Reviews (16)

Very entertaining movie - Cult Classic
First off, BUY THE IMPORT VERSION, not the recently re-released domestic with english dub.

The way I see it, a movie is more enjoyable when you see it in it's original language.

This is a different kind of movie with just about every cheap trick to attract viewers. But it all somehow works! However, it still does not contain the uncut scenes that some of us have been waiting for. While the movie may seem longer in the domestic version than the import version (due to NTSC running slower than PAL), it is still the same movie.

This flick is definitely one you want to put on only when the kids are already asleep. . .

Beeping?
This is not a bad film, but the Cantonese audio track is messed up. I mean like what's going on? It contains annoying annoying annoying beeping when the actors talk about something I guess is too R-rated or whatever, but the subtitles reveal it. Plus it's in Cantonese so like we and the kids don't understand it anyway!!!!! But what gives with the beeping? This is just pathetic. I'm referring to the exchange between the nerdy cop and the police chief or whatever at the crime scene towards the beginning. I've never heard anyone mention this. Is this just me?

Don't bother with this lame flick!!!
Would give it -100 stars if I could.
I got this DVD as a present and all I can say is that it is not even worth re-gifting it!!! The story was mediocre, the acting was horrible, and the direction was haphazard. In all truth, I had put it on my wishlist 'cause most of the reviews were extremely positive. Now, I understand how not everyone is going to like everything. However, that idea does not excuse such a bad film.
There were a few things that could be considered o.k.: the costumes (wayy drag queen so, the ladies ended up looking a little too much like Barbie or Jem); the fighting (outrageous but pretty cool); the sets (totally cartoon-like).
If I had the power to turn back time, I would have liked to rent this DVD before buying it. Now I have no other option than to sell it 'cause I will never watch it again!!!

DONT BOTHER
Bad Acting, Bad PLot, The worst editing, The girls are never naked and the kungfu is pretty lame as well. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one.

dont bother
Not exactly what I expected from the previews for the movie. they did a better job of editing the trailers for this movie than they did for the movie itself. the plot is lame, the acting is worse and the kungfu is some of the worst done in years. do yourself a favor and pass on this one, ... Read more

Description

Make contact with this action-packed thriller!When Chow Yun-Fat tries to get his friend out of a gambling debt, he joins forces in a weapons heist. The job goes bad and he's betrayed by the leader, so he plots the ultimate revenge.But can he follow through with his plan? ... Read more

Reviews (19)

The Greatest Movie Ever Made...
This is the greatest movie of all-time. Its got it all: ultra-violence, unbelievable camera moves, incredible action scenes, a tight script, a talented director(Ringo Lam) and most importantly of all...Chow Yun-Fat, the most charismatic actor of the present era, who gives, in my opinion, his best performance to date.

On top of all of the above named, 'Full Contact' has the great villain in a film ever...Simon Yam is unbelievable as this homosexual gangster. Simon is classic.

If you say you like HK cinema and you don't dig this movie, you're a total reject. This is the finest film ever made. Go see it. Go buy it. Enjoy it.

Film Yes, DVD No
"Full Contact" ranks high on the list of classic Hong Kong "heroic bloodshed" action films. Grittier and more extreme than John Woo's films (more gore and maimings, and characters who are less noble), it's an entertaining ride, and a good showcase for the always-magnetic Chow Yun-Fat. Unfortunately, this DVD re-release has a serious problem -- the actual video print is a big improvement on the original Tai Seng release, but whole chunks of soundtrack seem to be missing from the Chinese audio track (strangely enough, they're present on the English audio track). If you don't mind watching your Hong Kong movies in English, this is a good buy, but if you're a purist, you're better off sticking with the original Tai Seng DVD for the complete Chinese audio track.

BRILLIANT..SUPERB
This is a Excellent FIlm. If you Like guns and violence Watch This. Violent and Betrayal. Chow Yun Fat is Brilliant. He is the Pacino/De Niro of Hong Kong Cinema.

Gritty!!! Violent!!! Brutal!!! Great!!!
Plot Outline: After Sam (Anthony Wong) gets in trouble with some triads over a gambling debt, his best friend Jeff (Chow Yun-Fat) has to bail him out. Sam gets word that his cousin Judge (Simon Yam) wants him and his friends to help them pull a job robbing a truck. Once on the job Jeff finds out it was all a trick set up by the triads to kill him. In a turn of betrayal, Sam is forced by his cousin to shoot Jeff. They leave Jeff to die in a burning building, only Jeff makes it out alive. Now he looks for revenge.

The Review: Full Contact is easily the sleaziest, grittiest and downright most vulgar HK action film I've ever seen. Now that I've said that, it's also just one outright cool film. Taking what could have been just an average tale of revenge, Ringo Lam injected the film with the style of the 80's and a healthy dose of brutal violence. The film represents all that was great of the all but dead Heroic Bloodshed genre. It's still around, but you don't see too many films like Full Contact anymore.

