In the 2000's Johnny To's was the "next generation" of great action directors that Hong Kong gives us every decade or so. John Woo was the one before and I'm still waiting on the new one. But it's mostly his other movies that were touted everywhere, whereas this one is by far my favorite, done in a style that is very different that his normal fares.
Breaking News/Dai si gin is very different from his other action films like "The Mission", "Exiled(Fong Juk)" or "Vengeance". Whereas those films are artistically choreographed, this one is made with a realistic approach and long, hand held, tracking shots that make you feel as if you're in the middle of the shoot outs.
The opening sequence might very well be the best action sequence I've ever seen, and it was only equaled (or even surpassed, I'll leave you to be the judge of that) lately by Sam Hargrave's Extraction and its great 12mn one shot sequence. And it's in direct correlation to the plot.
Follows a series of great (and smart) action sequences that'll have you on the edge of your seat, coupled with humorous and warm back and forth between the robbers, a couple of contract killers and the family they've taken hostage, with of course the obligatory dinner sequence that Johnny To includes in almost all of his films (he must have been a Frenchman in another life, he loves food about as much as us).
Smartly done, well acted, tightly directed, funny at times and tense throughout.
A must see.
Breaking News/Dai si gin is very different from his other action films like "The Mission", "Exiled(Fong Juk)" or "Vengeance". Whereas those films are artistically choreographed, this one is made with a realistic approach and long, hand held, tracking shots that make you feel as if you're in the middle of the shoot outs.
The opening sequence might very well be the best action sequence I've ever seen, and it was only equaled (or even surpassed, I'll leave you to be the judge of that) lately by Sam Hargrave's Extraction and its great 12mn one shot sequence. And it's in direct correlation to the plot.
Follows a series of great (and smart) action sequences that'll have you on the edge of your seat, coupled with humorous and warm back and forth between the robbers, a couple of contract killers and the family they've taken hostage, with of course the obligatory dinner sequence that Johnny To includes in almost all of his films (he must have been a Frenchman in another life, he loves food about as much as us).
Smartly done, well acted, tightly directed, funny at times and tense throughout.
A must see.