Hunt the Wicked

My husband and I watched this film for Lunar New Year, it's not our usual fair...but I guess it was decent for what it was. The main characters were two individuals on opposite side of the law who were going after the same criminal mastermind/organization who was involved in a massive drug trade and using humans as drug mules. The drug was called "spider" and the brains behind the operation was none other than the mayor. A tenacious police detective is on the case, but struggling within the confines of his job and it is not until he reluctantly pairs up with a former soldier turned vigilante and his team that he starts getting results.

There were a couple of things that really struck me in this film...one was how dirty the water surrounding the city was. I don't know where this was filmed, but I have never seen water that filthy in my life. (I know I am spoiled spending large amounts of time in the Caribbean and in my beloved Pacific Northwest.) There was a scene that I think was meant to be sexy, I am not it's targeted audience, as a young female arises from the water in her bathing suit flinging back her hair...but I was so distracted by the filthy water surrounding her that far from being appealing, it was making me slightly nauseous. The film itself at one point pokes fun of the dirty water with the mayor doing a live tv segment to promote his clean water filtration system and they have him drink a glass live on air...which he follows by vomiting it up and then forcing his staff member whose idea it was to drink it and vomit as well.

The circular story with the police officer was interesting. I was fascinated by some of the unique weapons like a retractable knife that was kept sharp enough to filet fish and these electrical tridents. Not really a recommendation from me, but an interesting watch.

Hunt the Wicked is the newest martial arts, action release from Well Go USA coming out of China. While this is a well paced police thriller about political corruption and drug trafficking, those themes are just vehicles to provide some of the best and most explosive martial arts fight choreography in recent years. This is is not to imply that plot and script are not sound; they are. This is an engaging police thriller, aside from its dynamic martial arts action. The synergy of plot elements and martial arts action make the sum even greater than its respective parts.

One of the most exciting aspects of the film is that it stars two of the most exciting martial arts action stars in the world today, both hailing from China. Andy On starred in two of the best martial arts movies of last year, 100 Yards and Blind War. Tse Miu has dominated the screen in the Two Eye for an Eye action films, as well as Ip Man: The Awakening. Either one would have been a laudable choice to star in Hunt the Wicked. Together, they elevate the film from a good martial arts film to a great one.

The Direction, by Huo Suiqiang, and cinematography in the movie are really very good. The movie has a sharp visual element and much like, Blind War, also directed by Huo Suiqiang, there is a Hong King style of shooting that keeps the viewer visually engaged throughout. This movie starts fast and gets faster. There is no down time.

The jewel in the film's crown is the fight choreography. We say this is a must see for martial arts fans because the martial arts fighting, weapons, gun play, and action choreography are top notch. There are some very good fights throughout this one. The fight scenes between the two main stars are unmatched in recent years, and the unique nature of the weapons' choreography in one of the climactic "one v. One" fight scenes is worth watching again, and again. I see the possibility of many film reel clips coming from that scene alone.

The film has an interesting plot, and an unusual plot twist. Much more in the Korean filmmaking nature there is a greater blurring of the lines between the good guys and the bad guys in this one than in most Chinese made films. The nuance works well because of the gravitas of the cast; supporting, as well as main.

The film tackles many themes relevant to Chinese society, including the powerful anti-drug mantra that permeates Chinese media and social constructs.

While this film was made for the Domestic Chinese market, its martial arts action themes and fighting lend itself to a worldwide audience.

The film is in Mandarin with English Subtitles.