Don't misunderstand me, the violence in Full Contact, while plentiful, doesn't quite top the likes of A Better Tomorrow II, but the film is just a whole lot seedier. The violence in John Woo's films are usually comical to some point, but here the violence takes place somewhat in reality. The gunplay is actually fairly minimal really. There's only a couple of gunfights, and excluding the first person bullet effects, they aren't really all that spectacular. The violence in the film is just accentuated by the feel of the film. In one of the more brutal scenes in the film, Anthony Wong's character shoots a man in the head about seven times, covering the guy in blood. It's just an ugly image, and made uglier by the scenery and characters. It takes place in a dingy warehouse and watching his blood splatter all over his hands can almost make you feel uncomfortable.

When I first sat down to watch Full Contact I didn't know much about it and wasn't expecting much. I had read on a message board somewhere in the past that it was supposed to be a great non-Woo HK action film so I decided to give it a chance. Within the first five minutes of watching the film, it makes it's case strongly, and lets you know exactly what kind of film it's going to be. Simon Yam's gang robs what appears to be a jewelry store, in the process he stabs a innocent woman through the chest then proceeds to have her open the vault. We're introduced to the rest of his gang too. Mona, the promiscuous and Deano the muscular freak (played by Frankie Chin, best known as the guy who tries to strangle Ricky in Ricky-Oh). The introduction is so simple, but it's just so perfect. It's hard to put my hand on it, it's just the perfect way to start the film. A kick to the gut for the audience.

If one thing bothered me most about the film the first time I watched it, it was surprisingly enough Chow himself. Not that he gives a bad performance or anything like that, it's just his clothing style is just terrible. He wears a short sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Add to that a crew cut and a leather vest over the shirt, and you've got one goofy looking chow. The second time I sat through it I just took it in as part of the cheesyness of the film. The roaring electric guitar solos, the clothes... it's all so classic 80's.

The style, the violence, and the characters are what makes the film. Simon Yam is repulsive in his role as a flamboyantly gay sociopath who let's nothing stand in his way. Chow puts in a great effort, but it doesn't really take much from Chow to please. He could be playing a coma patient and would still ooze 'cool' from his pours. When I first watched the film I wasn't familiar with Anthony Wong, so I didn't actually ever notice him, but now that I've seen Beast Cops I was surprised to find out that it was he who played Sam. He's gained a whole lot of weight over the years, but I think he's actually more suited with the weight on. In this film, when his character becomes a tough guy it's kind of hard to take serious, but with some weight on him Wong comes off a bit more intimidating. As far as acting goes, those are the central characters. Everyone else puts in decent enough performances even though the girls just seem to be there for eye candy. Nice eye candy, but eye candy just the same.

To wrap things up, Full Contact stands out as one of the best Heroic Bloodshed films made not by John Woo. That actually sounds a little harsh, I don't compare the film to Woo's work, but it's just unavoidable. Anyway, I've debated with myself whether to give it a four or a five for a while now, and I've come to the conclusion that it's getting the Stubbing Award. Sure, it doesn't add a whole lot more to the genre, but it delivers what is one of the funnest rides the genre has ever produced. Full Contact is a classic, not to be missed by HK film fans, or gritty gangster film fans for that matter.

One of Chow's Best!
I've had a quality bootleg VHS copy of this film for years, but picked up this DVD on the cheap to compare it to the original Golden Princess release. In some ways its better (more squibs, better subtitles, more dialogue and scenes) and in some ways it's worse (characters names have been changed, much of the rocking HK soundtrack missing). Inexplicably Jeff's name has been changed to Godfrey. Godfrey! What kind of name is that for a tough guy? Virgin's name has been changed to Yin and the big muscular villian is now Madman. I believe originally it was Deano or something like that but don't quote me on it as I haven't watched the original version in a while. The great guitar work is missing from both the Bangkok car chase and the final nightclub shootout, but most of the other music remains intact, notably as Chow recuperates and trains in Bangkok and when Mona is dancing at the nightclub. This DVD has english and chinese language dialog and widescreen and full screen picture. Buy it man, it kicks a$$! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Get out the Kleenex!
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (Johnny To and Ka-Fai Wai, 2002)

Forget what Amazon, IMDB, even the actors in the DVD extras tell you; My Left Eye Sees Ghosts is not a horror film any more than Saturday the 14th or The Frighteners is a horror film; it uses some of the genre's trappings, true, but this wonderful little gem is nothing more than a romantic comedy, a chick flick with ghosts, or an episode of Coupling directed by Dario Argento.

May (Sammi Cheng of The Monkey King) met and fell in love with a rich guy while they were both on a cruise. They got married within a week, and soon after, he drowned in diving accident while still on the cruise. (You can tell it's not an American film, no one suspects May of killing her new husband.) She returns to Japan, where her mother-in-law wants to make her into a productive member of society, her husband's ex-girlfriend can't stand to be in the same room with her, and her new sister-in-law wants to help, but is your basic airhead. And they all work for the same company as executives. Like I said, an episode of Coupling (except that Steve is dead).

May, who's basically a wastrel, isn't getting anywhere fast, and ends up behind the wheel of her husband's favorite classic car, drink in one hand, smoke in the other, nose of car to wall. She dies, and her ghost floats around the accident, asking people if she's dead; no one can hear her except another ghost, whom we later find out is Ken the Class Clown (the incomparable Ching Wan Lau, known to Americans thanks to a few roles in Jet Li films), who tells her it's not her time yet, and she needs to get back into her body. Once she does, however, she finds out she has a certain nasty affliction (mentioned in the movie's title). Soon, the world's ghosts are all after her to do things for them, when all she wants is to find her husband's spirit and tell him how much she misses him.

