The Replacement Killers

Antoine Fuqua: The Replacement Killers (US 1998) with Chow Yun-Fat (John Lee), Mira Sorvino (Meg Coburn).

100634 / 18 / US / 1998 / Fuqua, Antoine / / action / Replacement Killers, The.
    © Columbia Pictures. P: Bernie Brillstein, Brad Grey. D: Antoine Fuqua. DP: Peter Lyons Collister. ED: Jay Cassidy. CAST: Chow Yun-Fat (John Lee), Mira Sorvino (Meg Coburn), Michael Rooker (Stan Zedkov). 86’. Scope. MPAA 35239. Rated R = 17. Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Timo Porri / Eirik Udd. DIST: Columbia Finland. Viewed in Helsinki, VET, Tuesday 3 March 1998.

*** Visually exciting film debut by rock video director Antoine Fuqua. The visual surroundings of a passport forgery studio, car wash, photo automat and Buddhist temple are used for maximum impact. Chow Yun-Fat is convincing, although his English accent is wooden. Mira Sorvino is fine in a different role. The ultra-violence almost matches John Woo’s Hongkong efforts.

Once a Thief

100384 / 16 / HK 1991 / Woo, John / thriller
Once a Thief / Zongheng sihai. PC: Milestone Pictures. D: John Woo. CAST: Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Cherie Chung. 110’. 1,85. Canton Chinese version with Finnish subtitles by DIST: Cinema Mondo. Viewed at VET, Helsinki, on Wednesday, 3 September 1997. ** Lunatic cat burglar story more resemblant of Hudson Hawk than Trouble in Paradise. The ballet-like action sequences and Chow Yun-Fat’s wheelchair dance are a joy to watch.