Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed.
Review: After reading the good reviews of this movie, I'm glad I rented it before I bought it. This movie was very surface and never got you in depth enough to know the characters or even care for them. The action was not over the top like I expected or wanted and though there was a couple of neat scenes, not enough for me. My number one problem would be the basic plot that appeared to take no time to write and the only big turn in it was the affair angle. I'd advise you to rent this before you consider buying it, I know I'm glad I did.
Rating: 
Summary: WOW!
Review: Buy it! Sure it's not completely original; it has elements of La Femme Nikita, The Usual Suspects, and The Professional in it, but it will keep you in suspense from beginning to end. Best of the Hong Kong shoot'em up movies. It is clever, well written and thoughtfull. Visualy stylish without the glamorization of the killer profession. You may want to view some of the scenes twice to realize what just happened. The movie deserved a better musical score but the ending more than makes up for it. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Turning Japanese
Review: Essentially the plot of The Mission is that after a failed attempt on his life, a Hong Kong triad (Chinese Mafia) boss orders his right hand man (Simon Yam) to create a special unit of bodyguards for himself. This group is commanded by Anthony Wong and contains, among others, Francis Ng. While the plot may be neither original nor immaginative, it's still one of the better Hong Kong Cinema efforts to have landed in American video stores in years. Sleek, stylish, and not without surprises, it's a superior bare bones gangster film that, even if it didn't say so right on the back of the video box, obviously is fashioned after the old Japanese gangster/yakuza films of the 60's and 70's. While the standard Hong Kong fare is constantly dynamic and played over the top, The Mission is often static and minimalistic. The actions scenes are the opposite of John Woos balletic mayhem and while it may require the viewer to psychologically shift gears due to the stylistic differences, it's well worth the trip. All of the actors give tough, full, realistic performances, especially Anthony Wong as "The Ice" Curtis, Simon Yam playing the flamboyant and erratically emotional and unpredictable lieutenant of triad boss Eddie Ko, and Francis Ng as the always simmering, more than a little scary, possibly psychotic Roy. Ng especially with his thousand yard stare makes an unforgettable impression, although even he can't eclipse Anthony Wong and Simon Yam. A good bet for entertainment value, even for someone who doesn't like Hong Kong Cinema.
Rating:
Summary: Turning Japanese
Review: Essentially the plot of The Mission is that after a failed attempt on his life, a Hong Kong triad (Chinese Mafia) boss orders his right hand man (Simon Yam) to create a special unit of bodyguards for himself. This group is commanded by Anthony Wong and contains, among others, Francis Ng. While the plot may be neither original nor immaginative, it's still one of the better Hong Kong Cinema efforts to have landed in American video stores in years. Sleek, stylish, and not without surprises, it's a superior bare bones gangster film that, even if it didn't say so right on the back of the video box, obviously is fashioned after the old Japanese gangster/yakuza films of the 60's and 70's. While the standard Hong Kong fare is constantly dynamic and played over the top, The Mission is often static and minimalistic. The actions scenes are the opposite of John Woos balletic mayhem and while it may require the viewer to psychologically shift gears due to the stylistic differences, it's well worth the trip. All of the actors give tough, full, realistic performances, especially Anthony Wong as "The Ice" Curtis, Simon Yam playing the flamboyant and erratically emotional and unpredictable lieutenant of triad boss Eddie Ko, and Francis Ng as the always simmering, more than a little scary, possibly psychotic Roy. Ng especially with his thousand yard stare makes an unforgettable impression, although even he can't eclipse Anthony Wong and Simon Yam. A good bet for entertainment value, even for someone who doesn't like Hong Kong Cinema.
Rating:
Summary: The Mission, an alternative to the action genre.
Review: Everyone loves a great shootout in their action film right? How about four to five? Johnny To directs this clever and thoughful film about five men hired to guard a highly-ranked Triad boss. Each man has his own story and thus makes this action film a character driven one as well. Although the film has only 81 minutes to enthrall you, every minute is worth it. The acting, especially Francis Ng's and Anthony Wong's performances are sleek, stylish and humorous. Although the DVD isn't loaded with extras, it's the best format-- especially since the VHS version will have you using magnifying glasses when reading the subtitles. An amazing action film at any rate and a must see for any Hong Kong film fan or pure gangster movie buff.
Rating:
Summary: A sleek masterpiece
Review: First things first: don't go into this expecting a kinetic action flick, a la Time and Tide or The Big Heat. There are few flashy action scenes to be found here, the dialogue is sparse, the camera rarely moves and when it does, it creeps along slowly. All of which makes the film more exciting and more tense. There are a handful of action scenes here, and the three major ones are all incredibly well done. The standoffs at the mall, the deserted building, and in the alley are all examples of what is lost when actions scenes rely too heavily on Michael Bay-esque pyrotechnics and camera movement. The acting is top notch, with most of the major actors playing against type to a certain extent: they're all rather quiet. Anthony Wong is a quietly effecient assassin, Roy Cheung is the quiet nice guy, Lam Suet is the quiet peanut-eating gun expert....these roles all play off nicely against Francis Ng's edgy, tempestuous character and Simon Yam's weirdly humorous gangster (who really seems to be running the show, not his brother, whom the hired guns are protecting). All in all, this film is ample evidence that Hong Kong cinema is alive and well, even after the mass exodus of talent.
Rating:
Summary: Better than that other Mission on Cruise Control..........
Review: Hong Kong cinema at its finest. Even though other premier directors have bolted to Hollywood, other HK directors are still on the island cranking out masterpieces like this one. Not as explosive as other actioners, nor does it need to be. The story, the cast, and Johnny To's direction make this a top notch crime movie. Oh yeah the coolness factor is apparent with all these bodyguards for hire. Francis Ng is my personal fav of the bunch.
Rating:
Summary: Calm and elegant
Review: How can a movie about hitmen and bodyguards be calm and elegant? I'm not really sure, but watch this great film to see how it's done. The scene in the closing-down mall is the finest shootout ever put on film. No OK Corral movie can touch it. You have to look to ballet to find more grace, power and wit. But it's still very tough, very edgy. There are a couple of purely visual moments that describe the evolution of the bodyguards as a team better than any dialogue could. In particular, the casual office football practice is brilliant. The acting and characterizations are strong and never flashy. The music is retro to an American ear, but it suits the film just fine.
Rating: 
Summary: Very cool movie
Review: I can wholeheartedly recommend this movie. Action fans won't be disappointed, and it has a solid plot to boot. I have now seen 3 movies by Johnny To, and they all have a little *twist* in the plot. That makes them more interesting and they definitely stand out from run-of-the-mill shoot-'em-ups.
Rating:
Summary: Cinematic feast
Review: I give this five star because I just personally love it. There is a certain overboard in the area of coolness; almost everyone is cool. But the general strong plot+strong photography+strong acting makes it a classic Hong Kong gun-slinging action film. Most memorable would be the scene when two sharp-shooters would keep shooting at one another and not move even though every incoming shot is dangerously close to home; dramatically they miss one another at the end of a volley of maybe twenty shots. And many aspects of the story are done without the eztra talk. If it's to be done, it's done. Certainly signature of a master. This film won "Best Film" and "Best Director" for 1999 in Hong Kong's Film Reviewers society. Johnnie To won best director in that "Hong Kong Oscar" thing.
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