Reviews (37)

High Kickin' Funfest Galore!
I realize that this may be an acquired taste which only means that even if you have not acquired this taste then you are still required to admit that this film is absolutely, positively, hands down funtastic.

Duh, I'm not even sure which page I'm on; if this is the Americanized version or not. I own the true blue Hong Kong edition which is supposed to contain some flippin' freaky scenes edited out of the American version. I've seen both but cannot remember because, oh, blar!, never mind.....

Back to the movie: "Heroic Trio" stars three of Hong Kong's mightiest screen queens as superheroes. Michelle Yeoh plays Invisible Girl who can become, well, invisible and really kick some bad man fanny, Anita Mui plays Wonder Woman who is quite different from the Amazonian Wonder Woman but just as effective, and Maggie Cheung is the streetwise little Thief Catcher who drives a mean motorcycle and carries an arsenal of nasty toys. Despite some personal differences the three gang together to track down the rotten evil doer who is 'napping poor little innocent babes to fulfill his fiendish scheme. The special effects and action scenes are psycho-silly wild yet the atmosphere is dark and moody with just enough bitter-sweetness to snap a heartstring or two.

A note on Michelle Yeoh: I don't understand Hollywood for seemingly tossing her aside after sticking her in one James Bond flick. Miss Yeoh is the best female action star around; we see Jackie here and there and Jet everywhere, but where oh where is Michelle? This woman has got the goods (my martial arts instructor Saul-Yu Lingstein will back me on this 100%), yet Hollywood stupidly persists in casting flashy young starlets who don't know kung-fu from King Kong from Donkey Kong from a horse's patootie.

Anyway, this movie is one kickin' good time and is REQUIRED viewing for all human beings. So don't just sit there - get watching!

Please note!
For those of you thinking of purchasing this DVD, please note that the dialogue is dubbed in English completely. For those of you who prefer it in its original language (Cantonese), give this a miss.

Otherwise the movie is great and the acting superb, plus we get to see the late Anita Mui in action. What can you say... top notch performance from Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui.

The Heroic Trio
Proud to say that I do own the Tai Seng release of this DVD. That itself is a good thing because it doesn't have the garbage sound actors, the good stuff isn't edited, and what's the point of seeing this movie if you're not seeing it the way it should be?

But, I will say that if you do decide to pick up this movie, first, look for the Tai Seng release of it. Though it is out of print, it is still around in places.

If you can't, then, fall down to the "mouse" and pick this copy up.

A little about the movie: It was influenced by the movie "Batman," and the directors (Ching Siu Tung & Johnny To) liked it so much, they wanted to make a film just lke that. And, how can you go wrong with Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Chung and Anita Mui? You truly can't.

I would have given this movie 4 stars, but, seeing I'm not too big a fan of what Disney did to this version, I can only give it a 3. Horrid dubbing and editing so obvious to those that have seen the original.

Disney, as well as all the other movie studios, you need to stop cutting and dubbing the Asian films - you do a horrible job. Leave it the way it was supposed to be, and give us the subtitles instead.

The Heroic Trio
The bad editing turned me off to this movie. I didn't need to see the wires to know that they were using them. Thru the whole movie I spotted items that should have been edited out.

The Heroic Trio
Starring Anita Mui ('Rumble In The Bronx'), Michelle Yeoh ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') and Maggie Cheung ('In The Mood For Love') as three crime-fighting superheroines in Hong Kong's answer to Gotham City, 'The Heroic Trio' is a high-kicking, crimson-soaked comic book action romp that could only come out of our favourite country for hi-octane beat-em-ups. As you might have guessed, it's hardly Oscar-winning stuff; the plot is at times incomprehensible, the sets cheap and the acting camp, but it all adds to the charm. This is, after all, not a film to be analysed, but enjoyed with popcorn on a Friday night. And, as that, it succeeds - the action sequences are very exciting, the wire work is well done, the original score is superb and, of course, our three leading ladies light up the screen at every turn. But those weak in the knee may wish to turn away at certain points as it does get a tad grisley at times, what with decapitations, exploding body parts, cannibalism and baby-murdering. Indeed, the violence is so over-the-top at times that it becomes not so much offensive as it does laughable. Which was probably the idea.

So while the movie itself is recommended, Buena Vista's DVD release definitely isn't. The Disney company has once again seen fit to edit yet another Asian movie for its Western market - this time by three minutes to remove the aforementioned gory moments. And, as expected, the original Cantonese soundtrack has been replaced with a dreadful English dub and generic score - denying us the pleasure of hearing Anita Mui's two excellent songs. Still, this is what we've come to expect from the distributor that seems to delight in infuriating hardcore Chinese film fans. Those wishing to own the uncut version of the film would be advised to seek out the 'Universe' DVD from Hong Kong or the now out-of-print 'Tai Seng' American release. Better still (if you have PAL/Region 2 capabilities), waiting for the forthcoming remastered Special Edition from British DVD label 'Hong Kong Legends' would be the ideal solution. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

A Hong Kong combination of Batman and The ThreeMusketeers, The Heroic Trio is a winning mix of action, sci-fi, fantasy, and police caper starring three outstanding Hong Kong actresses. Former popular singer Anita Mui is Tung/Wonder Woman, a mysterious crimefighter who aids the police whenever needed. Michelle Yeoh is Ching/Invisible Woman, an unwilling disciple to an age-old Evil Master, and MaggieCheung is Chat/Thief Catcher, a runaway enlisted by the Evil Master who is now a bounty hunter for hire. When baby boys are being stolen for a horrific plan, Tung assists in the investigation while Chat plans to make somebucks off of catching the culprit.The baby thief is none other than Ching,who is carrying out the kidnappings for the Evil Master with the aid of her lover's invention--an invisible robe. But the good in her wins out, andshe joins forces with Tung and Chat. This is a superhero film, to be sure. Fantastic sets and impressive wire-strung fight choreography make The Heroic Trio extremely fun to watch. Wonder Woman enters the picture by running full-tilt atop power lines while Chat rides amotorcycle and wields a shotgun like the Terminator. The outlandish andcomplicated plot seems right at home here, heightened by the moody lighting and the combined screen presence of Mui, Yeoh, and Cheung.All three givefierce and touching performances in a hyperbolic and enjoyable film.--Shannon Gee ... Read more

Reviews (37)

High Kickin' Funfest Galore!
I realize that this may be an acquired taste which only means that even if you have not acquired this taste then you are still required to admit that this film is absolutely, positively, hands down funtastic.

