Reviews (243)

Bruce Lee's got nothin' on the Boss
Jet Li, affectionately called Boss Li in Hong Kong, stars in this remake of Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection (a.k.a. Fists of Fury in China). The difference is this one's better. You don't agree? I'll do my best to convert ya. Li stars as Chen Zhen, a student in 1930's Japanese occupied China. He returns home upon receiving news of his master's death, who was supposedly beaten by a Japanese master in a challenge. Li smells a rat and challenges the Japanese master in return, to find the master's fighting ability's terribly inadequate to have defeated his old master. Li has the body exhumed and tested for poison, and we find that the old master was indeed murdered after all. And Li wants revenge. This is a truly amazing flick. The fights, performed with minimal wire work as found in other period martial arts pieces, are a showcase for the stupifyingly amazing martial abilities of it's star, and standout moments include the opening fight between Li and a slew of Japanese fighters and the duel between Li and his japanese girlfriend's uncle, an older, wiser fighter who, before the duel, insists that older fellas need a minute or two to warm up. Unlike the Bruce Lee film the Japanese are not presented as monsters, and this film goes out of it's way to prove it, whereas the Lee film goes out of it's way to show how heinous they are. Jet Li is a true phenomenon, and to quote the Hong Kong movie oriented book,...'Nuff said.

You Won't Believe What You Are Watching
Fist of Legend is a true powerhouse of a Kung-Fu movie, where 2 minute dialog scenes only serve to bridge the most amazing martial arts fights you will ever watch. This movie is a remake of Bruce Lee's "Chinese Connection", which is appropriate, because Jet Li deservingly surpasses the Master in skill and talent with his performance in this movie. Forget dialog and acting, the fighting absolutely rules this movie, and the story is told thru the fighting, like any good action movie should do. I consider this film to be the Best Matrial Arts movie ever made.

Jet Li plays a star kung-fu student returning from afar to avenge his master's death. Along the way, he fights just about everyone he sees. While there are a couple of large-scale gang wars, most action scenes are 2 man duels. These duels advance the plot and develop the characters while they dish out the action, just like the kung-fu in the Matrix, or the lightduels in the Star Wars films. These fighters dig deep into themselves, get out old grudges they have with old friends, and learn about the mysterious ways of the universe as they watch it flow through their bodies. Everything is present in the punches and kicks of this film - power, grace, spiritual peace, comedy, raging emotion, revenge, personal courage. Wire-work is subtle and restrained, and takes a backseat to Li's amazing speed and precision. If you are reminded of The Matrix you have a sharp eye, because the same choreographer worked on this film, and it shows. Many of the little touches in the Matrix were lifted from this movie, in homage to its genius. One unbelievable moment has Jet Li fighting a Japanese master while both are blindfolded. The finale is a gruelly 40 minute duel between Li and an absolute evil bad-guy, two towering masters giving their absolute 100%. In the end, you are just as exhausted as the fighters are, but you certainly had more fun.

"Fist of Legend" is definitely a must-buy, as you'll get many, many viewings out of this film.

Essential To Any Kung Fu Fan.
I am already a huge fan of jet li, and this is the movie that started my whole fandom. This is my favorite kung fu movies without a doubt, the fighting scenes are terrific, the story line was in my opinion good although ive heard the talk about how this movie copies the bruce lee movie "fists of fury/chinese connection" and to me, that really didnt make the movie any less spectatular. i myself own many bruce lee and jet li movies, and personally i enjoy this movie over all of them, but thats just me.. definately a must buy for any kung fu fan. makes matrix look pathetic, and w/o all the flying either

Inspiring
This is my favorite Jet Li movie of all time. Jet put Bruce to shame with this remake of the 1970s classic. I really enjoyed the way he blended his traditional northern shaolin style with that of Bruce's Wing Chun inspired style.

The fight scenes were excellent, and of course the story was too.

there's no way i'm gonna rate this less than 5 stars, but...
ok, awesome kung fu film, required viewing for any even casual fan of the genre, jet li exhibits amazing speed and skill, little wire work, good costumes, great blindfolded fight, amazing final fight scene, good humor, easy to follow story, excellent fight coreography by the legendary yuen wo ping.

but.

let's face it. american distributors simply have to stop editing these foreign films, dubbing them into english, and assuming it won't make a difference. it makes a HUGE difference, and this is glaringly obvious through this DVD release of fist of legend. while the english dubbing in this film isn't as awful as it could have been, it still takes away immensely from the film. the mood is totally thrown off by the english dubbing, and it's almost hard to take the movie seriously as a result of this. do yourself a favor and hunt down the taiwanese uncut fist of legend DVD with the original language tracks and english subtitles! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

pretty good
I laughed out loud several times and I enjoyed the action scenes. did I mention that Lee Evans is a little annoying but he's hilarious.

Absolute rubbish!!
What the hell was I thinking?Paying to go see the Medallion expect a great Jackie Chan movie.I loved Rush Hour 1 and 2,The Tuxedo was a pretty good film,but this is total crap!The acting is terrible,(Jackie Chan not only can't act,he can't even seem to FIGHT here),and there's no plot whatsoever.Anyway you choose to look at it,this movie sucks!As an action flick,there aren't really any proper fights in it,and as a comedy,it's a one-joke film,with one joke that has been repeated over a million times over 200 years,and was never at all funny to start off with!Don't watch it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very funny if you understand his language
This is actually a very funny film after all. The way this film represents students is almost correct. The main character played the major role among his peers on tricking the faculties. Some methods he uses in the movie are just hilarious and crazy. But sometimes the degree of their tricks got really dangerous. I would recommend this comedy for mature audiences. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Blah blah, rent the "Returner" instead.
This is a supernatural "thriller" about a mysterious cult that is murdering famous scientists (why?) by spontanteous combustion. Our hero, played by the talented Andy Lau, is a scientist on the list who has police protection forced on him, but will only accept his old friend the cop, played well by the accomplished Anthony Wong, as a bodyguard. Things get weird as Andy's dead fiancee starts appearing to him and everyone else and soon it becomes clear as the cult invites him into their inner sanctum, that God is pissed and everything falls to Andy making a decision.
Despite competent direction and good acting all around, this just drags on, makes no sense in many places, and has a ridiculous sappy ending that will make just about anyone cringe. The few positive moments are all in snappy banter between the two friends and virtually no action exists here. Unless you can't resist the re-united beyond the grave love story thing, avoid this one.

Oh, what a mess
Andy Lau is the scientist. Anthony Wong is his buddy, the cop assigned to protect him when leading scientists start getting knocked off in some unusual ways. Oh, and there's a dead wife coming back here and there to torment Andy.Actually, this film held my attention for about the first 45 minutes. It seems to be headed in some neat, techno occult direction, but . . . well, this one falls apart and it's not pretty.One last question: how come all the worst Caucasian actors are in Hong Kong? I think some L.A. waiters should buy a plane ticket and try their luck.

