Reviews (150)

2.6 out of 5
After seeing the widely-shown trailers for this film, I have to say I expected a boring Indiana Jones rip-off. Well, it DID have some annoying Jones rip-off sequences, but hey - other than that, it surpassed my expectations.

Which still doesn't mean it's good.

Very attractive Angelina Jolie returns as Lara Croft, the female Indiana Jones-type hero. This time she's after Pandora's Box. Teaming up with an "old friend" (Gerard Butler), Croft must race against time to stop multimillionaire Jonathan Reiss (Ciaran Hinds) from reaching the ancient box - if she fails, the world will fall into Reiss' hands.

The film was no more entertaining than the first film, although the action was slightly better, and the overall film was a little more well-made. The soundtrack flunks in being as good as the first, but the acting's improved (except for the "It's more powerful than you could ever imagine" - that part featured some very poor acting) and the directing's better this time 'round. You see, the film's major problem is that it has all the right stuff to make a great movie - it just never does anything with it!

I love the character of Lara Croft, and enjoyed the video games, so I hope they make another film - but please, this time, let's drop the Jones routine and just make a good movie.

Give it a chance, you just might like it.
First off, I one of the minority that enjoyed the first Tomb Raider, so I walked into this one with hopes for the best, despite what the critics were saying. Critics, huh? Who needs 'em?

Angelina Jolie is radiant as ever; she's sexy, slick, and incredibly intelligent and resourceful. The part where she sucker-punches a shark is damn cool. Needless to say, Jolie is the best part of the franchise, even if her acrobatics are unrealistically perfect.

The story and acting is improved over the first. The "Cradle of Life" plot is preposterous, of course, but how it fits into the bad guy's evil plan is pretty sinister, and it makes sense with all the real world fear of chemical and biological weaponry. The villain is less of a man of action than Iain Glen in TR1, but this new guy is more sophisticated, smarter, and meaner. Gerard Butler, though half his dialogue in incomprehensible thanks to his accent, works well as Jolie's counterpart/love interest, and his character strikes me as just the kind of guy Lara Croft is likely to fall for.

The locations are beautiful to behold, especially in China and Africa. The "sky-diving over Hong Kong" sequence is just short of drool-worthy. However, some of the interior sets are just plain bland.

The action scenes are the one downer here; Jan de Bont downshifts from Simon West's starting point, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I wanted more from the gunfights, which seemed lethargic. My two favorite scenes in the movie are when Lara duels with Chen Lo (she defends herself with an unloaded bayonet rifle by twirling it like a trained Marine...super badass) and the CGI "Shadow Demons" sequence, which I was originally dreading, but the way the scene is edited makes it rather cool.

If you enjoyed the first Tomb Raider, check this one out. For all its flaws, Angelina is worth it. ALL HAIL ANGELINA... ANGELINA IS YOUR QUEEN...

The best tombraider movie hits the best in dvd
I love this movie, and it's better than the first. She goes to all these places, I recommend this Movie. I'm also selling mines so e-mail me at JJ_025@lycos.com

A JOLIE GOOD SHOW
This sequel to the original is more entertaining and visually interesting than the first. Jolie returns as the indefatigable Lara Croft, aided this time by Gerard Butler (Dracula 2000, Timeline), a former Marine turned mercenary/traitor. Butler and Jolie have a fairly good comraderie, although it's definitely Jolie's move every way. Ciaran Hinds (Road to Perdition, Sum of All Fears, Veronica Guerin) makes for a sturdy villain, all grimace and spit. The movie revolves around the search for the mythical Pandora's Box; Hinds plays a viral bacteriologist who can release deadly viruses and he wants the box to let loose the contents of Pandora's box as the ultimate weapon.
Jan deBont (Speed) directs with a kinetic energy, and Alan Silvestri's score is impressive.
The ending is a real shocker in some ways; in the extras, we see an alternate ending that was less visceral.
Don't know whether this series will go on but it should have a little life left?

Better than the first
Better and more enjoyable than the first film, Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life is a fun escape pure and simple. Angelina Jolie reprises her role as the video game heroine in search of a mystical orb that can lead to the discovery of Pandora's Box. A maniacal super villian (and a better one than in the first film) is on it's trail as well, so Lara has to partner up with a traitorus old ally (Gerard Butler) as she travels from Greece to Hong Kong to Africa. The stunt work is electrifying and the special effects are solid, while director Jan de Bont gives the film it's own slick look rather than the amalgam look of the first film. The unbelieveably hot Jolie is great again, but you can't help but feel that she is too good for this role. All in all, Cradle of Life is a worthy action escape, and those let down by the first film should give this a look. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

These People are trying to rip Chow Yun-Fat off!
After the success of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Chow Yun Fat has truly become one of the hottest acting commodities not only in the United States and Asia but across the globe as well. But with this great fame there are many money grubbing executive pushers that are literally taking food out of his mouth. By selling these cheap, horrible transfer movies (Most that are not really Chow Yun Fat movies to begin with) these companies are not only tarnishing the integrity of CYF star but are disrespecting and confusing the viewer as well. How the heck are you going to take a forgotten hong kong flick, splice in short Chow Yun Fat footage from another movie, then call it Hong Kong Corruptor? Chow should really consider suing these a@#holes! I don't even think that Chow is aware what is going on. Well in behalf of Chow Yun Fat and his fans BEWARE!!!

Beware These Arena Titles and the below review!
I have to get the word out there to warn the public about these arena titles. They are trying to bank off of the American Success of John Woo, Chow Yun Fat and Jet Li. Let me review them in a few steps.

#1. Some of the titles aren't even John Woo or Chow Yun Fat films. The one called 'Hong Kong Corruptor' (banking off the success of the Corruptor), is actually an Alan Tam film entitled 'Return Engagement' (a better tomorrow ripoff) with an unrelated Chow Yun Fat scene from another film pointlessly edited in. This one 'Hong Kong Face Off' (key words FACE OFF), i cannot place. I know John Woo's filmography and I can't place this one (if anyone can tell me the real title, please mail me). John Woo's directorial debut 'Hand Of Death' was released on Arena home video as 'Strike Of Death', and banks more on the apperance of Jackie Chan (only a minor character in the film, but takes over the cover of the box). so all in all, point #1- the films don't really match.

#2- Extremely poor quality. I purchased 'Strike Of Death, and master copy it was from must have been warped. The picture quality was horrbile. Another one I bought 'Shanghai Killer' was a HK tv movie called 'The Bund'. this one was just cheesy tv fare, with nothing good but the laughs. Another was an early CYF film called 'Blodd money' under another title, which had subtitles, but the film was a pan and scan version, so the subtitles were totally chopped off throughout the whole film, leaving it indecipherable.

The only one purchased that was decent quality and a fun movie to own was under the Arena title 'Killers Two', which was pawning itself off as a sequel to the killer (how?). It is actually a very early 80's film called 'Heroic Cops', with a stickly thin Yun-Fat, and Danny lee sporting flare pants and horrid haircuts. This film is only good for unintentional laughs, and the Cantonese Version of 'Stayin' Alive"!

All in all, Beware these Arena Titles. I stopped buying them. It's better to get the HK version.

Ps- the reviewer below was reviewing 'The Corruptor' not 'Hong Kong Corruptor', i don't want people to get confused!