Duh, I'm not even sure which page I'm on; if this is the Americanized version or not. I own the true blue Hong Kong edition which is supposed to contain some flippin' freaky scenes edited out of the American version. I've seen both but cannot remember because, oh, blar!, never mind.....

Back to the movie: "Heroic Trio" stars three of Hong Kong's mightiest screen queens as superheroes. Michelle Yeoh plays Invisible Girl who can become, well, invisible and really kick some bad man fanny, Anita Mui plays Wonder Woman who is quite different from the Amazonian Wonder Woman but just as effective, and Maggie Cheung is the streetwise little Thief Catcher who drives a mean motorcycle and carries an arsenal of nasty toys. Despite some personal differences the three gang together to track down the rotten evil doer who is 'napping poor little innocent babes to fulfill his fiendish scheme. The special effects and action scenes are psycho-silly wild yet the atmosphere is dark and moody with just enough bitter-sweetness to snap a heartstring or two.

A note on Michelle Yeoh: I don't understand Hollywood for seemingly tossing her aside after sticking her in one James Bond flick. Miss Yeoh is the best female action star around; we see Jackie here and there and Jet everywhere, but where oh where is Michelle? This woman has got the goods (my martial arts instructor Saul-Yu Lingstein will back me on this 100%), yet Hollywood stupidly persists in casting flashy young starlets who don't know kung-fu from King Kong from Donkey Kong from a horse's patootie.

Anyway, this movie is one kickin' good time and is REQUIRED viewing for all human beings. So don't just sit there - get watching!

Please note!
For those of you thinking of purchasing this DVD, please note that the dialogue is dubbed in English completely. For those of you who prefer it in its original language (Cantonese), give this a miss.

Otherwise the movie is great and the acting superb, plus we get to see the late Anita Mui in action. What can you say... top notch performance from Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui.

The Heroic Trio
Proud to say that I do own the Tai Seng release of this DVD. That itself is a good thing because it doesn't have the garbage sound actors, the good stuff isn't edited, and what's the point of seeing this movie if you're not seeing it the way it should be?

But, I will say that if you do decide to pick up this movie, first, look for the Tai Seng release of it. Though it is out of print, it is still around in places.

If you can't, then, fall down to the "mouse" and pick this copy up.

A little about the movie: It was influenced by the movie "Batman," and the directors (Ching Siu Tung & Johnny To) liked it so much, they wanted to make a film just lke that. And, how can you go wrong with Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Chung and Anita Mui? You truly can't.

I would have given this movie 4 stars, but, seeing I'm not too big a fan of what Disney did to this version, I can only give it a 3. Horrid dubbing and editing so obvious to those that have seen the original.

Disney, as well as all the other movie studios, you need to stop cutting and dubbing the Asian films - you do a horrible job. Leave it the way it was supposed to be, and give us the subtitles instead.

The Heroic Trio
The bad editing turned me off to this movie. I didn't need to see the wires to know that they were using them. Thru the whole movie I spotted items that should have been edited out.

The Heroic Trio
Starring Anita Mui ('Rumble In The Bronx'), Michelle Yeoh ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') and Maggie Cheung ('In The Mood For Love') as three crime-fighting superheroines in Hong Kong's answer to Gotham City, 'The Heroic Trio' is a high-kicking, crimson-soaked comic book action romp that could only come out of our favourite country for hi-octane beat-em-ups. As you might have guessed, it's hardly Oscar-winning stuff; the plot is at times incomprehensible, the sets cheap and the acting camp, but it all adds to the charm. This is, after all, not a film to be analysed, but enjoyed with popcorn on a Friday night. And, as that, it succeeds - the action sequences are very exciting, the wire work is well done, the original score is superb and, of course, our three leading ladies light up the screen at every turn. But those weak in the knee may wish to turn away at certain points as it does get a tad grisley at times, what with decapitations, exploding body parts, cannibalism and baby-murdering. Indeed, the violence is so over-the-top at times that it becomes not so much offensive as it does laughable. Which was probably the idea.

So while the movie itself is recommended, Buena Vista's DVD release definitely isn't. The Disney company has once again seen fit to edit yet another Asian movie for its Western market - this time by three minutes to remove the aforementioned gory moments. And, as expected, the original Cantonese soundtrack has been replaced with a dreadful English dub and generic score - denying us the pleasure of hearing Anita Mui's two excellent songs. Still, this is what we've come to expect from the distributor that seems to delight in infuriating hardcore Chinese film fans. Those wishing to own the uncut version of the film would be advised to seek out the 'Universe' DVD from Hong Kong or the now out-of-print 'Tai Seng' American release. Better still (if you have PAL/Region 2 capabilities), waiting for the forthcoming remastered Special Edition from British DVD label 'Hong Kong Legends' would be the ideal solution. ... 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

Reviews (37)

High Kickin' Funfest Galore!
I realize that this may be an acquired taste which only means that even if you have not acquired this taste then you are still required to admit that this film is absolutely, positively, hands down funtastic.

Duh, I'm not even sure which page I'm on; if this is the Americanized version or not. I own the true blue Hong Kong edition which is supposed to contain some flippin' freaky scenes edited out of the American version. I've seen both but cannot remember because, oh, blar!, never mind.....

Back to the movie: "Heroic Trio" stars three of Hong Kong's mightiest screen queens as superheroes. Michelle Yeoh plays Invisible Girl who can become, well, invisible and really kick some bad man fanny, Anita Mui plays Wonder Woman who is quite different from the Amazonian Wonder Woman but just as effective, and Maggie Cheung is the streetwise little Thief Catcher who drives a mean motorcycle and carries an arsenal of nasty toys. Despite some personal differences the three gang together to track down the rotten evil doer who is 'napping poor little innocent babes to fulfill his fiendish scheme. The special effects and action scenes are psycho-silly wild yet the atmosphere is dark and moody with just enough bitter-sweetness to snap a heartstring or two.

