Weekend in Taipei

Picture a guy who shoots faster than a Call of Duty sniper and drives through Taipei's streets like he's in a Need for Speed DLC. That's Luke Evans in Weekend in Taipei. Seriously, the man's a machine. He's so intense even red lights seem to give him the right of way.

Opposite him is Gwei Lun Mei, a driver so skilled she could drift circles around Vin Diesel and leave him in the dust. Her character, Joey, is a whirlwind of style and speed, giving you chills with just the sound of her car starting. But don't be fooled-she's got a Kill Bill side to her: soft yet deadly.

Luc Besson, true to form, serves up an explosive cocktail of action and romance. He's firmly in his comfort zone, but honestly, that's all we want. It's cinema that hits hard, packed with chases, explosions, and dialogue as subtle as a rocket in GTA. The plot? Simple. But let's be real-who's here for the plot?

The real star, though, is Taipei. The city is filmed like a character in its own right. Neon lights everywhere, narrow alleyways, and buildings practically screaming, "Come have a car chase here!" Between the fights, you could almost believe you're in an open-world Yakuza game.

The film's strength lies in its explosive blend of action and romance. One moment, you're hooked on a fight scene where Luke Evans is smashing jaws; the next, you're hit with a ridiculously cheesy exchange between two ex-lovers still hung up on their breakup. It's so cliché it's brilliant.

Weekend in Taipei is like a four-cheese pizza at 3 a.m.: you know it's not gourmet, but damn, it feels good. With punchy action scenes, a visually stunning city, and a romance running on pure adrenaline, this film is a guilty pleasure at its finest. Don't expect a Palme d'Or, but buckle up for a hell of a ride.

I am a fan of this action movie genre, but there are so many below average action movies that I didnt expect much at firsthand, but after having watched it I can confirm that this movie is quite an enjoyable action flick.

The good: I NEED riveting action, chases and fights. And THAT is exactly what I got. Not the best, but good enough for me to have a fun time watching it.

More good: what's even more to like is that the characters are credible. The acting is solid (not earthshattering good, but solid) and it has got characters and a storyline I can believe in. THAT matters to me, because even in an action flick like this I WANT the characters to be credible.

Any bad? Dont expect action heaven, this is just another action movie but a really solid one. Recommended for the fans of this action genre.

Marketed as a "throwaway" foreign action film with veteran action/thriller star Luke Evans, I went in with low expectations. To my surprise, this was a better than expected action flick with great action sequences.

What with an assassin-like lead in a foreign country, with heavy family theme overtones, the movie had heavy Taken vibes. Similarly, prominent car action sequences in a foreign country - including Fast and Furious regular Sung Kang by the way - clearly gave off Fast and Furious vibes.

The first and last quarter of the movie had top-notch edge of your seat action, gratifyingly up to the standards of legendary co-writer and co-producer Luc Besson.

The middle 50 percent of the movie, unfortunately, does get bogged down in complicated relationship entanglements between Evans, the bad guy Kang, and Kang's wife. In an almost James Bond-ian, if not Gilda-esque, plot point, the -ex of the good guy is now the wife of the bad guy - which is always a problem.

The movie relies heavily on a series of massive and incredulous coincidences and contrivances, yet, to be honest, I was willing to overlook these flaws in deference to the overall entertainment value of the flick.

If you're looking for a light action flick, perhaps only a notch below a Jason Statham flick, then you will like this movie.

Weekend in Taipei is an unapologetically nostalgic action film that feels like a love letter to the high-octane, melodramatic thrillers of the 90s and early 2000s. Directed by George Huang and featuring Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei, and Sung Kang in pivotal roles, the movie delivers a mix of explosive action, emotional beats, and stylistic flair that's as entertaining as it is self-aware. While it's not without its flaws, it manages to carve out a space as a fun, casual watch that's perfect for a weekend with friends and a giant bowl of popcorn.

One of the film's most creative touches is how it frames itself as a sequel to a movie that never existed. Through its numerous flashbacks, the story creates the illusion of a complete backstory, as if the characters' previous lives were already immortalized in some lost 90s action flick. These flashbacks, drenched in moody lighting and slow-motion drama, evoke the vibes of films like Hard to Kill, Max Payne, or even The Crow. It's a bold stylistic choice that not only leans heavily into nostalgia but also gives the movie a sense of history and weight, even if that history is fabricated.

The plot centers around Luke Evans's John Lawlor, a classic one-man-army DEA agent who lives by his own rules. After years away, he finds himself back in Taipei on the trail of an international drug-running billionaire, only to uncover a web of personal and professional entanglements. At the core of the story is Joey (Gwei Lun-mei), a mercenary driver and John's former lover, who married Kwang (Sung Kang), the crime lord, out of necessity after John's abrupt departure years earlier. The discovery that John has a son he never knew about adds an emotional layer to the chaos, making the story more than just a series of shootouts and chase sequences.

Where Weekend in Taipei really shines is in its ability to balance the emotional with the absurd. The love triangle at the heart of the film-Joey torn between the father of her son and the man who provided for her when she was most vulnerable-gives the story a soul that elevates it above standard action fare. Throwing an adolescent child into the mix only deepens the stakes, creating moments of genuine heart amidst the chaos. The movie also knows when to laugh at itself, using comic relief to lighten the tension without undermining the drama. It's a delicate balance, but one the film pulls off surprisingly well.

Stylistically, the film borrows from the slick, neon-lit aesthetic of early Fast & Furious movies while weaving in the international sensibilities of post-Wanda-acquisition Legendary Pictures films. The cinematography and editing choices feel designed for a global audience, blending Western action beats with Eastern influences in a way that's visually striking but might not sit perfectly with American audiences. It's a film made for the world stage, and while that ambition sometimes creates tonal inconsistencies, it also gives Weekend in Taipei a distinctive energy.

That said, the movie is far from perfect. Its adherence to familiar action tropes-rebellious hero, shady billionaires, over-the-top situations-means it doesn't break much new ground. The plot can feel predictable, and the dialogue occasionally veers into cliché. But to criticize it too harshly for these flaws would be to miss the point. Weekend in Taipei isn't trying to be groundbreaking; it's trying to be fun. And in that, it succeeds.

This is the kind of film that's best enjoyed as a casual watch. It's not something you rush out to see, but it's perfect for streaming when you're in the mood for a lighthearted, action-packed romp with friends. Pair it with a classic like Romeo Must Die or Fist of Legend for a double feature that celebrates the best of nostalgic action cinema.

Verdict: casual watch - Weekend in Taipei may not be a great movie, but it's a highly entertaining one. It's the perfect kind of "popcorn flick" to kick back with, laugh at the ridiculousness, and maybe even feel a little nostalgic for the days when action heroes were larger than life and flashbacks had their own dramatic weight. Not essential viewing, but definitely worth a watch.

This movie is either written by a kid or by a low budget Xbox 360 video game writer And weirdly it's not that bad, it's really not good either Also I don't understand why it's shown in English when the actors have the worst accent possible.

The story is very basic, the actors are not really good, thankfully it's not too long, which makes it okay to watch if you want to clear your mind and not have to think too much.

It's cool to see Taipei and Taiwan.

There are a lot of flashbacks and the way to show that the characters are in the past is to have them have long hairs, in the past they all have long hairs and in present all short.