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The Malaysian press screening for The Corruptor was held today (Wednesday Feb 10) and I am happy to report that the film is a vast improvement on The Replacement Killers.
CYF is back in his "tragic hero" mode (a la City on Fire) and is certainly the best thing about the film, although he doesn't seem to click well with Mark Wahlberg (if you ask me there was more chemistry with Mira Sorvino, and that wasn't much to begin with). CYF's character is the dirty cop, but he is in command of the role; Wahlberg's character is more ambiguous - I had problems with this guy, he has a lot of screen time but the character is very murky in terms of definition and motivation.
The film is dark and gritty and the action scenes are really noisy. I didn't like the overuse of rap music for the soundtrack and all those overhead shots, but James Foley at least thankfully doesn't give us an extended MTV spot like TRK. CYF also has tons more dialogue than in TRK, and manages to pull off a couple of one-liners nicely ("He's worse than white, he's green!" he says of rookie Wahlberg in one scene).
I would have liked to see more of his character's off-duty moments (the character-building stuff that made his better HK efforts so good). On the whole, though, a solid police drama -- not great, but an encouraging development for CYF's Hollywood career in the sense that it's a big improvement on his last film.
Just my two cents' worth ....
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Just want to let you know I went to see TC this past Saturday in Hong Kong. My verdict: we fans of Chow Yun Fat can finally exhale--he has made a decent Hollywood movie at last.
TC is actually not an especially good film, but at least it's a solid piece of entertainment. Most importantly it allows Chow Yun Fat to be Chow Yun Fat. Whereas he was stiff and tentative in TRK, in TC Chow burns up the screen. From the very first few seconds of his appearance in the movie you can see that he's back in top form (except for what are becoming increasingly minor problems with speaking the English dialogue).
In fact, it's the acting that saves the movie. The plot is a tired one but Mark Wahlberg and especially Chow are charismatic and make their characters sympathetic. Chow also develops an onscreen chemistry w/ Wahlberg that was completely absent in his partnership w/ Mira Sorvino.
Because of it's uninspiring storyline, though, I think TC will probably still not make Chow a household name in America. But it will win him lots of new fans. Let's hope this upward trend in Chow's career continues w/ "Anna and the King".
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I saw The Corruptor which was much better than The Replacement Killer. Mr Chow could create his own character in this movie. In fact, Replacement Killer let me down , Mr Chow couldnt show his strength in acting but The Corruptor is a tailor-made movie for Chow who has remarkable performance in there . However, the story is a typical police story.
- I have seen TC on 6.2.99 in Hong Kong and could meet CYF face-to-face in Theatre of Causeway bay. In the film, he is so smart at outlook and can perform very well. In fact, his spoken English is very professional just like the American. He can show the inner feeling of the role as CHAN Nick who is conscientious person with the compromise with the Triad Party guys in order to have a more peace in China Town. His partner, Mark Wahlberg, is the white cop, and acts as I.A. cop to investigate CYF. These two guys starts the real friendship and could develop the rapport to fight for the dark force. Politically, Hollywood producer is very clever to choose these two guys of yellow and white to have culture shock .... CYF can perform extremely better [than Wahlberg] so that he could give audience much impression .... Besides, CYF has shown his talent that some cute fine hand action and delicate facial expression are also remarkable. The sound effects are most fantastic. The action is packed in film. I think that CYF can let USA persons understand that he is real actor with irresistable charm.
- I have seen TC at last - twice on Sat. & Sun - and you won't be disappointed even on the 2nd viewing. I'm sure everybody will agree even if you're not a CYF fan. He spoke nearly 1/4 of all the dialogue in this movie and it's nearly impeccable though a tiny bit of accent was evident. I think with a bit more practice he can even do a courtroom drama in the near future. I suppose most of the trivial subplots were removed, as a result this film focused on the main plot making it fast-paced and NOT cheesy. All the quiet scenes are very well-done to the point that they're even better than the actions (which are highly enjoyable and thrilling). Like Danny Lee, Mark worked great together with our man. Of course, TC is not on the same level as 'The Killer' or 'A better Tomorrow' or 'Hardboiled', but you won't be let down anyhow. If I were to grade it, I would give it a B+ if not A-. The only complaint I have is that our man's haircut was too short and his face seemed bloated in some closeups. Maybe James Foley didn't want to shoot him like a god as Fuqua did, which is acceptable because he gave much room for showing his real acting talent.
And Second Thoughts
Today is
Chinese New Year and I just watched my friends the show again.