Close but no cigar
I'm glad to see Hollywood try to make a home for Chow Yun Fat. He's proven himself to be a fine actor with a certain amount of something that makes his appeal more universal. Now if only the right vehicle could be found for him. This movie is far from bad, but it has only a couple of scenes that hint at CYF's abilities and it merely points at what more he is capable of doing. The movie has Chow Yun Fat playing a Chinatown cop who knows his way around and is corrupt by Western standards. Mark Wahlberg plays the "round eye" who is going to help clean up the place. This in itself is not new stuff. A few things do get thrown in to complicate matters though. First is the fact the Mark is actually working for internal affairs and is there to sting Chow. Second is that Mark's father is in money trouble with the mob and, though he needs his son's help desperately, he also chastises him for being an internal rat. Things progress and get messier as the lines between good and bad become blurred and cause the various situations to become more tense. Therein lies at least part of the problem. The lines didn't seem all that blurred to me. These people made conscious decisions to do the wrong thing. Plus the story was needlessly complicated by the fact the audience isn't made aware right away that Mark is with internal affairs. The subplot with his father probably could have landed on the floor with no one noticing either. Add to this the lack of better scenes with Chow Yun Fat and you have a frustrating experience. This is not a bad movie. It's quite watchable and very sincere. The production standards are high and most of the right people did most of the right things. It just doesn't quite make it to the finish line. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very Good!
Here is an example of how to make an excellent movie without having a strong script. Loveable characters, great music, great action, great cinematography make this an excellent hong kong action thriller. simon Yam as an undercover cop, yu Rong Guang as the bad guy and Christy Chung as....the girl in between all give strong performances. Highly recommended.

Watched this 3 times in one night!
This movie was a great thriller. Christy Cheung was superb. She flowed through the movie and gave a stunning performance. I hope to see more of her! This classic cop versus big and Bad guy had a unique twist without martial arts. I loved it!

Explosive Hong Kong Action Flick
This movie between a crime boss and an undercover cop, although not an uncommon theme in many Hong Kong action flicks, is unique in many ways. First, awesome acting by the major characters (Simon Yam, as the undercover cop; Yu Rong-Guang, as the crime boss; and Christy Cheung, as the girl in between). Secondly, the well-proportioned combination platter of explosive action, character-development, and drama. Thirdly, the creative cinematography and direction. All-in-all, a very impressive offering from that segment of the Hong Kong action genre that doesn't use martial arts to invoke intensity and edge-of-your-seat excitement. A must-see for any action fan! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Warning this is not a Jackie Chan movie,
The original title of this movie was Project S, made in the early nineties and starring Michelle Yeoh. Jackie Chan only has a small cameo as a drag queen ! Its clear that Jackie Chan fans are being exploited by video distributors and I for one find this kind of abuse offensive. If you would like any advice on other Jackie Chan movies then e-mail me at peterharrop@freenet.co.uk

Jackie Chan's Second Strike, where is Jackie!
I bought this movie and watched it and all it had about Jackie Chan was a interview. I had it returned and got the ten times better movie Supercop. Don't be fooled.

No Jackie
If you love Jackie Chan movies then this one is certainly not for you. Jackie Chan is not even in the actual movie. Sure, in the beginning you see him doing some kind of interview but thats about it. The movie is great if you like sapy revenge stories but the false picture of Jackie on the cover is a false lead. I thought that it was a sequal to first strike but this was not what I had expected. So save your money and buy First Strike instead.

SUCK,SUCK AND SUCK SOME MORE
This movie suck so bad i wish I had rent it before I bought it. OK first of all they put jackie on the front of the box knowing he is not in the movie that made me so mad. Second the movie had less fighting than any martial art movie i have ever seen about two fighting scene to be exact.WARNING: DO NOT PURCHASE ARE RENT THIS VIDEO IT SUCK IT'S THE WORST MARTAIL ART MOVIE.

The film has nothing to do with Jackie chan!!
This video is not worth buying as Jackie Chan is not in it! He is in the music video at the end and there is a small interview with him, thats all folks...... This video is a waste of time and money!! ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A big load of bad
It's been a long time since I've watched a good chop-sokky flick, so last night I rented Jet Li's Contract Killer. Apparently, it was his last Hong Kong movie. Until now, I thought Jet Li's Hong Kong films are vastly superior to his North American ones.

My opinion has been altered a bit.

In general, his Hong Kong flicks are better. Contract Killer, however, is a big load of bad. I will give the benefit of the doubt, though. I watched a dubbed version (why are dubbed movies always so incredibly awful?), so perhaps part of the problem was the translation. There were many places in the film where character reactions and plot points really made no sense at all. This could have been because of horrific dubbing and translation. I'm sure it's much more watchable in Cantonese.

Nonetheless, even barring the translation barrier, this film had several strikes against it. First of all, what was with the camera work? One of the cameras had a badly-scuffed lens, and black scratch marks distracted me from quite a few scenes. Also, the big fight in the elevator shaft was so dark that I really didn't have a clue what was going on. I had no idea who was hitting who, or how.

Next, the story (as in most martial arts flicks) was pretty silly. This one seemed to be an Asian knock-off of The Boondock Saints, right down to the name of the mysterious vigilante (The King of Killers) and his over-the-top appearance during a hit (like in The Boondock Saints, he appeared from the ceiling hanging by his feet from a rope with guns blazing).

Fu's (Jet Li's character) motivations seemed blatantly artificial, as well. He's a poor ex-soldier from China who has promised to buy his mother a big mansion. He decides to come to Hong Kong to become a hitman, yet his people-loving ways mean he doesn't want to hurt anyone.

As a minor point, yet one which did distract me many times throughout the film, Jet Li has an AWFUL case of acne. In most movies, the makeup people will do a half-way decent job of covering up blemishes, but it looks like no one bothered even trying for this movie. Jet Li has an amazing crop of blackheads and whiteheads. His face looks like a horrible pizza. Poor guy. And poor me, when I keep thinking, "Pop it, already!" during closeups of the pus-filled bumps on his neck and cheeks. Eeeurgh.

On the plus side, the fight scenes that were visible (like the climactic end scene) are solid. I was pleased to see a dearth of wire tricks. I really prefer movies with unadulterated martial arts. It really showcases the actors' abilities.

More Jet Li...That Can't Be Bad
God's hitman. That is how people describe a killer who has been eliminating rich bad guys for little or no fee. It seems one particular bad guy covered himself pretty well, establishing a super fund that pays off to anyone who finds his would-be killer, a smart form of insurance. Fu (Jet Li) and the "Crocodile Man" (Eric Tsang) join in the hunt, and the story goes from there.

Surprisingly enough, this is a very complete movie in terms of emotions; it's not all shoot, kill and kick. Crocodile Man Tsang steals the movie, pulling off a convincing con man who manages to convice Fu that he needs an agent. His acting verges on overkill, but his portrayal of a betrayed, repentant father, a hardened ex-killer, a fearful target and a saddened friend all invite the viewer to share in his emotions. Actress/Singer (aren't they all?) Gigi Leung provides a pretty face for the movie, and actually adds a dimension to the personalities of Li and Tsang's characters.

Jet Li's acrobatics are showcased not only for fighting; the opening sequence shows him weaving in and out of traffic and pedestrians to retrieve some change that had dropped through a hole in his pants. He is also asked to beat up some restaurant patrons to prove to Tsang that he is worthy of the job. His skills are also showcased in escape scenes, more protective roles, and even ice skating--not your usual Jet Li fare. His portrayal of a broke, extremely selective "killer" is both hilarious and frightening when it needs to be.

The fight scenes are on the same level as Bodyguard From Beijing or The Master, not quite Fist of Legend or Twin Warriors (Tai Chi Master) good, considering that the last two were kung fu heavy. It's a much more rounded film, where the light-hearted moments contrast nicely with the darker fight scenes.

Watch this in Chinese to get the full range of Tsang's vocal gyrations and swearing. Highly recommended for any kung fu collection.