Seeing a non-American chick flick is a revelation of sorts, and one wishes the American directors of movies like this would all be sat down in a theater to watch My Left Eye Sees Ghosts. None of the manipulation; it's all storyline, character chemistry, and pacing. And because of that, My Left Eye Sees Ghosts rises head and shoulders above almost anything the American romantic-comedy world has turned out in decades (Return to Me is the only film even approaching the subtlety and brilliance here).

Absolutely wonderful. A must-see. **** ½ ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A big load of bad
It's been a long time since I've watched a good chop-sokky flick, so last night I rented Jet Li's Contract Killer. Apparently, it was his last Hong Kong movie. Until now, I thought Jet Li's Hong Kong films are vastly superior to his North American ones.

My opinion has been altered a bit.

In general, his Hong Kong flicks are better. Contract Killer, however, is a big load of bad. I will give the benefit of the doubt, though. I watched a dubbed version (why are dubbed movies always so incredibly awful?), so perhaps part of the problem was the translation. There were many places in the film where character reactions and plot points really made no sense at all. This could have been because of horrific dubbing and translation. I'm sure it's much more watchable in Cantonese.

Nonetheless, even barring the translation barrier, this film had several strikes against it. First of all, what was with the camera work? One of the cameras had a badly-scuffed lens, and black scratch marks distracted me from quite a few scenes. Also, the big fight in the elevator shaft was so dark that I really didn't have a clue what was going on. I had no idea who was hitting who, or how.

Next, the story (as in most martial arts flicks) was pretty silly. This one seemed to be an Asian knock-off of The Boondock Saints, right down to the name of the mysterious vigilante (The King of Killers) and his over-the-top appearance during a hit (like in The Boondock Saints, he appeared from the ceiling hanging by his feet from a rope with guns blazing).

Fu's (Jet Li's character) motivations seemed blatantly artificial, as well. He's a poor ex-soldier from China who has promised to buy his mother a big mansion. He decides to come to Hong Kong to become a hitman, yet his people-loving ways mean he doesn't want to hurt anyone.

As a minor point, yet one which did distract me many times throughout the film, Jet Li has an AWFUL case of acne. In most movies, the makeup people will do a half-way decent job of covering up blemishes, but it looks like no one bothered even trying for this movie. Jet Li has an amazing crop of blackheads and whiteheads. His face looks like a horrible pizza. Poor guy. And poor me, when I keep thinking, "Pop it, already!" during closeups of the pus-filled bumps on his neck and cheeks. Eeeurgh.

On the plus side, the fight scenes that were visible (like the climactic end scene) are solid. I was pleased to see a dearth of wire tricks. I really prefer movies with unadulterated martial arts. It really showcases the actors' abilities.

More Jet Li...That Can't Be Bad
God's hitman. That is how people describe a killer who has been eliminating rich bad guys for little or no fee. It seems one particular bad guy covered himself pretty well, establishing a super fund that pays off to anyone who finds his would-be killer, a smart form of insurance. Fu (Jet Li) and the "Crocodile Man" (Eric Tsang) join in the hunt, and the story goes from there.

Surprisingly enough, this is a very complete movie in terms of emotions; it's not all shoot, kill and kick. Crocodile Man Tsang steals the movie, pulling off a convincing con man who manages to convice Fu that he needs an agent. His acting verges on overkill, but his portrayal of a betrayed, repentant father, a hardened ex-killer, a fearful target and a saddened friend all invite the viewer to share in his emotions. Actress/Singer (aren't they all?) Gigi Leung provides a pretty face for the movie, and actually adds a dimension to the personalities of Li and Tsang's characters.

Jet Li's acrobatics are showcased not only for fighting; the opening sequence shows him weaving in and out of traffic and pedestrians to retrieve some change that had dropped through a hole in his pants. He is also asked to beat up some restaurant patrons to prove to Tsang that he is worthy of the job. His skills are also showcased in escape scenes, more protective roles, and even ice skating--not your usual Jet Li fare. His portrayal of a broke, extremely selective "killer" is both hilarious and frightening when it needs to be.

The fight scenes are on the same level as Bodyguard From Beijing or The Master, not quite Fist of Legend or Twin Warriors (Tai Chi Master) good, considering that the last two were kung fu heavy. It's a much more rounded film, where the light-hearted moments contrast nicely with the darker fight scenes.

Watch this in Chinese to get the full range of Tsang's vocal gyrations and swearing. Highly recommended for any kung fu collection.

Jet, what were you doing in this?
Jet Li as a contrac killer? Come on! The reason why this movie isn't that famous is because it pretty much sucks. It's just a shootem up bang bang type of movie. No realy kung fu here.

The King of Killer Kung Fu
In Jet Li's final Hong Kong film before he starred in "Lethal Weapon 4", he plays Fu, a former soldier and martial arts expert living in Hong Kong with four roommates while trying to support his mother. To be sure, he's NOT dirt poor, but he's still can't afford to let money fall out of his pocket and roll into oncoming traffic.