Definitely more enjoyable this time compared to watching it during
midnight when more than half of my senses were gone. Able to look out
for fine details and follow the story and dialogue much better. Chow
has used on several occasions his typical facial expression and postures
which he was unable to in his previous show. The change from an angry
look to a grin and then a cheeky smile (after he beat up Bobby Vu in the
restaurant). A smile to a grin and finally a frown (after Wallace
scored in his first big case). There was a comment concerning a pop
song in one of the reviews I read. I'm not sure which one the person
meant. However, there is a Mandarin pop song which was quite popular in
Asia which was played when Chow was winning money in a gamble together
with Wallace. Personally, I find it relaxing because it is a song which
is very familiar to us asians. To listen to it in an American
production brings the show nearer to home. I'm not sure if other asians
feel this way but I do. It was a pleasant surprise to hear it in the
middle of the show.
I really didn't care for THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS much at all. In fact, for me, I think it sucked pretty darn hard, and that depressed me.
You see, one of the first DVDs I got was the HARD BOILED Criterion disc. It just kicks ass all over the place. And I need to pick up THE KILLER next time I have some cash, but I'll never pick up THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS.
Why?
I don't like it. I think the major problem with the movie is that the director Fuqua, seemed to be in awe of Chow Yun Fat... Now, I'm in friggin awe of the man, and you are too most likely. He's a damn AWEsome dude. But it was... overdone to the extreme. Each shot a loving tribute to his movements. It seemed he wanted every frame to last 3 times the frame length of the normal frame. It stifled the film.
THE CORRUPTER is a different story. It isn't anywhere near as good as HARD BOILED or THE KILLER or A BETTER TOMORROW (1 or 2) buuuuuuuuut.... It's pretty kick ass.
His English is so good it's not even funny. He doesn't move in slow motion for the entire film, he isn't invulnerable... he's pretty damn tragic and is filled with pathos. The movie screams out that this is a far far faaaaaar better direction for Chow to move into in his American career.
How's the action? heh heh heh.... Ok, you know those RONIN car chases? Imagine if in addition you threw in a few human bodies here and there, if heavy duty automatic weapons fire through crowded sidewalks, etc.... were thrown in for good measure. I guarantee there is one scene of car/human body damage that will cause you to squirm and start giggling like the sadistic twisted screwup we all are!
Do you like brains in your action films? Do you like point blank head splooges? I think for a non-zombie film, this may have the most of these I've seen, that's if it can get past the evil EVIL MPAA with it. Keep your fingers crossed!
Oh yeah... The movie also has Dirk Diggler in it as Chow's protege, and he's pretty decent... mind you he's a complete screw up and I wanted him dead from the first second he appears on screen. But hey... that's just my natural feelings for Mr 'The Right Stuff'.
The film is cool, not in that I'm gonna watch it 2000 times this year sorta way, but in that 'Hey that was kinda cool' way you say on the way to your car. But it's also one of those films that you spend 3 or 4 hours talking about how you'd have done this or that. How ya wish this person had died here and that one would have lived... You know, it's a film to see with your buds, enjoy like hell, but then as you digest it... you begin picking on it, and someone in the group... maybe you, will start talking about "how fucking cool it was when 'blank' fucking blew that son/daughter/person's brains out the side of the frame!!!"
It's the sort of film where you marvel at the amount of violence they were able to squeeze in. And there is a bit more to the movie than that, but it doesn't have that fantastic lyrical edge that John Woo brings to a film like this.
The bird cages don't explode the same way, the coats don't blow in the breeze that only hits our star. After you see PAYBACK, you'll wish that Chow Yun Fat would team up with Brian Helgeland for a flick or two. The film just cries for a better script, the dialogue isn't quite as snappy as the action, the plot isn't as effortless as the gunplay... but for a 'B' action film... I can forgive that. This will entertain the hell out of an audience, but it could have been even better.
The director has had his share of good and bad films. From AFTER DARK MY SWEET (an incredibly good film that seems to have passed into obscurity) and GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (talk about some fantastic dialogue and ensemble acting) to FEAR (god I hated that movie) and THE CHAMBER (I hate Robin). James Foley's latest film here, fits somewhere in between, though... it's probably his most 'geek' accessible flick. It's pretty darn cool and I'll see it again as soon as it hits.
I really wish there had been a better bunch of ensemble actors to support Chow and Dirk Diggler, because... well it needed it. After you got past them, the villians weren't all that great, the supporting good guys weren't too good... and you're left with mainly a lot of brains dripping from walls.