A note on Michelle Yeoh: I don't understand Hollywood for seemingly tossing her aside after sticking her in one James Bond flick. Miss Yeoh is the best female action star around; we see Jackie here and there and Jet everywhere, but where oh where is Michelle? This woman has got the goods (my martial arts instructor Saul-Yu Lingstein will back me on this 100%), yet Hollywood stupidly persists in casting flashy young starlets who don't know kung-fu from King Kong from Donkey Kong from a horse's patootie.

Anyway, this movie is one kickin' good time and is REQUIRED viewing for all human beings. So don't just sit there - get watching!

Please note!
For those of you thinking of purchasing this DVD, please note that the dialogue is dubbed in English completely. For those of you who prefer it in its original language (Cantonese), give this a miss.

Otherwise the movie is great and the acting superb, plus we get to see the late Anita Mui in action. What can you say... top notch performance from Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui.

The Heroic Trio
Proud to say that I do own the Tai Seng release of this DVD. That itself is a good thing because it doesn't have the garbage sound actors, the good stuff isn't edited, and what's the point of seeing this movie if you're not seeing it the way it should be?

But, I will say that if you do decide to pick up this movie, first, look for the Tai Seng release of it. Though it is out of print, it is still around in places.

If you can't, then, fall down to the "mouse" and pick this copy up.

A little about the movie: It was influenced by the movie "Batman," and the directors (Ching Siu Tung & Johnny To) liked it so much, they wanted to make a film just lke that. And, how can you go wrong with Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Chung and Anita Mui? You truly can't.

I would have given this movie 4 stars, but, seeing I'm not too big a fan of what Disney did to this version, I can only give it a 3. Horrid dubbing and editing so obvious to those that have seen the original.

Disney, as well as all the other movie studios, you need to stop cutting and dubbing the Asian films - you do a horrible job. Leave it the way it was supposed to be, and give us the subtitles instead.

The Heroic Trio
The bad editing turned me off to this movie. I didn't need to see the wires to know that they were using them. Thru the whole movie I spotted items that should have been edited out.

The Heroic Trio
Starring Anita Mui ('Rumble In The Bronx'), Michelle Yeoh ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') and Maggie Cheung ('In The Mood For Love') as three crime-fighting superheroines in Hong Kong's answer to Gotham City, 'The Heroic Trio' is a high-kicking, crimson-soaked comic book action romp that could only come out of our favourite country for hi-octane beat-em-ups. As you might have guessed, it's hardly Oscar-winning stuff; the plot is at times incomprehensible, the sets cheap and the acting camp, but it all adds to the charm. This is, after all, not a film to be analysed, but enjoyed with popcorn on a Friday night. And, as that, it succeeds - the action sequences are very exciting, the wire work is well done, the original score is superb and, of course, our three leading ladies light up the screen at every turn. But those weak in the knee may wish to turn away at certain points as it does get a tad grisley at times, what with decapitations, exploding body parts, cannibalism and baby-murdering. Indeed, the violence is so over-the-top at times that it becomes not so much offensive as it does laughable. Which was probably the idea.

So while the movie itself is recommended, Buena Vista's DVD release definitely isn't. The Disney company has once again seen fit to edit yet another Asian movie for its Western market - this time by three minutes to remove the aforementioned gory moments. And, as expected, the original Cantonese soundtrack has been replaced with a dreadful English dub and generic score - denying us the pleasure of hearing Anita Mui's two excellent songs. Still, this is what we've come to expect from the distributor that seems to delight in infuriating hardcore Chinese film fans. Those wishing to own the uncut version of the film would be advised to seek out the 'Universe' DVD from Hong Kong or the now out-of-print 'Tai Seng' American release. Better still (if you have PAL/Region 2 capabilities), waiting for the forthcoming remastered Special Edition from British DVD label 'Hong Kong Legends' would be the ideal solution. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Grim "un"reality of post-armageddon China
This film's prequel, The Heroic Trio, end with a triumphant mood as the sexy trifecta of Wonder Woman, Invisible Girl and Thief Catcher make good and rid China of a demon from Hell who threatened the very existance of mankind. When Executioners opens, it would seem that no one was paying attention to the evil people who lived on Earth because China (and the rest of the world by extension) is devastated in a post-holocaustic setting without clean water and with very little future to look forward to. The Trio comes out of semi-retirement to battle the evil forces of monstrous megalomanics and military murderers. Throw in a couple of superhuman freaks and the battleground is set. But fans of Heroic Trio should be forewarned: even though Good must always defeat Evil, there are very few happy endings in Executioners. It's a very sad film that emphasizes the need for sacrifice in order to acheive the Greater Good. And this film has sacrifices in spades.

On the bright side, it's well acted and Anita Mui stands out in a stunning performance that features her mercurial beauty and her martial arts guile. Michelle Yeoh is Michelle Yeoh and there's no greater compliment than that. Maggie Cheung treats the film as though she's slumming with a B-script instead of starring in an A-level art film but she's still a treat whenever she's chewing up the scenery with her grumpy outbursts. Anthony Wong provides the necessary touches of Evil that make you yearn for the Heroic Trio to hasten his demise. Damian Yau will make you cry.

The music is, as always, a plus in any HK film that features Mui.

Don't sit back and expect a rollicking good time. This is heavy duty fare here. But's it's probably the most-layered and intense HK film that you'll see in a good long time.

NOT Charlies Angels
A nuclear holocaust more or less wipes out civilization and non-contaminated drinking water becomes a scarce commodity. Throw in a lot of social upheaval, the inevitable corrupt government officials, the re-united Heroic Trio, and you get this film, where Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui, and Michelle Yeoh get together one last time to set things right. Sort of. Just be warned this film is syrupy even for Hong Kong Cinema, with lots of cloying sentimental singing over the scenes, crying little girls, destitute people, and butchered martyrs. On the brighter side, it has some truly hellish fights, with one of the three musketeers buying the farm in a manner that's grisly even for standard setting H.K. cinema. The villian is a real heavy who looks like Mankind, the professional wrestler and has a penchant and dispositon for slaughter that makes Freddy Kreuger look like a girl scout in comparison. If you're just getting into Honk Kong Cinema, this film might scare you away, if you're a devoted follower of the genre, you'll probably like it, if you're sitting on the proverbial fence, try something else like one the Chinese Ghost Story films, preferably III. All in all, I didn't really like it myself, although Michelle Yeoh never fails to impress, Anita Mui looked very sultry, and Maggie Cheung never looked better, even if her character was 99.999% attitude problem. Maggie also teaches us how to say "asshole" in Cantonese, which might come in handy in certain Chinese resteraunts where the service is really rude.