Jet, what were you doing in this?
Jet Li as a contrac killer? Come on! The reason why this movie isn't that famous is because it pretty much sucks. It's just a shootem up bang bang type of movie. No realy kung fu here.

The King of Killer Kung Fu
In Jet Li's final Hong Kong film before he starred in "Lethal Weapon 4", he plays Fu, a former soldier and martial arts expert living in Hong Kong with four roommates while trying to support his mother. To be sure, he's NOT dirt poor, but he's still can't afford to let money fall out of his pocket and roll into oncoming traffic.

Fu knows there's big money in bounty hunting, and he get's his shot at it when a Japanese buissiness man/crime boss is executed by the legendary "King of Killers", a self-employed assassin who murders only rich bad guys. The dead guy knew he had a lot of foes on both sides of the law, and set up a "revenge fund" of a whoppin' $100 million to strike back from the grave.

The murder victim's grandson, Eiji Tsukumoto, just covets the massive reward, but Fu needs some dough as well, and partners up with an "agent" named Norman Lu (Eric Tsang), to find the King of Killers.

Easily one of the best of Jet Li's later Hong Kong flicks, CONTRACT KILLER (called HITMAN in Hong Kong) provides some of the best non-wire-fu martial arts scenes I've seen, particular the scenes where Jet Li is paired with a chopsocky adversary with rings and shoes that emit flashy lights to confuse his opponents. Now There's something you don't see everyday.

Sat sau ji wong
The original, Cantonese, title of this film is 'Sat sau ji wong'.

Also known as: 'King of Assassins' (1998), 'The Hitman'(1998) and 'Contract Killer'(2002).

This film is in many ways similiar to other HK action drama films however it does have a more unique premise: an aging Japanese corporate magnate and WW II veteran (he boasts of raping Chinese women) is assassinated by a mysterious hitman in black. This hitman, known as the King of Killers, is infamous for both his skill in killing as well as not accepting any payment for targeting people of rather suspect morality to kill.

The Japanese corporate director has established a special Revenge Fund which will pay $100,000,000 (USD) to whoever tracks down his killer.

Fu (Jet Li) is a mainlander in Hong Kong doing errands for a minor triad boss when he comes hears about the Revenge Fund and subsequently comes across Mr. Nor (Eric Tsang) a hustler who takes Fu for a skilled killer and decides to be his agent. He is really trying to cheat Fu out of most of the reward money.

The Japanese director's grandson Eiji (Keiji Sato) is out seeking revenge for his grandfather as well as greedy for the reward.

Kwan (Simon Yam) is the CID inspector who is also tracking down the mysterious King of Killers. Which itself has irony, but I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen the film ;-)

The plot develops as the principal characters above interact in a frantic race to find the King Of Killers.

This was Jet Li (Mandarin name is Li Lian Jie) last Hong Kong film (1998) before he moved on to greater paydays in Hollywood.

I prefer Jet Li's earlier films but this movie had a certain charm to it even though some plot elements were rather formulaic and charcter development was at times only 2 dimensional (Eiji in particular is portrayed rather over-the-top) while others are under developed (KiKi - Nor's daughter). I prefer Simon Yam's performances with Chow Yun Fat though he certainly did a good job in this film.

On a positive note the ending of this film has a nice twist to it. For those not accustomed to watching Hong Kong action/police films you may be a bit shocked by the level of violence. For example in a shoot out scene in a children's amusement park in the film there is a rather high body count as people are shot almost at random in a melee of gunfire. While it is a bit diturbing to see such levels of violence without proper context you must understand that there are different cultural moors at work in HK cinema. Many in the East would be similarly disturbed by the explicit sexual content of many Western films. So try not to let that sour you when watching this film.

Overall I recommend this movie, there is some well done sentimental moments buried inside the action. As a caveat I urge you to NOT buy the dubbed version. Instead, get the original version in Cantonese (with some Japanese) with English subtitles distributed by Tai Seng Video Marketing Inc. at www.taiseng.com

Zach ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Starts out interesting and ends a little weak.
At first the film is very promising. However, towards the end it just fades. The movie paces itself nicely throughout the movie using John Woo's old style elements to accomplish beautiful screenplay, directing, and artful action. Somehow it just changes towards 3/4's way into the film. I feel the director just had a hardtime ending it and simply ended it very awkwardly. It's like he had a good idea and doesnt know how to finish it. The dialogue is really neat and the action is even more impressive utilizing John Woo's old style to give us a refreshing screen play that is gone in Woo's new style of film making as we can see when he arrived to America. John Woo's style has dimished with each passing film and at least this director brings back old memories.

Pros:
-nice screenplay
-interesting dialogue
-artful action
-great use of coreography and filming quality is great

Cons:
-as the film progressed the movie slows down
-muffled storyline, confusing plot
-strange use of languages make it hard to focus on the characters. The movie shifts from cantonese to english to chinese without reason. (the japanese language used by the characters has a point to the movie so I wont complain about its usage).

Watch it only if you are a hardcore HK movie fan
Doesn't even come close to a John Woo, Ringo Lam or Tsui Hark film. Some interesting action sequences though - the opening is excellent. I found Andy Lau's acting a little over the top. Also, it seemed that every character was coincidentally related to another character in several ways. 2 rival assasins and one assasin's boss is the brother of the other assasin? A few of these I'll buy but there were way too many unexplained coincidences. I would have preferred a longer film that probed more info the relationships. Don't bother with this unless you are die hard HK fan - there are much better HK films out there.

Not Bad Actioner, But Definitely NOT the Best Of Johnny To
Excuse me for giving only three stars for this film, for I know "Fulltime Killer" is, good as it is, NOT the best of Johnny To, a Hong Kong director whose intense style is not be missed. His best remains "Running Out of Time" (starring the same cool Andy Lau), or "The Mission," especially the latter one. See them first, and remember his name.

"Fulltime Killer" is in fact co-directed with Wai Ka Fai, but the subdued style is definitely that of Johnny To. The film traces the two free-lance killers, "O" (Takashi Sorimachi, popular Japanese actor), and Tok (Lau). O is the top dog of the killers, but Tok, confident of his professional skills, wants to bring him down in his own style. In between comes a female cleak working at a rental video store (beside the escalator which was shown in one famous Hong Kong film), Chin (Kelly Lin), and the determined policeman Lee (veteran Simon Yam).

The gun action of the film is an average one, but sadly, as the story lacks coherent developing, it is often hard to follow what is going on. Johhny To's cool style and oddball humor are not given much chance to be shown, and the result is curiously devoid of tension, even though the actions themselves are decetly done.

Some people might find the languages it uses slightly troublesome, for Andy Lau often speaks Japanese, which is very hard to understand (I am a Japanese, and watched it in the origiunal language). But more lamentable thing is the lack of charisma of Sorimachi as "O" whose one-dimentional performance as a killer with a heart lacks convincing power. And as for Andy Lau, he was much better in "Running Out of Time."

The film is a result of recent Hong Kong film industry, which tries to capitalize on the name of Japanese actors who are gaining popularity in Hong Kong. But I think the casting here has backfired. I do not say "Fulltime Killer" is bad. I only say you can get better ones from To, underrated Hong KOng filmmaker, and that is "The Mission" which you should see first.

Beats You With A Stick
Full Time Killer is teh win. It steals your megahertz. Stop teh hacks. ii omoshiroite desu yo!

