Rating: 
Summary: Really, It Was SO CLOSE
Review: I've seen enough Hong Kong actioners to know that they fall into two principal categories: (1) those that are terrific and ignore the possible logic problems of the story or (2) those that are terrific and completely toss logic to the wind. Believe it or not, SO CLOSE actually gravitates between both of these groups.The film tries to be so much more than what it is: a statement on family loyalty, a testament to budding lesbianism, a barrier-breaking MATRIX-style adventure ... one could go on and on. The subplot involving the two sisters dependence upon one another to complete a single assassination job is a bit heavy on the overall weight of the film, but you can't fault the writer for attempting to give these glitzy girls some depth ... and you certainly can't hold the actresses responsible for giving it their best shot. Taken as a thrill pill, SO CLOSE works very well on many levels. The pacing is intense, the photography is very well done, the choreography (especially the climax) is exciting, and the performances are better than average. Sure, some comparisons to the look of the flick being dangerously close to a REVLON commercial are merited, but SO CLOSE was never intended to be high art: it is pure popcorn, and it can be enjoyed very well on that level. Kick back. Get yourself a beer. Start this DVD in the machine and enjoy three beautiful Asian women kicking some real mean butt and shooting some very powerful guns. Life is good.
Rating:
Summary: They long to be close to you...
Review: In a high-energy action sequence, a crooked businessman, Chow Lui, is murdered by a young woman who calls herself the Computer Angel. It turns out that she caused some computer virus trouble the previous evening, only to reverse the effects herself. The woman herself ranks high in the karate department but also in terms of sheer cleverness, given the way she kills the businessman. She then proceeds to shoot many of Chow Lui's security teams, often merely disabling them. This leads to Inspector Hong Yat Kong to deduce that she is dealing with someone who in the heat of battle was expert enough to wound and not kill. She becomes fascinated with Chow Lui's murderer.
However, the person who hired the assassin turns out to be none other than the victim's own brother, Chow Nunn, whose motives was that he was intent on taking over the company, plus he was having an affair with his own sister-in-law.
So who are the two? They are two sisters, Ai Linn (Lynn) and younger sister Sue, who's confined to manning the computer due to her recklessness. Lynn is the more cool-headed, b-t-kicking professional and does her jobs while Sue uses a highly-sophisticated computerized surveillance system that allows her to direct her sister and warn her against anyone approaching.
All this is in aid to avenge the murder of their parents. Their father had intended to give this new surveillance system to the police, had it not been for some ruthless businessmen who had other ideas. The two thus look after each other, but with Ai Linn having the understood senior role in both their jobs and themselves as family, a la the older sibling/younger sibling of Eastern thought.
Things begin to crack when Yen, a young man Lynn would've gone out with long ago had it not been for her parents' murder, reenters her life after spending some time in America. Lynn decides to maybe hang up her guns and settle down, as Yen seems to be a decent sort of guy. If it were that simple... as alarmed by the suspicions of Inspector Hong, Chow Nunn decides to eliminate Lynn, and Sue becomes dissatisfied with being the one out of the action.
The interactions between Hong and the sisters prove interesting, as Hong has somewhat of a grudging respect for Lynn's skills, yet is clear in her duty to apprehend all criminals, no matter what the motive. All three actresses, Qi Shu (Lynn), Vicki Zhao (Sue) and Karen Mok (Hong) work well together and apart, especially the very pretty Shu and the impishly pretty Zhao, who plays Mui in Shaolin Soccer.
Its use of the Carpenters' "They Long To Be Close To You" must set some sort of cheeky precedence, but the CGI shattering glass and Matrix-style aerial shots raises the fact how So Close is an action film of the Noughts. And the final battle is a bit protracted. Still, not too bad, I suppose, given the dramatic components between the sisters making it more than a mere comic book actioner.
Rating:
Summary: Do Not Build Up to Shoot Down
Review: In So Close sisters Lynn and Sue (Shu Qi and Vicki Zhao respectively), are a pair of high-tech (and high priced) assassins who inherit, from their late father, a secret weapon: a satellite based surveillance package called World Panorama. World Panorama allows them to hack and use any closed-circuit camera system worldwide. Predictably, or there would be no movie, their current job has its share of complications. Chow (Deric Wan) hires the duo to assassinate his brother in a corporate takeover bid. To add spice to the mix, Hung (Karen Mok) completes the trio of beautiful (and strong) women as the creative but misguided detective investigating this case. There is a tinge of a homoerotic subplot between Hung and Sue that arguably does not satisfy on any level - but let us not let it detract us from the action scenes, cinematography, and almost impossible high tech wizardry. The character of Lynn, conversely, is pulled in another direction. Lynn is involved old love Yen (Song Seung-Hon), which makes her "re-examine" her vocation. Lynn decides she wants out but there are, of course, complications. Sue, not having had any experience doing anything else and eager to prove herself to Lynn sets out to complete the contract - which Lynn asked her to cancel - on her own. Not to do a spoiler here but to Lynn's credit she has been protecting Sue from that side of the business in an effort to protect her from possible future guilt. I guess I can indulge in a little bit of cynicism here - as being an accomplice would not give Sue night chills - I need to constantly remember... it is light. In a move that reminds of the Last Samurai (too many mind) leaving the trade might not be that easy for Lynn after all. For what impact that has on Lynn - you will really need to watch the movie. Okay, let us keep focused on the movie's plus side... the action is entertaining. It has the predictable wire-work that Hong Kong action films are famous for. There is a ton of slow-motion as well as fast-cutting action thrown in the mix. I