Fu knows there's big money in bounty hunting, and he get's his shot at it when a Japanese buissiness man/crime boss is executed by the legendary "King of Killers", a self-employed assassin who murders only rich bad guys. The dead guy knew he had a lot of foes on both sides of the law, and set up a "revenge fund" of a whoppin' $100 million to strike back from the grave.

The murder victim's grandson, Eiji Tsukumoto, just covets the massive reward, but Fu needs some dough as well, and partners up with an "agent" named Norman Lu (Eric Tsang), to find the King of Killers.

Easily one of the best of Jet Li's later Hong Kong flicks, CONTRACT KILLER (called HITMAN in Hong Kong) provides some of the best non-wire-fu martial arts scenes I've seen, particular the scenes where Jet Li is paired with a chopsocky adversary with rings and shoes that emit flashy lights to confuse his opponents. Now There's something you don't see everyday.

Sat sau ji wong
The original, Cantonese, title of this film is 'Sat sau ji wong'.

Also known as: 'King of Assassins' (1998), 'The Hitman'(1998) and 'Contract Killer'(2002).

This film is in many ways similiar to other HK action drama films however it does have a more unique premise: an aging Japanese corporate magnate and WW II veteran (he boasts of raping Chinese women) is assassinated by a mysterious hitman in black. This hitman, known as the King of Killers, is infamous for both his skill in killing as well as not accepting any payment for targeting people of rather suspect morality to kill.

The Japanese corporate director has established a special Revenge Fund which will pay $100,000,000 (USD) to whoever tracks down his killer.

Fu (Jet Li) is a mainlander in Hong Kong doing errands for a minor triad boss when he comes hears about the Revenge Fund and subsequently comes across Mr. Nor (Eric Tsang) a hustler who takes Fu for a skilled killer and decides to be his agent. He is really trying to cheat Fu out of most of the reward money.

The Japanese director's grandson Eiji (Keiji Sato) is out seeking revenge for his grandfather as well as greedy for the reward.

Kwan (Simon Yam) is the CID inspector who is also tracking down the mysterious King of Killers. Which itself has irony, but I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen the film ;-)

The plot develops as the principal characters above interact in a frantic race to find the King Of Killers.

This was Jet Li (Mandarin name is Li Lian Jie) last Hong Kong film (1998) before he moved on to greater paydays in Hollywood.

I prefer Jet Li's earlier films but this movie had a certain charm to it even though some plot elements were rather formulaic and charcter development was at times only 2 dimensional (Eiji in particular is portrayed rather over-the-top) while others are under developed (KiKi - Nor's daughter). I prefer Simon Yam's performances with Chow Yun Fat though he certainly did a good job in this film.

On a positive note the ending of this film has a nice twist to it. For those not accustomed to watching Hong Kong action/police films you may be a bit shocked by the level of violence. For example in a shoot out scene in a children's amusement park in the film there is a rather high body count as people are shot almost at random in a melee of gunfire. While it is a bit diturbing to see such levels of violence without proper context you must understand that there are different cultural moors at work in HK cinema. Many in the East would be similarly disturbed by the explicit sexual content of many Western films. So try not to let that sour you when watching this film.

Overall I recommend this movie, there is some well done sentimental moments buried inside the action. As a caveat I urge you to NOT buy the dubbed version. Instead, get the original version in Cantonese (with some Japanese) with English subtitles distributed by Tai Seng Video Marketing Inc. at www.taiseng.com

Zach ... Read more

Description

Extreme Fighter Ryu Tenmei(Simon Yam) has made it to the finals of the Free Fighting Championship. Trained by the skilled martal arts master Masahiro Kai(Yasuaki Kurata),the dangerous Chang Lee(Bolo Yeung), But Ryu finds too late that he is no match for the merciless killer Lee. After witnessing Ryu's death in the ring, Kai fight his own battle aganist depression and alcoholism. Somehow, he must find the courage to avenge Ryu... and defeat Chang Lee! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I THINK THIS RIPPED OFF BLOODSPORT
THOUGH THIS STEALS IDEAS FROM BLOODSPORT, THIS MOVIE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY GOOD ANYWAY. A TRAINER COMES BACK OUT OF RETIREMENT TO FIGHT A RUTHLESS FIGHTER [BOLO YEUNG] WHO KILLED A YOUNG FIGHTER HE TRAINED. THIS VIOLENT MARTIAL ARTS FEST HAS PLENTY OF GOOD FIGHT SCENES, BUT THE THING THAT SEEMS TO HURT THIS MOVIE IS ITS SHODDY FILMING. MARTIAL ARTS FANS SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH THIS NONETHELESS.

