Ng poon

The Prosecutor is an interesting film, as it's actually a legal-focused thriller first and foremost, with the martial arts action coming second. I found this blend of genres to work surprisingly well, and I give Donnie props for trying something different. The movie features a phenomenal opening action sequence and an incredible climactic one too. When it comes to the action scenes, you definitely won't be disappointed.

However, the legal aspect-which makes up the majority of the film-is unfortunately a bit lacklustre and predictable. I wish the courtroom scenes had explored more of the complexities of the justice system and delivered more intense drama. It didn't help that the villain was incredibly one-dimensional.

Still, it's an entertaining action movie overall, and this film does show that Donnie knows how to handle action.

Honestly, I went to the cinema to see Donnie Yen in this movie and thoroughly enjoyed the action scenes, kung fu, and the incredibly beautiful cinematography, especially the first-person perspective.

However, while the movie excels in its action moments, it falls short in terms of storytelling, feeling slow and somewhat trivial. Many scenes may even come across as boring.

The biggest highlight and positive aspect of the movie is Donnie Yen's performance. Over time, Donnie Yen has gained a more comprehensive understanding of his cinematic identity. His increased believability and comfort with genre clichés and traditions make action fans easily believe not only that they are watching a reliable and capable star performing a role in a moderately memorable film, but also affirm the social persona of a steadfast hero.

This is definitely the best Donnie Yen film since the classic action masterpiece Flash point. What make it so great is the phenomenal cast of this film, instead of having just one Donnie Yen going solo and all action pack, this film takes the better approach of using many great actors from HK (Chi Lam, Kent Cheng, Francis Ng etc) to take care of the story, dialogue and leveling this film to be more than just an action blockbuster. In this film you can sort of see Donnie Yen age is catching up, slightly reduce the amount of action he does on scene compare to previous movies. However, he also seems to adapt from the his experience in the the Hollywood such as John Wick, the equaliser etc, that being much more environmental with his fighting style, this is fantastic when mixing it up with his own style of fighting. Also great to see he finally get rid of overly do the wing chun and be back to the MMA approach. Despite reducing the amount of action he performs on screen, the quality has just been top notch with everything he shows. The beauty of grappling is second to none in movie history and confident to say no other action choreography can match Donnie Yen's design (99% of flashy choreography in other film falls into the fake and overly use of wire category) While the grappling in this film is solid and realistic while remain eye pleasing just like Flash point. I have been inspired and trained mma for more than a decade by now, unrealistic action design is always cringe when I watch it. But if you know martial arts and grappling, this film paint a beautiful picture with is. Apart from Fash point, even Donnie's SPL and Special ID couldn't captured that master performance. This film is the first that is ever close to flash point level and definitely a better all around film. Here to say Donnie Yen's stunt team are all amazing and truly makes his work shines by a 1000 folds. And we know hard it to make something this beautiful in an action film.

When I saw the trailer to the movie, I was hyped because Donnie Yen's character looked desperate and the title suggests he needs more than his expert martial arts skills to succeed. This is what makes the movie work. In all of Donnie Yen's movie, you know he can use his fists and kicks to solve problems, so to raise the stakes,not only should there be a formidable nemesis but something that even Yen's superb fighting skills will not suffice. In The Prosecutor, Donnie Yen plays a former cop on his first case as Prosecutor and decides to investigate a possible framing of an innocent teen. Of course, he has to fight multiple henchmen and there are great fight scenes but, he still needs to find evidence and keep people alive. So that the challenge is in ensuring people live because Donnie's character can always overcome his enemies but not everyone is him. For me, balancing the action with the story worked to raise the stakes. While there are prolonged dialogues with very in your face lecturing about the duty of a Prosecutor, you can feel Yen's character's desperation because he can't do it alone. Furthermore, Yen is also emphasizing his age. His character admits he can't run after thieves anymore, and we see him taking beatings, but all the fight scenes are still intense and brutal. Yen can still move fast and deal powerful blows. However , playing and aging character, his fights are more tactical and employs use of the surroundings a lot. Yen, being the director, also allows his co star to shine in a few fight scenes. This shows that he is generous as an action star too. I would love to see more movies like this from him, where he is not only physically challenged but intellectually or emotionally challenged. Moreover, Yen consistently tries new techniques in his movies. There is the use of POV camera, to wide-screen shot over a rooftop, to the cramped space of a subway train. It's like he is using his experience in John Wick to use in the movie.

The Prosecutor is a legal crime action thriller directed by and starring Donnie Yen, reteaming with Ip Man producer Raymond Wong, and features a star-studded ensemble cast.

While it is not on par with the iconic status of the Ip Man film series, it is a modern Ip Man in spirit: Donnie Yen beating justice into a lawless world. Different robes, same job!

In its promotional trailer, it was baffling to see Donnie Yen, presumably the prosecutor in the title, holding a revolver running through a subway car like a police officer.

How would the story explain his fighting abilities and gun training? It's embarrassing to admit, but this ridiculous little hairball intrigued me for a month leading up to the film's release.

After a violent drug bust gone wrong, police officer Fok Chi-ho is disappointed with the criminal system, and quits the police force to become a government prosecutor...The answer I was looking for!

It was this precise moment ten minutes into the film, my expectations were firmly set. There was no use thinking how long it would take for a career policeman to quit, attend law school, and switch immediately to being a government prosecutor. Nor would I think about whether the film will portray the court of law authentically. It's not that kind of movie.

Under this mindset, The Prosecutor is an action-packed and entertaining popcorn film that's worth seeing once.

The ensemble cast, including Michael Hui, Francis Ng, Ray Lui, Julian Cheng, Kent Cheng and Lau Kong provide great support and keep the dramatic scenes engaging. There wasn't any feeling of waiting for the dialogue scenes to end so the fights can commence.

In fact, Francis Ng steals the movie in a hilarious reportedly-improvised scene where he openly challenges Donnie Yen to a fistfight, which was so close to a fourth wall break (whio challenges Donnie Yen in a movie?) that it had me cackling for a whole minute.

Julian Cheng completely morphs as the refined salt-and-pepper-haired businessman villain, a role that would normally played by Michael Wong. Cheng stands out, but falls short of being awards worthy.

The action choreography by Donnie Yen's Stunt Team, is noticeably more audience-friendly and less brutal than Yen's past MMA-themed films, like SPL, Flashpoint and Special ID.

In the past, Donnie Yen's priorities as star and fight choreographer were set on showcasing martial arts authentically. Whether it was police, wuxia or comic book action, he strived to deliver a sense of martial arts realism, notably power.

I see a maturation in Donnie Yen in The Prosecutor.

The Prosecutor felt like a culmination of Donnie Yen's filmmaking experience being applied in full as a director, with Raymond Wong supplying him all the proper resources.

This time, Yen is working with cast and crew he's familiar with and integrating the drama and action together to deliver a solid movie, and not just a movie with great fight scenes.