wesc-5-62313

Someone has finally injected some adrenalline into a lacklustre HK film industry. Full of unrealistic and stylised action, hardly pauses to let the viewer catch his breath. Ahh it reminds me of the 80's when HK cinema was leading the way in over the top action cinema. I loved the near monochrome wash and constant rain. Of course the plot was light and predictable but since when did that matter in a stylish updated homage to the golden days of HK cinema. If you don't know what I'm referring too - you are not old enough.

There is not a shot out of place, not a word uttered or note of music that is not just right in this film. I admit I had to watch it twice to get all the nuances. You must listen for when they are speaking Shanghainese or Japanese and you must understand a bit about what was happening in china and shanghai in 1937. There are family ties, triad ties, Japanese secret society ties and love ties. There is betrayal of all these ties. Jumping back and forth in time makes the plot unravel slowly and like a game of mah-jong the final betrayal is revealed when all the tiles are exposed at the end. This is a great movie. It does not have any kung-fu or wire-work or epic slow motion gunfights and white doves - but it is a truly original masterpiece. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see a thoughtful movie and be challenged by what a great piece of cinema is.