Recently getting two of 88 Films Jackie Chan releases at CEX, and winning one on a eBay auction,I felt it was time for an intriguing viewing.
View on the film:
Loading up a number of audio options, 88 Films present a great 2K transfer which retains a slightly rough film grain texture, with each of the soundtracks buzzing with sharp clarity.
Shot in freezing cold Korea and having a frosty relationship with the director, over disagreeing on how the fights should be filmed, Jackie Chan gives a live-wire performance as Shao-Feng, thanks to Chan performing each of the stunts with a real finesse, while Feng Hsu brings a delightful shot of mystique to the tale as Can-ren, with Hsu visibly appearing gleeful as Can-red taunts behind her veil before performing a take-down.
Despite the disagreements with Chan, director Wei Lo & cinematographer Chung-Yuan Chen high-kick a highly amusing atmosphere of quirky, off the wall ultra-stylized thrills, from a chopped off hand flying in the air, to the tops of coffins soaring towards Shao-Feng, as strange masked figures emerge.
Although the screenplay by Lung Ku offers enticing threads, (such as The Killer Bees group of Ninjas) which sadly get abruptly dropped, Lo and Chen jump over the plot dead-ends, with tantalizing Action set-pieces blazing from rolling, somersault tracking shots, crash-zooms landing on each deadly punch, and brightly coloured jagged whip-pans over Shao-Feng killing with intrigue.
View on the film:
Loading up a number of audio options, 88 Films present a great 2K transfer which retains a slightly rough film grain texture, with each of the soundtracks buzzing with sharp clarity.
Shot in freezing cold Korea and having a frosty relationship with the director, over disagreeing on how the fights should be filmed, Jackie Chan gives a live-wire performance as Shao-Feng, thanks to Chan performing each of the stunts with a real finesse, while Feng Hsu brings a delightful shot of mystique to the tale as Can-ren, with Hsu visibly appearing gleeful as Can-red taunts behind her veil before performing a take-down.
Despite the disagreements with Chan, director Wei Lo & cinematographer Chung-Yuan Chen high-kick a highly amusing atmosphere of quirky, off the wall ultra-stylized thrills, from a chopped off hand flying in the air, to the tops of coffins soaring towards Shao-Feng, as strange masked figures emerge.
Although the screenplay by Lung Ku offers enticing threads, (such as The Killer Bees group of Ninjas) which sadly get abruptly dropped, Lo and Chen jump over the plot dead-ends, with tantalizing Action set-pieces blazing from rolling, somersault tracking shots, crash-zooms landing on each deadly punch, and brightly coloured jagged whip-pans over Shao-Feng killing with intrigue.