At least it doesn't have Bruce Willis in it
Well, it might not be as well known as the Bruce Willis film, but Armageddon is not short of action and excitement. The film is set in 1999, the end of the millennium, and suddenly one by one the top seven scientists in the world start getting assassinated in unusual ways like spontaneously blowing up. Andy Lau plays one of the seven leading scientists desperately trying to find out what is going on....The film itself is pretty good, but I did find the ending to be a little disappointing. The effects are very good though; but it just seemed a bit weak right at the end.

SHOULD BE 1998 NOT 1989
Andy Lau's is a super star and idle for whole Chinese communities. He published a lot of films and songs for over 17 years. He done much charity works and gained more awards.

H.K. X-files, romance, history, and humour rolled into one!
I have watched many movies by Andy Lau in which most were of comedy/romance/street gang-like...so, this movie has a freshness. It talks about Dr. Ken (played by Andy Lau) who is named one of the most promising young scientists in the world and his search for an answer on why his dead fiance (Michelle Rels) has come back to the world. Meanwhile, other top scientists and world contributers are killed in ways that were never used before (nope, not a gun, not poison...more like turning one into powder...). He and his friends begin to suspect that the reappearance of Adele (Rels) and the deaths of the scientists are messages from God that the end of the world is near and that Dr. Ken is the only one that is eligible to save the human race...

This is an excellent film with great special effects, music accompliment (including "Why Take Her Away" by Andy Lau), beautiful shots at Prague, and a great cast! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very accurate weapons handling & tactics for a movie
For a wild action film, First Option features unusually accurate tactics and weapons-handling. This is likely due to the real-life SDU members consulting on the picture. Also, unlike John Woo and his other famous Hong Kong contemporaries, director Gordon Chan has always leaned towards authenticity in his action scenes. You can see the pinnacle of this approach in "2000 AD", a more recent Chan film that features stunning shootouts. But First Option is certainly an action-packed film as well. Definitely a must-see for fans of military/specops movies.

One note about the casual wear outfits: They are realistic. If you ever bother to research beyond glossy promotional photos, you'll see that real military and SWAT units can and do often wear civilian clothing during operations. Whatever works best for the situation. That's the whole point of these unconventional units! In this case, they're operating in a tropical, urban environment. Jeans & t-shirt are comfortable, sturdy, inconspicuous and a lot more appropriate in the heat than full hooded flame resistant jumpsuits. And they are not missing any of their important gear (assault vests, pouches, holsters, weapons, etc). It's funny that when a film tries to be LESS flashy and movielike that it gets accused for being unrealistic!

As for the SEALs being beaten in the film, I disagree that they were beaten "easily". In fact, they defeat the SDU at one point and there's a scene where the SDU discuss the fearsome reputation of the SEALs. When the SDU finally triumph, it's far from "easy". But last I checked, no training in the world makes men bulletproof. Just because the SEALs have a superhuman reputation, you shouldn't start believing that only kryptonite can bring them down. The ultimate triumph of the SDU is quite reasonable given the way the scenarios are set up in this film.

Over Analyzed
...Gear is expensive and hard to comeby. It doesn't matter who your are in the end you gotta make do with what you got. Jeans are high quality. Your beloved SEALS wore them in Vietnam. Swat teams and special units need to be big. That is not in the least bit unlikely. SEALs are probably the best at DA (direct action). They are young, tough and pumped full of macho Hooyah ism. However, against a trained numerically superior force they would be forced to evade or be over run. And they really didnt do all that bad. They caused more cassualties than they took.

Most unlrealist thing was the size of the seals. Being that big and pure muscle you sink like a ruck. Seals a buff, but they are built for endurance along with strength.

In the end this a a movie, the CQB was well done and alot of things were technically correct. However this is a movie.

I disagree with the rest of the reviewers
I rented this movie basically because of the flashy box cover with the elite units on the cover with their masks and HK's. This movie is not what i expected. I thought this movie to be fake and unreal. I also thought that the dubbing on this film was extreamly horrible. The story is about ex Navy Seals who turn drug running and the Flying Tigers must stop them. The movie had plenty of shoot outs with plenty of neat firearms to show but doesn't make up for the rest. The tigers got a gang of guys running around shooting things. The seals die like their nothing and its just funny to me how a bunch of guys running in jeans with guns can kill off some ex navy seals so easily. The tigers come with plenty of soldiers wearing their masks, vest, and weilding their HK sub-machine guns while in their jeans. What kind of SDU (Special Duties Unit) would come with about 20-25 guys and some with their jeans on? Most tactical units come with limited number of people who wear better gear and more trained to handle the job unoticed. The seals are also one of the most highly trained Special Force in the world so how would they die so fast. The tactics are weak and some of the acting is shallow. The only reason this film got a star at all was because of the shoot outs and all the flashy weaponary. If you really want to see some Hong Kong action movies rent some John Woo films other than that stay clear of this film and for the price stay far far away.

Not as good as The Final Option, but still very strong.
First Option is a much larger-scaled prequel (actually, even the term "prequel" is used loosely here, the only real connections between the films being the Michael Wong character, here called "Don", and sidekick "Joe".) that ups the ante on the action sequences but isn't as nuanced an exploration of life in Hong Kong's elite police SDU. Nevertheless, First Option contains more than enough character depth, tension, and expert pacing to rank among the best films ever made in Hong Kong.

This story focuses much more on the Michael Wong character. He is once again physical, edgy, and charismatic, a beefier and less romantic version of Chow Yun-fat, if you will (and English-speaking, for the most part). Gigi Leung does well as the pseudo romantic interest. Director Gordon Chan, the John McTiernan of Hong Kong, is again the master of pacing and dialogue, his lines ringing out crisp and intense, and his eye for detail in action sequences intoxicating. The only dud in the writing department is the final exchange between "Rick" and "Don" -- sounds like a rhyming game or something! Small dent in an action-film masterpiece that keeps things moving and respects its characters.

Gordan Chan + Michael Wong = A Real SDU Moive
Here is the story of the moive. The custem service of HK investigating a drug dealer which has very strong weapon. They formed a special unit with HK police SDU to arrest through people. Michael Wong success his good performance in the Final Option. The gun scence is as good as last time. This time, the director introduce the forrest battle in the moive which is different from the city battle last time. Different from last time, the focus is on the career of being a SDU rather than focus on the love and family. Finally, I want to say that the actress Gigi Leung has done a good job. She has a beautiful face. This time, she acts as a custom service officer and she needs practise gun shooting. People may not like that becasue it is not as same her traditional style. However, I think she really plays a really good rolo to the moive as a whole. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great !
This is a classic Stephen Chow movie and one of the funniest. No doubt he is the king of comedy. He is great in the role of the hapless but cool guy (just watch the castration scene...). He is really skillful and has a vast range of expressions (well, I think you can compare him to Jim Carrey... in some ways but not in total). Though the movie has lots of sexual spoof, I think is not insulting; I read that Cantonese comicality is difficult to understand to foreign... well, I don't find it so different from the Italian one!

Some unavoidable presences in the movie: Ng Man Tat (Hoi Tai Fu) that is (I think) in 90% of SC's movies (and this is good, they are GREAT together) - Chingmy Yau (Princess Kim Ning) - Sandra Ng Kwan Yue (Sister Bond) - Man Cheung (Empress Dowanger/Lone-er).

