Born Wild: Reviews

Daniel Wu finally gets to star in a film which sees him fight. Although an accomplished martial artist Daniel has not yet been given a decent 'fighting' role. 'Born Wild' is not a martial arts film, however. The fight scenes are gritty but with more attention paid to style than technique. They also do not dominate to the exclusion of any plot development and its a film that allows the actors to really bring their characters to life. So its more than just an action film then.

When Tide (Daniel Wu) learns of his brother Tan's (Louis Koo) suspicious death he becomes determined to find out more about the circumstances. While searching through his brother's apartment he meets Sandy (Joe Koo), Tans girlfriend, who introduces him to Mann (Patrick Tam). Mann was Tan's former best friend and partner who recounts the events of Tan's last days to Tide. Told in flashback, its a dark tale of gangs and underground fighting and Tide, unsuprisingly, wants to follow in his brothers footsteps to get revenge. He can only do this with help from Mann.

Great care is taken to develop the relationships between the principal actors. When Tan and Mann first meet they are enemies, Tan having just stolen Sandy away from the other, but grow to become best of friends with that honourable bond thing common to Hong Kong action movies. Also while Tide and Sandy share a common grief they also share an attraction for one another which is developed with subtlety through the movie. There's also a fair amount of introspection on Tan's part as he comes to terms with a few home truths about his family that have remained buried since Tan left home at age 18. Some have said that the film drags too long but I think without this there wouldn't have been the same emotional impact in the ending. All actors handle their roles ably and I was most impressed with Daniel Wu who, up to now, I've only seen in action roles that really didn't require much acting. This is quite a meaty role for him although Louis Koo's rebellious Tan is probably the most interesting character. Patrick Tam again provides solid support hopefully it won't be too long before we see him take the lead in a major production.

And just a quick word about the fight scenes. The fights are gritty although not quite realistic and, bloody as they are, there's still an element of trying to make them look cool rather than down to earth street fights. Although these scenes were enjoyable I found myself far more interested in what was happening to the characters, especially in the closing sequences.

Dark, brooding, and stylish -- three words that fit this tale of underground boxing and estranged brotherhood. It does not fully connect with every punch, but director Patrick Leung comes close. One imperfection is the selection of the stars. As noted below, the supporting turns are better than the leads. So it's a bit distracting to follow the less-interesting characters. Another imperfection is the script; the writers apparently do not understand fully how fraternal twins act. Although the synopsis on the DVD itself claims the two brothers have different personalities, that's not how it's written or performed. For example, more emphasis on how Tide's life had been affected by the estrangement with his brother would have been welcome. And some plot threads are mysteriously left hanging.

Still, the strengths of Patrick Leung shine through: brief montages build mood, the shifting between present and past is handled skillfully through the use of flashbacks and intercutting, slow motion and unique camera placements are judiciously utilized. The script, though flawed, does make it clear that Tide's relationships with Sandy and Mann are different than their respective relationships with Tan Ho. The shadowy settings lean heavily on burnished colors that are beautifully captured by director of photography Joe Chan. Ringo Fun served as art director; Richard Hung choreographed the action scenes; and Chan Ki Hop did the editing. Chiu Tsang Hei and Anthony Chue composed the entrancing musical score, which leans heavily on guitars, synthesizers, and the occasional techno-beat.

Louis Koo Tin-Lok looks the part of the brooding Tan Ho, but he fails to embody the character with any real sense of danger or edge. Daniel Wu is marginally better as the quieter Tide. The problem is that neither one is able to stand up to the extremely stylish backgrounds. What's needed are actors with more physicality, strength, and personality -- someone like Patrick Tam Yiu-Man. He captures the wild and exciting side of Mann on his way up with Tan Ho, but also nails a desperate uncertainty in his scenes with Tide. Nearly as good is Jo Kuk Tso-Lam as Sandy. Felix Lok Wrath White and Park Ju Chun play the two chief opponents of Tan Ho. Also featured are Bai Ying, Chang Kuo Chu, Phyllis Quek, and Arthur Wong.