This feels like a collage movie. There are so many scenes that seem to be drawn from other movies, it makes it impossible to get immersed in the 'story'(such as there is one). The effect is jarring, like experiencing a sequence of superficial deja vus that bring to mind the superior films they were channeling. Particularly notable is Peter Weller's horribly camp cartoon villain which stood out as a very poor impersonation of Christopher Walken's Vincenzo Coccotti (from True Romance).
Overall, a really poorly written film. Even after an hour and a half, you don't feel as though you've come away with an understanding of any of the characters, including, problematically with the protagonist,Hong (played by Le) who basically spends the duration of the movie in an ambiguous pursuit for redemption, acting out vaguely motivated duties for the pleasure of his mentor Tiano (Van Damme). Hong clearly shouldn't be the brains of any operation because the culminating tone of 90 minutes of his machinations is akin to walking out of room filled with your significant others trumpeting an especially tempestuous fart. Having said that, Cung Le wasn't bad, struck me as an interesting presence deserving to be in a better movie, reminding me of a more youthful Bolo Yeung.
As for Van Damme, it seems that they only had him for afternoon or so. He's just basically there to phone in the role of a generic fight coach/zen master. In any case, its always good to see that guy, though not at the cost of watching this movie again.
One to miss.
Overall, a really poorly written film. Even after an hour and a half, you don't feel as though you've come away with an understanding of any of the characters, including, problematically with the protagonist,Hong (played by Le) who basically spends the duration of the movie in an ambiguous pursuit for redemption, acting out vaguely motivated duties for the pleasure of his mentor Tiano (Van Damme). Hong clearly shouldn't be the brains of any operation because the culminating tone of 90 minutes of his machinations is akin to walking out of room filled with your significant others trumpeting an especially tempestuous fart. Having said that, Cung Le wasn't bad, struck me as an interesting presence deserving to be in a better movie, reminding me of a more youthful Bolo Yeung.
As for Van Damme, it seems that they only had him for afternoon or so. He's just basically there to phone in the role of a generic fight coach/zen master. In any case, its always good to see that guy, though not at the cost of watching this movie again.
One to miss.