And remember: always watch a SC's movie in the ORIGINAL language or you'll miss the best...

A parody that is a lot better than most Hong Kong films
Visually stunning parody of Hong Kong swordplay epics. Stephen Chow is a smart aleck, fast-thinking lowlife named Wilson Bond (really) who gets caught up in an incredibly tangled court intrigue. Bond starts out working for Chan (Damian Lau), Master of the Heaven & Earth Society and then he ends up on the side of Chan's target, Prince Ning (Siu-Lun Wan). Basically, in the great tradition of "Yojimbo" and "A Fistful of Dollars," Bond swears loyalty to whoever is threatening him at the moment and ends up playing everyone against everyone else while trying to figure out how to save his neck. This parody is more fun than a lot of the "serious" movies it is taking on. The DVD is letterboxed, which is great, but the English subtitles to the Mandarian language washes out from time to time. Then again, the dialogue in this 1991 film directed by Wong Jing is not exactly the strong set of "Royal Tramp." The fun continues in "Royal Tramp II" so be sure you watch both parts or you will be missing half the fun.

Stephen Chow's Best - don't forget the sequel, or the book!
This was one of the first DVDs I bought for my collection after getting a DVD player. The plot is engaging and extermely well-written, and the brilliant physical comic performances of Stephen Chow and Ng Man Tat work wonderfully even for someone like myself who needs the subtitles to follow the story.

Be aware, though, that "Royal Tramp" and "Royal Tramp 2" are a single story split into two parts, rather than just a movie and its sequel. Be sure to get both.

Also, this movie is based in the only story by Louis Cha that is currently available in translation. The title of the book is usually translated as "The Duke of Deer Mountain", but the English translation (in 3 volumes) is called "The Deer and the Cauldron", Volumes 1 (ASIN 0195903234) and 2 (ASIN 0195903250) have just recently been reprinted, and Volume 3 (ASIN 0195903277) is due out in September 2001.

Great fun!
An extremely funny rendition of the Duke of Mount Deer story. Stephen Chow is just hilarious! I got this DVD because it's classic.

Royal fun
This movie was loose based upon the 80'HK tv series starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung. This is probably Chow Sing Chi best movie. I've seen some of his film's including the sequel. But this one is better. Royal Tramp is about Wai Siew Po, a nobody who tell stories in a whorehouse where his sister works. He becomes a member of the royal staff and is appointed to Hoi Kong Kong, while he still remains a rebel against the Chings. The story is redecules, but that's what we aspect from a Chow Sing Chi movie. The action is marvelous, with lots of wire works. The kung fu is absolutely fantastic. My favorite is the Fa Kwat Yu Mien Teung. Which means as much as "bone-melting-palm". ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gordon Chan, best known for directing Jet Li in the action-packed Fist of Legend, trades in hard-hitting kung fu for moody modern street life in the police drama Beast Cops. Anthony Wong (Full Contact) plays Tung, a sloppy, whoring, gambling street cop who lives in the gray area between the law and lawlessness in the most volatile neighborhood in the city. When Mike Cheung (Michael Wong of John Woo's TV-movie version of his Once a Thief), a fastidious, by-the-book officer newly assigned to the beat, becomes his boss and his roommate, they form a veritable odd couple with a surprising influence on each another as a mob war brews on the streets. Chan is more interested in the toll of the job and the influence of temptation on the law enforcers than the usual display of Hong Kong kinetics, but he delivers the goods in a few impressive sequences of mob brawls and vicious machete attacks. The loose mix of street realism, sleek MTV-style visuals, and brooding character drama is more meandering than compelling and the film loses itself as the characters scatter in disconnected stories pulled together only at the conclusion, but Anthony Wong holds it together with an understated performance of a cop faced with his compromises and pushed into violent action by the murder of a friend. Though not as taut as Crime Story or Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, it's an interesting twist on the Hong Kong cop thriller. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (8)

...
A very impressive and entertaining movie, with the characters being the chief virtue, and the image of the world it creates a close second. The characters are definately human beings, not perfect, nor are their follies unsymathetic (with a few exceptions), and they really feel like part of the world in the film... which is also a testament to the quality of the acting (it really is a relief whenever I see a "cop movie" where the acting and dialogue aren't of the "overdone hard-boiled" type). As is stated early in the movie, the difference between cops and gangsters is often negligable, and, obviously, really just components of the same system.

I can't say if cops and gangsters really act like this anywhere, but, for some reason, their respective situations in Beast Cops seem more true to life than the impressions given by many other HK movies (think: where police who sometimes cooperate with gangsters are always bad, and the "good" cops are always in direct moral opposition to the gangsters... even in the movies that blur the distinction and make room for more grey-area). Although it's occasionally punctuated by violence, Beast Cops is more about the daily lives of its protagonists than the "redemption" of the frumpy cop (if anything, it's about how the frumpy cop and the slightly high-strung new boss influence each-other, as well as the dynamics of the gangsters as they adapt to the new cop and the temporary leave-of-absence taken by one of their Big Brothers). Visually, Beast Cops is also very well done (the sets are pretty nice too... couldnt' get enough of the junky apartment... the green cafe was also nice counterpart to the slightly dishelved world).

Intermittently and simutaneously humorous, happy, sad, and content... and one of the few movies I'd as readily recommend a purchase as a rental (It just made me happy, although rewatching might diminish the effect... so if you're on a budget, there are probably movies more worth purchase...).

PS: You might want to try and get ahold of the UK Region 2 DVD, as it features commentaries and interviews... overall, a much better release. [really... why the US is generally stuck with Miramax edited dub-only releases and equally barebones ones from distributors that seem to just re-encode and add softsubs to HK bootlegs completely eludes me... especially since there's a MUCH bigger audience here...]

Unpredictable and original
Like a lot of Hong Kong films, Beast Cops has chaotic shifts in tone, occasionally bizarre humor, and manically over the top violence. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It sure works in Beast Cops, which would probably suffer from being too predictable. What starts off as a fairly serious drama about a gambling addicted and somewhat corrupt cop turns into a domestic comedy/revenge actioner/mob thriller. In one scene you'll have a character suddenly killed with a machete, in the next you'll have seriously hysterical comic moments from Anthony Wong as the corrupt cop.

I've never seen a film work two extremes so successfully and naturally, without seeming convoluted in any way. It's an action film, to be sure, but one that incorporates the rhythms and feel of real life, complete with the comic bits and kidding banter. It probably plays a little bit better as a comedy, despite the brutal violence of the last showdown (a showdown that still has room for a couple of hilarious throwaway moments from Anthony Wong). Michael Wong, usually about as charismatic as cardboard, here is utilized beautifully in a more comic role, and more directors should take heed of his fairly impressive work here in a role that totally goes against type. Roy Cheung has the most serious role here, and essentially shows up and does his usual great work without breaking a sweat. But the movie belongs to Anthony Wong, who won a Best Actor award in Hong Kong for this film. He shows remarkable range here, and he really just might be the best actor in HK today. You see his work here, then watch Full Contact, Hard Boiled, and Big Bullet, and you wonder how it can be the same guy.