Question
For anyone who has seen this movie, do you know what song is played when O is listening to the mp3 player in chapter 7 I think. I would really like to know and if anyone can help. ... Read more

Description

During political upheavals in China, a young radical flees to Hong Kong, where he becomes a successful businessman. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Hidden Gem of an Enigmatic Movie.
I saw this film many years ago, rented only on a whim and it has haunted me ever since. It is not a film so much as a real work of art. Its characters, backdrops, contrasts, and poetic artistry of writing and filmography make me sad that it has not received more commercial acclaim yet I have great satisfaction of having it as one of my secret discoveries. I watch this film over and over again and have shown it to friends and it always touches off many emotions and stirs alot of discussion. All I can say is that if you see this movies you will not regret it. The writing, the complex characters, and the exotic backdrop of Hong Kong make for one helluva good film and this movie delivers BIG TIME! If you love movies then this is a MUST to see.

I like it
I can say it purely and simply ....
I love this film.... I really and truly Love it.

A Justified Cult Following - Fantastic Film
This film is a nearly unknown gem. It successfully captures the exotic feeling of Hong Kong, with its fortune tellers, ancient trees and ultramodern highrises, all set against the hum of commerce. John Lone plays the protagonist, a former member of the Red Guard who illegally enters Hong Kong (with only the clothes on his body) after Mao's death. The film then shifts to a time several years later, during the 1989 student demonstrations, and people are forced to consider what the coming 1997 takeover will really be like. By this time, Lone's character is a highly regarded, well known, wealthy businessman. Until some stunning rumours about his parentage surface.
Even with all of that information, you cannot predict how this film will end or much of anything that happens along the way. Self examination, the ability to remake oneself, the value of loyalty and youthful friendships, race and nationality are all themes, and all are examined subtly well. The story is something that could come from Hemingway, but far less somber. The final two minutes or so are just amazing. I wish they'd release it on DVD, and that the soundtrack (which is very moody and ethereal) was available in the States. You won't regret getting this video for a minute, and my bet is that you'll watch it many, many times.

A man of success looks back on his own humble roots.
It is a pure artistic film. It is filmed in the heights of Asian economies. A man of success in every single facet of the material world looks back on his own humble roots with mixed feelings. Instead of saying "who am I???" in verbatim, the whole film depicts life as a "dream-like-state" in pictorial. This is a story about city mid-aged crisis: a self-exploration of his self in the past versus the present success and wealth of his responsibility -- and also, the compromise and non-compromise of both. A first class international production "backs" the Japanese director in every single detail to explore the ultimate meaning of life: the search of one's own "existential self", a universal theme painted in a sensuous Japanese melody. The whole story flows in the mind of the director like a piece of silky cloth in a tempest-tossed sea, disquietingly. Artists John Lone and Sammi Davies have succesfully depicted all emotions necessary of a mid-aged crisis between love and dilemma of all. A must-see film for rentals in a quiet Saturday night. (Commented by Production Assistant of this film.)

Fair
Shadow of China is about a Chinese revolutionary who escapes to Hong Kong. There he builds a financial empire. His dreams are threatened by exposure. A boring film. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER REVIEWS. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

A rather mean-spirited vehicle for the normally empathetic Chow Yun-fat, with a brass-knuckle plot that recalls the Crook's Revenge story line of Payback and its source movie, Point Blank. Chow is Joe (just plain Joe), a tattooed, crew-cut professional thief who chews Clint Eastwood's old stogies, packs a sawed-off shotgun, and roars around on a chopped Harley. Betrayed and left for dead by turncoat pal Anthony Wong (the head gunrunner in John Woo's Hard Boiled), he returns several months later, in a really bad mood, to retrieve his share of the swag. The rabbit-punch aesthetic of director Ringo Lam is certainly compelling, and there are genuine innovations in the depiction of violence--like a shooting filmed from the bullet's point of view. The Asian-American actress Ann Bridgewater swivels her way through a couple of hot dance numbers as Joe's stripper girlfriend. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (19)

The Greatest Movie Ever Made...
This is the greatest movie of all-time. Its got it all: ultra-violence, unbelievable camera moves, incredible action scenes, a tight script, a talented director(Ringo Lam) and most importantly of all...Chow Yun-Fat, the most charismatic actor of the present era, who gives, in my opinion, his best performance to date.

On top of all of the above named, 'Full Contact' has the great villain in a film ever...Simon Yam is unbelievable as this homosexual gangster. Simon is classic.

If you say you like HK cinema and you don't dig this movie, you're a total reject. This is the finest film ever made. Go see it. Go buy it. Enjoy it.

Film Yes, DVD No
"Full Contact" ranks high on the list of classic Hong Kong "heroic bloodshed" action films. Grittier and more extreme than John Woo's films (more gore and maimings, and characters who are less noble), it's an entertaining ride, and a good showcase for the always-magnetic Chow Yun-Fat. Unfortunately, this DVD re-release has a serious problem -- the actual video print is a big improvement on the original Tai Seng release, but whole chunks of soundtrack seem to be missing from the Chinese audio track (strangely enough, they're present on the English audio track). If you don't mind watching your Hong Kong movies in English, this is a good buy, but if you're a purist, you're better off sticking with the original Tai Seng DVD for the complete Chinese audio track.

BRILLIANT..SUPERB
This is a Excellent FIlm. If you Like guns and violence Watch This. Violent and Betrayal. Chow Yun Fat is Brilliant. He is the Pacino/De Niro of Hong Kong Cinema.

Gritty!!! Violent!!! Brutal!!! Great!!!
Plot Outline: After Sam (Anthony Wong) gets in trouble with some triads over a gambling debt, his best friend Jeff (Chow Yun-Fat) has to bail him out. Sam gets word that his cousin Judge (Simon Yam) wants him and his friends to help them pull a job robbing a truck. Once on the job Jeff finds out it was all a trick set up by the triads to kill him. In a turn of betrayal, Sam is forced by his cousin to shoot Jeff. They leave Jeff to die in a burning building, only Jeff makes it out alive. Now he looks for revenge.

The Review: Full Contact is easily the sleaziest, grittiest and downright most vulgar HK action film I've ever seen. Now that I've said that, it's also just one outright cool film. Taking what could have been just an average tale of revenge, Ringo Lam injected the film with the style of the 80's and a healthy dose of brutal violence. The film represents all that was great of the all but dead Heroic Bloodshed genre. It's still around, but you don't see too many films like Full Contact anymore.

Don't misunderstand me, the violence in Full Contact, while plentiful, doesn't quite top the likes of A Better Tomorrow II, but the film is just a whole lot seedier. The violence in John Woo's films are usually comical to some point, but here the violence takes place somewhat in reality. The gunplay is actually fairly minimal really. There's only a couple of gunfights, and excluding the first person bullet effects, they aren't really all that spectacular. The violence in the film is just accentuated by the feel of the film. In one of the more brutal scenes in the film, Anthony Wong's character shoots a man in the head about seven times, covering the guy in blood. It's just an ugly image, and made uglier by the scenery and characters. It takes place in a dingy warehouse and watching his blood splatter all over his hands can almost make you feel uncomfortable.

When I first sat down to watch Full Contact I didn't know much about it and wasn't expecting much. I had read on a message board somewhere in the past that it was supposed to be a great non-Woo HK action film so I decided to give it a chance. Within the first five minutes of watching the film, it makes it's case strongly, and lets you know exactly what kind of film it's going to be. Simon Yam's gang robs what appears to be a jewelry store, in the process he stabs a innocent woman through the chest then proceeds to have her open the vault. We're introduced to the rest of his gang too. Mona, the promiscuous and Deano the muscular freak (played by Frankie Chin, best known as the guy who tries to strangle Ricky in Ricky-Oh). The introduction is so simple, but it's just so perfect. It's hard to put my hand on it, it's just the perfect way to start the film. A kick to the gut for the audience.

