So Close
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Movie Reviews of So Close
Movie Review: This eye candy is a definite TEN!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had very little expectations when my brother-inlaw asked me to watch this DVD with him. I have been watching Hong Kong produced action films since the 70's and I thought here we go again with wall-to-wall fighting, marginal cinematography, bad dubbing and cheesey soundtrack. To say I was pleasantly surprised at what a great show this one turned out to be is a total understatement.
Many would complain that the plot is on the weak side. I certainly agree that the screenplay is not going to win any major accolades, but for the genre which normally has little or no plot, this one is logical and relatively easy to follow. It even has a sad twist which might cause a few tears to be shed.
Where this film really shines though is in its presentation. The modern sets, the brilliantly choreographed fighting sequences and the wonderfully executed yet not overdone special effects give this film an ultra-slick and ultra-chique look. The female leads are drop dead gorgeous. They exude abundant sex-appeal even though they are not sexually exploited to any extent in the film. The plot line and action is well paced and should keep audience glued to their seats.
This review would not be complete without a mention of the sound track. The inclusion of the 1970 Carpenters' megahit "Close to You" has been much maligned by a number of reviewers. I personally think the use of this song in the opening fighting scene is nothing short of absolute brilliance. The slow, soulful strains of the ballad is such an antithesis to the fast paced fighting action on the screen that the brilliant combination of the two gives these sequences an almost surreal quality. The viewer feels a sudden sense of detachment from the action and the effect is very powerful indeed. The rest of the soundtrack is well selected and complements the scenes very well. I am extremely glad that the film scorer did not include too much ear screeching heavy metal clips which are so prevalent in this genre of film. Kudos to him (or her)!!!
Lastly, this film has most commonly been compared to Charlie Angels I and II mostly because of the coincidental presence of three female leads in this film. Even though So Close handily beats both the Angels films , a much more worthy comparison would be with the Tarantino film "Kill Bill I". Without exagerration, So Close gives Kill Bill more than its run for its money.
For those who haven't seen it, buy the DVD now for your collection. You will not regret it! This eye candy is a definite TEN!!!
Movie Review: Chinese Angels
Summary: 5 Stars
PREDICTABLE BUT YET ENTERTAINING HONG KONG FLICK: If you like the "over-the-top", outrageous style of action (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle) movies, then you'll enjoy this. People like to compare the theme to Charlie's Angels but these characters are NO angels and there is no Bernie Mack or Bill Murray for comedy relief in this Hong Kong flick. Shu Qi and Vicky Zhao play modern day, high tech assasins for hire, who complete their missions with the use of computers, guns, gadgets and kung fu. Karen Mok plays a detective in pursuit of these "Computer Angels". Overall, this is a well put together film with excellent editing, camera work, musical score, stunts, and fight choreography. If you're more of a hard-core, powerful, realistic fighting style movie fanatic, then this movie isn't for you, but if you appreciate the gracefullness, elegance, and artistic film styling choreography (Charlies Angels: Full THrottle, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Tomb Raider, The Matrix) then would most likely enjoy this.
ACTING: This is in response to a previous reviewer. Shu Qi and Vicky Zhao are actually very good actors. He probably was calling them "bad actors" because of their English dubbed voicing that wasn't the best anyone has ever heard. I mean they're not Oscar material in American standards but they are very respectable actresses in Hong Kong. In my opinion, Shu Qi did an excellent job in this action role, having beutiful looks and a sweet voice but yet delivering an intensity of a fighter and playing the role of an older, mentoring sister to Zhao's character. Also, VIcky Zhao is not a "bad actress" as mentioned by a previous reviewer. In my opinion she's actually the best of the three women because she has more of a dramatic role in this movie and she CAN ACT! The movie does get dramatic in a few scenes and the previous reviewer doesn't seem to like drama. But believe me, Vicky Zhao is a great actress (see her comedic yet demented role in Shaolin Soccer). Karen Mok does her usual outstanding action, kick . . ., heroin role. Overall good casting.
CONCLUSION: Basically if you like The Matrix (Trinity's style of fighting) you'll like the fight scenes in this movie. There's car chases, John Woo type of gun battles, sword fighting. It's an action Hong Kong flick, a cop story, a story of big sister-little sister relations, and even a little romance mixed in. Beautiful Asian women (Oh Yeah!!!) who happen to be GOOD ACTRESSES!!!
Movie Review: Surpisingly Cool
Summary: 5 Stars
I sat through Corey Yuen's The Transporter because Jason Statham was so cool in Guy Ritchie's films. While viewing that, I was captivated by Qi Shu, which is probably not too difficult to comprehend after seeing her. On that note, when I found this movie selling for $10, I picked it up.
I really wasnt expecting much, other than beautiful women and some wire-fu.