Along with The Mission, this is one of the best 'New Wave' Hong Kong pictures.

Definitely different.
This was one of the first movies I saw when I was becoming acquainted with the Hong Kong action genre. This is an incredible, visually-stunning exercise in action. Now, it is not action on the same level as John Woo or Tsui Hark. But this is a great drama and action movie all at the same time. It has graphic violence, language and mild sexuality (as in don't see it for that reason or you'll be disappointed). If you like cop dramas and action films and don't mind reading a movie (though I do enjoy when the dubbing is different than the subtitles), Beast Cops is a great movie.

Different from an HK movie I've seen.
I was expecting this to be an actioned packed, drama typical to what I had come to know from Hong Kong directors. Boy I was wrong. This was a good movie, however featured only one and a half action scenes. The story was different and new, not the same old cop/triad story. Diffently watch this film but dont expect it to be up to par with John Woo in action or the characters to be as awesome as Chow Yun Fat and cast.

ONE OF THE BEST
this is definately one of the best hk films you will ever see. the reason for this is that the script is way better than most hk films. GORDON CHAN did it with first option and know he has done it again. it probaly helped that he had a good group of actors. ANTHONY WONG, MICHEAL WONG, ROY CHEUNG,and SAM LEE all give excellent performances. the story deals with a group of mismatched cops who try to stop a gang of young, out of control triads. the story doesnt sound that new,but, the characterations are where this movie really shines. any fan of hk movies needs to see this film. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

...
A very impressive and entertaining movie, with the characters being the chief virtue, and the image of the world it creates a close second. The characters are definately human beings, not perfect, nor are their follies unsymathetic (with a few exceptions), and they really feel like part of the world in the film... which is also a testament to the quality of the acting (it really is a relief whenever I see a "cop movie" where the acting and dialogue aren't of the "overdone hard-boiled" type). As is stated early in the movie, the difference between cops and gangsters is often negligable, and, obviously, really just components of the same system.

I can't say if cops and gangsters really act like this anywhere, but, for some reason, their respective situations in Beast Cops seem more true to life than the impressions given by many other HK movies (think: where police who sometimes cooperate with gangsters are always bad, and the "good" cops are always in direct moral opposition to the gangsters... even in the movies that blur the distinction and make room for more grey-area). Although it's occasionally punctuated by violence, Beast Cops is more about the daily lives of its protagonists than the "redemption" of the frumpy cop (if anything, it's about how the frumpy cop and the slightly high-strung new boss influence each-other, as well as the dynamics of the gangsters as they adapt to the new cop and the temporary leave-of-absence taken by one of their Big Brothers). Visually, Beast Cops is also very well done (the sets are pretty nice too... couldnt' get enough of the junky apartment... the green cafe was also nice counterpart to the slightly dishelved world).

Intermittently and simutaneously humorous, happy, sad, and content... and one of the few movies I'd as readily recommend a purchase as a rental (It just made me happy, although rewatching might diminish the effect... so if you're on a budget, there are probably movies more worth purchase...).

PS: You might want to try and get ahold of the UK Region 2 DVD, as it features commentaries and interviews... overall, a much better release. [really... why the US is generally stuck with Miramax edited dub-only releases and equally barebones ones from distributors that seem to just re-encode and add softsubs to HK bootlegs completely eludes me... especially since there's a MUCH bigger audience here...]

Unpredictable and original
Like a lot of Hong Kong films, Beast Cops has chaotic shifts in tone, occasionally bizarre humor, and manically over the top violence. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It sure works in Beast Cops, which would probably suffer from being too predictable. What starts off as a fairly serious drama about a gambling addicted and somewhat corrupt cop turns into a domestic comedy/revenge actioner/mob thriller. In one scene you'll have a character suddenly killed with a machete, in the next you'll have seriously hysterical comic moments from Anthony Wong as the corrupt cop.

I've never seen a film work two extremes so successfully and naturally, without seeming convoluted in any way. It's an action film, to be sure, but one that incorporates the rhythms and feel of real life, complete with the comic bits and kidding banter. It probably plays a little bit better as a comedy, despite the brutal violence of the last showdown (a showdown that still has room for a couple of hilarious throwaway moments from Anthony Wong). Michael Wong, usually about as charismatic as cardboard, here is utilized beautifully in a more comic role, and more directors should take heed of his fairly impressive work here in a role that totally goes against type. Roy Cheung has the most serious role here, and essentially shows up and does his usual great work without breaking a sweat. But the movie belongs to Anthony Wong, who won a Best Actor award in Hong Kong for this film. He shows remarkable range here, and he really just might be the best actor in HK today. You see his work here, then watch Full Contact, Hard Boiled, and Big Bullet, and you wonder how it can be the same guy.

Along with The Mission, this is one of the best 'New Wave' Hong Kong pictures.

Definitely different.
This was one of the first movies I saw when I was becoming acquainted with the Hong Kong action genre. This is an incredible, visually-stunning exercise in action. Now, it is not action on the same level as John Woo or Tsui Hark. But this is a great drama and action movie all at the same time. It has graphic violence, language and mild sexuality (as in don't see it for that reason or you'll be disappointed). If you like cop dramas and action films and don't mind reading a movie (though I do enjoy when the dubbing is different than the subtitles), Beast Cops is a great movie.

Different from an HK movie I've seen.
I was expecting this to be an actioned packed, drama typical to what I had come to know from Hong Kong directors. Boy I was wrong. This was a good movie, however featured only one and a half action scenes. The story was different and new, not the same old cop/triad story. Diffently watch this film but dont expect it to be up to par with John Woo in action or the characters to be as awesome as Chow Yun Fat and cast.

ONE OF THE BEST
this is definately one of the best hk films you will ever see. the reason for this is that the script is way better than most hk films. GORDON CHAN did it with first option and know he has done it again. it probaly helped that he had a good group of actors. ANTHONY WONG, MICHEAL WONG, ROY CHEUNG,and SAM LEE all give excellent performances. the story deals with a group of mismatched cops who try to stop a gang of young, out of control triads. the story doesnt sound that new,but, the characterations are where this movie really shines. any fan of hk movies needs to see this film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tough but vulnerable Michael Wong is the leader of the Flying Tigers, a commando-style police strike force that takes on a gang of international drug runners with the help of spunky young customs investigator Gigi Leung. One of the better Hong Kong action films made since the 1997 hand-over, this no-nonsense cop drama is packed with big-scale gun battles and plenty of explosions when not enmeshed in departmental infighting and individual soul searching. American-born Wong runs his unit like a self-sustaining army and has a hot-headed tendency to leap without authorization. Leung is too deferential and insecure to cut much of an authority figure, but she rises to the occasion in the bullet-splayed finale as the commandos and customs agents band together in a show of solidarity. It's a far cry from the slow-motion violence ballets of John Woo, but Gordon Chan's sober police drama fits right in with the tradition of Kirk Wong's smart, steely policiers like Crime Story and Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. Wong speaks mostly English in the Chinese language version and dubs himself in the English language edition. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very accurate weapons handling & tactics for a movie
For a wild action film, First Option features unusually accurate tactics and weapons-handling. This is likely due to the real-life SDU members consulting on the picture. Also, unlike John Woo and his other famous Hong Kong contemporaries, director Gordon Chan has always leaned towards authenticity in his action scenes. You can see the pinnacle of this approach in "2000 AD", a more recent Chan film that features stunning shootouts. But First Option is certainly an action-packed film as well. Definitely a must-see for fans of military/specops movies.