If one thing bothered me most about the film the first time I watched it, it was surprisingly enough Chow himself. Not that he gives a bad performance or anything like that, it's just his clothing style is just terrible. He wears a short sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Add to that a crew cut and a leather vest over the shirt, and you've got one goofy looking chow. The second time I sat through it I just took it in as part of the cheesyness of the film. The roaring electric guitar solos, the clothes... it's all so classic 80's.

The style, the violence, and the characters are what makes the film. Simon Yam is repulsive in his role as a flamboyantly gay sociopath who let's nothing stand in his way. Chow puts in a great effort, but it doesn't really take much from Chow to please. He could be playing a coma patient and would still ooze 'cool' from his pours. When I first watched the film I wasn't familiar with Anthony Wong, so I didn't actually ever notice him, but now that I've seen Beast Cops I was surprised to find out that it was he who played Sam. He's gained a whole lot of weight over the years, but I think he's actually more suited with the weight on. In this film, when his character becomes a tough guy it's kind of hard to take serious, but with some weight on him Wong comes off a bit more intimidating. As far as acting goes, those are the central characters. Everyone else puts in decent enough performances even though the girls just seem to be there for eye candy. Nice eye candy, but eye candy just the same.

To wrap things up, Full Contact stands out as one of the best Heroic Bloodshed films made not by John Woo. That actually sounds a little harsh, I don't compare the film to Woo's work, but it's just unavoidable. Anyway, I've debated with myself whether to give it a four or a five for a while now, and I've come to the conclusion that it's getting the Stubbing Award. Sure, it doesn't add a whole lot more to the genre, but it delivers what is one of the funnest rides the genre has ever produced. Full Contact is a classic, not to be missed by HK film fans, or gritty gangster film fans for that matter.

One of Chow's Best!
I've had a quality bootleg VHS copy of this film for years, but picked up this DVD on the cheap to compare it to the original Golden Princess release. In some ways its better (more squibs, better subtitles, more dialogue and scenes) and in some ways it's worse (characters names have been changed, much of the rocking HK soundtrack missing). Inexplicably Jeff's name has been changed to Godfrey. Godfrey! What kind of name is that for a tough guy? Virgin's name has been changed to Yin and the big muscular villian is now Madman. I believe originally it was Deano or something like that but don't quote me on it as I haven't watched the original version in a while. The great guitar work is missing from both the Bangkok car chase and the final nightclub shootout, but most of the other music remains intact, notably as Chow recuperates and trains in Bangkok and when Mona is dancing at the nightclub. This DVD has english and chinese language dialog and widescreen and full screen picture. Buy it man, it kicks a$$! ... Read more

Reviews (27)

This is Jackie Chan's most complete film.
I saw this film 10 years ago in the local Chinatown theatre and it still holds up on DVD as his most complete film. The film is shot with higher production values than it's Hong Kong counterparts. The comedy elements don't seem really out of place like in his later films and there is actually a story in this one ( borrowed from Frank Capra's "Pocketful of Miracles" ) The action sequences are as clever and inventive as anything he has ever done ( I didn't mind that there weren't as many of them ). The Restaurant sequence and the Rope factory fight are stand-outs. Even though the film was made for a Hong Kong audience, it transcends that and has something for everyone. It's great movie-making.

The Chinese Godfather, Jackie's Way!
Throughout the the 80's, Jackie Chan was being blacklisted by critics as someone who's only talent was directing lighthearted action films without any substance. Jackie took this criticism personally and created one of the best films of his career, "Miracles." Based on Frank Capra's "Lady For a Day," Jackie took his time and directed a film that can be compared to the best of Hollywood during the Golden Era. Jackie originally didn't want action scenes, but realized none of his fans would see it. There are three brillinat action pieces intertwined with the story, the best is the final at a rope factory. Jackie also used techniques used by Hollywood by using steady cams for extended shots. Anita Mui from "Rumble in the Bronx" has a delightful role as a nightclub and we get to hear her sing (which was her original career.) This movie is a must have for any Jackie Chan fan, or any who appreciates great filmmaking.

The Miracle is how great this film is.
Does anyone here know how to read? It clearly states that this version contains BOTH the subtitled and the dubbed version. If you don't want to read the subtitles, it contained a dubbed english version. How hard is it to realize this? Before you complain, why don't you read the back of the box.

Options!! (It is a Miracle!)
I see a bunch of people have made comments
like "Good if you like subtitles" - this
is annoying and stupid, since the disc contains BOTH
the original version (fir those who 'really'
appreciate hong kong cinema), and the a dubbed
"Chan-for-dummies" version, obviously for those who
only speak 'American.' Ironically, though
Columbia has done a great service by providing
choices for "everyone's" benefit, I have to read such
trifling comments by those who get weak in the

knees when they see a subtitle - even if the dub
is right in front of them.

Chan's the man!
I have only seen parts of this, but plan on getting it very soon. Found it intesting that it contains Subbed and Dubbed versions. Subbed is 126 minutes and dubbed is 106, what gives?
Anyway I'll be watching the SUBBED version. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The first of a popular series (six in all) starring the charismatic and athletically adept Jet Li.Li plays legendary folk hero Wong Fei Hong, a late 19th century southern Chinese healer and kung fu master. The story begins with Western powers (American, British, and French) encroaching on the city of Canton. Wong is asked by the Black Flag army to safeguard the town by creating his own militia of kung fu experts. His assistants include the butcher "Porky" (Kent Cheng), a Chinese-American named Bucktooth So (Jacky Cheung), and his westernized "Auntie" Yee (Rosamund Kwan), a non-blood-related childhood friend for whom he holds a special affection. But the Westerners aren't the only problem in Canton. The Sha Ho gang terrorizes local businesses and has begun dealing with the Americans in exporting Chinese for slave labor and prostitution. Adown-on-his-luck kung fu master named Iron Vest Yim (Yan Yee Kwan) has decided he needs to defeat Wong to open a school and Leung Fu (Jackie Chan contemporary Yuen Biao), a traveling opera troupe groupie, just keeps getting in the way.This epic martial-arts film showcases Li's amazing fighting and acrobatic skills and established Tsui Hark as a top-notch action film director. The final fight scene between Wong and Yim entails a dizzying orchestration of kicks and punches while teeter-tottering on ladders. The DVD features star bios, filmographies, trailers, and clips from early Wong Fei Hong films that starred veteran actor Kwan Tak Hing. --Shannon Gee ... Read more

Reviews (55)

This is Definitely a Classic
This movie was astounding and a great achievement in Kung-Fu movies. The scenes are definetly new, unique and innovative. There's plenty of action and some of the cast is pretty funny. The quality of picture wasn't that good, but that didn't stop me from giving this film 5 stars. I love the Cantonese music to this movie. I can sing it by heart. The two most innovative scenes were the fight scene in the rain where Wong Fei Hung fights Master Yim and the final fight between Master Yim with the ladders. The action was beautifully well timed and Jet Li's skills really did shine. Obne thing you might find distressing is the anti-foreigner feelings that are shown, which is pretty realistic coming from a Cantonese Family. Both of these scenes were unbelievable. This is a must have for all Jet Li fans. This is Tsui Hark's greatest movie i have seen. If you are into Chinese Kung Fu movies, it is a necessity to watch this. If you don't like flying and fantasy type fights, then don't buy this.

