The Suspect

Rating:
Summary: Unusual
Review: Ringo Lams "The Suspect" revolves around a recently released hit man whose only desire is to go straight, but the day after he gets out of prison, he is seemingly set up by a former partner for the attempted assasination of a local politician. Aided by a sympathetic reporter, he tries to both clear himself of his perceived role in the assasination attempt and sort out why his former partner set him up in the first place. Speaking from a westerners point of view, one of the attractions of Ringo Lams films is that his characters don't have the giddy silliness and don't become involved in petulent adolecent confrontations that are so specifically common in most other Hong Kong productions and all action films in general. This may or may not be a good thing depending on what you want from Hong Kong Cinema; this film doesn't have the constantly over the top action sequences that typify the genre and is more of a drama than an action film. My overall opinion is that it could have been a little more dynamic without loosing it's dramatic appeal, but it still beats the ...antics and dialogs of a lot of John Woos works. Like the characters in a lot of other Ringo Lam films, the characters in this film are both realistic and gritty, without the hollow pretentions one usually sees in an action film. However, conditioned as we are to expect a high level of action in most Hong Kong gun flicks, this is definately a rent it before you buy it kind of film.

Rating:
Summary: Very good movie -- solid story with decent action
Review: The dubbed version of Ringo Lam's "The Suspect" (1998) is actually done very well. I was very impressed with the dubbing, which is one of the best dubs I've heard. Even if you are not crazy about dubbing I think you will like this. (Note: There is also a subbed version available.)

The picture quality was pretty good. It is above average when compared with other Hong Kong movies that I've seen. By my own estimates, the widescreen ratio is approximately 1.78:1. The sound quality also seemed above average.

As for the movie itself, I liked it quite a bit. If I were to give it a letter grade, it would get a 'B'. It had a good story and good characters. The themes are similar to something John Woo has done, such as "The Killer." If you like that kind of movie, this is along the same lines. It is not a clone or anything, however, and is different. The story is not one-dimensional although it may appear to be at first. The characters are nicely done and developed.

This movie looks like it had a pretty big budget for Hong Kong. There's some impressive explosions. The action did not impress me, though, although I thought it was okay. The gunfighting is not nearly as good as what John Woo did -- 10 years ago. It's not bad or anything, however.

While I don't think this movie is as good as Woo's work, it is still worth watching. If you like Hong Kong movies I think you will probably enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Very good movie -- solid story with decent action
Review: The dubbed version of Ringo Lam's "The Suspect" (1998) is actually done very well. I was very impressed with the dubbing, which is one of the best dubs I've heard. Even if you are not crazy about dubbing I think you will like this. (Note: There is also a subbed version available.)

The picture quality was pretty good. It is above average when compared with other Hong Kong movies that I've seen. By my own estimates, the widescreen ratio is approximately 1.78:1. The sound quality also seemed above average.

As for the movie itself, I liked it quite a bit. If I were to give it a letter grade, it would get a 'B'. It had a good story and good characters. The themes are similar to something John Woo has done, such as "The Killer." If you like that kind of movie, this is along the same lines. It is not a clone or anything, however, and is different. The story is not one-dimensional although it may appear to be at first. The characters are nicely done and developed.

This movie looks like it had a pretty big budget for Hong Kong. There's some impressive explosions. The action did not impress me, though, although I thought it was okay. The gunfighting is not nearly as good as what John Woo did -- 10 years ago. It's not bad or anything, however.

While I don't think this movie is as good as Woo's work, it is still worth watching. If you like Hong Kong movies I think you will probably enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Very good movie -- solid story with decent action
Review: The dubbed version of Ringo Lam's "The Suspect" (1998) is actually done very well. I was very impressed with the dubbing, which is one of the best dubs I've heard. Even if you are not crazy about dubbing I think you will like this. (Note: There is also a subbed version available.)

The picture quality was pretty good. It is above average when compared with other Hong Kong movies that I've seen. By my own estimates, the widescreen ratio is approximately 1.78:1. The sound quality also seemed above average.

As for the movie itself, I liked it quite a bit. If I were to give it a letter grade, it would get a 'B'. It had a good story and good characters. The themes are similar to something John Woo has done, such as "The Killer." If you like that kind of movie, this is along the same lines. It is not a clone or anything, however, and is different. The story is not one-dimensional although it may appear to be at first. The characters are nicely done and developed.

This movie looks like it had a pretty big budget for Hong Kong. There's some impressive explosions. The action did not impress me, though, although I thought it was okay. The gunfighting is not nearly as good as what John Woo did -- 10 years ago. It's not bad or anything, however.

While I don't think this movie is as good as Woo's work, it is still worth watching. If you like Hong Kong movies I think you will probably enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: OOPS....Ringo did it again
Review: What shall I say? I nearly watched all the movies of Ringo Lam. OK, Maximum Risk wasn't that good, but overall none of his movies (eg. WILD SEARCH, FULL CONTACT, PRISON ON FIRE)ever disappointed me. I even liked it better than THE VICTIM.

This is a movie about friendship, honor and betrayal. The most frequent ingredients for a heroic bloodshed movie.

Here there are two friends who were in the assassin business 12 years ago. One get caught, the other escapes. When he finally gets out of the prison he is forced by his friend to kill a nominee for the president in the Philipines. When he refuses, he gets accused by his friend.

Now the Police, the Triad and a third party are looking for the suspect....

Doesn"t sound very appealing but is really worth watching. In addition the DVD of the 1998 film has a good picture and a good sound. Even the subtitles are readable all the time!

Don't expect silly non-stop action- or you will be disappointed. This is a high class thriller with a plot!

Rating:
Summary: OOPS....Ringo did it again
Review: What shall I say? I nearly watched all the movies of Ringo Lam. OK, Maximum Risk wasn't that good, but overall none of his movies (eg. WILD SEARCH, FULL CONTACT, PRISON ON FIRE)ever disappointed me. I even liked it better than THE VICTIM.

This is a movie about friendship, honor and betrayal. The most frequent ingredients for a heroic bloodshed movie.

Here there are two friends who were in the assassin business 12 years ago. One get caught, the other escapes. When he finally gets out of the prison he is forced by his friend to kill a nominee for the president in the Philipines. When he refuses, he gets accused by his friend.

Now the Police, the Triad and a third party are looking for the suspect....

Doesn"t sound very appealing but is really worth watching. In addition the DVD of the 1998 film has a good picture and a good sound. Even the subtitles are readable all the time!

Don't expect silly non-stop action- or you will be disappointed. This is a high class thriller with a plot!