this movie kicks ...!
bloodsport totally ripped this asian movie off! even going so far as to hire bolo to play the same charachter! that aside both are worth watching. ... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I THINK THIS RIPPED OFF BLOODSPORT
THOUGH THIS STEALS IDEAS FROM BLOODSPORT, THIS MOVIE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY GOOD ANYWAY. A TRAINER COMES BACK OUT OF RETIREMENT TO FIGHT A RUTHLESS FIGHTER [BOLO YEUNG] WHO KILLED A YOUNG FIGHTER HE TRAINED. THIS VIOLENT MARTIAL ARTS FEST HAS PLENTY OF GOOD FIGHT SCENES, BUT THE THING THAT SEEMS TO HURT THIS MOVIE IS ITS SHODDY FILMING. MARTIAL ARTS FANS SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH THIS NONETHELESS.

this movie kicks ...!
bloodsport totally ripped this asian movie off! even going so far as to hire bolo to play the same charachter! that aside both are worth watching. ... ... Read more

Description

Considered a cult classic by many fans, this gory, violent thriller in thetradition of "The Untold Story" and "Dr.Lamb" is now finally on DVD! To teach his wifea lesson for fooling around, Fatty (Kent Cheng) hires a professional killer, a dementedVietnamese veteran soldier (Simon Yam from "Naked Killer"), to do the job. When Fattyrefuses to pay for the hit once it is done, revenge is taken on his family. In order topreserve his own life, Fatty must now take on the killer himself. Co-stars Danny Leefrom John Woo's "The Killer". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a great category III film
run and kill is a title im sure that most of you are familiar with. if im correct it is the first film by "bad boy" billy tang and a great debut feature it is. the acting by simon yam is totally unforgettable (just look at the guys facial expressions very, very scary). he plays the best psychopath next to anthony wong. as for kent chengs part, he is likeable but up until the end isnt all that realistic due to the comedic overtones of his character in the beginning but during the climax it is almost a total transformation of character on his part (from a slapstick "fatty" to a dead serious but still very cowardly man who is fighting for his life). the plot is very simple and im not even going to bother describing it. this film definetly isnt for everyone as it has the obligatory rape scene (thank god its not as graphic as the one in the untold story) which is in almost every category III film as well as a little girl being immolated in front of her own dad in very authentic fashion (i cant say that it was fun to watch). i would have to say that the most memorable parts of the movie for me were of course simon yams character and his dont give a f*** who i have to kill to get revenge demeanor (dont forget about the guys facial expressions either their just plain unsettling) as well as "fatties" attempt to "rescue" his daughter after shes been sitting in a fire for the last 15 minutes and her charred body pumped full of lead by friendly mr yam at which point "fatty" picks his daughters unrecognisable corpse up and runs away with it only to break off her head on a wall to which he monotonly remarks "oh where did the head go"! you probably wont be seeing a scene like that in another film any time soon. you also have some very memorable fight scenes which include very realistic punches and kicks to bodies and heads (seeing "fatty" being thrown around like a 350 lbs. rag doll is quite entertaining too) you also get a granny being tossed out a window for your money. overall i think that this film was a solid offering as far as category III films go. it is a good starting point for the uninitiated as it isnt too disturbing but is definetly a film for the desensitised or those who watch these sort of films on a regular basis. i would also recommend dr. lamb (its much more disturbing and serious except for the cop humor) which also stars simon yam as the "taxi cab killer" and features his patented psycho antics and exceptionally frightening visage and expressions (kent cheng plays a cop in it too). theres not much more to say other than while watching this and all category III films keep in mind that they are from a different country with different sensibilities (they obviously dont have any restraint as far as killing children and the elderly for entertainment). they use these movies as an outlet for their daily stress and it obviously works so dont hold it against them if you end up seeing one and find it disturbing or your unable to watch it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Directed by and starring Jackie Chan, and set in 1930s Hong Kong, Miracles is a gangster film that is equal parts comedy and action film, with a touch of melodrama thrown in for good measure. Chan stars as a young man who rescues a dying crime boss in 1930s Hong Kong. When the boss passes away, he is tapped to become the new leader. He attributes his good luck to an old rose seller and the roses he buys off of her. To pay her back for all of his good fortune, he helps her pretend to be a wealthy socialite, just as she had described herself in letters to her daughter in order to help impress her daughter's wealthy fiancé and not queer their upcoming marriage. The plot is lifted from Frank Capra's Lady for a Day (1933), which Capra remade in 1961 as Pocketful of Miracles. Of course, like all Jackie Chan films, this movie contains more--and more innovative--fight scenes than Capra could ever dream of. Two set pieces in particular are stunning: A big fight in a restaurant and the final battle in the warehouse of a rope factory. Along the way, Chan throws in a musical number inspired by Busby Berkeley and a whole lotta heart, making this a well-rounded and entertaining film, which Chan himself has allegedly referred to as his favorite. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (27)

This is Jackie Chan's most complete film.
I saw this film 10 years ago in the local Chinatown theatre and it still holds up on DVD as his most complete film. The film is shot with higher production values than it's Hong Kong counterparts. The comedy elements don't seem really out of place like in his later films and there is actually a story in this one ( borrowed from Frank Capra's "Pocketful of Miracles" ) The action sequences are as clever and inventive as anything he has ever done ( I didn't mind that there weren't as many of them ). The Restaurant sequence and the Rope factory fight are stand-outs. Even though the film was made for a Hong Kong audience, it transcends that and has something for everyone. It's great movie-making.

