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| Tin Bo (Jordan Chan Siu-Chun), Lok (Alex Fong Chung-Sun), Elsa (Hera Lam Bik-Yun), Chi-Wai (Chapman To Man-Chat) and Tong (Ken Wong Hap-Hei) are a gang of highly successful con-artists who often work together on flawless scams. Whilst Tin Bo obviously enjoys his work, Lok is more dispassionate, cool and less trusting, even with Tin Bo whom he has known for 20 years. When they hear that Cow (Simon Lui Yu-Yeung), once known as the 'The King of Ghosts' has returned to Hong Kong to swindle a large company, the group reform to gain a share of this action, banking on the belief that Cow will not wish to be exposed and let them get away with it...that is until one of their group is murdered.
Director Billy Chung keeps the pace going well in this low-key thriller, making good use of cinematography and lighting. The camera focuses on individuals more than groups, often on the reaction of another character rather than the who is speaking. When the con artists meet, the lighting is often lurid and extreme, all of which accentuate the distance between the characters and lack of close relationship with each other. This adds to the atmosphere of the whole film and allows you to become involved with each one individually.
Jordan Chan and Alex Fong are especially good in this film, each being able to use their strengths as actors to give their role depth and encourage audience sympathy. The rest of the cast also does well in keeping the characters fresh and interesting, even though you don't feel you know them as well as Tin Bo and Lok, perhaps a deliberate reflection of the internal dynamic of the con group.
I definitely gained more from watching this film a second and third time, and is defiantly one that I recommended if you enjoy a twisting plot, good acting and something just a little bit different. |
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| The second in the JORDAN CHAN "team of Hong Kong super-cons" movies and probably the least enjoyable of the three I'm reviewing for you. Now, let me state that it's not a really bad movie, but it does get somewhat boring waiting for the action to happen. And that's a major no-no when it comes to a movie of this sort. There's the build-up, yes, then the action, then the major plot twist, a little down time, then some more action, and finally, the ending. That's the pay-off, right? Unfortunately, director BILLY CHUNG just takes too damn long to get things going and by the time it does, it's too late unless you're really a fan of either JORDAN CHAN, ALEX FONG (also in DOWNTOWN TORPEDOS), or SIMON LUI (co-star with Chan in THE KILLER). Actor KEN WONG (also in THE KILLER and DOWNTOWN TORPEDOS) co-stars along with female lead, SONIJA KWOK. This story differs a little than the previous movie as our group finishes their latest successful heist and begin the hunt for the next high dollar target. They plot and scheme and finally decide on a big corporate franchise and after getting the prep-work done, they start the con in motion. But this time, they discover that they're too late and another big time thief, the "King of Ghost" (SIMON LUI), has already settled in for the score. Suddenly their cover is blown and after their members start to get killed, it's time for revenge and discover the how's and why's for their betrayal, which is (always) more than meets the eye. Again, I can't go too much into the story because I might give away important spoilers should you choose to watch this but I know what you're probably thinking by now, it actually sounds pretty okay (a typical crime/caper type of flick, right?) and you wouldn't be wrong to think that either. But for me, this movie was just more of the same old formula that didn't really bring anything exciting to the table and it got just a little too wordy (sometimes a real pain with all the subtitles that have to be read) at times. Ranked... Thumbs down! |
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