BLACK MASK (1996)

MORGAN'S RATING

Action has a new superhero -- Black Mask -- in this dazzling and explosive martial arts extravaganza! Following his harrowing escape from a secret, superhuman commando unit known as Squad 701, Black Mask takes on a new identity as a quiet librarian named Tsui Chik. His life of normalcy is shaken when a murderous rampage against all of Hong Kong's drug dealer's is linked to Squad 701, forcing him to return as the Black Mask in order to stop their campaign of murder before it's too late!

Jet Li (Michael/Simon/Tsui Chik/Black Mask), Ching Wan Lau (Inspector 'Rock' Shek), Matt McKenzie (Shek's voice), Karen Mok (Tracy Lee), Francoise Yip (Cailyn/Mei Lin), Kong Lung (Commander Hung), Anthony Wong Chau-Sang (King Kau), Xin Xin Xiong (Kau's Man), Ellis Winston, Michael Ian Lambert, Moses Chan (701 Squad Members), Russ Price (Rocket), King-fai Chung (Police Commissioner), Suk-yee Chan, Roy Szeto, Ken Lok, Henry Fong (Ricky Tai), Mei-Yee Sze, Lawrence Ah Mon (Operating Room Doctor), Alex Fernandez (Tony (voice: English version), David Leung (King Kau thug).

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Daniel Lee. WRITERS: Teddy Chan, Ann Hui, Koan Hui, Joe Ma and Tsui Hark. PRODUCER: Tsui Hark. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Teddy Chan. ADMINISTRATIVE PRODUCER: Tiffany Chen. ORIGINAL MUSIC: DJ Revolution, Teddy Robin Kwan and Ben Vaughn. DISTRIBUTOR: Artisan Entertainment.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

FACTS

"Black Mask is an all-out non-stop Hong Kong action film that is better than most films of the martial arts genre." -- Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope

RELEASE DATE: May 14th, 1999 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $4.4 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $12.5 million (USA) - Followed by a direct-to-video sequel: Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002).

"It's paced well, Jet Li kicks a lot of bootie, it has romance, betrayal and a sense of humor." -- Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card