Jqn_Hgar

Story wise Limbo plays within a familiar territory when it comes to police investigation films about the hunt for a serial killer on the loose therefore the execution makes all the difference here and it ends up being a prime example of how a movie's visual aspect elevating it above its written material. After All Limbo shares a lot of similarities with Soi cheang's own Dog Eat Dog in terms of plot and in terms of how murky the morality of most of the characters at play is but as bleak and filthy as that film was it still has nothing on Limbo because as stated above the aesthetic that this film goes for is even grittier, grimier, nastier and bleaker yet still somehow mesmerising as it creates an atmosphere that is as creepy and ruthless as its subject matter.

Hong Kong is depicted in almost apocalyptic way, focusing mostly on the territory in which the killer operates, the rain soaked litter filled back alleys of the city, a wasteland that feeds on the outcasts of society, if you don't get chopped up by the killer the street will literally eat you alive. The city's mega structures are juxtaposed in the background in some scenes as a way to comment on how isolated the underworld feels it's almost as if the movie is saying you can scream all you want because nobody is coming there for help and nobody cares.

With a cast and crew consisting of a few Milky way image regulars (recurring story elements from previous works like the police detective losing his gun subplot are explored here again with a different approach), Limbo tells the story of a relentless manhunt for a deranged serial killer terrorising the female outcasts of the underworld. With Gordon Lam, in one of his few leading roles, shining as the tormented veteran police detective. His looks kind of reflect the harshness of his environment, the guy isn't afraid of getting knee deep in a trunk full of junk if it means he gets one step closer to stopping the culprit. On the other hand we have Yase Liu giving a very solid performance as the lead female of the film, I've never seen her in anything before but her turn will surely make me watch out for anything she does in the future. Mason Lee who I just found out is Ang Lee's son also does a decent job as the newly assigned and relatively naive detective, he might not be as good at his job as Gordon Lam's character but he definetly has the same resolve to fulfill his duty.

This is a step in the right direction for Soi Cheang a director who is clearly better than being a for hire in mainland chinese CGI crap fests, definetly the best film I've seen from him as of yet. If you liked his Dog Bite Dog you should find this right up your alley because I personally think it's a way better film that shows how much he grew as a filmmaker. Please for the love of god keep doing stuff like this. Also somebody please wake Johnnie To up from his sleep, we need more films like this! Keep Hong Kong cinema alive.

Right off the bat it opens with a visceral action scene that is more creative and energetic than most of the major productions from Hollywood in the last 2 years. Sadly after that we get to the generic cliched part where we follow our protagonist coping with the loss of his wife and taking care of his sick girl. These obligatory 20 minutes of miserable melodrama are easily the worst part of the film that and everytime some character speaks in English but thank goodness they did not drag this part because for the rest of the movie it's pretty much non stop brutal action with some nice shootouts and a very impressive one on one fight inside of an elevator culminating in yet another one vs one with the main baddie that is less memorable compared to the previous one but still makes up for that with how brutal it gets.

There is a plot twist at the very end that you may or may not like. That and the completely unnecessary Sci-Fi element of the story are the film's major flaws. I don't mind thin storyline and underdevelopped characters as well as the occasional dodgy CGI.

One More Shot delivers on its promise as a dumb DTV balls to the wall actioner with crappy Sci-Fi elements that should satisfy most action movie fans.

First off I only felt inclined to write this review after seeing the shockingly low score and all the 1 star reviews that make no sense. Those people should really reconsider the way they view films. Criticizing a film like this for being cheap isn't exactly valid because the movie is a straight to video effort from a straight to video director with straight to video cast members and for that kimd of movie Hell Hath no Fury delivers a fine actioner that is tightly plotted (unlike earlier Jesse V Johnson movies) fine acting (Louis Mandylor has grown on me since seeing his pairing with Scott Adkins in Debt Collector and it is always a joy to watch Daniel Bernhardt in an actual role and not just an appearance where he gets his ass kicked by some Hollywood pretty boy/girl or SNL comedians, the rest of the cast was fine) and loads of action inspired by the likes of Sam Peckinpah.

Now as much as I liked JVJ's other films the shootouts weren't exactly his strongest aspect. Here he kind of makes an improvement in that department but still it is no John Woo or Johnnie To however it's always great to see those juicy ass squibs again. Hollywood please listen to action fans worldwide for once, we demand to bring back the juicy squibs! CG blood is a crime against cinema.

Overall decent DTV action flick, you would totally enjoy this if you go into it not expecting to get your mimd blown and definetly do not believe the negative ratings 3.7/10 is the kind of score I'd give to those half assed excuses of movies that Seagal churns out every once in a while, this is no where near as bad as that even if you ended up dislilikg it.