Review: A talented Vincent Zhao stars in The Blacksheep Affair, a Hong Kong action film that tries to answer the burning question, "How can we keep both Beijing and worldwide action fans happy with a topical martial arts film?" The answer is they can't, at least not in 1998 and not in this film.

Nothing stinks worse than to see a dramatic, reality-based action film flippantly gloss over details and offer heavy wire fu. The Blacksheep Affair begins in China as military special agent Arthur Dong (Vincent Zhao) takes down airline hijackers. Reminiscent of Passenger 57, the scene is rushed and badly conceived. Never mind though, its just a precursor to more sloppiness and bad acting to come. As punishment for reckless behavior, Dong is transferred to the Eastern European state of Lavernia... Lavernia? The last time I checked, Lavernia was a town in Texas. Shortly after arriving, Dong immediately witnesses several murders and nabs the culprit following a subway fight that looks as if it inspired a certain fight scene in The Matrix (1999). The killer's name is Keizo Mishima (Andrew Lin), a radical cult leader described in the film as the man responsible for the Tokyo subway gas attack. If that's not enough for sketchy current events tie-ins, there is Dong's girlfriend Tammy (Shu Qi) who fled China after the Tiananmen Square uprising. She meets up with Dong and is essentially branded a traitor to her homeland for leaving because she feared for her own safety. But never fear for she's eventually pardoned by her fellow countrymen for her grievous crimes. I wouldn't spend so much time on this plot point if the filmmakers didn't make it the central theme that binds our lovebirds, apart from some random memories of a warn and fuzzy shared childhood.

As the cult leader's followers begin a terror campaign to force his release, a corrupt Lavernian minister linked to Keizo attempts to have him assassinated. Dong and a small team of soldiers are ironically charged with protecting him. What follows is an explosive shootout on the road and a climatic fight within the Chinese embassy as Dong battles cult members and the Lavernian military who have surrounded the grounds.

If the blatant nationalism doesn't turn you off, the acting will. Zhao lacks charisma, but his martial arts skills at least provide a good reason for him to be onscreen. Andrew Lin as a villain with a god complex is the most colorful character, but his performance is over-the-top and two-dimensional. Everyone else is really, really terrible. If you didn't like Shu Qi's questionable acting before, your opinion surely won't change after this film. The worst offense is committed by the gweilo who plays the villainous minister. He looks dazed and confused as he awkwardly delivers his lines. It doesn't help any of the Caucasian actors that they are all poorly dubbed in English, while supposedly in an Eastern European country I might add.

With nothing even remotely interesting presented in the story or characters, it's left to the action to provide the entertainment. Ching Siu-tung is certainly up to the challenge of crafting some knockout fights and stunts, yet they still fall flat without having compelling reasons for being. In terms of screen fighting skill, Zhao is equal to Jet Li and Wu Jing. His dynamic form and legwork are spectacular. Unfortunately, it's these same skills that hurt the action in this film. Siu-tung frequently puts Zhao on a wire and this turns him into a comic book character which is completely out of step with the story. Yet removed from the story, the choreography is top notch, especially a wild sword duel between Zhao and Lin towards the end.

Lin makes a big entrance for his first Hong Kong feature film. Although not a big martial arts actor, he's very physical and out-acts everyone else in the film despite having little to work with. His prison shower brawl is arguably the best fight in the film for its brutality. There is quite a bit of brutality in the film, mostly from bloody gunplay that is typically excessive.

As the political actioner that it tries to be, The Blacksheep Affair is laughable thanks to its cornball acting and simplistic story. The dramatic and romantic elements are all cringe-worthy. In terms of action, it's inconsistent and there's nothing to see here that hasn't already been done in previous Hong Kong films. For every good martial arts move, there's a bad explosive effect or a gratuitous wirework leap that belongs in a wuxia film. Fans of Ching Siu-tung's excellent wirework direction might still find something of value here, but they're better off looking to films that pair his fantasy style with an appropriate story such as Shaolin Soccer or Hero.

