Hard-Boiled

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Summary: Hard Boiled is a sleek, stylish action movie.
Review: Hard Boiled is John Woo's last Hong Kong film, and it is a fitting finale indeed. With exquisite slow-motion, mesmerizing gunplay, and cold, efficient deadliness from Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung, this is a movie action buffs should all revere. The actors are more than capable, but as John Woo fans know, irrelevant things such as plot and character development take backseat to the blinding pyrotechnics and the incredible, breathtaking action sequences. Woo takes action to the next level with this movie, continuing his fine tradition of violent but graceful films. Those looking for a tear-jerking plot with pathetic characters and molasses pace need not apply. If, on the other hand, you relish fine action, rent (even buy) this one immediately. You will never look at action films the same.

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Summary: Chow Yun Fat + John Woo = One of the best action movies
Review: If you have never seen a Chow Yun Fat, or Hong Kong action movie then this is a good one to start with. Chow Yun Fat is the king of action movie stars (he is like the Jackie Chan of gun scenes) and when he and the best action movie director John Woo team up you know its going to be good. Hong Kong action movies are known for their slow motion choreographed gun scenes that are simply amazing, and this movie doesn't let you down. It's worth it, also if you like this one check out "The Killer", and "Full Contact"

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Summary: You'll Never Look At A Morgue The Same Way Again...
Review: John Woo- known stateside for his actioners "Broken Arrow" and "Face/Off" -tops himself with the violence here... if you like this one, check out "The Killer". Both feature Chow Yun-Fat, an iconic, charismatic presence unmatched by any contemporary actor working in the world today

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Summary: FOX LORBER EDITION IS TERRIBLE!
Review: You are looking at an edition by Fox Lorber Films. I love this movie but this particular transfer onto DVD is TERRIBLE. The picture looks horrible and the audio is the WORST I've EVER seen on a DVD. Will SOMEBODY please issue a decent edition of Hard-Boiled or The Killer on DVD (yes I know about the criterion collection but I don't have $250.00 to spend on it now that they are out of print!).

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Summary: Woo's "other" classic
Review: While not quite as tightly plotted or emotionally compelling as John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat's magnum opus "The Killer," "Hard Boiled" is still sure to please fans of that movie. Much of what made "The Killer" such a great film is to be found here: flawed heroes, murky allegiances, and ambiguous morals are once again the order of the day in this tale of cops and criminals living on the edge. At the same time, "Hard Boiled" manages to ratchet up the violence even further from its "sister" film, resulting in the most prolonged and intense action scenes I've ever witnessed, all filmed in Woo's signature frenetic style. A tea house, a warehouse, and ultimately a hospital all become battlegrounds in all-out war as the cops face an enemy that makes the Mafia look like a group of middle-school bullies.

Once again, Chow takes the lead in the protagonist's role, this time portraying relentless Hong Kong inspector "Tequila" Yuen. In true Woo-hero fashion, Tequila can shelter a baby with one arm while shooting up a small army of bad guys with the other. Joining him in his fight against the triads is Tony (Tony Leung) an undercover cop who's spent so much time working among gangsters that the line between the right side of the law and the wrong one is becoming blurred. However, Tony looks like a choirboy compared to the cartoonishly villanous Johnny Wong, an up-and-coming Triad boss who would probably kill his own mother if she got in his way. Johnny also has himself an extremely menacing sidekick in the form of a glowering, nameless enforcer who spends much of the film with a patch on one eye and still manages to give Tequila and Tony a few runs for their money.

It all comes to a head in the climactic showdown in the hospital-turned-arsenal, with the scene gradually evolving from tense standoff to full-scale shootout as the lives of hundreds of hostages hang in the balance. As most of Hong Kong's police force provides support, the two detectives lead the way against Johnny, his cycloptic colleague, and dozens of other gun-wielding menaces. And did I mention they have to make sure no harm comes to the adorable newborn babies in the nearby maternity ward? Yeah, Tony and Tequila sure have their work cut out for them as they fly through the air and unleash zillions of bullets, but it makes for some scintillating watching.

On the whole, "Hard Boiled" is definitely an engaging experience that's more than worth the money I shelled out for it. Much like "The Killer," this movie manages to pack much more psychological depth than the typical Hollywood shoot-'em-up with its portrayals of compromised heroes in harrowing circumstances. And of course, it goes without saying that Woo is nearly unparelelled when it comes to putting together action set pieces. Woo has made some moderately entertaining movies here in the States, but he hasn't managed to reach the level of his twin Hong Kong masterpieces. So check them out, if you dare.

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Summary: Enough of too much awready!
Review: The population of Hong Kong is approximately 7 million people. I'd say that about half of them get shot in this movie. Usually when a movie runs over 2 hours, it's because there's a lot of plot that the director wanted to squeeze in. In the case of Hard Boiled, the running time of 126 minutes was clearly necessitated by John Woo's desire to get into the Guinness Book of Records for "most people killed by gunfire in a single motion picture."

Chow Yun-Fat is a charismatic actor who can bring a wonderful balletic grace to gunplay, and this movie gives him plenty of opportunity to show his stuff. He shoots (usually with a pistol in each hand) while diving headlong over furniture, while swinging from a rope, while sliding down a banister(!), while being hurled through the air by explosions. Sometimes he even shoots while standing still. And he shoots, and shoots, and shoots. And the bad guys shoot, and shoot, and shoot. And Yun-Fat's fellow cops shoot, and shoot, and -- you get the idea.

There are some fine action scenes in this film, but my eyes were glazing over long before it ended. There wasn't enough to distinguish one scene of a bunch of people being machine-gunned from the next, and it became painfully repetitious.

Personally I would highly recommend The Replacement Killers over Hard Boiled. There's plenty of Yun-Fat's balletic shoot-em-up action, but not so much that you find yourself in the odd position of being lulled to sleep by gunfire.

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Summary: If Badass was a movie, this would be it
Review: I couldn't believe what I was seeing. If badass was a movie, this would be it.

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Summary: The GREATEST F***ING THINGS I HAVE EVER SEEN ON FILM!
Review: It truly is the greatest action film I have ever seen by a significant margin, and I have seen a lot. The insane 40-min. climax at the hospital just has to be experienced to be believed, no amount of description can do it justice.

Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung have a great chemistry together and perform their roles perfectly, as does the sleazy smarmy main villain.

I certainly enjoy big-budget action films (Die Hard, Terminator, Aliens, etc.), and won't be one of those snotty types that puts them down. "Hard Boiled" just belongs on a higher plane of existence. The greatest action sequences from the greatest action film from the greatest action director. On first viewing, you'll get exhausted just sitting there watching the movie!



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Summary: HARD BOILED ACTION BLOOD FEST
Review: Ill Keep this simple, Ive seen this movie endless times and recommened it to loads of friends who all love it. Those who believe that Hollywood makes the best action movies should watch this and then maybe they will relise there is a world out there that makes equally good if not better movies than what Hollywood throws out.

So do yourself a favour if you like Die Hard then imagine the same movie with more action, guns, bloodshed,explosions and total mayhem then you have Hard Boiled. So get the popcorn out crank up the surround system and prepare to get blown away




Rating:
Summary: Insane
Review: I will keep this review short and sweet: This movie is crazy like rabies. i can safely say, this is the best action movie ive ever seen, and probably will ever see. it is well worth the ten bucks you will pay for it including shipping, and then some (actually, and then A LOT). the only downside is that the transfer is sub-par, but im rating the movie and not the DVD.