Reviewed By-Steve Genier
Directed By-Tony Ching Siu Tung
Cast-Maggie Q, Anya, Danny Wu, Jewel Lee and Almen Lam.
Source-Mega Star Video DVD NTSC REGION ALL
Runtime-92mins
Wow, where do I start with this one except this has to be one of the biggest surprise flicks of the year for me. I had not heard one bit about Naked Weapon until I did my usual visit to Chinatown. There was two things that stood out about wanting me to buy this dvd. The first being the very erotic looking cover of two stunningly beautiful Asian women Maggie Q (Metal Mayhem, Rush Hour 2) and Anya (Sharp Guns). The second being well, maybe the first is all I went on. Now call me a pervert, but you're male testosterone would probably follow my lead on this one. Directed by Tony Ching Siu Tung who is not only a pretty good director with such films as The Legend of the Swordsman and A Chinese Ghost trilogy under his belt, but has also a very impressive resume under an action director as well. Making his mark in other films like recent Shoalin Soccer and John Woo's A Better Tomorrow 2. So when you put the two skills together and add deadly female assassins you are bound to have an action-packed hit. Which indeed Naked Weapon is! Now on to the actual viewing of the film.....
Right off the bat, the action hits you like a ton of bricks. A female assassin is sent in to kill a crime lord, but how you ask. Well, with beauty of course, certainly with her looks there no real need for persuasion. Once inside the compound and on to the master bedroom of the crime boss. The female assassin starts her routine and gets him in bed. Rolling him over, she begins to massage his back. With one quick movement, she jabs her fingers into his back and grabs a section of his upper spine. Then with one fatal thrust he is dead. Now the action begins as she is discovered before leaving the compound. Using every resource to fight her way out, she makes it. Well, until she's about to drive off in her car. Boom, that is the last sound she heard as the car is blown up with a missile. All of this is observed by CIA agent Jack (Danny Wu). While we're at this point in the movie I would like to add one thing, the action sequences are flawless. The edits, the movements and even the score provide a high gear adrenaline high, having you out of your seat hoping she makes it out alive. No worries though, that's only the beginning, there are several more deadly beauties on their way.
Cut: to several years later the head of an assassin outfit Madame M (Almen Lamis) is on the hunt for young women with fighting skills. Once found she holds them captive on an island and forces them to learn the brutal way to become a deadly assassin. Enter Charlene (Maggie Q) and Katt (Anya) two of the many captives begin to form a special bond. Cut: After years of training which included martial arts, beauty school, computer training, everything needed to be known to survive, it is time to see who is the crème of the crop. Dropping a bomb on the girls, Madame M instructs them that they will be pitted up again each other and only one girl will come out alive. A true test for Charlene and Katt, who's bond has grown. There seems to be another girl who also has excelled well and has a different agenda, Jill (Jewel Lee). The fighting begins, like a Ultimate Fighting Challenge, there's No Hold's Barred and any choice of weapons allowed. Truly a fight to there death, but the end result has Charlene, Katt and Jill having Madame M breaking the rules of having only one girl win. She notices the exceptional skills of all three girls and decides it be best this way. Again the action/fighting scenes during this blood-soaked battle and well of course beautiful women duking it out, had me rooting for the two main characters. This film is like an interactive game of sorts, you want to help out, you get out of your seat, you will try and do everything to see both Maggie Q and Any excel! It's a relief they do make it....Upon celebrating their achievement, they dine with Madame M. She teats them further by asking them to point out what type of wine they are drinking, they all pass but notice that they have been drugged. Another test, to give them anger Madame M has them brutally raped. A sign of disgust for men.
As they are sent out into the world of contract killing, with new identities and a new lease on life? Maybe? As they given there first mission, things go wrong and again Charlene and Katt's friendship is tested once again. Eventually having to face Jill in a final showdown. Before all this, Charlene comes to grips with her past as she finds her mother. This is helped by CIA agent Jack, who falls in love with her even though he's suppose to bring her in. The biggest stepping stone is the plight of Madame M and bringing her organization down. Along with being action packed with class A fight scenes, the acting isn't too bad either. This film is geared towards an North American audience by having the disc presented with English audio and not subtitles, although they are an option. I'll be honest though, the acting does get little cheesy at times but that really doesn't effect the pace of this high octane film. Although when you first see the cover, with all it's erotic suggestions, there is very little nudity in this film, but don't let that deter you, this film is well worth the money!
Like mentioned above, I had the pleasure of viewing the Media Star Hong Kong DVD which is NTSC ALL REGION. It's audio options include English DTS 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1. The subtitles include traditional Chinese, Cantonese and English. I had some problems with the audio at the beginning of the film, it may of begin a disc flaw though. It's also present in anamorphic widescreen 16x9, I must add it's a very clean picture. Extras include a making of, which isn't presented with any english subs, but it still fun to watch. A photo gallery, trailers and cast & crew filmographies.
Story-3 Bitch Slaps
Picture/Audio-3 Bitch Slaps
Extras-3 Bitch Slaps
Overall-3 Bitch Slaps