Yim Dong (Man Cheuk Chiu) is a Chinese military agent. In the film’s spectacular opening (which is almost worth the price of the DVD), the maniacally sadistic terrorist Kiang (Xin Xin Xiong) eradicates an entire group of military forces, proceeding to execute their commander in front of a crowd gathered below the plane by firing one shot clean through his head. He then demands fuel for an immediate take off; the price of defying this command is the total massacre of his hostages. Dong and his partner are sent in, but Dong’s partner is killed in an ambush. In retaliation, Dong rushes aboard the plane and brutally executes Kiang against orders. As punishment for his subordination and vigilante-like justice, Dong is sent to work at the Chinese embassy in Lavernia (a fictional ex-USSR nation, ripe with anti-Asian prejudice). Here the film takes its first turn for the worse – Lavernia is full of emotionless Caucasians who, at the time of filming, presumably spoke Russian. However, whatever their original language was, it is covered up with some truly atrocious English dubbing. A mob that tries to be intimidating is cheesy, and all of the manipulative, manly, and trigger happy military officials sound just like Richard Simmons. But I digress. Upon his arrival, Dong and his new partner are witness to a massive assassination of Interpol agents. This sets up the first major martial arts scene, and it will not disappoint. Dong expects to be punished for his public display, but because the man finally apprehended is discovered to be the leader of a Japanese religious cult, Keizo Mishima (Hoi Lin), he is praised. After a strange display of Chinese pride in the form of a group of males drinking, singing, and dancing, Dong “happens” to run into his old love, Chan Pun (Qi Shu). She left for Lavernia years before to escape the violence and oppression that she endured in China. The film progresses, growing more implausible and laughable as the fight scenes grow in frequency and intensity. It is a plot clichéd in every way, though many of the clichés are handled rather well.

Allun Lam does a commendable job with a weak script. While his handling of action scenes seems clumsy at times, he usually injects a bit of artistic flair into areas where most action films feel rather visually dull. Even some of the film’s more laughable scenes (those in the office of the Minister of Defense stand out in my mind) are actually very pleasing to look at. Lam makes good use of the lavish locations and architecture available to him. Light reflects off of thin coats of water on the ancient brick streets, producing a beautiful effect. I’ve been disappointed in my search for other films directed by him – as far as I can see, this is his only film. He certainly deserves much better material for his next cinematic attempt.

The performances here vary greatly. Man Cheuk Chiu gives a decent performance in the lead role, but is obviously there only for his physical abilities. In the more demanding scenes he appears somewhat flat, but never painfully so. Hoi Lin does rather well in giving a deliciously stylized performance as the leader of a sadistic Japanese religious sect. Sometimes his performance seems embarrassingly over-done, but for the most part the character works well as a larger-than-life figure. Shu Qi is beautiful here, even more so than usual, but I wish she were given more to work with in her role. What she has she does well, and it’s very painful to watch scenes where Lavernian people attack her, thinking she is Japanese. This is painful not because of her character, though; it is painful because she is giving a moving, believeable performance filled with fear and confusion, while those around her look like dazed, inhuman drones screaming in joyous voices “Break that Japanese girl into pieces!” In fact, all of the English acting here is terrible. Probably the worst I’ve ever had to endure in a Hong Kong film. It’s even worse than Lost & Found, though not by much. It’s even worse because the English doesn’t fit anyone’s lips. Presumably, the actors were filmed speaking some dialect of Russian and later dubbed over by terrible English actors. Either way, the English “performances” reduce the film from being a pretty average action film, its other faults would have been almost completely made up for with the action, to a disastrous laughing stock.

But this is a Hong Kong action film, and action is the key word. How does the film hold up in that regard? On the whole, very well. Rarely do five or ten minutes go by without some impressive fight, gun battle, or explosion. The fights almost always make up in intensity for what they lack in continuity, and there are a couple of unforgettable action moments, such as the sword battle towards the end. While the action can’t make up for the film’s weaker parts, they are strong enough to save the movie from complete ruin. The most irritating thing about Blacksheep Affair is that, in spite of it’s many quality individual elements, it fails on the whole due to the weaknesses of the major Lavernian characters and society. Recommended only for those with excess money or to whom action is all that is needed for a worthwhile film going experience.

The local police take the credit for Mishima's recapture and Yim begins to settle into his new life meeting members of the local Chinese community at a bar owned by Lone (Ken Tsang). He also bumps into his former lover, Pan (Shu Qi), from who he was separated after Tiananmen Square. She has also relocated to Lavernia (what are the chances of that happening ?).

Meanwhile Mishima is in prison awaiting transfer back to Japan and threatens to embarrass the government as it was due to the patronage of corrupt officials that he found his way to Lavernia in the first place. To avoid a 'scene' the Minister for Defence decides to have Mishima killed in prison but he slaughters his would be attackers in a gloriously brutal fight. When the Japanese arrive to collect Mishima they are gunned down by members of the Red Sun sect who follow this atrocity with a series of terrorist attacks around the city. This includes a well constructed sequence where an attack on the Chinese ambassador is interjected with cuts of Mishima scrawling an iconic symbol on his cell wall, although I didn't quite follow why the Chinese ambassador was a target. The Lavernian government then blackmail the Chinese into escorting Mishima by refusing to give supplies to starving Chinese immigrant boat people who have taken up residence in the city's harbour.