This is definately a step up from THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, but we are still waiting for the 'great' American Chow Yun Fat film, and I think we'll have to wait till John Woo can direct it. Which can't come soon enough in my opinion.
Muahahahahahahahaha! Khanh
PS Forgot to tell you that audiences clapped at the end of the movie!!
Muahahahahahahahaha! Uncle Benny reviews THE CORRUPTOR, that's Chow Yun Fat's next...
Here's a review of a fairly early test screening, but I can tell you that the
film is pretty finished. From what most of the other people were saying, it
sounds like the pop music in this one is bizarre, going from one style to the
next without a consistency, and without serving any purpose. Personally if I
were New Line, I'd go after Lalo Schifrin, but hey, that's just me. Here's the
review of the honorable Uncle Benny... Watch out for spoilers...
I was lucky enough to catch a private advance screening of New Line's Corruptor
at Redondo beach last night. I received the passes last week when I went to see
that shitbomb Urban Legend. That movie sucked, but I was too excited about
seeing the Corruptor to care.
Anyways, my group and I barely got in, as apparently they handed out way too
many passes for the screening. I think about 50 people were turned away as the
300 seat theater filled up to max. capacity. As for the demographics of the
audience, I guess it was a pretty good mix of white/Asian/Hispanic/black folk,
with a male/female ratio about 60/40. Most seemed to be in their teens or
twenties. I also recognized some industry types in there, including the
director James Foley, producer Terence Chang and the Asian-American actor who
played Bobby Vu (the chief mad dog villain), Byron Mann, who also starred in
Red Corner and Streetfighter. It wasn't hard to spot these guys, as they came
in later than everyone else since the nice seats were reserved for them. Once
all the seats filled up, a guy (from New Line? Don't know) came up to the
front, introduced the movie, said stuff like it was still unfinished, some of
the special effects and sound is incomplete, blah, blah, blah. And the movie
got rollin'.
Now what can I say, I'm a big Chow Yun Fat fan. I've seen all the classics (the
Killer, Hardboiled, Better Tomorrows) and even some lessor known obscurities
like Seventh Curse and Treasure Hunt. This man radiates coolness in every movie
he's in, regardless of how good or crappy the films are. His movie star
qualities - good looks, charm, sense of humor, easy-going manner, etc. - would
surely be noticed by Hollywood, I thought, and I was right. After the
disappointing Replacement Killers though, I wondered if his screen charisma
could transcend the language barrier due to his (let's face it) stinky English.
Well, the answer is yes (somewhat). I don't know if he was trying to make up
for the nearly emotionless and dialogue-unfriendly performance in the
Replacement Killers, but in this movie, he talks. And talks and talks. And also
acts. Pretty damn impressive, I must say, considering he's only been speaking
English for a few years now. His accent, though, is still pretty thick and
there's a good chance you'll miss a lot of what he's saying (which doesn't help
as he's the lead protagonist). Hopefully they'll have him reloop some of his
dialogue (either that or put in subtitles) during the key acting scenes.
The story revolves around the Asian Gang Unit (AGU) in New York's 15th Police
Precinct in the heart of Chinatown. Chow leads his small gang of officers in
fighting the Fukinese Dragons, an ultraviolent street gang led by Bobby Vu, the
blond-hair streaked psycho leader who likes to shoot people even after they're
dead. Anyways, a war apparently is brewing between the FD and the older
generation Tongs, and Chow's got his hands full. Enter Marky Mark as the newest
member of the AGU assigned to Chow's team, and the usual cliched scenes of
veteran cop breaking in the rookie partner ensues. The movie concentrates on
the relationship between the two supercops, as well as the action scenes. Some
of the quieter scenes worked just as well as the intense and LOUD action
scenes, thanks to Chow and Mark's believable performances and their interaction
with each other. What didn't work all that well, though, was the story that was
chock full of subplots and characters that didn't seem suitable for a two hour
movie. Within that short time, there's just no way you can cram in that many
characters and relationships and have the audience care about them, unless
you're LA Confidential, but that's the rare exception. With the exception of
Mark's relationship with his ex-cop dad, who's now a gambling addict owing
money to the mob, the rest of the subplots were uninvolving and really dragged
the movie down.