One note about the casual wear outfits: They are realistic. If you ever bother to research beyond glossy promotional photos, you'll see that real military and SWAT units can and do often wear civilian clothing during operations. Whatever works best for the situation. That's the whole point of these unconventional units! In this case, they're operating in a tropical, urban environment. Jeans & t-shirt are comfortable, sturdy, inconspicuous and a lot more appropriate in the heat than full hooded flame resistant jumpsuits. And they are not missing any of their important gear (assault vests, pouches, holsters, weapons, etc). It's funny that when a film tries to be LESS flashy and movielike that it gets accused for being unrealistic!

As for the SEALs being beaten in the film, I disagree that they were beaten "easily". In fact, they defeat the SDU at one point and there's a scene where the SDU discuss the fearsome reputation of the SEALs. When the SDU finally triumph, it's far from "easy". But last I checked, no training in the world makes men bulletproof. Just because the SEALs have a superhuman reputation, you shouldn't start believing that only kryptonite can bring them down. The ultimate triumph of the SDU is quite reasonable given the way the scenarios are set up in this film.

Over Analyzed
...Gear is expensive and hard to comeby. It doesn't matter who your are in the end you gotta make do with what you got. Jeans are high quality. Your beloved SEALS wore them in Vietnam. Swat teams and special units need to be big. That is not in the least bit unlikely. SEALs are probably the best at DA (direct action). They are young, tough and pumped full of macho Hooyah ism. However, against a trained numerically superior force they would be forced to evade or be over run. And they really didnt do all that bad. They caused more cassualties than they took.

Most unlrealist thing was the size of the seals. Being that big and pure muscle you sink like a ruck. Seals a buff, but they are built for endurance along with strength.

In the end this a a movie, the CQB was well done and alot of things were technically correct. However this is a movie.

I disagree with the rest of the reviewers
I rented this movie basically because of the flashy box cover with the elite units on the cover with their masks and HK's. This movie is not what i expected. I thought this movie to be fake and unreal. I also thought that the dubbing on this film was extreamly horrible. The story is about ex Navy Seals who turn drug running and the Flying Tigers must stop them. The movie had plenty of shoot outs with plenty of neat firearms to show but doesn't make up for the rest. The tigers got a gang of guys running around shooting things. The seals die like their nothing and its just funny to me how a bunch of guys running in jeans with guns can kill off some ex navy seals so easily. The tigers come with plenty of soldiers wearing their masks, vest, and weilding their HK sub-machine guns while in their jeans. What kind of SDU (Special Duties Unit) would come with about 20-25 guys and some with their jeans on? Most tactical units come with limited number of people who wear better gear and more trained to handle the job unoticed. The seals are also one of the most highly trained Special Force in the world so how would they die so fast. The tactics are weak and some of the acting is shallow. The only reason this film got a star at all was because of the shoot outs and all the flashy weaponary. If you really want to see some Hong Kong action movies rent some John Woo films other than that stay clear of this film and for the price stay far far away.

Not as good as The Final Option, but still very strong.
First Option is a much larger-scaled prequel (actually, even the term "prequel" is used loosely here, the only real connections between the films being the Michael Wong character, here called "Don", and sidekick "Joe".) that ups the ante on the action sequences but isn't as nuanced an exploration of life in Hong Kong's elite police SDU. Nevertheless, First Option contains more than enough character depth, tension, and expert pacing to rank among the best films ever made in Hong Kong.

This story focuses much more on the Michael Wong character. He is once again physical, edgy, and charismatic, a beefier and less romantic version of Chow Yun-fat, if you will (and English-speaking, for the most part). Gigi Leung does well as the pseudo romantic interest. Director Gordon Chan, the John McTiernan of Hong Kong, is again the master of pacing and dialogue, his lines ringing out crisp and intense, and his eye for detail in action sequences intoxicating. The only dud in the writing department is the final exchange between "Rick" and "Don" -- sounds like a rhyming game or something! Small dent in an action-film masterpiece that keeps things moving and respects its characters.

Gordan Chan + Michael Wong = A Real SDU Moive
Here is the story of the moive. The custem service of HK investigating a drug dealer which has very strong weapon. They formed a special unit with HK police SDU to arrest through people. Michael Wong success his good performance in the Final Option. The gun scence is as good as last time. This time, the director introduce the forrest battle in the moive which is different from the city battle last time. Different from last time, the focus is on the career of being a SDU rather than focus on the love and family. Finally, I want to say that the actress Gigi Leung has done a good job. She has a beautiful face. This time, she acts as a custom service officer and she needs practise gun shooting. People may not like that becasue it is not as same her traditional style. However, I think she really plays a really good rolo to the moive as a whole. ... Read more

Reviews (243)

Bruce Lee's got nothin' on the Boss
Jet Li, affectionately called Boss Li in Hong Kong, stars in this remake of Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection (a.k.a. Fists of Fury in China). The difference is this one's better. You don't agree? I'll do my best to convert ya. Li stars as Chen Zhen, a student in 1930's Japanese occupied China. He returns home upon receiving news of his master's death, who was supposedly beaten by a Japanese master in a challenge. Li smells a rat and challenges the Japanese master in return, to find the master's fighting ability's terribly inadequate to have defeated his old master. Li has the body exhumed and tested for poison, and we find that the old master was indeed murdered after all. And Li wants revenge. This is a truly amazing flick. The fights, performed with minimal wire work as found in other period martial arts pieces, are a showcase for the stupifyingly amazing martial abilities of it's star, and standout moments include the opening fight between Li and a slew of Japanese fighters and the duel between Li and his japanese girlfriend's uncle, an older, wiser fighter who, before the duel, insists that older fellas need a minute or two to warm up. Unlike the Bruce Lee film the Japanese are not presented as monsters, and this film goes out of it's way to prove it, whereas the Lee film goes out of it's way to show how heinous they are. Jet Li is a true phenomenon, and to quote the Hong Kong movie oriented book,...'Nuff said.

You Won't Believe What You Are Watching
Fist of Legend is a true powerhouse of a Kung-Fu movie, where 2 minute dialog scenes only serve to bridge the most amazing martial arts fights you will ever watch. This movie is a remake of Bruce Lee's "Chinese Connection", which is appropriate, because Jet Li deservingly surpasses the Master in skill and talent with his performance in this movie. Forget dialog and acting, the fighting absolutely rules this movie, and the story is told thru the fighting, like any good action movie should do. I consider this film to be the Best Matrial Arts movie ever made.

