"2000 AD" is the latest film from Hong Kong mini-major Media Asia, which started with Mandarin-language art house movies but now produces high-quality actioners that can perform well at home and travel internationally. The film, which changed from its original title, "Y2K", to avoid postmillennium letdown, closed the recent Udine Festival of Far East Film.
"2000", a story about counter-espionage and computer viruses, is directed by Gordon Chan, an eminently bankable mainstream helmer who alternates glossy action pictures with more personal movies like 1998's feisty caper "Beast Cops". Scripted by Chan and American Stu Zicherman, "2000"'s complicated plot sees three young friends caught up in a criminal attempt to destabilize the world economy by unleashing a menacing computer virus. The film toplines singing and acting superstar Aaron Kwok, who plays a small-time computer whiz kid.
The boxoffice doldrums of the past five years have forced Hong Kong producers to rethink their strategies. During the early '90s, any sketchy star vehicle was sufficient to draw crowds. But nowadays, local producers have realized that they must increase production values to maintain their slipping share of the domestic -- and regional -- market.
While part of the new Media Asia philosophy, demonstrated in last year's "Gen-X Cops", has been to cultivate a roster of younger, cheaper talent, "2000", a co-
production with Singapore's Raintree Pictures, departs from this idea by featuring Kwok -- recognizable in the West for his role in the martial arts fantasy "Stormriders" -- in the leading role. But this doesn't lead to any skimping on the action scenes.
When his brother, a world-class computer programmer with links to the CIA, is murdered, Peter (Kwok) and friends Benny (Media Asia regular Daniel Wu) and Janet (newcomer Gigi Choi) trail the killer to Singapore. Once in the Lion City, the convoluted tale slims down to make room for the action as Peter and company unravel the plot behind the murder.
An opening aerial combat scene is immaculately shot and sets the standard for the quality of action to come. Along with effective pyrotechnics, "2000" features classy stunt driving, passable martial arts and rip-roaring shootouts that make effective use of slow motion and freeze frames. The Hong Kong action sequences have a noticeable edge on those shot in Singapore, probably attributable to a greater familiarity with the terrain back home.
Sadly, the film is hamstrung by a needlessly complex setup that confuses with its plethora of interconnected characters and activities. "2000" would have benefited from a clearer plot line and fewer characters, which would have made the journey from action scene to action scene a much smoother ride.
2000 AD
Media Asia Films/Raintree Pictures
Director: Gordon Chan
Screenwriters: Gordon Chan, Stu Zicherman
Producers: John Chong, Solon So, David Leong, Thomas Chung, Daniel Yun, Willie Chan
Director of photography: Arthur Wong
Production designer: James Leung
Action coordinator: Yuen Tak
Editor: Chan Ki-hop
Music: Shigeru Umebayashi
Costume designer: Bruce Yu
Color/stereo
Cast:
Peter: Aaron Kwok
Benny: Daniel Wu
Janet: Gigi Choi
Ronald: Francis Ng
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
"2000", a story about counter-espionage and computer viruses, is directed by Gordon Chan, an eminently bankable mainstream helmer who alternates glossy action pictures with more personal movies like 1998's feisty caper "Beast Cops". Scripted by Chan and American Stu Zicherman, "2000"'s complicated plot sees three young friends caught up in a criminal attempt to destabilize the world economy by unleashing a menacing computer virus. The film toplines singing and acting superstar Aaron Kwok, who plays a small-time computer whiz kid.
The boxoffice doldrums of the past five years have forced Hong Kong producers to rethink their strategies. During the early '90s, any sketchy star vehicle was sufficient to draw crowds. But nowadays, local producers have realized that they must increase production values to maintain their slipping share of the domestic -- and regional -- market.
While part of the new Media Asia philosophy, demonstrated in last year's "Gen-X Cops", has been to cultivate a roster of younger, cheaper talent, "2000", a co-
production with Singapore's Raintree Pictures, departs from this idea by featuring Kwok -- recognizable in the West for his role in the martial arts fantasy "Stormriders" -- in the leading role. But this doesn't lead to any skimping on the action scenes.
When his brother, a world-class computer programmer with links to the CIA, is murdered, Peter (Kwok) and friends Benny (Media Asia regular Daniel Wu) and Janet (newcomer Gigi Choi) trail the killer to Singapore. Once in the Lion City, the convoluted tale slims down to make room for the action as Peter and company unravel the plot behind the murder.
An opening aerial combat scene is immaculately shot and sets the standard for the quality of action to come. Along with effective pyrotechnics, "2000" features classy stunt driving, passable martial arts and rip-roaring shootouts that make effective use of slow motion and freeze frames. The Hong Kong action sequences have a noticeable edge on those shot in Singapore, probably attributable to a greater familiarity with the terrain back home.
Sadly, the film is hamstrung by a needlessly complex setup that confuses with its plethora of interconnected characters and activities. "2000" would have benefited from a clearer plot line and fewer characters, which would have made the journey from action scene to action scene a much smoother ride.
2000 AD
Media Asia Films/Raintree Pictures
Director: Gordon Chan
Screenwriters: Gordon Chan, Stu Zicherman
Producers: John Chong, Solon So, David Leong, Thomas Chung, Daniel Yun, Willie Chan
Director of photography: Arthur Wong
Production designer: James Leung
Action coordinator: Yuen Tak
Editor: Chan Ki-hop
Music: Shigeru Umebayashi
Costume designer: Bruce Yu
Color/stereo
Cast:
Peter: Aaron Kwok
Benny: Daniel Wu
Janet: Gigi Choi
Ronald: Francis Ng
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/14/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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