At this point I gave up on the plot and decided to just enjoy the action. Luckily this is the main selling point for the film with Ching Siu-tung's wire work looking as fantastic as ever. The first set to between Yim and Mishimo in an underground train station is brilliantly executed while the final showdown delivers everything that fans of the genre have come to expect. The action culminates in a frenzied sword fight that has to be seen to be believed.

Despite the brilliant action the film is let down badly by the daft plot and terrible dubbing of the English dialogue exchanges. When a blind busker in the subway comments that he can hear people dancing, when it is in fact Yim and Mishimo fighting, it nearly ruins the whole scene and the radio DJ later in the movie is particularly awful. Oh, and the less said about the song and dance routine in Lone's bar the better.

The performances however are quite convincing with Andrew Lin stealing the show with his chilling portrayal of an evil calculating killer. Ken Tsang also turns in his usual good performance, he must be well used to playing villains by now.

After everything I'd heard about 'Black Sheep Affair' I was a little disappointed. The amazing action just about rescues the film from an unbelievable story but all the time I was watching it I just kept thinking 'this could have been so good'.

The Blacksheep Affair was a big disappointment. There's a lot going on wrong in the movie, but for brevity's sake, I'll boil it down to a couple of main points.

After seeing the horrible sequel Once Upon A Time in China V, I dreaded seeing another film with Zhao Wen-Zhou (except for The Blade). However, I am a guy who likes to give second chances. Well, he, without a shadow of a doubt, redeemed himself in a major way!!! I mean, many people have said this was one of his best films and I couldn't agree more. What did Ching Siu-Tung think? Have Zhao literally kick his way into the fans and that's exactly what he did. Not only did he surprise me, but it was newcomer Andrew Lin that really shocked me. I heard he was not even a martial artist, but he was really impressive as the evil Keizo Mishima. he didn't really talk much, except for this one scene in prison, but he looked great. Shu Qi looks great (like when doesn't she look great - ok maybe in the beginning of Gorgeous - but that's besides the point) as Pan. Ken Wong didn't do much as Yim Dong's buddy. Ken Tsang was great as the rogue bar owner Lone. You know what, do yourself a favor. If you're the type who likes Zhao Wen-Zhou and are willing to give him a second chance, see this film!!!

The local police take the credit for Mishima's recapture and Yim begins to settle into his new life meeting members of the local Chinese community at a bar owned by Lone (Ken Tsang). He also bumps into his former lover, Pan (Shu Qi), from who he was separated after Tiananmen Square. She has also relocated to Lavernia (what are the chances of that happening ?).

Meanwhile Mishima is in prison awaiting transfer back to Japan and threatens to embarrass the government as it was due to the patronage of corrupt officials that he found his way to Lavernia in the first place. To avoid a 'scene' the Minister for Defence decides to have Mishima killed in prison but he slaughters his would be attackers in a gloriously brutal fight. When the Japanese arrive to collect Mishima they are gunned down by members of the Red Sun sect who follow this atrocity with a series of terrorist attacks around the city. This includes a well constructed sequence where an attack on the Chinese ambassador is interjected with cuts of Mishima scrawling an iconic symbol on his cell wall, although I didn't quite follow why the Chinese ambassador was a target. The Lavernian government then blackmail the Chinese into escorting Mishima by refusing to give supplies to starving Chinese immigrant boat people who have taken up residence in the city's harbour.

At this point I gave up on the plot and decided to just enjoy the action. Luckily this is the main selling point for the film with Ching Siu-tung's wire work looking as fantastic as ever. The first set to between Yim and Mishimo in an underground train station is brilliantly executed while the final showdown delivers everything that fans of the genre have come to expect. The action culminates in a frenzied sword fight that has to be seen to be believed.

Despite the brilliant action the film is let down badly by the daft plot and terrible dubbing of the English dialogue exchanges. When a blind busker in the subway comments that he can hear people dancing, when it is in fact Yim and Mishimo fighting, it nearly ruins the whole scene and the radio DJ later in the movie is particularly awful. Oh, and the less said about the song and dance routine in Lone's bar the better.

The performances however are quite convincing with Andrew Lin stealing the show with his chilling portrayal of an evil calculating killer. Ken Tsang also turns in his usual good performance, he must be well used to playing villains by now.

After everything I'd heard about 'Black Sheep Affair' I was a little disappointed. The amazing action just about rescues the film from an unbelievable story but all the time I was watching it I just kept thinking 'this could have been so good'.