Jet Li plays a star kung-fu student returning from afar to avenge his master's death. Along the way, he fights just about everyone he sees. While there are a couple of large-scale gang wars, most action scenes are 2 man duels. These duels advance the plot and develop the characters while they dish out the action, just like the kung-fu in the Matrix, or the lightduels in the Star Wars films. These fighters dig deep into themselves, get out old grudges they have with old friends, and learn about the mysterious ways of the universe as they watch it flow through their bodies. Everything is present in the punches and kicks of this film - power, grace, spiritual peace, comedy, raging emotion, revenge, personal courage. Wire-work is subtle and restrained, and takes a backseat to Li's amazing speed and precision. If you are reminded of The Matrix you have a sharp eye, because the same choreographer worked on this film, and it shows. Many of the little touches in the Matrix were lifted from this movie, in homage to its genius. One unbelievable moment has Jet Li fighting a Japanese master while both are blindfolded. The finale is a gruelly 40 minute duel between Li and an absolute evil bad-guy, two towering masters giving their absolute 100%. In the end, you are just as exhausted as the fighters are, but you certainly had more fun.

"Fist of Legend" is definitely a must-buy, as you'll get many, many viewings out of this film.

Essential To Any Kung Fu Fan.
I am already a huge fan of jet li, and this is the movie that started my whole fandom. This is my favorite kung fu movies without a doubt, the fighting scenes are terrific, the story line was in my opinion good although ive heard the talk about how this movie copies the bruce lee movie "fists of fury/chinese connection" and to me, that really didnt make the movie any less spectatular. i myself own many bruce lee and jet li movies, and personally i enjoy this movie over all of them, but thats just me.. definately a must buy for any kung fu fan. makes matrix look pathetic, and w/o all the flying either

Inspiring
This is my favorite Jet Li movie of all time. Jet put Bruce to shame with this remake of the 1970s classic. I really enjoyed the way he blended his traditional northern shaolin style with that of Bruce's Wing Chun inspired style.

The fight scenes were excellent, and of course the story was too.

there's no way i'm gonna rate this less than 5 stars, but...
ok, awesome kung fu film, required viewing for any even casual fan of the genre, jet li exhibits amazing speed and skill, little wire work, good costumes, great blindfolded fight, amazing final fight scene, good humor, easy to follow story, excellent fight coreography by the legendary yuen wo ping.

but.

let's face it. american distributors simply have to stop editing these foreign films, dubbing them into english, and assuming it won't make a difference. it makes a HUGE difference, and this is glaringly obvious through this DVD release of fist of legend. while the english dubbing in this film isn't as awful as it could have been, it still takes away immensely from the film. the mood is totally thrown off by the english dubbing, and it's almost hard to take the movie seriously as a result of this. do yourself a favor and hunt down the taiwanese uncut fist of legend DVD with the original language tracks and english subtitles! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Blah blah, rent the "Returner" instead.
This is a supernatural "thriller" about a mysterious cult that is murdering famous scientists (why?) by spontanteous combustion. Our hero, played by the talented Andy Lau, is a scientist on the list who has police protection forced on him, but will only accept his old friend the cop, played well by the accomplished Anthony Wong, as a bodyguard. Things get weird as Andy's dead fiancee starts appearing to him and everyone else and soon it becomes clear as the cult invites him into their inner sanctum, that God is pissed and everything falls to Andy making a decision.
Despite competent direction and good acting all around, this just drags on, makes no sense in many places, and has a ridiculous sappy ending that will make just about anyone cringe. The few positive moments are all in snappy banter between the two friends and virtually no action exists here. Unless you can't resist the re-united beyond the grave love story thing, avoid this one.

Oh, what a mess
Andy Lau is the scientist. Anthony Wong is his buddy, the cop assigned to protect him when leading scientists start getting knocked off in some unusual ways. Oh, and there's a dead wife coming back here and there to torment Andy.Actually, this film held my attention for about the first 45 minutes. It seems to be headed in some neat, techno occult direction, but . . . well, this one falls apart and it's not pretty.One last question: how come all the worst Caucasian actors are in Hong Kong? I think some L.A. waiters should buy a plane ticket and try their luck.

At least it doesn't have Bruce Willis in it
Well, it might not be as well known as the Bruce Willis film, but Armageddon is not short of action and excitement. The film is set in 1999, the end of the millennium, and suddenly one by one the top seven scientists in the world start getting assassinated in unusual ways like spontaneously blowing up. Andy Lau plays one of the seven leading scientists desperately trying to find out what is going on....The film itself is pretty good, but I did find the ending to be a little disappointing. The effects are very good though; but it just seemed a bit weak right at the end.

SHOULD BE 1998 NOT 1989
Andy Lau's is a super star and idle for whole Chinese communities. He published a lot of films and songs for over 17 years. He done much charity works and gained more awards.

H.K. X-files, romance, history, and humour rolled into one!
I have watched many movies by Andy Lau in which most were of comedy/romance/street gang-like...so, this movie has a freshness. It talks about Dr. Ken (played by Andy Lau) who is named one of the most promising young scientists in the world and his search for an answer on why his dead fiance (Michelle Rels) has come back to the world. Meanwhile, other top scientists and world contributers are killed in ways that were never used before (nope, not a gun, not poison...more like turning one into powder...). He and his friends begin to suspect that the reappearance of Adele (Rels) and the deaths of the scientists are messages from God that the end of the world is near and that Dr. Ken is the only one that is eligible to save the human race...

This is an excellent film with great special effects, music accompliment (including "Why Take Her Away" by Andy Lau), beautiful shots at Prague, and a great cast! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Donnie's great, but this one was LONG...
Donnie Yen fan here. Love him. Think he's the best. I'm talking about the video version here, not the DVD. Classic storyline, but the movie goes on and on. The fight scenese are pretty, but hard for me to follow, the action was sped up to the point of being too fast. I wish that the HK audience would be less into that stuff, and more into what's really important-- good kung fu. Good kung fu can be just as exhilarating at realistic speeds, and we could appreciate the skill of the principals better. A little speed up I can take, this one seemed TOO FAST for me.

The story went on and on. Yes, the characters evolved and struggled and grew. But it was just Donnie's character going through one iteration after another of the same lesson-- I must learn to see more of the big picture, I must not let my rage take over my actions. Still, as expected, his heart is in the right place, and that ultimately helps him to develop his kung fu to overcome all else.

Oh, I didn't mind necessarily. Seeing Donnie Yen is what I get and watch these movies for. The movies that burn me are the ones where you get cameras zooming in on Donnie's SHOULDER the entire fight scene. What's the point of that? This one at least provided some good scenes and good action, with good camerawork for much of it.

A lot of pole work in this movie. It seems to be Donnie's favorite weapon throughout many movies-- pole or spear. He's wonderful with it. It's not really my expertise, but I know enough about it to appreciate the difficulty and his skill. Still, I wish we could see more movies from him where it's more realistic speed, hand-to-hand, endless grunts and shouts, as they exchange blows and counterblows across rooms, up and down stairs, like in the old B-Hong Kong kung fu movies I watched at midnight on TV as a kid.