The Chinese Godfather, Jackie's Way!
Throughout the the 80's, Jackie Chan was being blacklisted by critics as someone who's only talent was directing lighthearted action films without any substance. Jackie took this criticism personally and created one of the best films of his career, "Miracles." Based on Frank Capra's "Lady For a Day," Jackie took his time and directed a film that can be compared to the best of Hollywood during the Golden Era. Jackie originally didn't want action scenes, but realized none of his fans would see it. There are three brillinat action pieces intertwined with the story, the best is the final at a rope factory. Jackie also used techniques used by Hollywood by using steady cams for extended shots. Anita Mui from "Rumble in the Bronx" has a delightful role as a nightclub and we get to hear her sing (which was her original career.) This movie is a must have for any Jackie Chan fan, or any who appreciates great filmmaking.

The Miracle is how great this film is.
Does anyone here know how to read? It clearly states that this version contains BOTH the subtitled and the dubbed version. If you don't want to read the subtitles, it contained a dubbed english version. How hard is it to realize this? Before you complain, why don't you read the back of the box.

Options!! (It is a Miracle!)
I see a bunch of people have made comments
like "Good if you like subtitles" - this
is annoying and stupid, since the disc contains BOTH
the original version (fir those who 'really'
appreciate hong kong cinema), and the a dubbed
"Chan-for-dummies" version, obviously for those who
only speak 'American.' Ironically, though
Columbia has done a great service by providing
choices for "everyone's" benefit, I have to read such
trifling comments by those who get weak in the

knees when they see a subtitle - even if the dub
is right in front of them.

Chan's the man!
I have only seen parts of this, but plan on getting it very soon. Found it intesting that it contains Subbed and Dubbed versions. Subbed is 126 minutes and dubbed is 106, what gives?
Anyway I'll be watching the SUBBED version. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Starts out interesting and ends a little weak.
At first the film is very promising. However, towards the end it just fades. The movie paces itself nicely throughout the movie using John Woo's old style elements to accomplish beautiful screenplay, directing, and artful action. Somehow it just changes towards 3/4's way into the film. I feel the director just had a hardtime ending it and simply ended it very awkwardly. It's like he had a good idea and doesnt know how to finish it. The dialogue is really neat and the action is even more impressive utilizing John Woo's old style to give us a refreshing screen play that is gone in Woo's new style of film making as we can see when he arrived to America. John Woo's style has dimished with each passing film and at least this director brings back old memories.

Pros:
-nice screenplay
-interesting dialogue
-artful action
-great use of coreography and filming quality is great

Cons:
-as the film progressed the movie slows down
-muffled storyline, confusing plot
-strange use of languages make it hard to focus on the characters. The movie shifts from cantonese to english to chinese without reason. (the japanese language used by the characters has a point to the movie so I wont complain about its usage).

Watch it only if you are a hardcore HK movie fan
Doesn't even come close to a John Woo, Ringo Lam or Tsui Hark film. Some interesting action sequences though - the opening is excellent. I found Andy Lau's acting a little over the top. Also, it seemed that every character was coincidentally related to another character in several ways. 2 rival assasins and one assasin's boss is the brother of the other assasin? A few of these I'll buy but there were way too many unexplained coincidences. I would have preferred a longer film that probed more info the relationships. Don't bother with this unless you are die hard HK fan - there are much better HK films out there.

Not Bad Actioner, But Definitely NOT the Best Of Johnny To
Excuse me for giving only three stars for this film, for I know "Fulltime Killer" is, good as it is, NOT the best of Johnny To, a Hong Kong director whose intense style is not be missed. His best remains "Running Out of Time" (starring the same cool Andy Lau), or "The Mission," especially the latter one. See them first, and remember his name.

"Fulltime Killer" is in fact co-directed with Wai Ka Fai, but the subdued style is definitely that of Johnny To. The film traces the two free-lance killers, "O" (Takashi Sorimachi, popular Japanese actor), and Tok (Lau). O is the top dog of the killers, but Tok, confident of his professional skills, wants to bring him down in his own style. In between comes a female cleak working at a rental video store (beside the escalator which was shown in one famous Hong Kong film), Chin (Kelly Lin), and the determined policeman Lee (veteran Simon Yam).

The gun action of the film is an average one, but sadly, as the story lacks coherent developing, it is often hard to follow what is going on. Johhny To's cool style and oddball humor are not given much chance to be shown, and the result is curiously devoid of tension, even though the actions themselves are decetly done.

Some people might find the languages it uses slightly troublesome, for Andy Lau often speaks Japanese, which is very hard to understand (I am a Japanese, and watched it in the origiunal language). But more lamentable thing is the lack of charisma of Sorimachi as "O" whose one-dimentional performance as a killer with a heart lacks convincing power. And as for Andy Lau, he was much better in "Running Out of Time."

The film is a result of recent Hong Kong film industry, which tries to capitalize on the name of Japanese actors who are gaining popularity in Hong Kong. But I think the casting here has backfired. I do not say "Fulltime Killer" is bad. I only say you can get better ones from To, underrated Hong KOng filmmaker, and that is "The Mission" which you should see first.

