City of Darkness

I expected great fight scenes, great backdrop, some over acting, and a bit of fun. I got this.

The beginning was a good setup for the film and drew me in immediately. The main actor was very good.

The first half was actually better than I expected. It was well paced and gave you a good understanding of the character and how he finally felt at home with a new family while also not losing out on some action scenes. Plus, the environment was wonderfully dystopian and looked just what I imagined Kowloon would have been like.

The second half, OH MY, was a whimsical, non-sensical, over-the-top, non-stop fighting fest. It certainly wasn't 'The Raid' standard but it was still a fun watch.

Overall, totally worth a watch.

I didn't make it to Hong Kong til 1994 so this famous Kowloon walled city had already gone but it's legend hadn't. It was the equivalent of a large block of properties, within properties - a mass of alleys, corridors and tunnels in which the law was enforced in a very different way from the outside. This story starts with a battle that sees control pass from "Jim" to "Cyclone" (Louis Koo). There's now a truce of sorts that exists between the bosses and the outside world, but that's about to be thrown into turmoil by the arrival of "Lok" (Raymond Lam). He works hard to get an official ID card but is fleeced by "Mr. Big" (Sammo Hung) and escapes with a bag of his cocaine into the walled city. That's where he encounters it's ruler and his sidekick "Shin" (Terrence Lau) and where his willingness to work and his fortitude ingratiates him with the boss. On the outside, "Cyclone" has a business relationship with "Chau" (Richie Jen) who has really only one purpose left in life. That's to avenge the murder of his family by the now dead "Jim". The focus of his revenge is that man's own son - but nobody nows what happened to him. Well, swiftly you can add two and two and get "Lok". Loyalties are now tested, friendships challenged and forged whilst the fragile peace is soon in tatters. With battle lines drawn and ambitions clear, it's all out war and the action mounts up. This is a sold end-to-end martial arts film with plenty of nimble and lithe combat; acrobatics and bodies that must be made of skin-clad tungsten steel. It's got a little bit of mysticism and embodies human nature, whether benign or not, quite entertainingly and by not just throwing itself about, but by at least trying to create and develop the characters. The denouement takes it's time and does become a bit repetitive, but as a quickly paced drama it really does fly by for two hours. Honour amongst thieves - but always sleep with your back to the wall.

Only giving it a 6. Maybe a repeat watch and it will become a 7.

Whole movie feels rush and by the time the movie ends it doesnt feel satisfying.

Could be better if the movie have a longer running time or probably split to 2 part. Too many fight scenes but unfortunately no memorable ones. There should be some tense buildup prior to a fight scene think of SPL Donnie vs Wu Jing at the rooftop or Winter soldier elevator fight.

Cinematography and colorful character is wonderfully done. Raymond Lam is convincing as the hero and much better than his role in New Kungfu Cult Master.

The movie need a prequel to explain on the flashback in depth.

Finally I can see silver lining in HK movie after all these ten years. This is what a signature movie of HK style should be like. I'm delighted to see a movie that is so "Hong Kong". Old plot is never outdated, it is about how to present in a modern way. The brotherhood of the gangsters were so touching. No MSGs, no grandstanding, no too much focus on the old movie stars - this is just what we, the audience, want.

The Kowloon Walled City is always a mysterious legend to me, I must give credits to the production team for building such a beautiful replica of the city. No matter you like the plot or not, I suggest everyone who like HK culture or miss the old HK to watch this in the theatre.

"Walled In" is adapted from a comic book, and it shows at times with its larger-than-life characters, setting, and seemingly superhuman feats during battle scenes. The Walled City of Kowloon was a real place, running with little government intervention, which adds an aura of mystique and allows for creative liberties.

Stuck in development hell since the 2000s, the studios saw huge potential in this film and bet big on it. They assembled some of Hong Kong's finest crew and production team, even creating a replica of the Walled City for shooting.

The action sequences are fine but not groundbreaking. There are too many quick cuts intended to show the hectic and intense nature of the fights, but this detracts from clarity, unlike the more appreciable choreography seen in "Ip Man."

Louis Koo and Raymond Lam, both veterans of the trade, successfully helm the film. Koo brings an enigmatic and benevolent image, while Lam offers an effortless everyman appeal. The supporting cast does their part well, with Philip Ng being particularly lauded for his rare villainous turn as the nearly unbeatable big bad.

The film seems to suffer from catering to too many characters and their different motivations, resulting in a predictable storyline. However, for kung fu fanatics like myself who enjoy the action as much as the Hong Kong brand of drama that comes with it, this is a long overdue and very welcome dose of ass-kicking goodness. Hopefully, it starts a new wave in the years to come.