Still, I've seen worse from Donnie. This was a solid film as far as HK kung fu movies go. Legend of the Wolf, for example, where I got very acquainted with Donnie's left shoulder during fight scenes, and was left dumbfounded by the lack of even a simplistic plot. But that's another review.

Shaolin...
Here's an answer to the question, "Where's the missing Shaolin footage?" It's not in this film, it's in another film recently released called "Revenge of the Kung Fu Master". It starts where this DVD left off and takes you through another gripping epic just as long as this one. The acting is just as good and it contains some of the main characters from this DVD. I don't see it on Amazon yet, so I can't write a review, but I can tell you it's just as good if not better than the first. You see Donnie and other characters advance further in their martial arts skill. My only complaint is sped-up fight scenes. Thankfully they didn't resort to mass wire-fu in this series. The acting makes up for any shortcomings and this second DVD comes with original language and English subtitles. I picked my copy of the second DVD up at the local chain store (the one with the yellow tag as their emblem).

Great Flick But probably only part 1
This is a great film though yes there is probably more to this TV series. If you look at the special features like the "making of" part it does show some characters not in this installment. It also shows the 3 main characters training at a Shaolin Temple. You know the typical carrying water running errands thingy. So yes there is most likely more to the TV series which got me looking to see if the rest was being tooled for a DVD release I even went to the Tai Seng website but nothing yet. As far as this installment goes it is excellent. I would not have tried to search out for the rest of it if it was not. Good characters but the box description I agree is bad. But for 200 minutes worth of quality Kung Fu this can't be beat. Warning it does go into wire mode in some scences but as a whole the fight scenes are great even though a bit far fetched when it comes to some ariels and I liked all the characters. A great find for martial arts fans and especially for Donnie Yen fans. To me he is definately up there and is compareable to Jackie Chan, and Jet Li when it comes to fight scences also see Iron Monkey a true martial arts classic.

Great movie/ TV show...however, missing parts...read on....
This is considered a TV show turned movie. It's very well made, with great fight choreography (By Donnie Yen), casting, directing, and camera work. Some things to consider: I was confused about a line in the back of the CD case which said that Donnie's character was to train in the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin was not in the movie. Also there are many missing scenes or unanswered questions. The reviewer before me stated that there might be a "The Kung Fu Master 2" in the making. I sure hope so as I'd very disappointed (as I think others would too), if those questions weren't answered. Fantastic movie....please show the rest.

kung fu master
kung fu master is good action but the story is yet finish may be kung fu master part two very good action ... Read more

Reviews (8)

...
A very impressive and entertaining movie, with the characters being the chief virtue, and the image of the world it creates a close second. The characters are definately human beings, not perfect, nor are their follies unsymathetic (with a few exceptions), and they really feel like part of the world in the film... which is also a testament to the quality of the acting (it really is a relief whenever I see a "cop movie" where the acting and dialogue aren't of the "overdone hard-boiled" type). As is stated early in the movie, the difference between cops and gangsters is often negligable, and, obviously, really just components of the same system.

I can't say if cops and gangsters really act like this anywhere, but, for some reason, their respective situations in Beast Cops seem more true to life than the impressions given by many other HK movies (think: where police who sometimes cooperate with gangsters are always bad, and the "good" cops are always in direct moral opposition to the gangsters... even in the movies that blur the distinction and make room for more grey-area). Although it's occasionally punctuated by violence, Beast Cops is more about the daily lives of its protagonists than the "redemption" of the frumpy cop (if anything, it's about how the frumpy cop and the slightly high-strung new boss influence each-other, as well as the dynamics of the gangsters as they adapt to the new cop and the temporary leave-of-absence taken by one of their Big Brothers). Visually, Beast Cops is also very well done (the sets are pretty nice too... couldnt' get enough of the junky apartment... the green cafe was also nice counterpart to the slightly dishelved world).

Intermittently and simutaneously humorous, happy, sad, and content... and one of the few movies I'd as readily recommend a purchase as a rental (It just made me happy, although rewatching might diminish the effect... so if you're on a budget, there are probably movies more worth purchase...).

PS: You might want to try and get ahold of the UK Region 2 DVD, as it features commentaries and interviews... overall, a much better release. [really... why the US is generally stuck with Miramax edited dub-only releases and equally barebones ones from distributors that seem to just re-encode and add softsubs to HK bootlegs completely eludes me... especially since there's a MUCH bigger audience here...]

Unpredictable and original
Like a lot of Hong Kong films, Beast Cops has chaotic shifts in tone, occasionally bizarre humor, and manically over the top violence. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It sure works in Beast Cops, which would probably suffer from being too predictable. What starts off as a fairly serious drama about a gambling addicted and somewhat corrupt cop turns into a domestic comedy/revenge actioner/mob thriller. In one scene you'll have a character suddenly killed with a machete, in the next you'll have seriously hysterical comic moments from Anthony Wong as the corrupt cop.

I've never seen a film work two extremes so successfully and naturally, without seeming convoluted in any way. It's an action film, to be sure, but one that incorporates the rhythms and feel of real life, complete with the comic bits and kidding banter. It probably plays a little bit better as a comedy, despite the brutal violence of the last showdown (a showdown that still has room for a couple of hilarious throwaway moments from Anthony Wong). Michael Wong, usually about as charismatic as cardboard, here is utilized beautifully in a more comic role, and more directors should take heed of his fairly impressive work here in a role that totally goes against type. Roy Cheung has the most serious role here, and essentially shows up and does his usual great work without breaking a sweat. But the movie belongs to Anthony Wong, who won a Best Actor award in Hong Kong for this film. He shows remarkable range here, and he really just might be the best actor in HK today. You see his work here, then watch Full Contact, Hard Boiled, and Big Bullet, and you wonder how it can be the same guy.

Along with The Mission, this is one of the best 'New Wave' Hong Kong pictures.

Definitely different.
This was one of the first movies I saw when I was becoming acquainted with the Hong Kong action genre. This is an incredible, visually-stunning exercise in action. Now, it is not action on the same level as John Woo or Tsui Hark. But this is a great drama and action movie all at the same time. It has graphic violence, language and mild sexuality (as in don't see it for that reason or you'll be disappointed). If you like cop dramas and action films and don't mind reading a movie (though I do enjoy when the dubbing is different than the subtitles), Beast Cops is a great movie.

Different from an HK movie I've seen.
I was expecting this to be an actioned packed, drama typical to what I had come to know from Hong Kong directors. Boy I was wrong. This was a good movie, however featured only one and a half action scenes. The story was different and new, not the same old cop/triad story. Diffently watch this film but dont expect it to be up to par with John Woo in action or the characters to be as awesome as Chow Yun Fat and cast.