Classic flick with all the trimmings
Its hard to say that this movie was awesome, but it was close. I enjoyed the performances of the actresses more than the plot. AS strange as this may seem, each of the stars, possed skills that set them apart from the others. Anita Mui gave an outstanding performance with her talents using the sword. Not to say that Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Cheung gave there best to make this movie a classic. But the movie dragged at points. THe women made the movie worth the view!

Unsatisfying sequel
A very unsatisfying sequel to the wonderful "Heroic Trio." The movie is dark and quite frankly very depressing. Three of the most likable major characters die horribly. Defeat and darkness seem to be the major themes here. There are also other problems; the villain is unbelievably silly, even by HK action movie standards. Master Kim, the villain, spends much of his time in the movie talking to a severed head. Michelle Yeoh is barely in the movie, and much of Anita Mui's screentime is limited to domestic scenes with her husband, who apparently has forbidden her to be Wonder Woman now that she has a child. Maggie Cheung has to carry a lot of the plot (such as it is) as a result, and she's definitely not up to the task in this movie. Instead of appearing scrappy and self-reliant, as in Heroic Trio, her character in "Executioners" comes off as shrill, mean-spirited, and not very bright.

But I don't know if anyone could have worked with this ruin of a plot. Even by HK action standards, the plot is lacking. Several of the most interesting plot threads that began in Heroic Trio (the fact that Wonder Woman and Invisible Girl are sisters, for example) are dropped completely or handled poorly in this movie. The characters are denied the depth and humanity they could have had. The actresses (for the most part) do the best they can with the script (except for Cheung, who really is not very likable here), but the overall pessimism and ugliness eventually overwhelms them - and everyone else in the movie.

Overall, this sequel is very disappointing. I can wholeheartedly recommend "Heroic Trio," but not this movie. Fans of the first film would be well advised to give this one a pass. There's really nothing to recommend this depressing, sludgy mess.

two hours of my life I'll never get back
I don't know what it is about this movie, but it's horrible. That's a particularly sad thing to say after Heroic Trio is one of the best Hong Kong movies in a long time. I'm not sure if I'm annoyed with Michelle Yoeh's prolonged death or her prolonged presence with nothing to do for the rest of the movie, or the fact that the husband is killed 20 minutes into the movie.

It's not just that this is one of the dumber Hong Kong movies I've seen, it's also that it had a potential to be really great. It has great stars, it's a sequel to an amazing movie and it just falls flat. Too many places where nothing's happening, dumb jokes, awful musical montages and the fight scenes don't excite me.

Nothing really to recommend in this movie. I suppose if you are a diehard fan of Anita Mui, Michelle Yoeh or Maggie Cheung (whose better in Green Snake) watch it, but be prepared to be disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great movie, but terrible DVD!
The picture quality is sooo bad! Wait for a remaster!

Violent hard-edged police thriller from Hong Kong
THE BIG HEAT (1988) is a fast-paced, gritty, down-and-dirty crime thriller shot in the streets and urban spaces of Hong Kong as it follows a group of cops in a life-or-death struggle with a gang of thugs employed by a corrupt businessman doing some high-level smuggling. Every scene is pitched around a confrontation that leads in every case to a shootout, car chase, foot chase, explosion or attempted assassination. Although none of the action scenes boasts the spectacle of a John Woo thriller (HARD-BOILED, THE KILLER), the action is consistently exciting, well-crafted, suspenseful and, up until the final showdown, fairly believable. One superb setpiece involves a face-off between the cops and an assassin in a hospital elevator shaft that serves as a model of how to stage action scenes in tight spaces.

The film was co-directed by Andrew Kam and Johnny To and produced by Tsui Hark. It was part of a wave of top-ranked HK urban thrillers led by Woo's A BETTER TOMORROW (also produced by Hark) and Ringo Lam's CITY ON FIRE. The cast of THE BIG HEAT includes Waise Lee (A BULLET IN THE HEAD), Joey Wong (A CHINESE GHOST STORY), Chu Kong (THE KILLER) and, in an ingenious bit of casting, Philip Kwok, formerly one of Shaw Bros.' FIVE DEADLY VENOMS, who, in the interest of greater realism here, refrains from kung fu, but does his share of shooting, punching, running, leaping, and driving at high speeds. The film features much brutal violence, with some particularly gruesome bits (as in that hospital elevator scene). But if you're a fan of hard-edged crime thrillers, this film is for you.

Good Thriller With Waise Lee at his best!
Unfortunately, many remember Waise Lee as simply a villain because of his roles in ABT and BITH. But he plays a hardened cop with a bad hand, pursuing a crime boss(The Killer's Chu Kong) and working with a young idealistic cop, who buys it at the end. Dont expect the best film Hong Kong has ever put out, but expect a good cop thriller. Waise Lee is good, but is still pretty calm. Chu Kong is slimy as hell, and it is a little gory. Good final scene with Tsui Hark will have you rolling on the floor. This film is widely available on DVD on several web sites, so check it out. By the way: excellent music from The Killer's Lowell Lo. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Fires and Some Melodrama
Lau Ching-Wan stars in director Johnnie To's look at fire fighters in Hong Kong. And this is much better than Ron Howard's "Backdraft." The final warehouse fire is incredible.However, to get there, one has to sit through some melodramas involving several members of Lau's team (which is said to be jinxed) and some minor emergencies (a car accident, an elevator collapse). Fortunately, these incidents and the characters are worth watching.Nonetheless, it's the warehouse fire that pays off. The DVD also includes an un-subtitled documentary about the filming. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Keep RUNNING
There's something to said for this tightly-woven Hong Kong action thriller because RUNNING OUT OF TIME tries very hard to combine the traditional buddy picture with one pinch of "The Sting" and a hint of "Tootsie" thrown in for unexpected laughs.

