INVISIBLE TARGET

Alternate Chinese Title: Nan er ben se

Country: Hong Kong, China

Release Year: 2007

Genre: Old School Style Hong Kong Action

Language Format: Cantonese

Running Time: 130 Minutes

Cast: 

Nicholas Tse

Jaycee Chan

Shawn Yue

Jacky Wu

Lisa Lu

Andy On

Candy Liu

Elanne Kwong

Sam Lee

Ken Lo

Director:

Benny Chan

I tell you it's always nice to see an old friend. Have you ever had a friend that was so cool, that when they went away you'd always hoped that someday they'll return. When they do, you are so happy, and ecstatic you didn't know what to do with yourself, except of course be happy?!

Well the friend that I, myself am referring to is the old school Hong Kong Actioner from way back in the days. The days of watching an old school Jackie Chan flick like the POLICE STORY sagas where the stunts are crazy, and downright dangerous that you can't have enough of. It's those type of stunts that made Jackie Chan world famous in the first place. Also goes for the many other non-Chan Hong Kong Action films of the 80's, 90's, and few from this decade thus far.

Let's face it, as of late Japanese Horror has inspired the many wannabe horror slash scary flicks of the past years starting with the RING. While this isn't necessary a bad thing, the formula when used negatively can be tiresome after a while. While I am a huge Japanese Horror fan for many years, even I get tired of the "long hair effect", or the "creepy noises created by natural household items" or the dreaded "throat sound" made famous by the Japanese Horror classic JU-ON. Which of course has also been remade in the U.S.A thankfully though by the same director of the Japanese original. 

So upon hearing about, and finally viewing INVISIBLE TARGET. I can officially announce to the whole entire world that I am very happy to see the wonderful formula that is "old school Hong Kong action". There are so many things to see in INVISIBLE TARGET, wonderful things such as car crashes, the always exciting chase scenes done on both on ground, and the very dangerous chase between sky scrapers, people getting thrown through glass doors, windows, and fixtures that ends all shattered covering the actors or stuntmen in the process, lots and lots of explosions, not to mention scenes where the actors jumps off from 5 story buildings, and being shown hitting trees on the ways while landing on the solid ground concrete, and last but definitely not the least, fight scenes, and the always nerve shattering sounds of gunshots from all of the gunplay action that litters this flick.

It has everything. Love story although not too much which is great. I hate action flicks that tends to swerve off from the original idea of an action flick, and gets boggled by a mostly stupid side love story. Intrigue, crime, drugs, betrayal, pretty chinese girls, and just plain crazy!!!

This flick will no doubt be on my recommendations list for years to come, it's one of those movies that wakes you up, and reminds you why you watch Hong Kong Action films in the first place. Don't miss it!

DOG BITE DOG

Alternate Chinese title: Gau ngao gau

Country: Hong Kong, China [Hong Kong-Japan-Thailand Co-Production]

Release Year: 2006

Genre: Psychological Thriller / Crime / Action

Language Format: Cantonese

Running Time: 108 minutes

Cast:

Edison Chen
Sam Lee
Suet Lam
Siu-Fai Cheung
Yiu-Cheung Lai
Ka Wah Lam
Weiying Pei

Director:

Pou-Soi Cheang

There is only one word to describe DOG BITE DOG, only one and that it is unforgiving.

It has been a long time coming for this type of genre to finally hit hong kong cinema, and I do hope that it becomes a trend so that we may enjoy more of it. Of course every asian cinema conoussier will always welcome a hong kong actioner whether its martial arts, gunplay action, to romantic comedies but to have someone direct a hong kong produced movie that will make any Takashi Miike fan happy can only mean that yes indeed hong kong cinema is evolving in a positive direction.

DOG BITE DOG is a breath of fresh air while it is not for everyone due to its very raw, and gritty look at hong kong's seedy underworld, not to mention in your face violence filled with blood, and gore is enough to make any squeamish viewers run for the nearest exit. I forgot to mention up front use of drugs, corruption, and incest. This is the type of movie that will make you....no, that will grab your attention and make you watch the world that's been going on before our ignorant eyes.

It deals with just about every evil possibilities that can happen in this world, the filmakers force feeds audience and it makes us all aware that just when you thought it can't get any worse...unfortunately it does!

Though on the surface the movie seems easy to understand, it is anything but! The characters in DOG BITE DOG are all complex individuals that would rather act on animalistic instincts instead of human emotions. Then again perhaps it is the human emotions that makes us humans act animal-like!

One thing is for sure, DOG BITE DOG will definitely leave massive bruises on your senses!

To compare it to a Takashi Miike flick will not do it justice but it will give you an excellent idea of what expect while watching DOG BITE DOG, and that is to strap on your seat belt, hold on tight, and expect the unexpected because pardon my french...you will be knocked out of your fuckin mind!!

I am not even going in to detail how well the actors played their parts because as far as I'm concerned they all deserve Golden Horse Awards! It is refreshing to see Sam Lee back in action again after his hiatus no one else could have played the demented detective as skillfully as he did, same goes for Edison Chen. The cast is absolutely brilliant!

DOG BITE DOG is an exceptional piece of movie making magic at its most unforgiving indeed another one of Hong Kong cinema's crowning achievements.

In short, if you're still reading up to this point do yourself a favor and see this flim. Period!