On the plus side however, there's a lot to recommend in this movie. The
performances by Mark and Chow were top notch. There's a priceless scene near
the beginning where Chow gleefully goes nuts beating up the "Fuckinese
Dragons"(as he calls them) in their hangout after they killed some officers
during a whorehouse raid, reminding me of the Chow from the John Woo glory
days. The action scenes are intense and very satisfying (if you're an action
junkie like me), over-the-top yet realistic, and had a Hong Kong thriller feel
to them. If you've seen violent HK thrillers like The Big Heat and On the Run,
you'll know what I'm talking about - point blank shootings, bullet hits to the
head spraying brain matter everywhere, machine gun executions, etc. Chow aims
for the head in this one more than in his previous movies. For the die hard
fans, there IS a shot of our homeboy firing his trademark two guns, although
it's way too brief.
But the definite highlight has to be that FRIGGIN' AWESOME CAR CHASE in the
middle of the flick that takes no prisoners in its sheer recklessness and
disregard for human life. Chow and Mark are chasing the bad guys who just shot
up the place they were staking out, and this 5 minute sequence consists of high
speed mayhem, automatic weapons firing, mass destruction of cars, property, and
life. Chow (while driving) and Mark (leaning out of passenger window) fire
their weapons endlessly and simultaneously at the FD punk in the car they're
after firing outside at every pedastrian and motorist to slow these guys down.
This ultra-violent sequence ends with a payoff soooooooo satisfying and
unbelievable that my jaw dropped to the floor. Very cool, that's all I will
say.
It's pretty doubtful they'll release this print as their final cut. Some of the
graphic sex scenes and violence seemed to shock a lot of the audience members,
and they'll probably trim these excessive scenes along with some awkward
moments like when Chow does some heavy breathing/Tai Chi exercise in the men's
room. I hope they restore it for the Director's Cut DVD though. I really liked
how ruthless and vicious Chow came across in some of the action scenes against
the Dragons. The score was a temp-track, mostly from The Crow, but it suit the
film and atmosphere well. I also dug the Chinese song during the opening
credits and the gangsta rap playing whenever the FD homeboys showed up.
All in all, a highly enjoyable police thriller in the style of Year of the
Dragon and City on Fire. Much better acting and drama than the Replcement
Killers but not as satisfying as The Killer or Hardboiled. I'll definitely
watch it again paying full admission price when it opens next year. I just hope
they edit and streamline some of the confusing subplots to flow well with the
overall flick.
Keep up the great work guys. This is Uncle Benny signing off.
The Corruptor is light years away from Fat's first US made movie The
Replacement Killers as he finally gets to show his acting abilities which has made him such
a well renowned actor in Asia. He has a meatier script in this movie
compared to The Replacement Killers and although his accent is still pretty evident, his
lines are very much coherent and funny. I have to say that he's proven in this
movie that he's a much better actor than Jackie Chan. While watching this
movie, I couldn't help but compare it to Fat's past movies like The Killer, Hard
Boiled and A Better Tomorrow I and II. Die hard Chow Yun Fat fans like myself will
truly enjoy this movie although I have to admit that it does have its share
Westernized Hollywood formula plot. This is definitely a must see for Fat fans
as well as none-Fat fans.
Muahahahahahahahaha! Anyway, the daily rushes were just GREAT!!! Talk about screen presence, you can't do better than Yun-Fat. Friends who had saw parts and the rough cuts of the film told me it 'Kicked
Ass!!!!'
Can't wait to see it......
Muahahahahahahahaha! From the first test screening:
This movie at it's current stage has to be nc-17. I have nto seen this much violence in a movie ever. Blood splatters everywhere, guys are shot repeatedly after they're dead, and in one car chase at least 10 innocent bystanders are gunned down. As if the violence was'nt enough there is a lot of nudity and
sexual situations. I would assume the sex will be cut back first before some of the blood. At this current stage the gunshots and explosions are as aloud as Armageddon, seriously. There was a definite temp track, some of the oriental music was nice, but the pop songs thrown in were definitely out of place.
So, was the movie good? well if you like action you'll like the action scenes. And yes there is a plot. for about the first hour it seems like standard fare. They even use the overused plot device of the rookie's first bust being of a federal agent... but this has long lasting effect on the rest of the film and is not just an isolated event. Then, and this is not exactly a spoiler as it is revealed very early on and will likely be in the trailers, chow-yun fat is basically on the take. But it's not a black and white issue, it's very gray. He's forced to help the bad guys, yet doesn't completely want to and tries to
do good at the same time. In fact the man manipulating him (The corruptor in the title) actually helps him at times to clean up the streets. Then there are a few more plot twists with mark wahlberg that i won't spoil here.
