Rating: 
Summary: ...
Review: A very impressive and entertaining movie, with the characters being the chief virtue, and the image of the world it creates a close second. The characters are definately human beings, not perfect, nor are their follies unsymathetic (with a few exceptions), and they really feel like part of the world in the film... which is also a testament to the quality of the acting (it really is a relief whenever I see a "cop movie" where the acting and dialogue aren't of the "overdone hard-boiled" type). As is stated early in the movie, the difference between cops and gangsters is often negligable, and, obviously, really just components of the same system.I can't say if cops and gangsters really act like this anywhere, but, for some reason, their respective situations in Beast Cops seem more true to life than the impressions given by many other HK movies (think: where police who sometimes cooperate with gangsters are always bad, and the "good" cops are always in direct moral opposition to the gangsters... even in the movies that blur the distinction and make room for more grey-area). Although it's occasionally punctuated by violence, Beast Cops is more about the daily lives of its protagonists than the "redemption" of the frumpy cop (if anything, it's about how the frumpy cop and the slightly high-strung new boss influence each-other, as well as the dynamics of the gangsters as they adapt to the new cop and the temporary leave-of-absence taken by one of their Big Brothers). Visually, Beast Cops is also very well done (the sets are pretty nice too... couldnt' get enough of the junky apartment... the green cafe was also nice counterpart to the slightly dishelved world). Intermittently and simutaneously humorous, happy, sad, and content... and one of the few movies I'd as readily recommend a purchase as a rental (It just made me happy, although rewatching might diminish the effect... so if you're on a budget, there are probably movies more worth purchase...). PS: You might want to try and get ahold of the UK Region 2 DVD, as it features commentaries and interviews... overall, a much better release. [really... why the US is generally stuck with Miramax edited dub-only releases and equally barebones ones from distributors that seem to just re-encode and add softsubs to HK bootlegs completely eludes me... especially since there's a MUCH bigger audience here...]
Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: A very impressive and entertaining movie, with the characters being the chief virtue, and the image of the world it creates a close second. The characters are definately human beings, not perfect, nor are their follies unsymathetic (with a few exceptions), and they really feel like part of the world in the film... which is also a testament to the quality of the acting (it really is a relief whenever I see a "cop movie" where the acting and dialogue aren't of the "overdone hard-boiled" type). As is stated early in the movie, the difference between cops and gangsters is often negligable, and, obviously, really just components of the same system. I can't say if cops and gangsters really act like this anywhere, but, for some reason, their respective situations in Beast Cops seem more true to life than the impressions given by many other HK movies (think: where police who sometimes cooperate with gangsters are always bad, and the "good" cops are always in direct moral opposition to the gangsters... even in the movies that blur the distinction and make room for more grey-area). Although it's occasionally punctuated by violence, Beast Cops is more about the daily lives of its protagonists than the "redemption" of the frumpy cop (if anything, it's about how the frumpy cop and the slightly high-strung new boss influence each-other, as well as the dynamics of the gangsters as they adapt to the new cop and the temporary leave-of-absence taken by one of their Big Brothers). Visually, Beast Cops is also very well done (the sets are pretty nice too... couldnt' get enough of the junky apartment... the green cafe was also nice counterpart to the slightly dishelved world). Intermittently and simutaneously humorous, happy, sad, and content... and one of the few movies I'd as readily recommend a purchase as a rental (It just made me happy, although rewatching might diminish the effect... so if you're on a budget, there are probably movies more worth purchase...). PS: You might want to try and get ahold of the UK Region 2 DVD, as it features commentaries and interviews... overall, a much better release. [really... why the US is generally stuck with Miramax edited dub-only releases and equally barebones ones from distributors that seem to just re-encode and add softsubs to HK bootlegs completely eludes me... especially since there's a MUCH bigger audience here...]
Rating: 
Summary: Different from an HK movie I've seen.
Review: I was expecting this to be an actioned packed, drama typical to what I had come to know from Hong Kong directors. Boy I was wrong. This was a good movie, however featured only one and a half action scenes. The story was different and new, not the same old cop/triad story. Diffently watch this film but dont expect it to be up to par with John Woo in action or the characters to be as awesome as Chow Yun Fat and cast.
