MOVIE REVIEW - SPL: Sha Po Long (2005)
Director: Wilson Yip
Starring: Simon Yam, Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen, Wu Jing
SPL is about a squad of Hong Kong police officers heade up by Chan (Simon Yam) who are attempting to bring down crime boss Wing Po (Sammo Hung). Chen is a couple days away from retiring and has to bring his replacement, Ma (Donnie Yen), upto speed on what he has to do once he is gone. But before this can take place they come across some evidence that could potential frame Po and bring him down.
What takes place onscreen in the brisk 90 minute run time is quite possibly one of the best HK action movies in a long time. From the opening sequence which sets the emmotional tone for the film. Yip's direction style is gripping, clever and very watchable. The use of music is just right and the sound is excellent. The performances are uniformally excellent, especially Sammo Hung.
What really brings the bar even higher is the Donnie Yen choereographed fight sequences. Yes they are are violent and harsh but all the more realistic. Yen's two main fight scenes, the first an alley fight against Wu Jing and the second a UFC-style takedown brawl with Sammo, are breathtaking.
This all leads upto to an ending that Hollywood just couldn't and wouldn't touch. Ever. Just to say watching this film reminded me of see Woo's The Killer for the first time almost ten years ago. Although not quite as good as the glory days, it has been so long that is well worth the wait. This all reminds me of what made me fall in love with HK cinema in the first place.
9/10
Starring: Simon Yam, Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen, Wu Jing
SPL is about a squad of Hong Kong police officers heade up by Chan (Simon Yam) who are attempting to bring down crime boss Wing Po (Sammo Hung). Chen is a couple days away from retiring and has to bring his replacement, Ma (Donnie Yen), upto speed on what he has to do once he is gone. But before this can take place they come across some evidence that could potential frame Po and bring him down.
What takes place onscreen in the brisk 90 minute run time is quite possibly one of the best HK action movies in a long time. From the opening sequence which sets the emmotional tone for the film. Yip's direction style is gripping, clever and very watchable. The use of music is just right and the sound is excellent. The performances are uniformally excellent, especially Sammo Hung.
What really brings the bar even higher is the Donnie Yen choereographed fight sequences. Yes they are are violent and harsh but all the more realistic. Yen's two main fight scenes, the first an alley fight against Wu Jing and the second a UFC-style takedown brawl with Sammo, are breathtaking.
This all leads upto to an ending that Hollywood just couldn't and wouldn't touch. Ever. Just to say watching this film reminded me of see Woo's The Killer for the first time almost ten years ago. Although not quite as good as the glory days, it has been so long that is well worth the wait. This all reminds me of what made me fall in love with HK cinema in the first place.
9/10
posted by Ozark at 11:57 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home