What makes TIME tick is the slickness of the characters: Wah only has a few weeks to live, suffering from a form of incurable cancer, and he finds himself paired with police negotiator Sang in his final act toward redemption. Redemption, however, already has its price tag on it, as Wah's condition quickly deteriorates, and he must rely on an unlikely friendship with Sang to help make end-meet-end before meeting his Maker.

These two actors make the picture work, despite some clunky dialogue (especially clunky in the English-dubbed version, so be warned). Their chemistry onscreen elevates TIME to higher levels of interest for the viewer as you don't know who to root for here: the cop being hustled by the shylock, or the shylock living out his last few days trying to mend life's wrongs.

Regardless of whom you root for, RUNNING OUT OF TIME is a great achievement -- a welcome twist to the cop/crook formula -- that gives you some wonderfully unexpected laughs as the story unfolds.

Okay, could've been better.....
Running Out of Time

Running out of Time, is a Hong Kong action movie staring Cheung (Andy Lau) and Inspector Ho (Lau Chin Wan).

Cheung is a handsome young burglar with Terminal cancer and three days to live. Ho is a bored police officer determined to apprehend him.

Cheung, in an effort to make his last days on earth worthwhile, is determined to avenge his father's death, by stealing a large, improbably blue diamond, and framing his enemy for the deed. During the course of events, he has run-ins with police officer Ho and a beautiful woman he meets on the bus.

Regretfully most of the action consisted of scenes where the bad guys chase Ho, and scenes of Cheung crawling through air ducts, (its amazing how many person-sized air ducts there are in high security buildings), or scenes with Cheung messing with security cameras.

This movie failed for me because I kept expecting to explore Cheung's character more deeply. (If he was dying of cancer, why did he wait so long to seek revenge? Why was he so determined to frame the bad guys? What was his motivation for baiting Ho?)

So many of these questions were unanswered, and for this reason, I was left feeling unsatisfied with this movie.

very good...one of Andy's best....
Johnny To , Lau Ching Wan, and Andy Lau did an excellent job.

Inspector Ho( Lau Ching Wan) is a police negotiator who's playing cat-and-mouse with the thief Cheung( Andy Lau). Cheung robs a hong kong high rise, but the reason why is unclear.
As Ho begins to investigate, the audience gets to know lil better too, but not too much. Cheung is doing this because his dying day is near, and he's using the time he got left to avenge for his father....

Sure, there are some plot holes, but how many HK movies can you point out with no plot holes??? especially genre like this?
however, Andy did an awesome job at playing the role of Cheung.
The style, pacing, actiong, and direction is simply great.

Andy won best actor for 19th annual Hong Kong film awards.

Simply amazing
i am a huge fan of HK flicks. i love them all:...martial arts, quirky romance, and most of all heart-wrenching dramas. this film lived up to and surpassed my expectations. Andy Lau is a tremendous actor as is Lau Ching Wan. these two bounce and feed off each other beautifully in this cat-and-mouse movie. both use one another for personal gain yet when things get intense they are there to help the other out. i was just amazed when i finished watching it. this is definitely one to add to any person's movie collection, whether you are die-hard HK or not. subtitles shouldn't scare you away. trust me and see this movie.

Not so bad HK flick. Worth a view
Johnny To has got to be up there as one of my favourite producer/ directors- and this movie does not disappoint
Although its not one of the most realistic movies, it is quite enjoyable if you can open your mind and pretend its all possible :)

Its the story of a man, played by Andy Lau, who has *cough cough* only weeks to live due to some unspecified disease. As a result he goes on a rampage to make the most of his short term existence.

The highlights of the movie would probably be the cinematography, first and foremost... the movie does have an interest mood. Second would probably be the rhad chick who isnt some helpless annoying chick like in most asian movies and thirdly the fact that this movie doesnt distract itself too much from the main plot.

Take that last statement how you wish. Dont expect a Wong Kar Wai movie here with a million sub-plots.
This is just a straight forward action flick.

I find it hard to relate to the characters in this movie.
And i believe its the mood which makes this one a cut above average. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Keep RUNNING
There's something to said for this tightly-woven Hong Kong action thriller because RUNNING OUT OF TIME tries very hard to combine the traditional buddy picture with one pinch of "The Sting" and a hint of "Tootsie" thrown in for unexpected laughs.

What makes TIME tick is the slickness of the characters: Wah only has a few weeks to live, suffering from a form of incurable cancer, and he finds himself paired with police negotiator Sang in his final act toward redemption. Redemption, however, already has its price tag on it, as Wah's condition quickly deteriorates, and he must rely on an unlikely friendship with Sang to help make end-meet-end before meeting his Maker.

These two actors make the picture work, despite some clunky dialogue (especially clunky in the English-dubbed version, so be warned). Their chemistry onscreen elevates TIME to higher levels of interest for the viewer as you don't know who to root for here: the cop being hustled by the shylock, or the shylock living out his last few days trying to mend life's wrongs.

Regardless of whom you root for, RUNNING OUT OF TIME is a great achievement -- a welcome twist to the cop/crook formula -- that gives you some wonderfully unexpected laughs as the story unfolds.

Okay, could've been better.....
Running Out of Time

Running out of Time, is a Hong Kong action movie staring Cheung (Andy Lau) and Inspector Ho (Lau Chin Wan).

Cheung is a handsome young burglar with Terminal cancer and three days to live. Ho is a bored police officer determined to apprehend him.

Cheung, in an effort to make his last days on earth worthwhile, is determined to avenge his father's death, by stealing a large, improbably blue diamond, and framing his enemy for the deed. During the course of events, he has run-ins with police officer Ho and a beautiful woman he meets on the bus.

Regretfully most of the action consisted of scenes where the bad guys chase Ho, and scenes of Cheung crawling through air ducts, (its amazing how many person-sized air ducts there are in high security buildings), or scenes with Cheung messing with security cameras.

