On the Run's plot sounds like many of the "heroic bloodshed" (cops-and-robebrs action/drama) movies relased in Hong Kong during the 1980's. What sets it apart is Yuen Biao. Like Jackie Chan's turn in Crime Story, On the Run is a much darker and less action-heavy film than fans of Yuen's work might be used to -- but that's not a bad thing. Yuen handles his role with aplomb. Even though he is not widely regarded as a great actor, Yuen shows a great deal of range here, whether it's tenderness with his daughter or rage when he initially deals with the assassin. Yuen's work is very believable and even touching in parts, which helps the viewer get through some of the slower parts of the film.

But don't get the wrong idea -- On the Run isn't just all talk. Even though there isn't much in the way of extended action sequences, what is in On the Run is done quite well, which makes sense since both Sammo Hung and Yuen Wah worked as action directors on this production. Even though some viewers will likely be disappointed at the almost total lack of hand-to-hand fighting, the gunplay and "chopper" (huge knives) attacks displayed here are quite solid and pretty bloody as well. We're not talking Story of Ricky territory, but there is a good amount of claret spilled during the proceedings. Some choice bits include people getting shot in the eye socket or through the hand, as well as an amputation via chopper which will either make you cheer or make you cringe, depending on your tolerance of ultra-violence.

Alas, there are a few problems with On the Run. As I hinted to before, there are parts where the exposition gets to be a bit much. It's not a matter of the acting or script, but rather the pacing. The movie could have used another couple of action scenes to punch things up a notch, particularly during the first half of the movie. Also, like many Hong Kong movies made during this period, the production feels like it was rushed. In particular, the editing is sloppy at times; some of the shots don't match up with the previous one, which becomes annoying during the action scenes. The soundtrack could have used some more polish, though this could be partly due to Mega Star's remix of the movie for its' DVD release. Overall, though, On the Run comes recommended to Hong Kong movie fans (both old and new, since this seems to be one of the lesser-known pictures in Yuen Biao's filmography) who are tired of the half-ass output coming out of HK nowadays and want to check out something from the "golden age".

Cop Heung Ming (Yuen Biao from Prodigal Son) meets his ex-wife, a narcotics inspector, late on night in a restaurant to discuss whether they might have a future together. Afer he leaves the restaurant Yiu (Pat Ha from Princess D) , a hired assassin enters and brutally executes her victim, Heung Ming's ex-wife. A crushed Heung Ming decided to go after the woman but when he catches her he realises that both his and her life is in grave danger. The people who hired Yiu are out to silence them both and will do anything to achive that goal...

Alfred Cheung (director and star of Paper Marriage) has here directed a thriller that is quite faithful to the formula set by the genre itself. I often talk about clichés and how they can hurt a film and while there are a number of those present in this movie, they are handled with grace and don't bring the movie down at all. Alfred clearly had a clear vision of what this movie should be and one of it's greatest strengths is the element of surprise contained throughout. Ok, some moments you could figure out but combined with such a dark and grim tone, some scenes feels like you're being smacked in the face many times over. We are forced to absorb the events in this world and are taken on a journey that may or may not end happily.

The beginning is very moody and atmospheric but still done in a simple way by Alfred. Even though it's done that way, we're hooked from the beginning. The mood mentioned feels dark but when the brutal murder at the restaurant takes place, we're truly shocked and the movie has a firm grip on the viewer. This scene is indeed very graphic and the movie has, what seemed to me, a very realistic approach to the way violence is depicted (maybe not towards the end though). In other words, no John Woo-esque balletic shootouts here! Some viewers may feel slightly disturbed by the mood and the graphic violence and even though some characters come and go fast, their demise still packs quite a punch either emotionally or on the shock scale. Movies of today feeds ut with violence as entertainment but once in a while you need a dose of reality presented here in On The Run. It works as a reminder of the horrible nature of violent acts. Not that this movie should and will be used as an educational film to showcase my points but compare a light action movie like Gen-X Cops to this one and you'll see where I'm coming from. To close off the directing remarks I have to say that Alfred's simple but solid way of doing dialogue scenes also really elevates On The Run since we need to listen to what's being said, not run around our characters with the camera. His best work in terms of this is probably in most scenes with Yuen Biao and Pat Ha.

