Johnnie To has created a movie based on very simple background of police force attacking a desperate team of hit men captured on the run after a heist. Johnnie To is starting to really specialise in this genre which is nice as it is so refreshing to see it done outside the Hollywood narrow minded frame of completely OTT everything.
Although this film does have a few hit issues. Like how many bullets can a guy take? How long can one scene stay strong (we're talking 7 minutes here folks!)? Can one opening scene be this long yet the action so extremely violent and snappy? Can audiences tolerate the glamour of the action yet cry for the broken family in the middle? Can the audience relate to the ultra threat of TV used by the killers for their own advantage as much as the cop's own advantage? This film is just a really fun outing of action; thrills, stunning cinematography with a very heavy extra cast in police uniform. This one has an added dose of family drama and TV station morality (ala Dog Day Afternoon). In this case it's more of the dangerous angle of a TV crew. The news has had such an epic presence in the years and the film just turns news on its head.
Instead of the news becoming the standby it becomes the core of the film. It's a tale of struggle for power over the TV station in a big Hong Kong flat block.
I for one am a bit tedius of Hollywood action and find this film inviting although you really should not take it to seriously with the shots fired and how many times should that guy be dead issue? Come on. Just look at the drivel which Hollywood makes us believe. They're so clueless they can only come up now with Asian remakes and comic idols from yesteryear.
Brain De Palma could do a great rendition of this film as could Michael Mann. Lots of wide 35m shots would suit Mann well. Johnnie To and Michael Mann are clearly very favoursome of similar camera techniques which is fantastic. If you love 'Heat' and want to get in on more similar titles without the Hollywood bore then get more Johnnie To.
A great film but please do not take body count hits seriously. It's a movie after all.
Although this film does have a few hit issues. Like how many bullets can a guy take? How long can one scene stay strong (we're talking 7 minutes here folks!)? Can one opening scene be this long yet the action so extremely violent and snappy? Can audiences tolerate the glamour of the action yet cry for the broken family in the middle? Can the audience relate to the ultra threat of TV used by the killers for their own advantage as much as the cop's own advantage? This film is just a really fun outing of action; thrills, stunning cinematography with a very heavy extra cast in police uniform. This one has an added dose of family drama and TV station morality (ala Dog Day Afternoon). In this case it's more of the dangerous angle of a TV crew. The news has had such an epic presence in the years and the film just turns news on its head.
Instead of the news becoming the standby it becomes the core of the film. It's a tale of struggle for power over the TV station in a big Hong Kong flat block.
I for one am a bit tedius of Hollywood action and find this film inviting although you really should not take it to seriously with the shots fired and how many times should that guy be dead issue? Come on. Just look at the drivel which Hollywood makes us believe. They're so clueless they can only come up now with Asian remakes and comic idols from yesteryear.
Brain De Palma could do a great rendition of this film as could Michael Mann. Lots of wide 35m shots would suit Mann well. Johnnie To and Michael Mann are clearly very favoursome of similar camera techniques which is fantastic. If you love 'Heat' and want to get in on more similar titles without the Hollywood bore then get more Johnnie To.
A great film but please do not take body count hits seriously. It's a movie after all.