This movie failed for me because I kept expecting to explore Cheung's character more deeply. (If he was dying of cancer, why did he wait so long to seek revenge? Why was he so determined to frame the bad guys? What was his motivation for baiting Ho?)

So many of these questions were unanswered, and for this reason, I was left feeling unsatisfied with this movie.

very good...one of Andy's best....
Johnny To , Lau Ching Wan, and Andy Lau did an excellent job.

Inspector Ho( Lau Ching Wan) is a police negotiator who's playing cat-and-mouse with the thief Cheung( Andy Lau). Cheung robs a hong kong high rise, but the reason why is unclear.
As Ho begins to investigate, the audience gets to know lil better too, but not too much. Cheung is doing this because his dying day is near, and he's using the time he got left to avenge for his father....

Sure, there are some plot holes, but how many HK movies can you point out with no plot holes??? especially genre like this?
however, Andy did an awesome job at playing the role of Cheung.
The style, pacing, actiong, and direction is simply great.

Andy won best actor for 19th annual Hong Kong film awards.

Simply amazing
i am a huge fan of HK flicks. i love them all:...martial arts, quirky romance, and most of all heart-wrenching dramas. this film lived up to and surpassed my expectations. Andy Lau is a tremendous actor as is Lau Ching Wan. these two bounce and feed off each other beautifully in this cat-and-mouse movie. both use one another for personal gain yet when things get intense they are there to help the other out. i was just amazed when i finished watching it. this is definitely one to add to any person's movie collection, whether you are die-hard HK or not. subtitles shouldn't scare you away. trust me and see this movie.

Not so bad HK flick. Worth a view
Johnny To has got to be up there as one of my favourite producer/ directors- and this movie does not disappoint
Although its not one of the most realistic movies, it is quite enjoyable if you can open your mind and pretend its all possible :)

Its the story of a man, played by Andy Lau, who has *cough cough* only weeks to live due to some unspecified disease. As a result he goes on a rampage to make the most of his short term existence.

The highlights of the movie would probably be the cinematography, first and foremost... the movie does have an interest mood. Second would probably be the rhad chick who isnt some helpless annoying chick like in most asian movies and thirdly the fact that this movie doesnt distract itself too much from the main plot.

Take that last statement how you wish. Dont expect a Wong Kar Wai movie here with a million sub-plots.
This is just a straight forward action flick.

I find it hard to relate to the characters in this movie.
And i believe its the mood which makes this one a cut above average. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This rewarding Hong Kong action movie has a sleek yet realistic style that lifts it above the average crime thriller. When someone attempts to take out a mob boss named Mr. Lung, the boss's brother Frank (played by the great Simon Yam) puts together a team of five bodyguards to protect Lung. At first the team is bored as nothing happens. They bicker among themselves and run errands. After a close call, they pull themselves into a ruthlessly efficient unit. Both the mundanity and the high tension of their lives are vividly evoked. Slowly, the personalities of the individual bodyguards come to light in snapshot scenes. But when the threat to Mr. Lung is resolved, their troubles really begin; one of them is accused of having an affair with Lung's wife, and the others must kill him or be killed themselves. The Mission seems confusing at first because it doesn't follow the usual rules for a thriller of this kind. The jagged yet riveting scenes, enhanced by low-key yet compelling performances and superb cinematography, come together like fragments of a shattered picture. Without seeming to tell you anything, The Mission paints a tense portrait of these men's mutual bond. Despite the melodramatic elements of the plot, the movie's attention to realistic detail makes the stakes matter. Well worth viewing. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (19)

The Mission, an alternative to the action genre.
Everyone loves a great shootout in their action film right? How about four to five? Johnny To directs this clever and thoughful film about five men hired to guard a highly-ranked Triad boss. Each man has his own story and thus makes this action film a character driven one as well. Although the film has only 81 minutes to enthrall you, every minute is worth it. The acting, especially Francis Ng's and Anthony Wong's performances are sleek, stylish and humorous. Although the DVD isn't loaded with extras, it's the best format-- especially since the VHS version will have you using magnifying glasses when reading the subtitles. An amazing action film at any rate and a must see for any Hong Kong film fan or pure gangster movie buff.

A warning about the DVD subtitles
I loved the film, but a word of warning about the english subtitles. The translation is very strange in parts - substitution of completely wrong words with a similar spelling. Also the subtitles linger only just long enough for you to be able to read them if you happen to be looking at the bottom of the screen waiting in anticipation.

One Good Reason To Start Watching HK Action Flicks
Nearly every frame of this film is celluloid done perfect.

Much like a violent twist of THE USUAL SUSPECTS, THE MISSION tells the story of the best hitmen brought together to protect a crime boss from rival assassination. They do succeed after some typical gunplay, but the story isn't quite over as a set of circumstances -- one of them slept with the boss's wife -- sets in motion the final third of the story, pitting killer against killer in a bold, dramatic finish.

What works here, though, isn't so much the action or the acting ... it's the film's construction. The scenes are photographed so well, edited so wonderfully, and laced together with such ease that you hardly notice the ticking of the clock inside your head as long scenes of drawn out suspense go by. The viewer gets drawn up into the structure of a scene -- the way the killers stand poised ready for action, the way the men start to bond with one another in clever little ways of playing with a wadded up a piece of paper -- rather than pointless, meandering dialogue. The moments of silence in this film are just as powerful and important to plot development and progression as are the action pieces.

Any serious student of film should sit through several viewings of THE MISSION. There is plenty to learn here that isn't a part of American action or suspense films on an artistic basis.

One truly great little nifty surprise.

Great Hong Kong drama
This is a great Hong Kong drama as opposed to one of those Hong Kong shoot-em ups. The action sequences aren't over-the-top John Woo catharsis. They're taut, paced and intelligent sequences. The way the characters all come together to form an elite bodyguard team is handled subtly. But the way friendships are portrayed between cold-blooded killers is portrayed real well.

