Throw Down (2004)
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One
thing I must comment about Johnnie To's movies, is his stylistic art direction
that has already become his trademark, but what I really want to say is that To
like many other HK filmmakers uses a simplistic script, but what makes To stands
out from the pack is his ability to churn out a thinking and through-provoking
movie from a simple script where in the hands of many other directors, would
have been a cheesy movie. However, that's not to say all To's movies are good,
but at least they are memorable and leaves the audience leaving the cinema -
thinking about the movie afterward. In To's latest effort - Throw Down has very
simple plot, but once again, To makes the move complicated at least seemingly
complicated. While I will put movies like Running Out of Time as one of my
favourite To's movie, the same can not be say of Throw Down. Yes, it leaves me
thinking, yes it is stylish, yes it is directed by Johnnie To, but this movie is
far too uneven and infact it leaves me with mixed emotions. In a way, a feeling
that is hard to describe in words, not disappointed but not please about it
either, in others somewhere in between. Then again, maybe I am totally wrong, as
some movies require a second viewing before it becomes a classic, and I do have
a feeling like the movie Hero, that it may well be a better movie on a second
viewing. Perhaps the best way to describe this movie is that while it is stylish
it is very confusing and honestly I must admit that sometimes, I don't even
understand. Sure, To is trying to convey his message of never give up, when you
are down and all out, stand up and fight again. Sure, that spirit is mindful and
thoughtful, but is the movie any good? Well the answer is that I am not even
sure.
While
Breaking News was a higher budget movie, it is seemingly straight forward,
however, Throw Down attempts to surprise the audience too much and in turning
creating a confusion effect and leaving the viewers with mixed emotions. The
plot is simple and it goes like this Pub manager/band-leader Sze-To was once the
greatest Judo fighter around until he unexpectedly gave up the sport for no
apparent reason. Cocky Judo champion 'Leather Jacket' Tony shows up at the door
and challenge Sze-To into a duel. All of a sudden, Sze-To's pub has become an
arena where the greatest Judo fighters show off their skills. Sze-To will take
on his opponents with everything he's got...
I
personally am not sure, whether or not To as a director is influenced by
postmodernism - as say like Wong Kar Wai, but Throw Down is without any doubt a
movie that raises more questions than it answers. As with most To's movies, he
leaves the audience questioning, and guessing of what will happen next, as in
Running on Karma, what was initially a action/romance becomes a philosophy
lesson, which took nearly everyone by surprise. To is an inspirational director
and the music is pitch perfect as always a central element of To's film-making.
There plenty of memorable scenes like Cherrie Ying's inspirational spirit of
never giving up of the hope of becoming a movie/singer star, that scene was done
in a stylish way that leaves the audience feeling for Ying. The memorable final
fight between Tony Leung Ka Fai (who seriously looks like my Grandpa when he was
his age) and Louis Koo, which reminds me of the blind fold fight scene of Jet
Li's Fist of Legend.
However
the aspect of the movie worth commenting about is the casting and the acting.
Louis Koo, in my personal opinion, performs one of his best in his career, he
acting is more than adequate and shows great signs of potential of a mysterious
character and character of depth though his facial expressions of a lost person.
A performance that really shows his human side, rathe than his usual romantic
comedy self. Aaron Kwok's performance is adequate and probably one of his better
ones, however, his acting is still a long way from award winning status. Maybe
it is Kwok's character, but he needs to natural himself, if he wants to be in
Andy Lau's status in the near future. Cherrie Ying is once again, a pretty sight
and presence, her acting is improving as each movie goes on, her smile is cute
and has a lot of potential. Her character is likable and inspirational, I bet
that she will one day receive the best actress award, though not yet. Tony Leung
Ka Fai once again shows his presence and in fact in every scenes he is in, he
steals the show. If he won, Best Supporting Actor for his character in that
satirical comedy, I am sure he is up there, if not better than last year. The
poker guy, who I do not know the name of, reminds me of a combination of Francis
Ng and Anthony Wong's lay back acting style.
Overall, Throw Down is a thinking man/woman movie, but when it comes down to
whether or not it is a good movie, I would say in my honest opinion, I am pretty
uncertain. Sure, it is stylish, but is it over stylish, well that's kind off
hard to say. However, I can say one thing, Throw Down is movie that will improve
on second or even third viewing, so as a first time viewer, I guess my opinion
is pretty shaky. Sure, it is uneven, but it may well be deliberate. Well,
Johnnie To has once again surprise the viewers, by turning a simple judo movie
into a thinking and thought provoking one. One thing I must add, I did leave the
movie with a mixed emotions, but even a few hours after viewing, questions of
the movie starts to pop on my head, perhaps, this movie is a classic, but then
again perhaps, it is a To's failure to reach the potential of the movie that it
has created.
I rate
it 7.5/10.
Comment on this Movie at
NeoHKReviews -Forum
| Product Title |
: |
Throw Down |
| Artist Name(s) |
: |
Louis Koo|
Aaron Kwok| Cherrie Ying| Tony Leung Ka Fai |
| Language |
: |
Mandarin|Cantonese |
| Duration |
: |
94 minutes |
Reviewed by Neo (Andrew) -
July 2004
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