My little ode to the Killer



On the weekend I bought a DVD copy of The Killer (I already own a VCD version) and went home to watch it straight away.

So now I want to write about this, because it is in some ways one of the most influential films that I’ve seen. It’s a shame that to most movie audiences outside of Hong Kong, Chow Yun Fat will be remembered for such turkeys as Bulletproof Monk and the Replacement Killers. Crouching Tiger was a fantastic movie but it wasn’t really a Chow Yun Fat movie. And Chow Yun Fat is NOT a martial artist.

It’s a shame because the man had a very impressive body of work during the 80s and 90s that most people aren’t even aware of.

The Killer, in my opinion, represents the apex of the careers of both Chow Yun Fat and director John Woo, and set the standard for countless action movies to come.

This may not be Woo’s most polished (Face/Off) or his most visceral (Bullet in the head) work. And it certainly isn’t Chow’s most accomplished acting role (try All about Ah Long or Prison on Fire or a slew of others). But it is their most iconic work. Watch it and you will see many other post 1990 action films in it. It is the ultimate show of choreographed gunplay and bloodbath reinterpreted as dance.

But like many classic films, it’s not perfect by any stretch. The fashion is horribly outdated (striped suits all around!). The script is overly simplistic by today’s standards. And Woo’s obsession with themes of brotherhood/friendship/male bonding becomes grating at times. (Get over it!)

Watch it, though, if you’re at all a fan of action films or if you want to see why Chow is a huge name in Asia despite his crappy Hollywood films or if you want to see John Woo at his peak. Watch this and you will no longer think of Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez as being original filmmakers.

This is an important film. And now I have a copy to lend out. I’m here to spread the word.

Other Chow Yun Fat recommendations
All about Ah Long (drama comedy)
Prison on fire 1 & 2 (action drama)
God of gamblers (action comedy)
A better tomorrow (action)
A better tomorrow 2 (an exercise in excess)
An Autumn’s tale (romantic comedy)
Hong Kong 1941 (drama)
Once a thief (action comedy)
City on fire (action)

I write more as I think of them.