Hello everyone. Well now uni has finished and I've left my job, I thought I'd better start writing a...
Hello everyone. Well now uni has finished and I've left my job, I thought I'd better start writing again. Only hope I'm still good at it.
Member since:12.01.2001
Reviews:48
Members who trust:17
The Kung-Fu Movie was started by the Great Bruce Lee, Mass-produced by the indestructible Jackie Chan, Revolutionised in The Matrix and in present times anything which doesn’t have some sort of Martial Fight scene cannot be classified as an action movie (unless it stars Arnold Swarznegger). ‘Romeo must Die’ is the latest of the Martial arts films brought into the 21st century and starring a new face on the block Jet Li.
Li (Lethal Weapon 4 1998) stars as the imprisoned cop Hun Sing (or Akibar to his friends) who breaks out on hearing about the death of his brother. In the US, where his family is now one side of a gang war between the oriental Mafia and the black gangland bosses, he searches for the truth about his sibling’s death on both sides. With each sides desire to finish a major deal that will earn them millions casualties are to be expected, most notably the Gangland bosses son Colin O’Day, played by DB Woodside (Scar City 1998). His death drives Hun and his sister Trish O’Day, performed by R ‘n’ B singer Aaliyah in her first film, together in the search for who’s to blame. Aaliyah is also responsible for the film's soundtrack, with mainly hip-hop artists and some of her own songs.
The basic plot, outlined above, is not with out a few twists but nothing major to throw you off the story line completely. The film, I felt though, was very one sided with most of the action being played out by the Black gang. An impeccable performance by Delroy Lindo (Gone in Sixty Seconds 2000) as the boss Issak O’Day trying to go straight, and his backstabbing associate Mac, acted by Issiah Washington (Out of Site 1998) were, in my opinion, used overly too much. Their mirror images in the Chinese Mafia namely Ch’u Sing, Performed by Harry O (Shanghai Noon 2000) and Kai, acted by Russell Wong (Take Down 1999) were sorely underused. Kai, especially, who after a first impressive 10 mins literally destroying at least 20 or so people, disappears for most of the film till his death.
The film, with this discrepancy aside, is not without it’s moments. All the fight scenes were wonderfully choreographed, even though much was touched up using computer graphics, most of which were in the style of The Matrix. The scenes in which the X-rays, however, were used are a nice and original touch. My especially favourite bit is Jet Li’s hose fighting technique. Many things I have read on the film have said that the computer enhancement take away the real sense of the fight scenes, especially since Li, who is a five time Washu Chinese Champion fighter, has been reputed to be able to perform most of the moves without the computers intervention. I’ll believe it when I see it with my own eyes.
The films romantic edge- between Hun Sing and Trish O’Day is not as prevalent and there are no soppy bits (to my relief). The Romeo and Juliet theme can be scene in the two ‘families’ at odds with each other and the romance between members of both echoing the two ‘star-crossed’ lovers, but it is in no way an adaptation of the Shakespearean classic. The film does contain some comical moments as well, and most of them usually involve the over-sized, bumbling henchman Maurice, acted by Anthony Anderson (Me, Myself and Irene 2000)- look out especially for the Football scene- very funny.
Overall this film is not brilliant, a Martial Arts film with a Matrix-esque input. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see it and, especially if you like martial arts, this is a must see film to catch Jet Li in his first, and by no means last, Hollywood film. He is definitely set-up for greater things, and is even set to eclipse Jackie Chan.
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Martial Arts - Director: Prachya Pinkaew - Original Language: English\Vietnamese\Thai\Mandarin - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Tony Jaa, Bongkoj Khongmalai, Petchtai Wongkamlao
Production Year: 1972 - Martial Arts - Director: Bruce Lee - Original Language: English\Cantonese\Chinese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Robert Wall, Jon T. Benn
Production Year: 1981 - Martial Arts - Director: Kenji Misumi, Robert Houston - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Ohki, Akiji Kobayashi, Shin Kishida, Masahiro Tomikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama
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Advantages: Entertaining, clever visual effects, good performances. Disadvantages: Watch it, and enjoy it. But definitely don't expect anything from it.
krabople 11.09.2001 (11.09.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Romeo Must Die (DVD)
Advantages: Produced by Joe Silver(Matrix) Aaliyah, Jet Ali play roles well. Good special Features. Disadvantages: Weak ending. Actions scenes are not as good as the Matrix. Story line is to predicatable.
pasnip2000 29.04.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Romeo Must Die (DVD)
Advantages: good story/acting, excellent soundtrack, bursting with special features Disadvantages: *slight* predictability though not too much to put you off the movie itself. Game on PC enhancement not worth playing.
Fiz_whiz 19.09.2002 (19.09.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Romeo Must Die (DVD)
![Romeo Must Die [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78549142.jpg "Romeo Must Die [DVD] [2000]")
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