Rating: 
Summary: From Hong Kong to Hollywood
Review: In 1998 John Woo was at the top of his game. He had moved into the American/Hollywood action movie scene with great success. So what does a successful director do? He starts to produce, and he brings his golden boy from Hong Kong to help. Chow Yun-Fat starred in many of John Woo's most popular films in Hong Kong, so he was willing to bet that bringing him to America would bring the same success. He was mostly right.
The Replacement Killers brings the `Killer with a Conscience' plot line into American theaters at the hands of a music video director, Antoine Fuqua. The story is basic but still stirs something inside you. Yun-Fat plays an assassin who backs out of a job, in turn he becomes the one who is hunted. In order to get out the country, he enlists the help of an ID forger, played by Mira Sorvino. In the process, they are shot at, chased and find out more about each other as they move along. Sorvino plays her part with street wise teeth clenching grit, a surprising turn after her oscar win.
Yun-Fat does what he does best, and in slow motion, lots of slow motion. But it's beautiful to watch. His gunplay is seen almost in the form of a ballet. Fuqua paints a picture so visually striking, you don't remember to nit pick at the details. In the end, Replacement Killers is an violently entertaining movie with a little more heart and should be considered as just the first step in Yun-Fat's career in America.
Rating: 
Summary: Kill or be replaced.
Review: In reading reviews for Chow-Yun Fat's first American movie, The Replacement Killers, it seems people either really liked it or really hated it. I, myself, really loved the movie.The story centers on John Lee (Chow Yun-Fat), a hitman who fails to carry out a contract for moral reason, and soon finds himself and his family targets by the mob that hired him. In an effort to save his family, he goes to Meg Coburn (Mira Sorvino), a specialist in making forged documents, to hire her to make him a passport so he can get back to China and protect his family from the vengeful wrath of an Asian mafia. She soon becomes entangled in the war between John and his former employers. In the meantime, other assassins are brought in, the replacement killers, to finish what John couldn't, and to also kill John for his failure. Some have complained that the movie is too short, but I would say it's tight. How many times have you watched a movie and thought the movie could have been shorter? So many times I have thought certain scenes in movies serve no other purpose other than to pad out the run time. This is a lean movie (87 mins) with lots of action. The pacing was such that it didn't allow for a lot of character development, but I felt there was enough to drive the story. I think Antoine Fuqua did an excellent job directing this movie, keeping the focus on the action rather than getting mired in useless details. Some have criticized Mira Sorvino's character and her change of heart in the movie, saying that it was unrealistic. Well, I thought the whole movie was unrealistic, but I was just along for the ride. Did that element hurt the movie? I didn't think so...unrealistic? Maybe, but how many HK actions movies have you seen where something comes out of left field, like a main character changing allegiances? She did speak of how sometimes it was necessary to do the right thing, doing that one good think to make up for all the bad things. Most movies require a suspension of disbelief, and some require more than others. If you really want pick on a character that acted unrealistically, look at Kogan, played by Jurgen Prochnow. He appeared to be a high ranking member in the Asian mob after John but in a few scenes we see him involved in doing rather menial tasks better assigned to henchmen. His boss, Terrence Wei (Kenneth Tsang), did say something along the lines of taking a more hands on approach after the first failed attempt on John's life, but I think Kogan might have taken it a little too serious. At one point, he was staked out eavesdropping on a cop, trying to get specific information. Didn't seem like he would be so involved at that level of operations, but I let it slide. Anyway, I had a lot of fun with this movie, and while not substantial in some areas, it certainly delivered with the action. Slick visuals, fast pacing, and lean story come together and work where others have failed. Also, the soundtrack really works well, complimenting the movie nicely, while not overshadowing it.
Rating: 
Summary: Woo, minus the pigeons
Review: After refusing to carry out a hit for the Chinese mob, contract-killer-with-a-heart John Lee (Chow Yun Fat) must evade assassins to get out of the country. Fat and co-star Mira Sorvino are fine, but they are trapped in a vapid film whose story is so creaky and clichéd that I could not work up one once of interest in what happened to any of the characters. Many viewers have acknowledged the superficiality of the story while remaining engrossed by the slick style of its presentation. Everyone cites the obvious influence of the overrated John Woo. He made some good films in Hong Kong but, as evidenced by such Hollywood wastes of celluloid as "Face/Off" and "Mission Impossible 2," even Woo can't do Woo anymore. What is so inherently fascinating about the mix of bright colors, tilted camera angles, and slow motion action that it excuses (or elevates) lazy story-telling and sappy sentimentality? Just curious. Obviously, I'm in the minority on this one. The ratio of helpful reviews for the article will probably be 0 to 100.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT ACTION MOVIE
Review: This movie was great. Lots of action and cool gun fights. Any fan who loves action movies with lots of shooting. I thought the girl was very hot also. Not much to say about the plot. See it or even better BUY IT!!!!!!!
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