However, I had a fabulous time watching this. For what this film lacks in originality, it makes up for in visual entertainment and style. Granted, even the style seems greatly influenced by John Woo, Yuen Wo Ping, Luc Besson, and Hollywood, but regardless it was such a cool viewing experience.
The filming locations are great, the CGI is cool (a little too much in some scenes, but overall well done), the wire-fu didnt irritate me too much, and the charisma of the acting talent was breathtaking. Im also a guy, and Asian, so Im sure the fact that they are beautiful Asian women kept my attention, but they still packed some serious Asian flair. Furthermore, there was very little exposed flesh, but the facial features and the hair, not to mention the outfits (and the women themselves), were simply stunning. I also enjoyed how one of the villains was the gent from Jet Li's Fist of Legend. He was very cool in that film, and was equally enthralling here.
The basic plot itself is nothing award winning, but the few twists and turns really helped it. The soundtrack was pretty good, and fit into the slow motion scenes well. I had just finished watching an episode of The Simpsons where Marge buys the musical doorbell playing "Close to You", so when the song came on it threw me for a laugh, but it was a nice sharp contrast to the action on-screen. Both the sword fighting scenes and the John Woo gunslinging were entertaining, but the parking lot fight scene was fabulous.
I am really proud of myself for investing money into this film. Its definitely lots of eye candy, but theres nothing wrong with that. Oddly enough, I ended up being more captivated by Vicki Zhao than Qi Shu. Whenever she gave that slightly angled look at the camera it made me sit a little closer to the TV.
But anyway, this is a great action flick, fitted with girls kicking some serious butt, some pretty cool cinematography, good fight scenes, and a very high entertainment value.
Movie Review: One of the Most Erotic Action films ever
Summary: 5 Stars
Forget Charlie's Angels- trailor trash compared to Qi Shu, Vicki Zhao and Karen Mok. From the opening high tech sequences through to Vicki's departure, this is one of the most extraordinarily erotic and dynamically energized action films you will ever see. Qi and Vicki play sisters who witnessed their parents' murder, then co-opt their father's surveillance invention to become professional killers. It is smarter than the Matrix, more ingenious than Minority Report, more enthusiastically acted than anything else since CROUCHING TIGER. This is a great, and maybe the greatest Hong Kong action film ever.Qi Shu oozes sexuality. She enters a scene and you can't take your eyes off of her or even think about anything but her graceful and seductive demeanour. The Buddha would not approve. Vicki Zhao is sultry, somehwat more innocent and projects just enough curiosity about her orientation to convincingly confuse Karen Mok, the detective out to catch the sisters. There is something subliminally enticing about the way Qi and Vicki play out big sister/little sister rivalry. When Qi falls for a guy, Vicki takes an interest in Karen Mok. There is a subtext of lesbian attraction even among Qi and Karen as they engage in a sword fight that causes some modest exposure, very definitely attracting Vicki's gaze. The men are all either stuffed misogynist suits, or completely stupid droids, and the suits are bad all the way through. The action sequences are dazzling, the cinematography clever without being obvious, and the ballet of the encounters exquisitely choreographed. The final sword fight is as brilliantly executed as anything in CROUCHING TIGER or ROB ROY. You will definitely stand and applaud. When Vicki kisses Karen at the end, Karen's confusion surfaces and as Vicki walks away, you find yourself hoping that the writers will find a plausible way to construct a convincing sequel.
There is a lot of violence to this, but that seems to wash over you. The heat comes from the women, who are just incendiary.
Movie Review: Rather Unuiqe
Summary: 5 Stars
I wanted to see this film ever since I got it, cuz it had asian girls in it, and I love asain girls. I kept hoing it didn't have a feel to it like Charlie's angels did, but I was glad, because this movie would have easily slashed up charlie's angels in a catfight.
This movie is about Lynn, played by the beautiful Shu Qi, and her sister Sue(Zhao Wei) who own a big business after their parents got murdered and they inherited it. They become big contract killers, and eleimiate a bigtime computer owner, and are on the run. But undercover officer Hong(Karen Mok)ain't gonna even dream of letting them off the fish hook one bit.
The action in this movie is over the top, but face it, the only other movie that has chicks kickin' this much @$$ is kill bill(Altho kill bill wasn't convincing, just bloody) The gunfight sceenes are some of the best I've seen this year, and the swordfights are friggin' awsome.
The only thing that pissed me off was what happened 7/11 through the film. Something like that should be illegal worldwide! It was just plain wrong, BUT, but it was one of the few sceenes in any movie that, just made me wish SOMETHING could be done about it, usally I'd say /// it, but not this time.
Either way this movie is better more action packed, and mature than Charlie's Angels, and this movie packs a nice amount of violence to keep action fans satisfied, and enough wemon to go round. If you love action flicks, and think this is another Charlie's Angel's I should slap you back and fourth. Cuz this is just one of those rare gems that come by. And at the end it had a little bit of sensuality, only a little, but it was pretty cool.
Peace