| Embarrassing for both production company Mandarin films and quite competent action director Tony Leung Siu-Hung who arguably has done more effective work as a director when exploring other genres (the horror flick Vendetta chief among them). Here we have a Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia set Lethal Weapon rip-off but without any effective chemistry between leads Jade Leung and Anita Lee or any edge. Some early imagery of action and violence are effective and at least on one occasion the gorgeous Lee looks badass. But drowning the flick in clichés, poor direction and excessive behaviour such as a bad guy henchman with a steel hand and Leung hanging from a helicopter during the climax simply doesn't elevate Satin Steel to any worthy level. Coupled with the fact that Kenneth Chan as the boyfriend of Anita's character is an annoying, dopey inclusion, plot holes of equal grave annoyance (Leung and Lee seemingly has no police support from anywhere) and that Tony does no inspired action, dud is the key word. |
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