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The Killer - Criterion Collection

The Killer - Criterion Collection

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 777777.
Review: I don't think I'd be comfortable calling myself a HUGE John Woo fan, and I personally think all of his U.S. releases suck badly, but The Killer is undeniably a wonderful movie and one of my all-time favorites. It's so cheesily melodramatic and yet so painfully, unflichingly ultra-violent at the same time, the effect is uncanny. The film is well-paced, the characters are well-developed (in a pulp novel sort of way), and certain moments are even genuinely emotionally gripping. It's a shamelessly male-oriented, self-glorified piece of cinema, no question, but it's an amazing film regardless. Unquestionably the finest action movie I have ever seen, and certainly John Woo's best (that I've seen in any case.)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Chow Yun-Fat makes this film what it is: an HK masterpiece
Review: This was the first Chow Yun-Fat film I saw, so after I saw this masterpiece, I thought he normally was a relatively quiet, sad-eyed person. But of course any HK fan would know this is the complete opposite of Chow. His laid-back performance sets the tone for the film, and of course one of the most violent, bloody endings in cinema history. John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat are the Martin Scorsese-Robert De Niro of Asia, and every one of their films done together are classics (A Better Tomorrow I & II, The Killer, Hard-Boiled, Once a Thief). Buy this film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Please help get me a copy of "The killer"Criterion S.E.
Review: If anyone can be nice enough to advise me where i can find 2 copies of the Criterion Special Edition of "The killer" on dvd,or even a laserdisc version (criterion), i will be most apprecative. I have tried for some time now ,but to no avail. PLEASE help if you can as i'am a big fan of chuns and woo. Must have it,and i promise i will give you a review. Bye for now!

Anthony & Paul (loyal Woo fans)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Single Best Action Film Ever Made.
Review: What can i say about the killer that hasn't already been said. It's the perfect blend of action and story, done with such love for the genre, and a real feel for characterization above the beautifully staged scenes of balletic violence. BAsed on Jean Pierre Melville's Le Samourai. Chow yun Fat/John Woo/Danny Lee/Tsui harks finest jobs on a single film. This film is beautiful, 'nuff said. If your able to pick up the Criterion collection version, Do so! I found it in a local record shop which stocks DVD's. The title is currently out of production due to a liscencing problem. Features deleted scenes, which I had to own.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very Good
Review: The Killer, directed by John Woo, is one of the best action films that you will ever see. A hitman (Chow Yun-Fat), forms a unusual relationship with a singer he accidentally blinds. Melodramatic, lots of action, and great cinematography. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER REVIEWS.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: When John Woo takes his subjects seriously, it's magic.
Review: With this film John Woo puts the abysmal Heroes Shed No Tears (one of the worst movies this film buff has ever seen) firmly behind him.

The key ingredient was simple: Sincerity. Woo's sense of humour -- or perhaps that of his writers -- has never been all that attractive, veering towards the lowbrow, and coupled with his hyperviolent action scenes makes for some incredibly awful moments of farce.

The Killer and Bullet in the Head are where Woo makes no attempt at all to put in any comedy to "commercialize" his work. So no coincidence that they remain his best films. Chow Yun-fat nailed the intense crisis of conscience of the titular role and is well supported by arrow-straight Danny Lee, classy Chu Kong and delicate workhorse actor Kent Chang.

Woo's action choreography reached its apex with The Killer. The most unusual thing about this film, however, is its look -- grainy, red-tinted, dirty, it's a perfect visual choice for the story. Lowell Lo's nostalgia-soaked score also plays well in the context. And as a cinematic document, some of the sequences will blow you away. Some of The Killer's strongest shots are offered up during the non-action scenes -- the parallel panorama of Eagle Lee and Jeff, for example, is pure cinematic beauty.

Woo's work since then hasn't quite matched up to this masterpiece (Hard Target and Hard Boiled were especially weak). See it to see what is probably the most distinctive action director in complete artistic control, going for broke in expressing his view of the world.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Certainly a change, compared to Hollywood-action !
Review: The Killer is one of John Woo's best movies, considering him teaming up with Chow Yun Fat, Hong Kong's greatest star.It is a delight to admire Woo's gunfights, that are filmed with such precision and express thorough knowledge of the genre. We have experienced repetitative tries from directors like Quentin Tarantino, to create similar moods to Woo's work. But this doesn't simply work through saying the F word, it needs a talent, which John Woo seems to be the only one to posess. The Killer has an intelligent plot, underlined with style and character, which isn't simply based on the action, but also on the consciences of a villain, accompanied by code of honour. Great movie !

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "You're an unusual cop." "You're an unusual killer."
Review: Top-notch action filick out of Hong Kong that makes American action flicks look like Snow White. Yun-Fat turns out yet another great performance as the killer with the heart of gold, Lee, the hard-nosed cop trying to hunt him down who later befriends him, also turns in a good performance. But someone who richly deserved an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor was Chu Kong as Sydney, the man torn between loyalty to the triad and loyalty to his friend. Woo's trademarks of bloody operatic violence and male bonding are once again presented with grace and beauty. If you relish action, like I do, and can stand to watch subtitles ( Cantonese dubbing is wretched ) then this is the movie for you. Watch it, for when John Woo remakes it here in America, it will probably have to be toned down a great deal.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Killer and Hard Boiled still John Woo's best
Review: The action sequences are amazing. The ballet of bodies, guns and bullets... beautiful. The unusual friendship between the cop and the assasin is full of pathos. It's a lament for a time of old style chivalry and honor more reminiscience of period martial arts film. The bluring of lines between good and bad is believable. If you liked the shootout in the lobby in The Matrix, then watch some John Woo, I'm almost positive you'll like it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The single, finest action film ever made. Period.
Review: The Killer, starring Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee( a team-up first seen in City on Fire), is a fine example of John Woo's ability to make the most violent scenes appear elegant and inspiring. The final shoot-out is filled with brilliant images, a statue of Mary is blown apart by a hired killer, and as the action takes place orchestra music is played in the background, thus adding to Woo's artistic intent. The quality of the Criterion DVD is flawless and there are even deleted scenes from the original print.


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