Great.
"Once Upon A Time In China" is perhaps the best all-around martial arts movie you'll ever see. I say all-around because it has both wirework and straightforward fighting. Also, the production value, which was notoriously low for most films in Hong Kong a few years back, is above par here. It's beautifully shot, well acted, and very well written. The story centers around the exploits of Wong Fei-Hung, the most filmed (and the most revered) character in HK cinema history.
This is probably the best of the straightforward Wong Fei-Hung movies, where Fei-Hung is stoic, wise and mature (The Jackie Chan version of Fei-Hung is in a category of its own). Jet Li brings power and authority to the character, and no one can match him in terms of sheer martial arts prowess. Supporting him is the criminally underrated Yuen Biao (Foon), the Peking Opera School "little brother" of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. The action was beyond compare, but what really attracted me once the movie got rolling was the story. Tsui Hark did a great job co-writing the screenplay. And, when you throw in the fact that he also produced and directed, you might just have a new respect for HK cinema.
As for the DVD itself, I was a little disappointed at the picture quality, but I wasn't too surprised since Media Asia retained the rights. The picture appears double frequently on my DVD-ROM. However, this only occurred on the original language version. The English-dubbed version was better quality, but the dubbing was so God-awful. Jet Li sounded like Dudley Do-Right. As long as I can make out the action and follow the story, I'll stick to the Chinese version. If you haven't seen it, and you like--or claim to like--HK cinema, then I can heartily recommend it. If you're not too fond of action, but you like historical dramas or epics, then try it. You might be surprised.

One of the finest Kung Fu Flicks of all time
Wong Fei Hung is an important figure, not only to Chinese history, but also to me as a student of the style, which he helped make famous. The Hung Gar Style is traced back to Hung Tsi Kwan (there are lots of debates over the spelling of his name) who taught Luk Ah Choy, and Wong Tai (Wong Fei Hung's grand father) who taught Wong Kei Ying (Fei Hung's father) who refused to teach Fei Hung, forcing him to turn to Luk Ah Choy for lessons. Fei Hung then went on to teach Lam Sai Wing (who is depicted in this film, albeit inaccurately) who wrote the book that more or less made the style famous. Hung Gar is a very common style in Southern China, but is very rare stateside with only a small number of schools teaching it. Wong Fei Hung is therefore a matter of great interest to me, which is why I bought this film without actually seeing it first. Lucky for me it ended up being a very worthwhile purchase.
While some of the events of the film are based on real history (or legend) much of this story (and its sequels) remains a matter of fictional entertainment. Althogh Wong Fei Hung was married three times in his life, he was never involved with his by-marriage cousin (or 14th aunt if you're not watching the English dub), so introducing an arguably incestuous love interest is a bit odd, but the romance aspects of this film aren't really the reason to see this film, Jet Li and his incredible action scenes are. The action in this film was a landmark in Hong Kong Cinema and may have pioneered the "wire fu" so popular in today's movies. The story is very good as well, dealing with the idea of resisting change, and staying true to one's traditions and heritage. As a Kung Fu student and fan I love this movie through and through, as a critic, however I really wish the writers of this movie could have done something less awkward for a love interest for a man whose memory is revered not just in China, but to any and all students of the Hung Gar style. After all, Wong Fei Hung invented the Tiger Crane set that is now the trademark set for Hung Gar practitioners, and so it is a bit odd to see him portrayed in a potentially incestuous relationship. Still this movie remains at the top of the list for fans wanting to collect Hong Kong flicks, as it is one of the absolute best out there.

THE DEFINITION OF KUNG FU MOVIE!!!!!!!!!
Alright, I'll admit that when I first got my order of the first three of Jet Li's ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series, I was a bit disappointed that the audio tracks wer only Cantonese and Mandarin. True, English subtitles were available on all of them, but I was living under the illusion that htis might comprimise my ability to fully enjoy these masterpieces.
I had seen none of them before, but I had ordered them sight unseen because of the fact that I'm a military kid living in another country, and so copies of the OUATIC series were quite scarce. I had never actually seen any Asian films before in their original languages, so you can see that i felt like ihad might have made a mistake.
Boy was I wrong! I had never seen anything like this before, and I was with the movie every step of the way, carefully following my trusty english subtitles for plot references, although I could absolutely not take my eyes off the screen in any one th fabulous fight scenes, especially the finally, in which good old Wong Fei-Hung (Jet Li, about the umpte-millionth Wong Fei-Hung) engages in a fierce martial arts battle with the sinister Master Yim, whose in cahoots with the bad guys, who are kidnapping Chinese for slave labor and prostitution, and who wants to defeat Wong so that he can be the number one kung fu master.
This particular scene starts out on an elaborate structure of ladders, and then goes to the ground for some more fightin'. True, the OUATIC series is not a wire-fu movie, but the occasional assistance of wires allows some of the more breathtaking stunts to come out.
The point is that ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA holds a spot in the hall of fame of those martial arts movies that have surpassed all standards and expectations, and will no doubt stand the test of time. The other films in this "Kung Fu Hall of Fame" include (but aren't limited to) ENTER THE DRAGON, FIST OF LEGEND, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, the DRUNKEN MASTERs, RAPID FIRE, THE ONE, and loads of others. If you have not seen any of these, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA is as good place to start with as any. Just sit back, and feast your eyes.

.
FILM REVIEW:

At the time of this writing I've seen Once Upon a Time in China parts 1-5, and essentially my feelings on the series can be summed up as such: There's Once Upon a Time in China, and then, there are the sequels. This is not to say that I dislike the sequels; in fact, I have yet to be entirely let down by a Once Upon a Time in China picture. But the original is unquestionably the paramount of the series, a martial arts movie which breaks through and transcends the usual limits of the genre.

The qualities of Once Upon a Time in China are manifold. Its story is sophisticated and densely layered for a martial arts film, its pace unrushed, its action satisfying, its length generous, and its climax genuinely gripping. Once Upon a Time in China is, indeed, the only movie in the series in which I actually felt genuine concern for the fate of any of the characters, or put another way, empathized any real sense of physical, emotional, or spiritual danger. Some will argue that the martial arts choreography of part 2 is superior, but for all their technical strength, part 2's action sequences lack the sense of harmony and resonance with the overall picture which can be readily found here. A strength of the series in general is that the action sequences rarely seem to be entirely arbitrary - but never in the many sequels are they fused this satisfyingly into the overall experience.

Additionally, I've noticed that the Once Upon a Time in China series has gotten more "comic-booky" as its gone along. I have no overt problem with these "comic-booky" aspects in and of themselves: the mysterious cult-leaders and quasi-supervillains of parts 2 and 4, or the pirates and treasures and gunfights of part 5, or the introduction of the Clubfoot character in part 3, are all entertaining in their way. But I do appreciate the slightly more down-to-earth atmosphere of the original, as it seems to have been conducive to the development of more interesting characters. While there are other antagonists I've enjoyed in the series, none have come close to matching the thorough spiritual bankruptcy and cruelty of this film's Shaho gang leader. He has no special powers or tricks - in fact he doesn't even prove to be a particularly formidable fighter - but he's the only villain they ever bothered to develop enough so that you really come to despise him by the end.

And what of Iron Robe Yim's nuanced part in the tale? Not quite a villain proper, more a tragic figure - but an interesting tragic figure, and one successfully interjected (in place of the Shaho boss) as a formidable martial arts antagonist, thus allowing for the film's classic final battle. Above and beyond this he is also nicely interwoven into the greater fabric of the tale's many moral quandaries by his temporary relationship as mentor to Foon. (Incidentally, the mentor/student relationship between these two characters would have been well served by just a bit more development, but when everything comes to a head in that last half-hour, it still manages to pull itself off nicely.) Yim occupies an interesting space as a character in this story, a space unfilled in subsequent Once Upon a Time in China chapters: he is a character who we feel could have been great, could even have been a friend or brother to Wong Fei Hung and his coterie, but who sadly crumbles (under the pressure of poverty) to his darker, greedier side, and pays the price in a bloody and undignified demise - (a scene which proves powerful on several levels.)

