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From Amazon.co.uk
John Woo's 1989 Hong Kong action classic, a stylish, bullet-riddled elegy to friendship under fire, firmly established him as the maestro of mayhem. Superstar Chow Yun-Fat, Asia's king of cool, plays the most charming hit man ever (and yes, he only takes contracts on those who deserve it), but when one of his killings leaves an innocent nightclub singer (Sally Yeh) blinded, he dedicates his life to giving her back her sight. Danny Lee is the cop on his tail, but the two adversaries become unlikely comrades when the mob decides to cancel its debt to Chow by taking him out, leading to a beautifully filmed and incredibly violent confrontation. Woo places the showdown in a church and punctuates the acrobatic gunfight with images of religious icons, flying doves, and burning candles. An ode to Jean-Pierre Melville's existential gangster classic Le Samouria, Woo's delirious mix of melodrama and stylized action recalls the balletic bloodletting of Sam Peckinpah, the elegant camerawork of Martin Scorsese, and the operatic, larger-than-life grandeur of Sergio Leone. Woo's love of American musicals (and his own background as a dance instructor) adds a touch of grace to the fluid choreography of the action scenes. In terms of sheer action, Woo topped himself a few years later with Hard-Boiled, his Hong Kong swan song, but most critics still rate The Killer as his masterpiece. --Sean Axmaker
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Drschrebling
Format:DVD
I just read the main review for this title and it fails to deliver on why this film is a unique and genre defining piece of Asian Cinema. The most instructive way to consider this work is through avoiding parallels and influences and tribute spiels, but rather to concentrate on what distinguishes the work from its contemporaries.
What needs to be stressed is that The Killer is a film that could only have been made in Hong Kong. Watch this film to see why people refer to Hong Kong as the very pinnacle of action movie making (especially mid to late 80's). Woo's influences are certainly diverse but this is to overlook the central attractions of The Killer. (of which there are two)
- The Killer perhaps better than any other Woo work manages to blur the line between the cop and the killer (the exact opposite of Face Off - which accentuates the distinction). By the end of the film it becomes clear that what is legal / illegal and what is right / wrong are two different questions. Woo proposes that the moral and legal spheres operate on two disparate levels.
- Chow Yun Fat plays the deadly assasin in this movie. After a hugely succesful career as the hero, the loyal and honourable friend, Woo casts Chow to play the lead lawbreaker. Few actors could effect such a seamless transition in character, whereas others such as Willis have fumbled when outside the 'good-guy' comfort zone.
Watch this movie for powerful yet bloody Hong Kong action at its very best. This film is maturer that the Better Tomorrow series and certainly less corny that Hard Boiled. I have no reservations in classing this the high points of both Woo and Chow Yun Fat. An absolute classic, that's my 'tribute' to this movie!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the masterpiece the hype would have you believe, but still very good
7 Feb 2007
Format:DVD
The Killer was so over-hyped when I first saw it that it left me distinctly unimpressed, but revisiting it years later it's so much better than I gave it credit for (although by comparison to recent John Woo turkeys like MI:2 and Windtalkers, almost anything would look good). The first couple of reels are still a bit ropey but once it gets into the swing of its melodramatic plot it's a highly enjoyable spin on the clichés of the Hong Kong heroic bloodshed genre, alternating playful Mexican standoffs between Danny Lee's cop and Chow Yun Fat's killer, misunderstood professionals with similar codes of honor, with some impressively over the top gunplay. Alongside A Better Tomorrow it offers a reminder of why Woo once had a reputation as the god of action movies, and Hong Kong Legends' original UK DVD treatment of it does it proud - audio commentary by Bey Logan, 5 deleted scenes, interviews with Sally Ye, Kenneth Tsang and Peter Pau, Cantonese and dubbed English language options and original theatrical trailer.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a typical John Woo film, full of action and action sequences that are almost breath taking. Chow Yun Fat is one of the most under rated action film actors. He is fabulous in this one. A must see if you like John Woo and especially if you like Asian action films.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Vicious Killer. One Relentless Cop... ...Ten Thousand Bullets.
Hong Kong's preeminent director John Woo transforms genres from both the East and the West to create this explosive and masterful action film. Read more
Published 12 months ago by S. F. husseiny
2.0 out of 5 stars
Tedious
Considering the numerous positive Amazon reviews of this film I expected a lot more from it.
There is a story (albeit a rather ridiculous one); however, the story... Read more
There is a story (albeit a rather ridiculous one); however, the story... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Stephen
1.0 out of 5 stars
"Best HK Film Ever?" I hope not!!
According to the DVD jacket "PR" this is "the best HK film ever". I hope not for the sake of all the other HK films out there! Read more
Published 17 months ago by G. Brooks
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great action movie
I think this movie is a masterpeice , great action good storyline an assassin that is out to put round after round in to any1 but not the innocent, except destroying some poor... Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2010 by Instigator
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Killer
This has to be one of John Woo's greatest films!
Its a must see for any fans of action films or John Woo. Read more
Its a must see for any fans of action films or John Woo. Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2009 by A. J. Harrison
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE BEST HONG KONG FILM EVER
I'm not a fan of Hong Kong movies - they are simply too cheese, especially Jackie Chan's. But this one really is different. Read more
Published on 13 July 2008 by Sick-o
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly awesome.
John Woo's greatest masterpiece. An absolutely brilliant tale of redemption, duty, honour and sacrifice. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2008 by Conan P
3.0 out of 5 stars
DeAgostini version
WARNING: The DeAgostini version has NO EXTRAS.
So if you want them do NOT buy that version.
For me it means buying another copy!! Read more
So if you want them do NOT buy that version.
For me it means buying another copy!! Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2007 by Driverdriver
4.0 out of 5 stars
Shock horror: An action film with a good story!
When John Woo arrived on the Hollywood scene, we were all quickly wowed by the bombastic action of films like 'Broken Arrow' and 'Face Off'. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2007 by M. JONES
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid gunfight actioner
Hi..
I bought 4 movies from Amazon UK in one shipment, they included (Road house 2), (Naked weapon), (The Killer) and (Series 7 - The Contenders). Read more
I bought 4 movies from Amazon UK in one shipment, they included (Road house 2), (Naked weapon), (The Killer) and (Series 7 - The Contenders). Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2007 by M Bardi
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