Intense stylish unfogettable movie!
I loved this DVD, I bought it because I liked Roy Cheung - he plays the quiet bleached hair hired killer who knows exactly how he likes his guns to shoot. I liked Roy Cheung because of his versatility - from the screaming bombasity of his characters in Young and Dangerous to his quiet intense part as a solemn holy priest in StormRiders, so here he plays a solemn quiet person struggling with what his heart wants to do when ordered to kill a fellow team member, and what he is called to do. But then, I found out the film was so much more than Roy Cheung - it is really quite outstanding in the male buddy/teamwork is forefront genre, not to mention it is also a great film. It has some very well known HK action stars and to watch their interplay as more and more of their character comes out as the film progresses keeps the movie at an intense pace. You watch it and almost sleep through the beginning, but then the action gets so intense you have to go back to the seemingly unrelated stuff at the beginning of the film to have it make sense, and when it makes sense, for example, I had to replay the shopping mall escalator shoot-out scene (what a shoot-out - it is incredible)again and again to figure out where everyone was standing and gaurding and there are still surprises. Wow! What filmmaking! For a 1999 film, what surprises me is the grainy poor picture quality with uneven contrast so that you are struggling to make out the images, but then again, it could be the Director's intention and eveything looks harsher under florescent lighting. It could also be the ditributor- MeiAh, who also does not include chapter numbers for their dvds. Most of the MeiAh films that I own seems to have a less than perfect picture quality, a little washed out, but this should not stop you from buying this film! This is a really unusual film with some really neat action - I think of it sort of as a Men's action flick. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

High Kickin' Funfest Galore!
I realize that this may be an acquired taste which only means that even if you have not acquired this taste then you are still required to admit that this film is absolutely, positively, hands down funtastic.

Duh, I'm not even sure which page I'm on; if this is the Americanized version or not. I own the true blue Hong Kong edition which is supposed to contain some flippin' freaky scenes edited out of the American version. I've seen both but cannot remember because, oh, blar!, never mind.....

Back to the movie: "Heroic Trio" stars three of Hong Kong's mightiest screen queens as superheroes. Michelle Yeoh plays Invisible Girl who can become, well, invisible and really kick some bad man fanny, Anita Mui plays Wonder Woman who is quite different from the Amazonian Wonder Woman but just as effective, and Maggie Cheung is the streetwise little Thief Catcher who drives a mean motorcycle and carries an arsenal of nasty toys. Despite some personal differences the three gang together to track down the rotten evil doer who is 'napping poor little innocent babes to fulfill his fiendish scheme. The special effects and action scenes are psycho-silly wild yet the atmosphere is dark and moody with just enough bitter-sweetness to snap a heartstring or two.

A note on Michelle Yeoh: I don't understand Hollywood for seemingly tossing her aside after sticking her in one James Bond flick. Miss Yeoh is the best female action star around; we see Jackie here and there and Jet everywhere, but where oh where is Michelle? This woman has got the goods (my martial arts instructor Saul-Yu Lingstein will back me on this 100%), yet Hollywood stupidly persists in casting flashy young starlets who don't know kung-fu from King Kong from Donkey Kong from a horse's patootie.

Anyway, this movie is one kickin' good time and is REQUIRED viewing for all human beings. So don't just sit there - get watching!

Please note!
For those of you thinking of purchasing this DVD, please note that the dialogue is dubbed in English completely. For those of you who prefer it in its original language (Cantonese), give this a miss.

Otherwise the movie is great and the acting superb, plus we get to see the late Anita Mui in action. What can you say... top notch performance from Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui.

The Heroic Trio
Proud to say that I do own the Tai Seng release of this DVD. That itself is a good thing because it doesn't have the garbage sound actors, the good stuff isn't edited, and what's the point of seeing this movie if you're not seeing it the way it should be?

But, I will say that if you do decide to pick up this movie, first, look for the Tai Seng release of it. Though it is out of print, it is still around in places.

If you can't, then, fall down to the "mouse" and pick this copy up.

A little about the movie: It was influenced by the movie "Batman," and the directors (Ching Siu Tung & Johnny To) liked it so much, they wanted to make a film just lke that. And, how can you go wrong with Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Chung and Anita Mui? You truly can't.

I would have given this movie 4 stars, but, seeing I'm not too big a fan of what Disney did to this version, I can only give it a 3. Horrid dubbing and editing so obvious to those that have seen the original.

Disney, as well as all the other movie studios, you need to stop cutting and dubbing the Asian films - you do a horrible job. Leave it the way it was supposed to be, and give us the subtitles instead.

The Heroic Trio
The bad editing turned me off to this movie. I didn't need to see the wires to know that they were using them. Thru the whole movie I spotted items that should have been edited out.

The Heroic Trio
Starring Anita Mui ('Rumble In The Bronx'), Michelle Yeoh ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') and Maggie Cheung ('In The Mood For Love') as three crime-fighting superheroines in Hong Kong's answer to Gotham City, 'The Heroic Trio' is a high-kicking, crimson-soaked comic book action romp that could only come out of our favourite country for hi-octane beat-em-ups. As you might have guessed, it's hardly Oscar-winning stuff; the plot is at times incomprehensible, the sets cheap and the acting camp, but it all adds to the charm. This is, after all, not a film to be analysed, but enjoyed with popcorn on a Friday night. And, as that, it succeeds - the action sequences are very exciting, the wire work is well done, the original score is superb and, of course, our three leading ladies light up the screen at every turn. But those weak in the knee may wish to turn away at certain points as it does get a tad grisley at times, what with decapitations, exploding body parts, cannibalism and baby-murdering. Indeed, the violence is so over-the-top at times that it becomes not so much offensive as it does laughable. Which was probably the idea.

