Hard boiled

I can’t remember if I watched ”The Killer” first or “Hard boiled”  first but one thing for sure, they served as my introduction to the modern day “Chinese” movies. 

Just like their Kung Fu counterparts, they took action movies to another level; little did I know at that stage that it was the same director- Mr. John Woo.

John Woo introduced me to the two handed gun fights and it was one that stuck to my teenage memory. No wonder when I saw it again in Hollywood: Hard Target, Broken Arrow and Face Off, it was no longer a novelty.

John Woo brought his usual trademarks to this classic. The two handed gun battles, the slow motion action sequences and mobile action scene; this was exemplified by the scene, in which the protagonist was sliding down the staircase and shooting at the same time. The action was what we will say at this end of the world,” Na correct action”.

Chow Yun Fat played the role of the protagonist as a cop who  lost his partner in a gun battle with criminals led by a local gang lord. Yun Fat was now obsessed with bringing the gang Lord to book to pay for his partner’s death.

The movie ended with the famous 30 minute hospital gun battle. Okay maybe not up to 30 minutes but you catch my drift.