Beats You With A Stick
Full Time Killer is teh win. It steals your megahertz. Stop teh hacks. ii omoshiroite desu yo!

Question
For anyone who has seen this movie, do you know what song is played when O is listening to the mp3 player in chapter 7 I think. I would really like to know and if anyone can help. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Unusual
Ringo Lams "The Suspect" revolves around a recently released hit man whose only desire is to go straight, but the day after he gets out of prison, he is seemingly set up by a former partner for the attempted assasination of a local politician. Aided by a sympathetic reporter, he tries to both clear himself of his perceived role in the assasination attempt and sort out why his former partner set him up in the first place. Speaking from a westerners point of view, one of the attractions of Ringo Lams films is that his characters don't have the giddy silliness and don't become involved in petulent adolecent confrontations that are so specifically common in most other Hong Kong productions and all action films in general. This may or may not be a good thing depending on what you want from Hong Kong Cinema; this film doesn't have the constantly over the top action sequences that typify the genre and is more of a drama than an action film. My overall opinion is that it could have been a little more dynamic without loosing it's dramatic appeal, but it still beats the ...antics and dialogs of a lot of John Woos works. Like the characters in a lot of other Ringo Lam films, the characters in this film are both realistic and gritty, without the hollow pretentions one usually sees in an action film. However, conditioned as we are to expect a high level of action in most Hong Kong gun flicks, this is definately a rent it before you buy it kind of film.

OOPS....Ringo did it again
What shall I say? I nearly watched all the movies of Ringo Lam. OK, Maximum Risk wasn't that good, but overall none of his movies (eg. WILD SEARCH, FULL CONTACT, PRISON ON FIRE)ever disappointed me. I even liked it better than THE VICTIM.

This is a movie about friendship, honor and betrayal. The most frequent ingredients for a heroic bloodshed movie.

Here there are two friends who were in the assassin business 12 years ago. One get caught, the other escapes. When he finally gets out of the prison he is forced by his friend to kill a nominee for the president in the Philipines. When he refuses, he gets accused by his friend.

Now the Police, the Triad and a third party are looking for the suspect....

Doesn"t sound very appealing but is really worth watching. In addition the DVD of the 1998 film has a good picture and a good sound. Even the subtitles are readable all the time!

Don't expect silly non-stop action- or you will be disappointed. This is a high class thriller with a plot!

Very good movie -- solid story with decent action
The dubbed version of Ringo Lam's "The Suspect" (1998) is actually done very well. I was very impressed with the dubbing, which is one of the best dubs I've heard. Even if you are not crazy about dubbing I think you will like this. (Note: There is also a subbed version available.)

The picture quality was pretty good. It is above average when compared with other Hong Kong movies that I've seen. By my own estimates, the widescreen ratio is approximately 1.78:1. The sound quality also seemed above average.

As for the movie itself, I liked it quite a bit. If I were to give it a letter grade, it would get a 'B'. It had a good story and good characters. The themes are similar to something John Woo has done, such as "The Killer." If you like that kind of movie, this is along the same lines. It is not a clone or anything, however, and is different. The story is not one-dimensional although it may appear to be at first. The characters are nicely done and developed.

This movie looks like it had a pretty big budget for Hong Kong. There's some impressive explosions. The action did not impress me, though, although I thought it was okay. The gunfighting is not nearly as good as what John Woo did -- 10 years ago. It's not bad or anything, however.

While I don't think this movie is as good as Woo's work, it is still worth watching. If you like Hong Kong movies I think you will probably enjoy it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pap
Here is another entry that many fans of Asian cinema promised me would deliver the goods in the gore department. This title often appears in the same breath with "The Untold Story" and "Ebola Syndrome," good, gory movies sure to induce a burning sensation in the pit of your stomach. "Dr. Lamb" is part of the grand tradition of the notorious Category III Hong Kong stomach churners. Since I have not seen newer entries in this particularly revolting sub genre, I assume that with the Chinese acquisition of Hong Kong from the British a few years ago these sorts of movies have gone the way of the dinosaur. After watching "Dr. Lamb," I am almost relieved to see the end of these types of films. Not because the majority of them are bad, not at all. "The Untold Story" was a wonderful, morally redemptive tale of transcendental spiritual values expressed through the preparation and consumption of human meat patties. No, I applaud the end of Category III because "Dr. Lamb" is such a boring, atrocious mess of a movie. This one is dullsville all the way, folks, and is best left in the nearest trash receptacle. I feel cheated of the nearly two hours I spent watching this piece of crud.

Dr. Lamb is really Lam Gor-Yu, a taxi driver with the most unusual proclivities. The beginning of the film shows us why he has so many problems adjusting to reality. His father spoiled the boy incessantly from the earliest years of the child's life, refusing to scold him for questionable behaviors directed at the other kids in the apartment building or towards family members. It is just a part of growing up, argues the elder Lam, to express a curiosity for girls and the young women dad brings home. That a social worker would probably think otherwise never impresses itself on this father's mind. These seeds of degeneracy blossom fully once Lam Gor-Yu attains manhood. He does not leave the house to seek his own destiny, but maintains a room in his father's home that he shares with one of his brothers. Only when the men in the family leave to earn their daily bread does Lam Gor-Yu express fully his grotesque desires, first with a few female relatives and later with women he meets on the streets of the city. The police step into the picture when a photo development laboratory brings in some pictures of a dismembered body left by a customer. That a calculating killer like Lam Gor-Yu would do such a stupid thing is only the first salvo of idiocy fired in this clunker.