Without getting into each in detail, I appreciate this film's well-rounded cast of characters, several of whom disappear and/or are replaced by different actors in subsequent Once Upon a Time in China films. With the exception of the unused Kai, every major character is given his moment(s) in this movie. Even Buck Tooth So - a character I initially found too annoying and zany - manages a convincing emotional and moral complexity by the end (relative to what you'd expect of such a character, at any rate.)

Last but not least, I should probably reaffirm that Jet Li himself is indeed excellent in Once Upon a Time in China. He brings a poise, dignity, style, and romantic vulnerability to the character of Wong Fei Hung which I doubt I'll ever see matched, and his focused and perfectly executed martial arts are a thing to behold.

So when all is said and done, I feel I must insist that Once Upon a Time in China has far more going for it than any of its sequels, and manages not only to juggle everything successfully - action, romance, politics, religion, national identity, melodrama, and brotherhood - but also to bring it together into a climax far more satisfying than anything I've seen from the series since. It boasts competent, artful direction, good production values, a fully realized 19th century environment, and everything in the film radiates with a glow which even the best of the sequels never quite match.

DVD REVIEW:

The Columbia TriStar release of Once Upon a Time in China is, to my mind, the most adequate of their three OUATIC releases. Picture and sound are both reasonably good, format is original widescreen, and the subtitles are clear, well-placed, and well-paced. The Cantonese and Mandarin audio tracks are both included. The English dubbed version is included as a special feature. Other special features include an interesting audio commentary (albeit it from a somewhat annoying and occasionally sarcastic commentator) and a few trailers. Nothing exceptionally mind-blowing, but a worthwhile purchase for sure. See Amazon info for more technical details. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This was a great movie!!
I'm a huge Robin Shou fan, but fan of his or not, this is a really good movie. The action was non-stop, and it wasn't the cheesy faked kungfu over acted fighing scenes either. They were really powerful on the edge of your seat action scenes with great Martial artists who know what they are doing.

Like the other reviewer said, this wasn't an all bang em up bloody action movie either. It actually had a plot to follow. However I very slightly disagree on "King Kong". I like the actor, and he did do an excellent job in the movie, but after a while he became a tad cartoonish. Although he was a good character played by a talented actor, he did stretch my last nerve after a while. although he did bring a few laughs and even had some scenes that made ya really feel for the guy.

All in all, if you're a Robin Shou fan, or if you just love Martial Arts action movies...this is a MUST have!

excellent worth your time
If you are a Robin Shou fan you will absolutely love this movie...I have never seen a movie where he is in every scene..and the movie actually has a plot and you can follow everything going on..sometimes chinese karate movies don't seem to have a plot. The movie is funny--you'll enjoy the character King Kong. The fighting scenes are good and believable..I really enjoyed this movie and was pleasantly surprised about how good it really was. I wasn't expecting too much actually but am a die hard Robin Shou fan so I knew I'd like it just because he was in it..the only bad part? It is dubbed. I would highly recommend this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Warning this is not a Jackie Chan movie,
The original title of this movie was Project S, made in the early nineties and starring Michelle Yeoh. Jackie Chan only has a small cameo as a drag queen ! Its clear that Jackie Chan fans are being exploited by video distributors and I for one find this kind of abuse offensive. If you would like any advice on other Jackie Chan movies then e-mail me at peterharrop@freenet.co.uk

Jackie Chan's Second Strike, where is Jackie!
I bought this movie and watched it and all it had about Jackie Chan was a interview. I had it returned and got the ten times better movie Supercop. Don't be fooled.

No Jackie
If you love Jackie Chan movies then this one is certainly not for you. Jackie Chan is not even in the actual movie. Sure, in the beginning you see him doing some kind of interview but thats about it. The movie is great if you like sapy revenge stories but the false picture of Jackie on the cover is a false lead. I thought that it was a sequal to first strike but this was not what I had expected. So save your money and buy First Strike instead.

SUCK,SUCK AND SUCK SOME MORE
This movie suck so bad i wish I had rent it before I bought it. OK first of all they put jackie on the front of the box knowing he is not in the movie that made me so mad. Second the movie had less fighting than any martial art movie i have ever seen about two fighting scene to be exact.WARNING: DO NOT PURCHASE ARE RENT THIS VIDEO IT SUCK IT'S THE WORST MARTAIL ART MOVIE.

The film has nothing to do with Jackie chan!!
This video is not worth buying as Jackie Chan is not in it! He is in the music video at the end and there is a small interview with him, thats all folks...... This video is a waste of time and money!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you thought La Femme Nikita was tough, then you haven't seen Black Cat in action. Shamelessly and aggressively ripped off from the sleek French action classic, this outrageous Hong Kong action melodrama stars Jade Leung as a surly, hot-headed Chinese drifter in New York (actually Vancouver, Canada, subbing for the U.S. location). After killing a couple of macho trucker slimeballs and a cop in a brutal, bloody fight at a roadside diner, she's "killed" by a mystery man and reborn as a stealth assassin for a super-secret high-tech government agency. Director Stephen Shin goes for broke in a series of bizarre action scenes, but none tops the protagonist's graduation exercise, an outrageous assassination at a Jewish wedding that explodes into gang warfare when every guest suddenly pops up armed with semiautomatic weapons. That kind of logic guides the entire film: Leung's character is never told why, only who, and she slickly takes out her heavily guarded targets with everything from ice bullets to steel girders. Leung pouts and sneers her way through her film debut, all attitude and sass even when she falls in love with gentle environmentalist Thomas Lam (who wins her heart with his syrupy harmonica playing). Simon Yam (the suave assassin of Bullet in the Head) plays her sensitive but steely mentor, secretly in love with the woman he plunges into heady mind games. Leung returns in Black Cat II: The Assassination of President Yeltsin, an even more insane action logic-bomb. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Black Cat Fever
The saving grace to BLACK CAT -- a Chinese remake of the French LA FEMME NIKITA that had already been Americanized with POINT OF NO RETURN -- is that the star, newcomer Jade Leung, is the first woman of those actresses to take on the 'Nikita' persona who actually appears to have the athletic physique to pull off the secret missions given to her. Beyond that, the film is little more than a case of 'Black Cat Fever.'

Catherine (Leung) is one bad girl who can't seem to stay out of trouble. After losing her job and nearly losing her life to a vengeful truck driver, she accidentally kills a cop, an uncompromising act that lands her behind bars. In her escape attempt, she is "killed" ... only to be resurrected by a secret government agency that trains her to be an accomplished assassin. BLACK CAT dispenses little logic in dishing out Catherine's missions; as a matter of fact, most of the action sequences take place for no reasons provided in the script. Still, the pacing is well, and Leung carries the picture along over plothole after plothole.

As Catherine, Leung embodies her character with the lithe grace of the-girl-next-door-gone-postal, and, unlike her counterparts in other pictures of the same theme, she isn't exactly a postergirl for Hollywood lavishness. Her beauty is demure, left plain with an almost boyish haircut, and the result is a kind of rugged honesty: tumble with this 'cat,' and you're about to get clawed.

Nonetheless, CAT never rises to the level of quality storytelling. There's little (if any) backstory to Catherine's past. There's little (if any) explanation of the CIA's involvement in Chinese or Japanese affairs. And there's little (if any) substance to the romantic entanglement Catherine finds herself in the middle of. As a matter of fact, after the film's first hour, very little of what happens is given any backstory whatsoever -- other than to serve as events for showcasing Black Cat's lethal skills. The film is about action-sequenced bravado as Leung lunges from one gun fight to the next, ignoring the moral questions raises by the French original, the American remake, and even (arguably) the popular television series starring Peta Wilson. Much like the other versions, the centerpiece is the female, and, in that capacity, Leung holds a welcome presence. Despite the shortcomings, it's hard not to find interest in Leung's performance: don't be surprised to root for the bad girl, even though you've no idea of what she's up to.

