played there roles acceptably (although the blonde policeman seemed to be in the wrong film).
The point is that I was thoroughly entertained for the duration, and even my wife enjoyed it. Overall I think that's pretty good.