The movie feels like a low budget project but Alfred uses that fact and creates, together with cinematographer Wong Wang Kei, a very gritty look to the film. There are strong colours in there but they are mostly courtesy of the bright lights of Hong Kong. I'm nog big fan of shooting with distinctive colours in a contemporary and modern setting but when they are part of the environment it works better. Other than that it's a dead and colourless palette on display and the movies theme and mood are nicely enhanced by the work of Wong Wang Kei. The score by Violet Lam is used sparringly but also creates great tension and excitement whenever it kicks in.

Yuen Biao will always be known as one of the kung-fu brothers of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. While Jackie aand Sammo have managed to break into the market as leading men, Yuen has not been as lucky. It's nothing wrong with his presence and charisma but not all cinema audiences appreciate real talent. In On The Run he really showed that he had what it took to carry a movie set in the modern day. He only relies minimally on his kicking and punching skills and instead brings to the screen a marvellous performance. Heung Ming is a pure victim and is unwillingly drawn into this hunt with the killer off a loved one of his. We as an audience know he's hurting but he has to prioritize certain things in order to survive and one of them is not to take revenge on Yiu. Heung Ming is written with enough depth for a thriller and through the words and Yuen Biao's acting, the character is allowed to breathe more. This is THE best role I've seen Yuen Biao undertake outside of the kung-fu genre. Many thinks Yuen's best scene is the heartbreaking one with his daughter towards the end but I loved the scene when he's talking on the phone and realising who is after him and Yiu. Just watch his face as it goes numb when he realises...

Pat Ha's role is also fairly complex and well performed. From the beginning we think Yiu is totally devoid of emotion and while that's partly true, the pairing with Heung Ming and his daughter really brings out the sympathetic side in her character. She is still determined regarding her reasons for doing what she did but since she has drawn innocents into the web of violence, she must defend them and herself. Pat Ha is a great looking woman but has a tough aspect to her character that makes it believeable when she goes into action. That's not an easy combination to pull off but Pat Ha does so. Charlie Chin (from My Lucky Stars) is the main villain of the piece and I was unsure of whether he was going to work as a menacing threat to our main characters. No need to worry, Charlie finds, in his acting, what is needed to express the pure coldness of his character and creates quite a memorable role here.

As part of Charlie Chin's gang of henchmen we see some familiar faces to fans of Hong kong cinema, namely Yuen Wah (bad guy from Eastern Condors), Lo Lieh (who had a nice role in Miracles) and Philip Ko (also in Eastern Condors and several other prolific productions of the 80s). While this gang in certain scenes are scary, I mostly laughed whenever they turned up on screen. Why? Somehow I found it funny that they always turned up in group. I can't explain it really well so just watch the film and see what I mean. Sadly this trio almost kills the ending of the movie due to some horrendous overacting (particularly from Yuen Wah) but this is soon forgotten when the climactic end fight scene takes place between Yuen Biao and Charlie Chin. It's not a stylized and choreographed fight as such but more a 'fight for your life' and a really brutal one. Due to what the characters have been through, there lies genuine emotion in the air which makes it more plausible that it's executed the way it is.

This and many scenes are in short very brutal and that is what you could say of On The Run as a movie also. Alfred Cheung's movie should be watched by any fan of Hong Kong cinema but don't expect going away from it being overcomed with happy feelings.

On the trail of the killer, Ming is thrust into the limelight and framed for murder by his boss Lu, played by Charles Chin. Lu was responsible for the murder of his wife when she began to get to close to his heroin operation. When Ming encounters the woman responsible for his wife's death he is justifiably mad but when Lu's men (amongst them the fabulous Yuen Wah) come after them both they must team up to take revenge.

With stylish direction and gritty urban realism, "On the Run" is one of the most overlooked thrillers to have ever come out of Hong Kong. Few directors would have the guts to show such meaningless death and destruction without a happy ending. The story is reminiscent of "The Killer" with an assassin (Ha) teaming up with a cop (Biao) and finding common ground despite their obvious differences.

Biao gets a chance to prove his acting ability for a change as the manic cop on the run who must sit by and watch as all those close to him are brutally murdered. Ha is also excellent as the femme fatale who realises that everything has a price and all jobs mean money, no matter what the consequences. It is also nice to see Charles Chin forego his pretty boy image to play such a ruthlessly evil man with great adept.

Few fight scenes are evident and the emphasis is more on a "hit with anything you can lay on your hands on" style as Biao fights for his life. You can feel the pure pace that carries the film as the leads are placed in situations where life is not a bed of roses. Definitely not an easy film to swallow but one of the most realistic and gripping films around.