agree with some out there that arguably the most creative scene comes about halfway through the movie, when Hung finally meets the Lyn and Sue in an elevator. The bathroom scene early on with the two sisters going at it is pure exploitation - but it is fun. The climax scene with Sue and Hung is not to be outdone as it is fast moving but nothing beats the close proximity type scenes to really create a sense of tension. There is the inevitable comparison to Corey Yuen's The Transporter - which I have seen but am now really curious about after having seen So Close. I am, of course still recovering from a Naked Weapon hangover and am worried I am paying to much attention to this genre. While Naked Weapon did not pull any punches - such as a really disturbing rape scene - So Close does not suffer from this very disturbing misogynistic tendency. The slow-motion shots of Shu Qi's allow us to focus on her - but who can complain, really. I certainly did not see the same type of exploitation here so in a fun sort of way we can ascribe some form of female liberation in this movie despite the hypersexualized characters of Lynn, Sue and Hung. Similar to Naked Weapon, So Close is one of those movies that should enjoyed for what it is, pure entertainment. Now, if a "critic" is trying to make a name for him/herself (current writer excluded, of course) it is easy to try to make more of this movie and then shoot it down. That would be wrong. Realistically, about 95% of all the movies out there are light on the social commentary and heavy on the entertainment factor. Corey Yuen's So Close is one of those movies and to call attention to or to ask for a sophisticated plot is simply manipulation. I say see it for what it is and enjoy the special effects and decent action sequences - for a simple fellow like me, it IS enough. Miguel Llora
Rating: 
Summary: So Dull and Pathatic
Review: Ive seen this movie and it was boring. I mean the movie had a lot of action and hot chicks. But However the reason why this movie get's one star because the music on movie is annoying and is repititive.
Rating: 
Summary: just average
Review: Ive seen this movie and the action is extremely good and Karen Mok is really really hot curves. However what made me give this movie 3 stars is that the music from this movie is very dramatic and sad. Anyway my rating for this movie is a 6 out of 10
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie!
Review: Ok, Im going to have to disagree with the other two reviewers...I dont see how this is a 'chick flick' just because the main characters are women and I hated "Charlie's Angels" and those other idiotic "lets drive cars real fast and call everything 'extreme!'" Michael Bay type movies but I really liked this movie. This was definately not your typical John Woo, hong kong action flick, but it seems to be the way the genre is going these days. Shu Qi was great so was Karen Mok, but this movie was my first time seeing Vicki Zhao (Zhao Wei) and I have to say Im impressed...and I dont say that often. High tech gadgets mixed with good old fashioned 'shoot everything you see' action makes for a great film. After I was done with this one, I went and tracked down every other Vicki Zhao film available, thats how impressed I was..
Rating:
Summary: amazing!!!!!!
Review: ok, lets face the fact that they get some scope from the movie "Charlie's Angels", but these asian females really did good in this movie, but this movie is much more interesting than Charlie's Angels. I watched the movie once. It has a great story and it will make you realized that asian people can also compete internationally.
Rating:
Summary: Chinese Angels
Review: PREDICTABLE BUT YET ENTERTAINING HONG KONG FLICK: If you like the "over-the-top", outrageous style of action (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle) movies, then you'll enjoy this. People like to compare the theme to Charlie's Angels but these characters are NO angels and there is no Bernie Mack or Bill Murray for comedy relief in this Hong Kong flick. Shu Qi and Vicky Zhao play modern day, high tech assasins for hire, who complete their missions with the use of computers, guns, gadgets and kung fu. Karen Mok plays a detective in pursuit of these "Computer Angels".
Overall, this is a well put together film with excellent editing, camera work, musical score, stunts, and fight choreography. If you're more of a hard-core, powerful, realistic fighting style movie fanatic, then this movie isn't for you, but if you appreciate the gracefullness, elegance, and artistic film styling choreography (Charlies Angels: Full THrottle, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Tomb Raider, The Matrix) then would most likely enjoy this. ACTING: This is in response to a previous reviewer. Shu Qi and Vicky Zhao are actually very good actors. He probably was calling them "bad actors" because of their English dubbed voicing that wasn't the best anyone has ever heard. I mean they're not Oscar material in American standards but they are very respectable actresses in Hong Kong. In my opinion, Shu Qi did an excellent job in this action role, having beutiful looks and a sweet voice but yet delivering an intensity of a fighter and playing the role of an older, mentoring sister to Zhao's character. Also, VIcky Zhao is not a "bad actress" as mentioned by a previous reviewer. In my opinion she's actually the best of the three women because she has more of a dramatic role in this movie and she CAN ACT! The movie does get dramatic in a few scenes and the previous reviewer doesn't seem to like drama. But believe me, Vicky Zhao is a great actress (see her comedic yet demented role in Shaolin Soccer). Karen Mok does her usual outstanding action, kick . . ., heroin role. Overall good casting. CONCLUSION: Basically if you like The Matrix (Trinity's style of fighting) you'll like the fight scenes in this movie. There's car chases, John Woo type of gun battles, sword fighting. It's an action Hong Kong flick, a cop story, a story of big sister-little sister relations, and even a little romance mixed in. Beautiful Asian women (Oh Yeah!!!) who happen to be GOOD ACTRESSES!!!
Rating:
Summary: so close
Review: really good movie . pretty good special affect . good story and good non stop action .
Rating:
Summary: So refreshing
Review: So refreshing, unique... So tired of Hollywood formula movies, I was delighted to find this gem of action movie. A lot of orginal stuff done really well.... from movie geek.
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