But, it all seems very realistic, not all cops are good guys, but even those who seem in the wrong are not bad guys, doing the right thing is a very gray area, especially when dealing with the corrroption on the streets. As Chow-Yun says early on "You can't change Chinatown, It changes you".
Overall an above average buddy cop/life on the streets film. Overly violent to the point of being laughable, but the non-action scenes come out fairly realistic. The relationship between the cops may seem a bit forced, but the movie isn't just a vehicle to put mark and chow in the same film. If it comes
out next febuary as I've heard it should be a nice break in the middle of what is usually a boring post-Christmas movie season. 7 out of 10.
Muahahahahahahahaha! It's been quite hot down here lately, but the people at the Gen. Cinemas in Redondo had the air conditioning turned up so high I almost came down with hypothermia. Some guy came before the audience and announced that the movie we were about to see starred Chow Yun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg and was called The Corruptor. The audience erupted, I'm not kidding, into cheers. Obviously, they had not been privy to the same tip off as I had by the ticket hawker. This was confirmed by the guy sitting next to me, who said he was approached outside a theater to see "a hot, new action movie." I thought the guy's head was going to pop off when they said Chow's name.
Let me say that what is immediately apparent about this film is that it's the "smart, intelligent action film" that everybody says they want to see (or in this town, everyone wants to make -- or so they claim. If everyone really felt this way, we wouldn't have so many crummy action pics out there now would we?) After the opening scene setting up a violent gang war between the Fukineese Dragons and the established, respectable crime bosses of New York's China town, we get to meet Yun-Fat who plays Det. Nick Chen. Not to be outdone by Jon Woo and the other directors that made Yun-Fat a household name in Hong Kong, Foley sets our introduction to Chen in a Chinatown lamp factory. As you can imagine the Fukineese thugs show up right on time, and Chen manages to dismantle a gang of like four guys while thrashing the lamp store in the process. And he does it with that undeniable Yun-Fat style. COOL!
From here on out the movie only picks up steam. We quickly learn that while he's basically a super-cop in Chinatown, Nick Chen is a flawed cop. He likes whores, although he'd rather feed them star fruit than take liberties, gambling, and oh I forgot he's on the take. That's how he's a super-cop. The central antagonist in the film, Henry Lee aka THE CORRUPTOR (which, by the way is a tad confusing, only because of the title. I think they should change it, but hey that's semantics) feeds him a bust every now and then if Chen will just look the other way when encountering Lee's more lucrative illegal businesses.
Well, things are pretty good for Chen until he gets a new partner, yeah that's right, entrée Mark Wahlberg as rookie cop Danny Wallace. There's some funny dialogue that takes place upon his arrival in the Asian Gang Unit (AGU), but I wouldn't even think of ruining it for you so I'll just tease ya. Sensing that Wallace could be a threat to their illegal activity, Lee seduces the kid into coming on the payroll. But Chen doesn't like this and tries with all his might to prevent this from happening, so…..WHALAH! Wallace is on the take too! Just as Chen's unit is in the middle of an Internal Affairs investigation. The rest of the film is ripe with plot twists and turns that would spoil the movie if I laid them down here, so you know I won't. But what I will tell you is that there is plenty of kick-ass action in this movie to keep you satisfied, but not numb. My favorite scene was the car chase with so much carnage it may give SAVING PRIVATE RYAN a run for its money. I'm not kidding, it's probably the best car chase on the big screen since THE FRENCH CONNECTION!
All in all this movie has it all: action, good characters, and the ever elusive good story. Truth be told the test audience seemed to like it even more than I did. My only complaint is that there isn't any slo-motion shots of Yun-Fat brandishing two guns, sliding down banisters, shooting knee caps, and dropping spent clips simultaneously. I know we've seen those shots in about 3 billion Yun-Fat films, but call me crazy I could go for 3 billion and one.
Well that's it. You have to go see it Harry, cause this movie rules.
And in conclusion .... Muahahahahahahahaha! IN THE BACKGROUND: nothing, for now. Give me time.
You are probably the only person who has ever accessed this web page, while I myself have logged on Back to Incorruptible, my TC page, or over to Chow Yun-Fat: God of Actors.