ONE OF THE BEST
this is definately one of the best hk films you will ever see. the reason for this is that the script is way better than most hk films. GORDON CHAN did it with first option and know he has done it again. it probaly helped that he had a good group of actors. ANTHONY WONG, MICHEAL WONG, ROY CHEUNG,and SAM LEE all give excellent performances. the story deals with a group of mismatched cops who try to stop a gang of young, out of control triads. the story doesnt sound that new,but, the characterations are where this movie really shines. any fan of hk movies needs to see this film. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very accurate weapons handling & tactics for a movie
For a wild action film, First Option features unusually accurate tactics and weapons-handling. This is likely due to the real-life SDU members consulting on the picture. Also, unlike John Woo and his other famous Hong Kong contemporaries, director Gordon Chan has always leaned towards authenticity in his action scenes. You can see the pinnacle of this approach in "2000 AD", a more recent Chan film that features stunning shootouts. But First Option is certainly an action-packed film as well. Definitely a must-see for fans of military/specops movies.

One note about the casual wear outfits: They are realistic. If you ever bother to research beyond glossy promotional photos, you'll see that real military and SWAT units can and do often wear civilian clothing during operations. Whatever works best for the situation. That's the whole point of these unconventional units! In this case, they're operating in a tropical, urban environment. Jeans & t-shirt are comfortable, sturdy, inconspicuous and a lot more appropriate in the heat than full hooded flame resistant jumpsuits. And they are not missing any of their important gear (assault vests, pouches, holsters, weapons, etc). It's funny that when a film tries to be LESS flashy and movielike that it gets accused for being unrealistic!

As for the SEALs being beaten in the film, I disagree that they were beaten "easily". In fact, they defeat the SDU at one point and there's a scene where the SDU discuss the fearsome reputation of the SEALs. When the SDU finally triumph, it's far from "easy". But last I checked, no training in the world makes men bulletproof. Just because the SEALs have a superhuman reputation, you shouldn't start believing that only kryptonite can bring them down. The ultimate triumph of the SDU is quite reasonable given the way the scenarios are set up in this film.

Over Analyzed
...Gear is expensive and hard to comeby. It doesn't matter who your are in the end you gotta make do with what you got. Jeans are high quality. Your beloved SEALS wore them in Vietnam. Swat teams and special units need to be big. That is not in the least bit unlikely. SEALs are probably the best at DA (direct action). They are young, tough and pumped full of macho Hooyah ism. However, against a trained numerically superior force they would be forced to evade or be over run. And they really didnt do all that bad. They caused more cassualties than they took.

Most unlrealist thing was the size of the seals. Being that big and pure muscle you sink like a ruck. Seals a buff, but they are built for endurance along with strength.

In the end this a a movie, the CQB was well done and alot of things were technically correct. However this is a movie.

I disagree with the rest of the reviewers
I rented this movie basically because of the flashy box cover with the elite units on the cover with their masks and HK's. This movie is not what i expected. I thought this movie to be fake and unreal. I also thought that the dubbing on this film was extreamly horrible. The story is about ex Navy Seals who turn drug running and the Flying Tigers must stop them. The movie had plenty of shoot outs with plenty of neat firearms to show but doesn't make up for the rest. The tigers got a gang of guys running around shooting things. The seals die like their nothing and its just funny to me how a bunch of guys running in jeans with guns can kill off some ex navy seals so easily. The tigers come with plenty of soldiers wearing their masks, vest, and weilding their HK sub-machine guns while in their jeans. What kind of SDU (Special Duties Unit) would come with about 20-25 guys and some with their jeans on? Most tactical units come with limited number of people who wear better gear and more trained to handle the job unoticed. The seals are also one of the most highly trained Special Force in the world so how would they die so fast. The tactics are weak and some of the acting is shallow. The only reason this film got a star at all was because of the shoot outs and all the flashy weaponary. If you really want to see some Hong Kong action movies rent some John Woo films other than that stay clear of this film and for the price stay far far away.

Not as good as The Final Option, but still very strong.
First Option is a much larger-scaled prequel (actually, even the term "prequel" is used loosely here, the only real connections between the films being the Michael Wong character, here called "Don", and sidekick "Joe".) that ups the ante on the action sequences but isn't as nuanced an exploration of life in Hong Kong's elite police SDU. Nevertheless, First Option contains more than enough character depth, tension, and expert pacing to rank among the best films ever made in Hong Kong.

This story focuses much more on the Michael Wong character. He is once again physical, edgy, and charismatic, a beefier and less romantic version of Chow Yun-fat, if you will (and English-speaking, for the most part). Gigi Leung does well as the pseudo romantic interest. Director Gordon Chan, the John McTiernan of Hong Kong, is again the master of pacing and dialogue, his lines ringing out crisp and intense, and his eye for detail in action sequences intoxicating. The only dud in the writing department is the final exchange between "Rick" and "Don" -- sounds like a rhyming game or something! Small dent in an action-film masterpiece that keeps things moving and respects its characters.

Gordan Chan + Michael Wong = A Real SDU Moive
Here is the story of the moive. The custem service of HK investigating a drug dealer which has very strong weapon. They formed a special unit with HK police SDU to arrest through people. Michael Wong success his good performance in the Final Option. The gun scence is as good as last time. This time, the director introduce the forrest battle in the moive which is different from the city battle last time. Different from last time, the focus is on the career of being a SDU rather than focus on the love and family. Finally, I want to say that the actress Gigi Leung has done a good job. She has a beautiful face. This time, she acts as a custom service officer and she needs practise gun shooting. People may not like that becasue it is not as same her traditional style. However, I think she really plays a really good rolo to the moive as a whole. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Thoughtful
In "Game Kids", Heavenly Kings Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok pair up AGAIN. Featuring Andy Lau as two separate characters, Andy Lau acts well enough to get sympathy from any audience. In other words, character development for Andy Lau's kid personality is well done. Even costar Aaron Kwok's character is understood by the audience, for even with his little dialogue, his acting makes it obvious that his personality is a tough one - after all, he is Andy Lau's bodyguard. The director made his character rather powerful, for Aaron managed to completely make his personality clear, with very little dialogue. (Actually, Aaron is reason enough to watch this movie if you're his fan.)

Romance in this movie is corny, but can be touching. In a way, the romance is for comical effect at times, and Andy Lau's love for Rosamund Kwan's character is a bit unreasonable.

The plot is easy to follow, yet had potential to be developed more. In spite of this, the performances given by Andy Lau are worth watching ~ but it's recommended that you rent this video to make sure it fits your taste before you buy the DVD.

This isn't an action movie, if that's what you're looking for. The movie more comfortably fits into the genre of comical romance. If you're interested in this movie or in Andy Lau and/or Aaron Kwok, here are other recommendations in no particular order:

1) The Storm Riders - starring Aaron Kwok and Ekin Cheng to make the top grossing movie in HK cinematic history. 2) Saviour of the Soul - once again Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok pair up. If you're an Aaron fan, this is a must-see because it's the only movie where he plays the "bad guy." 3) Lee Rock I & 2 - Andy plays Aaron's father! :P

Kung-fu movies: 1) "Once Upon A Time In China" series, starring Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan 2) "Tai Chi Master", starring Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh 3) "Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2", starring Jet Li and featuring Chiu Mun Chuk (sp?) 4) "Swordsman 2", starring Jet Li and Bridgette Lin 5) "Kung-Fu Cult Mas