Rating: 
Summary: Not your typical Hong Kong cop drama
Review: If you're familiar at all with Hong Kong cinema, you'll recognize Gordon Chan as the director of Fist of Legend, with Jet Li, among other things. Here he's doing his thing with the police drama genre, and a fine thing it is. With an excellent cast including multiple Golden Horse Award (Hong Kong version of the Oscars)winner Anthony Wong, the handsome Michael Wong (no relation) and one of the best Hong Kong character actors, Roy Cheung, it's top notch all the way, and Chan adds a tremendous sense of style combining grainy street scenes with intense gray and white flashbacks. The story, though not terribly original, is still quite compelling, and though not an action movie per se, it's action scenes are quite brutal and intense. Anthony Wong steals the show with a terrifically sincere performance, and Michael Wong just drips male toughness as the new Lt. assigned to Anthony Wong's unit. The story itself concerns Anthony Wong as a cop who walks the line between crooked and straight and his friendship with a local Triad played well by Cheung, though whose screen time isn't as long as I would have liked. Cheung is involved with a murder and Wong covers him as he flees Hong Kong until police heat dies down. In Cheung's absence, however, Michael Wong falls in love with, and impregnates, Cheung's moll. When Cheung comes back, there's hell to pay as he discover's Michael Wongs actions as well as those of his underling Push Pin, who has risen in the Triad ranks during his absence. A tautly directed fierce final battle between Anthony Wong and Push Pin's flunkies only adds an exclamation point to an already excellent movie, and fans of Hong Kong Police dramas will not be disappointed. I have the DVD version, ordered from a different site a few months ago at almost twice the price (should've just waited for Amazon.com to get it), which includes cast bios and multiple language selections. The picture is beautiful, and the lighting fits every scene to a "tee." Well worth the money, I strongly recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical Hong Kong cop drama
Review: If you're familiar at all with Hong Kong cinema, you'll recognize Gordon Chan as the director of Fist of Legend, with Jet Li, among other things. Here he's doing his thing with the police drama genre, and a fine thing it is. With an excellent cast including multiple Golden Horse Award (Hong Kong version of the Oscars)winner Anthony Wong, the handsome Michael Wong (no relation) and one of the best Hong Kong character actors, Roy Cheung, it's top notch all the way, and Chan adds a tremendous sense of style combining grainy street scenes with intense gray and white flashbacks. The story, though not terribly original, is still quite compelling, and though not an action movie per se, it's action scenes are quite brutal and intense. Anthony Wong steals the show with a terrifically sincere performance, and Michael Wong just drips male toughness as the new Lt. assigned to Anthony Wong's unit. The story itself concerns Anthony Wong as a cop who walks the line between crooked and straight and his friendship with a local Triad played well by Cheung, though whose screen time isn't as long as I would have liked. Cheung is involved with a murder and Wong covers him as he flees Hong Kong until police heat dies down. In Cheung's absence, however, Michael Wong falls in love with, and impregnates, Cheung's moll. When Cheung comes back, there's hell to pay as he discover's Michael Wongs actions as well as those of his underling Push Pin, who has risen in the Triad ranks during his absence. A tautly directed fierce final battle between Anthony Wong and Push Pin's flunkies only adds an exclamation point to an already excellent movie, and fans of Hong Kong Police dramas will not be disappointed. I have the DVD version, ordered from a different site a few months ago at almost twice the price (should've just waited for Amazon.com to get it), which includes cast bios and multiple language selections. The picture is beautiful, and the lighting fits every scene to a "tee." Well worth the money, I strongly recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: Unpredictable and original
Review: Like a lot of Hong Kong films, Beast Cops has chaotic shifts in tone, occasionally bizarre humor, and manically over the top violence. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It sure works in Beast Cops, which would probably suffer from being too predictable. What starts off as a fairly serious drama about a gambling addicted and somewhat corrupt cop turns into a domestic comedy/revenge actioner/mob thriller. In one scene you'll have a character suddenly killed with a machete, in the next you'll have seriously hysterical comic moments from Anthony Wong as the corrupt cop. I've never seen a film work two extremes so successfully and naturally, without seeming convoluted in any way. It's an action film, to be sure, but one that incorporates the rhythms and feel of real life, complete with the comic bits and kidding banter. It probably plays a little bit better as a comedy, despite the brutal violence of the last showdown (a showdown that still has room for a couple of hilarious throwaway moments from Anthony Wong). Michael Wong, usually about as charismatic as cardboard, here is utilized beautifully in a more comic role, and more directors should take heed of his fairly impressive work here in a role that totally goes against type. Roy Cheung has the most serious role here, and essentially shows up and does his usual great work without breaking a sweat. But the movie belongs to Anthony Wong, who won a Best Actor award in Hong Kong for this film. He shows remarkable range here, and he really just might be the best actor in HK today. You see his work here, then watch Full Contact, Hard Boiled, and Big Bullet, and you wonder how it can be the same guy. Along with The Mission, this is one of the best 'New Wave' Hong Kong pictures.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant new-wave cop movie
Review: One of Anothny Wong's finest performances. This is an extremely morally complex film. The characters are wonderfully developed. Excellent cinematography! One of the finest cop movies out of Hong Kong (or anywhere) in recent history!
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant new-wave cop movie
Review: One of Anothny Wong's finest performances. This is an extremely morally complex film. The characters are wonderfully developed. Excellent cinematography! One of the finest cop movies out of Hong Kong (or anywhere) in recent history!
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical cop film!
Review: This film is not your usual good guys vs. bad guys. Because there is sometimes no difference. Anthony Wong is an outstanding actor. His portrayal of the crooked cop is superb. You feel sorry for him, and hate him at once. Kind of like Chow Yun Fat's role in the Corruptor. It was fascinating to see the characters evolve as thier circumstances changed. I would reccomend this film. Don't expect it to cheer you up however.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical cop film!
Review: This film is not your usual good guys vs. bad guys. Because there is sometimes no difference. Anthony Wong is an outstanding actor. His portrayal of the crooked cop is superb. You feel sorry for him, and hate him at once. Kind of like Chow Yun Fat's role in the Corruptor. It was fascinating to see the characters evolve as thier circumstances changed. I would reccomend this film. Don't expect it to cheer you up however.
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