Leave your brain at the door when you let this CAT in the house.

New Twist to an Old Tale
First off, make sure that you buy the original release that Amazon offers, not the new English dubbed DVD release. Well, in the grand tradition of Hong Kong Action films to remake American and other films, Black Cat is the remake of the French film La Femme Nikita (The American version, Point of No Return, was the third in this series of remakes). Anyway...Black Cat stars Jade Leung in the starring role of a bad grrrl transformed into a top notch assassin for a top secret organization. The Hong Kong twist is that a computer chip called a Black Cat is implanted into Leung's brain, augmenting her abilities, and making her the great assasin that she is. This film has all the drama and action of La Femme Nikita, plus more. Simon Yam stars as Leung's mentor and controller. All in all a good film. If you've seen La Femme Nikita or Point of No Return, then you already know the plot and ending to this particular film, but give the HK version a chance. They take a proven storyline and do their magic with it.

Nothing spectacular but worth a view
I've always liked seeing flicks with chicks that kick a**. Thus, my spirits were high going into this film.

Reading the description on the box pretty muched summed up the whole film. IT'S A REMAKE OF LA FEMME NIKITA. Not that this is bad, it's just that it isn't very original.

Yes, Jade does most of her stunts, and quite impressive to say the least. I just wish that the character could have been devolped more in the beginning of the film so we could feel for the character more.

Nothing groundbreaking, but still deserves a look.

different
Okay, it's a little annoying when people claim that Point of No Return was the second remake of La Femme Nikita. Black Cat was made in 1991 while Point was made in 1993. While Point was an almost blow by blow recreation of Nikita, Black Cat took the essential structure and gave it a different spin. Now, that's what I call a remake, what's the point of a blow by blow remake? Black Cat can never replace Nikita for me, I do think Nikata is a superior film. However, Black Cat has Jade and the film's biggest charm is the strength of the then newcomer to the movies. She brings a different intensity and understated fraility to the character. Not that Anne Parillaud was bad, she was very good, but she didn't make me want to go out there and watch every film she has ever made. Black Cat has nice action sequences courtesy of HK. It's focus is completely different from Nikita, it's more an action film then an exploration of what it feels to be trapped. There will be some of us who'll like, even love, Black Cat. There will be many who'll dislike it. There is a reason this film is called a cult classic not a classic. NOT everyone will like this film. Just bear in mind, if you intend to watch this film, watch it with an open mind and don't try and compare it with it's predecessor and you might see why Black Cat became a cult classic and Point of no Return didn't.

Yet Another 'La Femme Nikita' remake
Sigh.

If first you succeed, try and try again.

That's the motto of filmmakers around the world apparently. All we need now is for someone in India to make 'The Killer from Calcutta' and we will have seen every major movie industrial machine on the planet shoot a version of the same script.

If you liked 'La Femme Nikita' in French (the original) and/or the Hollywood remake ('Point of No Return'), then maybe you won't mind seeing it a third time, this time with a Hong Kong sensibility. Me, I think enough is enough. Let's move on already!

('Black Cat' should probably get One Star, but I have to give the crew credit for some impressive stunts. The actors were also less-than-horrible, but no one really rose above adequate.) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pap
Here is another entry that many fans of Asian cinema promised me would deliver the goods in the gore department. This title often appears in the same breath with "The Untold Story" and "Ebola Syndrome," good, gory movies sure to induce a burning sensation in the pit of your stomach. "Dr. Lamb" is part of the grand tradition of the notorious Category III Hong Kong stomach churners. Since I have not seen newer entries in this particularly revolting sub genre, I assume that with the Chinese acquisition of Hong Kong from the British a few years ago these sorts of movies have gone the way of the dinosaur. After watching "Dr. Lamb," I am almost relieved to see the end of these types of films. Not because the majority of them are bad, not at all. "The Untold Story" was a wonderful, morally redemptive tale of transcendental spiritual values expressed through the preparation and consumption of human meat patties. No, I applaud the end of Category III because "Dr. Lamb" is such a boring, atrocious mess of a movie. This one is dullsville all the way, folks, and is best left in the nearest trash receptacle. I feel cheated of the nearly two hours I spent watching this piece of crud.

Dr. Lamb is really Lam Gor-Yu, a taxi driver with the most unusual proclivities. The beginning of the film shows us why he has so many problems adjusting to reality. His father spoiled the boy incessantly from the earliest years of the child's life, refusing to scold him for questionable behaviors directed at the other kids in the apartment building or towards family members. It is just a part of growing up, argues the elder Lam, to express a curiosity for girls and the young women dad brings home. That a social worker would probably think otherwise never impresses itself on this father's mind. These seeds of degeneracy blossom fully once Lam Gor-Yu attains manhood. He does not leave the house to seek his own destiny, but maintains a room in his father's home that he shares with one of his brothers. Only when the men in the family leave to earn their daily bread does Lam Gor-Yu express fully his grotesque desires, first with a few female relatives and later with women he meets on the streets of the city. The police step into the picture when a photo development laboratory brings in some pictures of a dismembered body left by a customer. That a calculating killer like Lam Gor-Yu would do such a stupid thing is only the first salvo of idiocy fired in this clunker.

The cops, with Inspector Lee at the helm, begin to search for the man who dropped off the negatives. When they get him, which does not take long, the police proceed to torture the suspect in ways that would cause the entire staff of the ACLU to have a fit. The police officers beat Lam Gor-Yu with a phone book, slap him around, and generally do anything they think will get them that valuable confession. The killer stays mum despite the atrocities, refusing to give the investigators the satisfaction of breaking him. Drastic situations call for drastic solutions, so Lee brings in the man's family and tells them what Lam Gor-Yu did to his niece. Then the family proceeds to beat the killer senseless while the cops watch closely for any signs of a willingness to confess. Well, Lam does confess to the heinous crimes, all of which we see in flashback. What did the killer do? Abduct woman and murder them in his apartment. That is all, with a few sick scenes of the cops searching the apartment for "evidence" and other crime scene reenactments thrown in for balance. "Dr. Lamb" is a tasteless film, but it is also an incredibly boring one with much less sauce than "The Untold Story" or similar Hong Kong masterpieces.

"Dr. Lamb" initially promises great things. It has Simon Yam as the psycho and Danny Lee sleepwalking through yet another role as a police investigator. I keep telling myself that the DVD version I watched underwent some massive cuts because the gore just isn't there. You do get to see Lam Gor-Yu perform homemade surgery on his victims, a little blood spatter here and there, but this does not compare to the gross out effects seen in other genre entries. The other elements you would expect from a film from this genre are here: the usual bad taste humor, experienced full force when the cops search Lam Gor-Yu's apartment and engage in some gluey slapstick sequences, is as upsetting as it was in "Untold Story." The emphasis on police procedures--meaning no access to a lawyer and unending interrogations filled with brutality--dominates a portion of the film, something that probably won't improve now that communist Chinese cops walk the streets.

The only positives in "Dr. Lamb" are the soundtrack and the cinematography, but even then some of the scenes inside the taxicab on the rain slicked streets of Hong Kong run on. The DVD's picture quality was atrocious, full of haze and color bleeding during the scenes when clarity mattered the most. I have seen a few reviews from people who label this film as one of the ghastliest pieces of cinema ever to emerge from the Orient, but I did not see it. Maybe I watched some obscure DVD version of the film that left out all the grue, but the movie I saw and