Thought you might be interested in hearing about The Corruptor's private screening
held last Thursday at Redondo Beach, CA. I was at the screening with about
300 other filmgoers and I must say the film was really spectacular in its current state. It's
still apparently a work in progress with a temp-track and crude subtitles during the Chinese
language scenes, but the movie works great as a drama and a kick-ass action spectacle, and
blows away The Replacement Killers in sheer entertainment value. I'd say it showcases
Yun-fat's abilities as actor and action star to full effect and his performance makes one
recall his best works with John Woo and Ringo Lam. Surprisingly, I was impressed by Marky-Mark
as well. Their(Yun Fat and Mark's) interactions and relationship in this movie was very
impressive and believable (despite the sometimes corny and cliche-ridden dialogue). What
really set this movie apart (aside from the ultra-violent and numerous action scenes, including
a killer car chase/gun battle that must be seen to be believed) was Yun Fat's affecting performance as the crooked cop with a good heart. This was definitely his
starring vehicle, and he carries himself surprisingly well despite still having some problems
with spoken English (I swear, in some scenes subtitles would've helped). But his performance
was so alive, so vivid and energetic, that I felt like I was watching a classic Chow Yun Fat
film from the good old days. Trust me, it's that good. Forget about The Replacement Killers,
THIS is the Chow Yun Fat you all know and love. Can't wait to see it again when it comes out
next year. Hope this little tidbit wets your appetite.
Just wanted to let you know that the corruptor is now my favorite CYF movie. the
test screening was positive, and i think everyone loved it. CYF in this movie restored my
faith in that is: with the release of the corruptor he is and should be on the A list of
hollywood actors. And those rumors that his performance might get him an oscar... i think are
true.
Went to a test screen in Redondo Beach, California last night for The Corruptor and I have to say that the movie literally/figuratively starts with a BANG! This movie stars Chow Yun Fat as Nicky Chen a veteran cop in NY's Chinatown. Mark Whalberg is Danny Wallace a rookie detective assigned to Chen's team and becomes a partner to a reluctant Chen. Chen, a well-decorated detective is somehow mired in dealings with the Chinese mob. When Wallace enters the picture, the mob finds him a fresh target and try to recruit him too. Chen doesn't like the idea and
tries his best to prevent Wallace from ending up just like him. I won't put any
major spoilers to this mini-review but I will say that Chow Yun Fat fans can
expect the type of ending they're used to seeing in his past movies. This movie
is LOUD folks!!! A lot of shootouts and a great (although not in the same
caliber as Ronin) car chase scene with major collateral damage. All in all a
great action film.
Another Enthusiastic TC Crew Report I got another short note expressing enthusiasm about TC in Sept '98. The writer commented:
"I worked on [The Corruptor] and it felt special. Yun-Fat was, what can I say, Yun-Fat, one of the nicest person I've ever met. When I read the script to TC, I thought, they should have made this instead of RK.
This was my first test screening ever, I've been to a press screening, and a preview, but not a test screening. But anyways tonight Wednesday August 12th was the first screening of The Corruptor starring Mark Wahlberg and Chow-Yun Fat. The basic plot is that it's a cop buddy movie with Chow-Yun as the experienced cop on the beat in chinatown, and Wahlberg as the new cop assigned there who has an admiration of chinese culture and people, or as one of his fellow cops calls it "Yellow fever".
Here's my take, and your first review (I hope) of the new Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg film -- The Corruptor. I saw it last night at a special test screening held at the General Cinemas in Redondo Beach. I got in by the not so unusual Los Angeles ticket hawker begging people on the street if they are interested in a free movie. Usually I pay these clipboard Hari Krishnas no attention as the movies tend to be C-level dreck. You know the ones starring Michael Pare, etc. But as I passed the odd phrase "it's a Mark Wahlberg, Chow Yun-Fat film" caught my ears and I retorted, "sign me up!" Now I had heard the buzz on this film for months, and a fan (but I must admit, not a fanatic) of Chow's or Yun-Fat I should say as Yun is his first name and Chow his last. They've got it all backwards there in China, but I shall digress no more, on with the review. I've screened the obligatory dubbed copies of HARD BOILED, THE KILLER, BETTER TOMORROW (1-3) and I even went out to see THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, although THE CORRUPTOR kicks it's ass. Sorry. I must admit I'm a bit jazzed up after seeing it. Hey I went for a beer with my buddy after and could only stay for one I was so excited to share this movie with someone else. Anyhow, due to my experience with Yun-Fat's other films, I felt pretty confident and worthy of screening this latest effort by Yun, Mark Wahlberg, and director James Foley (GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS & FEAR.)
times since February 6th, 1999.