A Hero Never Dies

Leon Lai teams up with Lau Chin-Wan to defeat two triad lords. This film made me remember the "old" heroic bloodshed´s - like "The Killer", "Hard Boiled" or the genesis of it all, "A Better Tomorrow". There´s still hope for Hong Kong cinema lovers... A superb movie. A true masterpiece. A fantastic mise-en-scene - stylised and romantic - from Hong Kong craftman Johnnie To. Where primitive cinema meets barroquian style and women nature becomes truly fundamental...

Just as much a tribute to the heroic bloodshed films of yesteryear as it is a brilliantly stylised entry in its own right, A Hero Never Dies is a pure exercise in genre film despite being so hard-boiled that it almost becomes a comedy. Taking a fundamentally tried, tested and clichéd story in a world where the violence is more sudden and the atmosphere much darker and upending nearly every element of the films he's paying homage to, shows the power of Johnnie To's filmmaking ability. To's direction is fantastic with plenty of sweeping camera movements and tremendous use of colour, all coupled with Cheng Siu-keung's outstanding photography make the film a feast for the eyes. The incredible sense of loyalty and honour these characters display ultimately makes them "heroes", the themes are often hammered home so relentlessly that the film nearly enters the realm of parody. Only in a gangland fantasy would characters enjoy a friendship but have no qualms about killing one another later. The performances from its central cast are phenomenal, Leon Lai and Sean Lau especially, both playing fundamentally different archetypes of the same profession to immense effect, all the while Raymond Wong's hauntingly powerful score dominates the sound mix, even if he does repeat a few too many cues from his work on Running Out of Time. A Hero Never Dies ultimately just solidifies to me that Johnnie To is one of, if not the best post-handover filmmaker in the industry. Heroes may die, but their actions live forever.

This movie was kind of ridiculous. It's about two gangs that fight each other. Each of the gang's best members got kicked out (in a shoot-out, of course). One gets shot a lot of times, the other loses his legs. This teaches us a valuable lesson, don't get shot. They both survive. One vows for revenge on his boss, the other for his boss. There are many violent gun fights, they're a little ridiculous (get shot? no problem, just keep shooting back!).

7/10

a very good start to film such movie, before his upcoming movies such as AmZin 1 and 2. i would always say johnny to is a brilliant director, always able to adapt to filming different types of movies; love romance (love on a diet - 100% recommended to watch), thriller, mystery which loves leaving the audience to think a lot or read behind the lines. The cast is quite good as well, Leon Lai played his character very calm and cool whereas Lau Ching Wan once again as Johnny's favourite, played his very professional also sometimes a good joker. Another one of good Hongkong movie on triads but this is before 2000 which have a lot of differences in such triad movies in the new and old eras; however they both still carry very good tricky story lines. Such thriller movie is never made too serious or boring or to focus on killings only, but always include jokes, romance; bringing a twist to triad movies. In Hero, those 2 actresses played their roles very well, though died tragically willing to sacrifice for their lovers. Yoyo was quite good for a start in her acting career before turning to TVB (hongkong series). Fiona an experienced actress was very good being a lover of a triad, expecting from the start how her life would be. Also, don't forget the music background!!! Johnny To's movies is always complete to excellence with perfect music.. meaningful, suitable for the atmospheres, adding touch to the character's role in the movie! Excellent.. just like in AmZin. In this show like most triad movies, it's all about the basic principles not only in triads but in life too; loyalty, trustworthy, willing to sacrifice, brave and bold etc. Also, a very big principle especially for MAN and Triads - dignity! Both big Bosses want to end this long war between their people and rather enjoy lives and let their people return their families, but what is it which keeps them going on killing each other? This movie is well worth watching! Be prepared and don't ask for too much in this movie before watching, because remember it's filmed in or before 1998; hence it's terribly an awesome movie with such technology back then. It's all about the cast and the plot well portrayed! Well done!

Yup, that's right, "John Woo meets Sam Peckinpah" is what came to mind when I saw this movie. Take the brotherhood theme of John Woo movies in the 80's and mix that with Sam Peckinpah's "Wild Bunch" and you get Lau Ching Wan and Leon Lai kicking ass in "A Hero Never Dies".

True to Woo's and Peckinpah's classics, the heroes in this movie are not heroes of the Dudley Do-right mold but flawed people who manage to get themselves together for one truly heroic deed.

I highly recommend this movie for fans of westerns and HK triad movies. Also recommend "The Mission" and "Running Out of Time" by Johnnie To.