So while the movie itself is recommended, Buena Vista's DVD release definitely isn't. The Disney company has once again seen fit to edit yet another Asian movie for its Western market - this time by three minutes to remove the aforementioned gory moments. And, as expected, the original Cantonese soundtrack has been replaced with a dreadful English dub and generic score - denying us the pleasure of hearing Anita Mui's two excellent songs. Still, this is what we've come to expect from the distributor that seems to delight in infuriating hardcore Chinese film fans. Those wishing to own the uncut version of the film would be advised to seek out the 'Universe' DVD from Hong Kong or the now out-of-print 'Tai Seng' American release. Better still (if you have PAL/Region 2 capabilities), waiting for the forthcoming remastered Special Edition from British DVD label 'Hong Kong Legends' would be the ideal solution. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of Chow Yun-fat's most successful comedies of the 1980s, a fundamentally conventional romp about three bachelor brothers (a cartoonist, a TV cooking instructor, and an aspiring actor) who stumble into romance. But it's spiced up by an unusually rich mix of indigenous Cantonese flavors. The careers of several characters link them to the Chinese opera stage, and the characterizations are stylized in an intentionally "operatic" way. Chow plays a man who pretends to be gay in order to ingratiate himself with women; and his flamboyant camping--complete with limp wrists and Black Lagoon mud packs--is only a little more flamboyant than the other key performances. In the finale, the entire cast appears in traditional makeup and performs a scene from the classic Cantonese opera The Purple Hairpin, with the lyrics satirically altered. The ethnic seasoning here may finally be too exotic for Western tastes: in fact, most of the mile-a-minute wordplay is inaccessible even to speakers of other Chinese dialects. (A few key puns are translated in the helpful subtitles, including a running gag conflating the Cantonese words for "love bite" and "chicken curry.") But the fun of watching Chow Yun-fat strut, squeal, and preen his way through an entire movie transcends cultural barriers. No film performer on earth seems to have more fun earning his living, and the pleasure is infectious. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awful!
I love Asian films, but this one lacks anything worthwhile. Not only that, but the subtitles were full of mistakes.

Simply put, one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I would have given it one star, but since I'm biased towards Asian women, who are all deliciously beautiful, I gave it two. A superficial reason perhaps, but I'm only human.

Non-stop fun - and CYF in drag.
While the plot of this movie is funny unto itself, the one true reason to see this film is the *incredible* performance by Chow Yun-Fat. You've seen him as the ruthless cop, the compassionate assassin, the toughened prison inmate. Now you can see him as "a sissy girl" (to quote the subtitles in the plot) - but it's all a sham to cover the fact he's a shameless womanizer. Well, it makes sense when you see the film.

Also included is one of the wildest spoofs of Chinese opera you'll ever see.

Funny from the opening credits ("The Blue Danube Waltz" with Chinese lyrics!) to the end of the closing credits. Obscene telephone calls, Chow Yun-Fat crossdressing, a sword-wielding mom and Cherie Cheung in a wild cameo role as a girl just wanting to have fun. What more could you want?

Super fun. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Funny Man of Asia
Stephen Chow is the top comedy act of Hong Kong cinema, and for good reason. He is teamed up again with the multi-talented Anita Mui, who always manages to steal the show. Buyers should be followers of this genre of film to get the jokes; it's a must have for fans of Chow and/or Mui. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fizzy comedy.
A broad comedy that is as sweet and fizzy as soda pop. Not something on which to base your film diet, but a fun addition.

Chow Yun-Fat plays the richest man in Hong Kong who is not pleased with the arranged marriage with a shallow socialite which awaits him in just a few weeks. Leaving behind everything on a whim, he journeys out into the world and gets a job as a bus boy at a noodle restaurant and finds the girl of his dreams.

Not much plot, but some funny scenes and Chow Yun-Fat has rarely looked cuter. A good candidate for rental; probably not a movie you'll want to see over and over.

Be sure to look for CYF in a small role as Stink the taxi driver. One of the highlights of the film, especially since this was one job which Chow actually had before he became a superstar. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is the first picture directed by Johnny To, who went on to become a major director and producer of flashy urban action films. It's a lackluster 1989 weepy, equal parts Kramer vs. Kramer and A Man and a Woman, and it was one of superstar Chow Yun-Fat's biggest hometown hits. Chow's certainly in his element as a motor-mouthed truck driver with a shoulder-length mop of hair who lives in affectionate squalor with his smart-mouthed 9-year-old son. Dad's also a former motorbike champion who had to retire after a crash; he walks with a limp and the doctor warns that even one more serious injury could be his last. (Talk about telegraphing a finale!) Sylvia Chang is the boy's long-lost mom, a yuppie expatriate who returns to Hong Kong and tries to pry her son away from his dad. Most ofthe movie is jaunty romantic-insult comedy, with Chow and Chang as uncommonly charming sparring partners. But the wrap-up takes an unearned swerve into melodrama, as Chang and the kid watch Ah-Long's comeback race. And you can guess the rest. Kleenex, anyone? --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Great Movie
One of my top 10 movies. Another reason why Chow Yun-Fat is my favorite actor.

A Chow Must See
More and more, I continue to be introduced the majestic talent and ability of Chow Yun Fat, my favorite actor. This is a tear-jerking, heart-warming drama. For those of you who think all Chow knows what to do is walk around with guns and shoot people, you must see this movie. The little kid in it is hilarious. And Chow delivers one of the best performances of his career. If you love Chow Yun Fat, this is a must-see.

ALL ABOUT AH-LONG!
Chow Yun Fat stars as a truck driver who is raising his son along in this 1989 Hong Kong film directed by Johnny To! Ah-Long's life is complicated when his former wife returns and they try to reform their family! But then, in the end, he goes back to his earlier passion for racing motorcylces! Chow Yun Fat's performance is one of his best (he won the 1990 Honk Kong Academy Award for Best Actor), but I sure did not see the motorcycle bit coming! The climatic race is exciting, but it is like they spliced two different movies together!

Ah-Long a Heartbreaker
This is film that has a great star at his best. As Ah-long, a truck driving man trying to bring up his little boy in a walk up flat in a poor neighborhood, he is doing his best. But there is not much hope for doing better. A chance for the boy to star in commercials comes along and rapidly everything changes. And these changes are what make this film so moving. Ah-long has to do some growing up and his choices are what make the film a tragedy. Very good, but be prepared to have a few tears.

MUST-SEE!
Try to not compare Chow Yun Fat with Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bruce Wills! Try to compare Yun Fat with Robert DeNiro.

He gives his best performance as single dad who has ups and downs relationship with his son, Porky. He tries his best to be good father to his son, but Yun Fat's former girlfriend who is mother to Porky becomes involve with the relationship between Yun Fat and his son.

Strongly recommend you to watch it and promise you that you will watch it again and again! ... Read more