The cops, with Inspector Lee at the helm, begin to search for the man who dropped off the negatives. When they get him, which does not take long, the police proceed to torture the suspect in ways that would cause the entire staff of the ACLU to have a fit. The police officers beat Lam Gor-Yu with a phone book, slap him around, and generally do anything they think will get them that valuable confession. The killer stays mum despite the atrocities, refusing to give the investigators the satisfaction of breaking him. Drastic situations call for drastic solutions, so Lee brings in the man's family and tells them what Lam Gor-Yu did to his niece. Then the family proceeds to beat the killer senseless while the cops watch closely for any signs of a willingness to confess. Well, Lam does confess to the heinous crimes, all of which we see in flashback. What did the killer do? Abduct woman and murder them in his apartment. That is all, with a few sick scenes of the cops searching the apartment for "evidence" and other crime scene reenactments thrown in for balance. "Dr. Lamb" is a tasteless film, but it is also an incredibly boring one with much less sauce than "The Untold Story" or similar Hong Kong masterpieces.

"Dr. Lamb" initially promises great things. It has Simon Yam as the psycho and Danny Lee sleepwalking through yet another role as a police investigator. I keep telling myself that the DVD version I watched underwent some massive cuts because the gore just isn't there. You do get to see Lam Gor-Yu perform homemade surgery on his victims, a little blood spatter here and there, but this does not compare to the gross out effects seen in other genre entries. The other elements you would expect from a film from this genre are here: the usual bad taste humor, experienced full force when the cops search Lam Gor-Yu's apartment and engage in some gluey slapstick sequences, is as upsetting as it was in "Untold Story." The emphasis on police procedures--meaning no access to a lawyer and unending interrogations filled with brutality--dominates a portion of the film, something that probably won't improve now that communist Chinese cops walk the streets.

The only positives in "Dr. Lamb" are the soundtrack and the cinematography, but even then some of the scenes inside the taxicab on the rain slicked streets of Hong Kong run on. The DVD's picture quality was atrocious, full of haze and color bleeding during the scenes when clarity mattered the most. I have seen a few reviews from people who label this film as one of the ghastliest pieces of cinema ever to emerge from the Orient, but I did not see it. Maybe I watched some obscure DVD version of the film that left out all the grue, but the movie I saw and the one other people describe is as wide as the gulf separating the earth and the moon. Give this one a shot if you like Asian cinema; perhaps you will have a better experience than I had with it.

Not Quite The Lamb Chops I Expected
I'm not sure whether the version I saw is the full uncut version but it's Cat III and purchased on DVD in Hong Kong itself. Being a gorehound, and using other Hong Kong fare such as "The Ebola Syndrome", "Prostitute Killer" and "The Untold Story" (amongst others) as benchmarks, "Dr Lamb" is rather mild. Typical of the HK formula at the time, where the film is really about flashbacks as the killer confesses to his crimes, "Dr Lamb" is only marginally violent considering the modus operandi of the killer (dismemberment). Very few (and brief) close ups of the sordid violence, only the sprayed blood gives any indication of what actually went on. Story has a good premise (that weirdos are the result of what happened to them during childhood) but that's about it. In short, the film could have upped its ante but it didn't.

The Infamous Dr. Lamb (Caution Before Viewing)
Simon Yam Tat-Wah portrays the title character (not a doctor), an insane maniac who does things to women (living and dead) that are better left undescribed. This early 1990s movie is an "infamous" Category III title from Hong Kong. Danny Lee (the prototypical "cop" from tons of HK cop and triad flicks) plays the inspector in charge of solving the case and getting a confession (i.e., beating the suspect up until he confesses).

I don't like the idea of labeling anything as "sick" or "twisted," but if I were to, this would be the movie about which to use those terms (and I've seen and can easily stomach a lot of these Category III flicks).

What can one say about this movie? I'd put this one in the "has to be seen to be believed" category, but then that might be seen as a recommendation, and I can't recommend this one.

If you dislike violence and nudity thrown together, avoid this at all costs. If you think jokes about severed bodily parts are in poor taste, feel free to pass. However, if you are a fan of HK Category III movies, don't mind gore, extreme violence toward women, have enjoyed HK police procedurals/confession beating stories, and like Simon Yam and/or Danny Lee, well, how can I stop you? Up there with "The Untold Story" for least-likely HK movie that I would re-visit. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another comic interpretation movie
During a time when comic interpret movie was common in the 1996/97 era, this was one of the by-product. I think this is a pretty bad movie in general and it just really wasn't executed well. The plot is based on the comic Red Light District comic with Playman Man (played by Michael Tao) vs. But Bit Wah (played by Simon Yam). There were two hot female lead, Chimney Yao and Shi Chi but the story was poor and the entire story is rather incomplete. This one is defn not worth the money for but if you enjoy comic intrepretation movie, you might enjoy this one. ... Read more