Dong jing gong lüe

`Tokyo Raiders' starts off fast and furious. Before we are on a first name basis with one of the main characters, he is embroiled in a fight scene the can only be described as Jet Li meets James Bond meets MacGyver.

`Tokyo Raiders' moves at an incredibly fast pace, Fight and Chase, Fight and Chase, and I found myself fighting and chasing the ever elusive plot. I saw the version dubbed into English, and perhaps that's the only fault of the movie. I never fully got a grasp of who each character was, what their name was, as well as the purpose for their actions. Introductions to the characters are never properly given, and soon the plot twists so much you don't know who's who, who's Chinese, who's Japanese, who's working for which mob boss, and who's actually a good guy. This might be part of the film's mystique, or just really bad English dubbing. In any event I didn't really care. The martial arts fight scenes are plentiful in this film, and they are brilliantly done. The actors themselves are very skilled in the martial arts, and the director really enjoys playing with slow motion and rotating camera angles. The effect is absolute brilliance: a truly new art form made up of technical merit and intelligence in both filmmaking and martial arts skill.

This movie has been called a comedy. It's not so much a comedy as it is a comedy of errors. I liken it to `Lock Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels' as both involve some frantically hysterical antics that happen when average Joes get mixed up in the seedy mob underworld. Both films move at a mile a minute as well. Have I mentioned this film moves fast yet?

The artfully done martial arts more than makes up for any confusion caused by the speed of the plot and the poor English dubbing. If you thought `Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels' needed some Kung Fu added to it, this movie might just be your soulmate. . 7/9 Stars

When I saw the cast on the posters for 'Tokyo' I went "wow". Kelly Chen, Ekin Cheng and of course Tonly Leung. I was at first sceptical because of the Director Jingle Ma who directed another action film 'VR cops' which was terrible. But for his 2nd action film he really has learned a lot. Obviously basing himself on John Woo (note the amount of dove shots and use of slow motions) and trying out some 'timelapse' shots, it really brings out some life into the film. Tony Leung and Ekin Cheng actually play well off each other, for the cantonese audience it is at times obvious when the cast ad-lib which was left untranslated and simplified on the English translation. The film is very simple and the twists get a bit over-done with one after another, but overall it did turn out quite good. Personally, I enjoyed the film with it's unique blend of Japanese and Chinese acting and a comedic score, it is a fun film.

Jingle Ma has once again failed to deliver the enticement action/thriller fans crave for. With tactics and themes similar to the exquisite works of John Woo and Ang Lee, Ma's latest (and derivative) project is just another bland action film waiting to be criticised. Like his previous flops, "Fly Me To Polaris", "Drunken Fist 2" and "Rumble in the Bronx", Tokyo Raiders has no real plot which will catch the attention of the audience. Bride waits at altar, groom fails to show up, bride finds help to find the groom, bride becomes tangled in a web of deceit and violence, etc, etc. Very boring, very un-original. However, the failure of the film does not rest entirely on Jingle Ma himself, most of the cast are near terrible themselves. Hong Kong showpony, Kelly Chen tries her best to make an impression to the audience; to portray herself as a distressed bride who only wants her fiancee back.....and to earn the sympathy of them. Personally, I feel more sorry for the groom, Takehashi, for being engaged to someone as dull as Macy (Chen). The Japanese cast were just as terrible, with Nakamura Toru and Abe Hiroshi showing bland and un-convincing acting skills. In my own opinion, only the excellence of Tony Leung Chiu Wai saved the film from further canning.

This film is best avoided......at all costs.

Well, the DVD came out here in the UK, without any announcement, and I hadn't heard of it, so having enjoyed Tony Leung in titles like "Bullet In The Head" and "Hard-Boiled" (both John Woo films), I thought I'd give this a try. All I can say, is that it's bizarre, to say the least!

Part James Bond, part Mission Impossible, and part modern-day action/comedy ala "Indiana Jones", it's essentially a crime-caper story about one man's attempt to blackmail a Mob Boss. It will not be to everyones fancy, that's for sure, but those who stick with it, will have an enjoyable little HK action movie.

It's not what you'd expect, but it is an interesting title to watch, although some viewers may well give-up on it, before watching the entire movie. Considering that only the 97 minute edit was released here, it would be interesting to see the longer 2-hour cut, as seen in Australia, et al.

The best-bit, without a doubt, is the motorised-skateboard/BMX bike chase! Very wacky, and very funny, and very, very cool!

When the film opened with cantonese spanish music to an action fight in Tokyo, I knew this was going to be a winner.

It is a fantastic action comedy, Ekin Cheng and Tony Leung working together admirably as a bit of an odd couple. Tony Leung doing a great job at the action, even if he isn't an action actor really (he still insisted doing his own stunts).

THis was the first film I saw Ekin Cheng in...and since I've been ordering his floppy haired dvds from Hong Kong. He is a great actor, does the action well (he should, he's a Kung Fu champion) and is as funny as hell.

I didn't like the Macy character (or the actress who played her)...she was so...dumb. I don't think much acting was needed for that either. Now I'd hate to insinuate anything between the director and her... The 'actress' is a pop star really, and when I saw a CD of hers in China town with her wearing this plastic power rangers outfit...well I smiled in sweet revenge.

The plot isn't complicated, and even if you don't get it first time round it dousn't matter it's still an enjoyable film.

If you watch this PLEASE watch it subbed. As always, the dubbing is appalling, with the laugh line pin-up idol Ekin Cheng delivers 'I'm not pretty but I can fight!'...did the dubbing script writers even see the cover??