(2003)
Reviewed By-Paul Cooke Director-Benny Chan Scripted-Yuen Kam Lun & Shun Fai Kwan Starring-Ekin Cheng , Leon Lai , Franci Ng , Raymond Wong , Karena Lam , Xu Jing Lei , Samuel Pang , Anson Leung & Rico Kwok
A high octane pulse pounding buddy flick with a hypnotic resonance that oozes from this quality Hong Kong production. The first and arguably best come year end Asian Action movie to hit DVD within the opening weeks of 2004.The movie is electro charged from the astonishingly brutal and intense opening as a mother is forced to witness her police officer husband being shot dead by an intrusively composed protagonist. Francis Ng is the calculatingly calm killer in a role that proves to be a deliciously malevolent one totally unbridled and let loose of all inhibitions of guilt as he delivers a bad guy performance par excellence. Intrinsically linked to the startling opening sequence is a crime committed by a police officer who is captured on camera burning criminal records in his station , only to then kill himself whilst appearing to be disassociated with himself !?.
Star Ekin Cheng teams up with an hypnologist released from prison to aid him in solving a bizarre crime. Leon Lai plays the role of Jack , a one time police psychiatric consultant who has the gift of hypnosis. His custodial sentence is one of manslaughter for the apparent killing of his wife’s lover whom he discovers in their home unexpectedly. He is serving imprisonment for fifteen years but is assigned to Ekin Cheng’s character officer Ken Li due to his exceptional knowledge of the prime suspect known as Mind Hunter. There is immediate tension between Ken and Jack but the hypnologist is an essential part of the investigation as only he knows what Mind Hunter looks like !. The deadly assailant and free rolling ‘hypno terrorist’ was his teacher but now he must be a class apart to bring an end to his reign of analytical anarchy. High tech burglaries are occurring with all the trademarks of the Mind Hunter and Ken is drawn into this psychological world that cross pollinates with the similarly themed ‘Manhunter’ with Francis Ng as the consummate Hannibal Lector like detached persona. Ng’s character is as dangerously charming as conversely Leon Lai’s character is charmingly dangerous.
A crime in process leads to an exciting and extremely well staged rooftop chase sequence. The hand cam operator gets a workout that pays great visual dividends as the well paced gun shooting pursuit is interactively exhausting , with barely enough time to gasp for breath for both actors and audience.
Skilfully adept at reading people and understanding their thought process Jack still mindfully tip toes through peoples inner thoughts , like a predatory spider treading its woven web closing in upon its prey. Is this process an attack mechanism or is his objective more intricately interlaced with a far greater reaching purpose ?. A modern day Houdini of the mind that is also just as adept as the famed escapologist in his ability to free himself from shackles. The strong willed Ken has him under his control so he believes but is it in fact Jack who is allowing him to believe that ? , as his skill at manipulating those around him is subtly becoming apparent. Even Ekin Cheng’s on screen fellow officer and girlfriend Brenda becomes a subliminally unwitting recipient. Ken attempts to try and unravel Jack’s complex personality himself for he too carries around a deep scar etched into his own psyche , not unlike the one that his subordinate seemingly suppresses regarding his reasons for pleading so willingly to the charge of manslaughter.
Deftly helmed by Director Benny Chan , making full use of each deliciously effusive frame with excellent use of the panoramic ratio , this Action Suspense Thriller is a modern classic of unbridled energy and creativity. The characterisation and plot development , along with perfectly interjected bursts of high energy Action , move proceedings along at a cracking pace whilst still managing to develop the taught relationship that ebbs and flows between Ekin Cheng and Leon Lai wondrously. The actors are placed right in close and deep within the unravelling Action with full on camera capture close enough to belay any stuntman replacement revelation. It is incredible to witness as you are visually led to believe that the stars were performing all of those moments of danger themselves !.
The movie has many a twist and turn to keep the energy levels high and the freshness in plot development interesting. Ken finds himself on a level pairing with Jack when he becomes framed for a crime and is soon on the run whilst still trying to piece together the real crime , and attempting to unravel the true past connection between the characters of Leon Lai and Francis Ng. The coolness of the movie bleeds out like a platinum reservoir landing in the viewers lap not only in film style but with neat gadgetry offering up the slickest phone to grace a picture since the last James Bond. A flip up screen reveals a pad to write messages upon that then relays to another phone without the need for fiddly text messaging.
Every human emotion possible is captured within the constraints of this blistering outing with lashings of tragic , touching , moving and jaw droopingly powerful moments galore. Replete with a ‘Shit that’s not supposed to happen’ moment to give any Hollywood mogul with a remake in mind a monumental rewrite headache. Heaven help the American citizenship if the equations safety harness isn’t immediately readdressed in a breast fed balance of over reacting nutriment , slapped on regardless of any regard to self registering plaudit for the free willed !. This is relentless entertainment , that even curbs an international carbuncle for the background money makers yet rallies on regardless , gripping from the outset. Doggedly refusing to relinquish its restraint until long after the closing credits jolt you from a state of disbelief , like an emotionally charged passenger subconsciously carried along in excited exacerbation by the journey undertaken.
Each spoken word has a descriptive and far greater reaching meaning that plays out on a subliminal level , ever so cleverly unravelling at later stages of the film. Like a myriad of flower petals delicately plucked down to the very core of its being. This is indeed exceptional film making at its most ingenious. As it becomes clear that each of the main three players has a connection which entwines them together the viewer is willingly ensnared within this roller coaster excursion , rapaciously escalating to its cataclysmic conclusion. Beyond hypnotic ‘Heroic Duo’ will mesmerise most memorably.
Presentation : Wide Screen Aspect Ratio 2:35:1 Release : Universe Laser & Video Co. Limited Coding : NTSC All Region Sound : DTS / Dolby Digital 5.1 Extras : Making Of / Stars Files / Interviews With Director & Film Makers Trailers / Trailers For Other Films / English Language Subtitles Photo Gallery
Film: 4.5 BITCH SLAPS Picture: 4.5 BITCH SLAPS Sound: 4.5 BITCH SLAPS Extras: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Overall: 4.5 BITCH SLAPS
