Ban wo chuang tian ya

Wild Search is a film in need of respect. I've read reviews that disparage it's pedigree--claiming it to be nothing more than a "Witness" rip-off. Yet, aside from the plot device of a young child being sole witness to a murder and that child's relatives being "from the country", there is little resemblance to "Witness" in plot or characterizations. Chow Yun Fat plays Hong Kong Police Sergeant Lau Chun Pong, nicknamed "Mew Mew". Mew Mew is a man in a downward spiral, having lost his wife and child in a robbery. When first introduced, he's sitting in a car, chain smoking cigarettes and drinking from his flask, watching the drama of street life before him as he awaits the arrival of an informant. His expression is disinterested and weary. In numbing himself from his grief, he is now numb to life. His job is what keeps him going, and he is good at it. He commands the loyalty, respect and affection of his colleagues and supervisor.

Cherie Chung plays the sister of the murdered arms dealer--whose death sets the plot in motion. Chung's Cher Lee is a woman of quiet strength and dignity. Life has not been kind to her. Her husband betrayed her, leading a secret second life with a woman from the Chinese interior, fathering a son. During their marriage he berated her for being clumsy and stupid. Rather than continuing to suffer the humiliation, Cher has divorced him and lives quietly with her father, working along side him in the village fields, harvesting bamboo.

Her sister's death brings Mew Mew into her life dramatically. Their relationship is at first contentious as he suspects her and her father of complicity in the dead sister's arms dealing. The relationship begins to transform as Mew Mew aids Cher in tracking down the father of her 4 year old niece. A man who turns out to be the kingpin of the arms smuggling operation.

Thrown into each others company, facing adversity and danger, these two wounded souls begin to blossom. A tentative, tender relationship grows and is tested time and again: through Mew Mew's suspension from the force (a result of threatening the powerful, rich arms kingpin); a domestic drama within Cher's family concerning her young niece and her father: the complication of Cher's ex-husband returning, determined to win his wife back; and Mew Mew's shooting by Cher's sister's murderer.

To be sure, these are restrained performances. Yet one only has to watch Cherie Chung as Cher as she sits at the bedside of the wounded Mew Mew, not knowing if he will live or die, her worry, longing and love playing over her features, to appreciate her work in this film. Chow's Mew Mew may lack the flash and dazzle of some of his bullet ballet roles, but the transformation from grief stricken widower to a man being brought back to life by love is fascinating to watch. His scenes with the young actress playing the daughter of the murdered woman are especially touching.

Another one of the formulaic action/romance films made by CYF from 1989. This was the same year as "God of Gamblers" and "The Killer" were released, both A pictures. This is definitely one of the B pictures, really only worth watching for the more completist CYF fans.

CYF plays "Mew Mew", a widowed cop. While investigating the murder of an female arms dealer he meets Cher (played by his frequent castmate Cherie Chung), a country divorcee and sister of the dead arms dealer.

It is love at first sight for Mew Mew, even though he feels twinges of guilt before the memories of his dead wife and son. Cher and Mew Mew are thrown together while Mew Mew investigates Cher's sister's death, mainly by the existence of Ka Ka, the orphaned girl and niece of Cher.

There are some touching scenes between Mew Mew and Ka Ka; while it is never touched upon in the script, it seems as if Mew Mew enjoys taking care of the child as he might have done his own dead boy.

Unlike the other rough cops CYF has played in these B pictures, Mew Mew seems fastidious and neat, knows how to cook and treats his girl at least as well as his best friend. While in this film there are really no romantic moments between Mew Mew and Cher after that first fateful glance, there are some sweet scenes between them, but unfortunately they are brief at the expense of some of the action sequences - sequences which really aren't good enough to warrant pulling away from what little there is to the story.

A slight story doesn't give CYF or Cherie Chung, both consummate professionals, much to work with but they try. Miss Chung is always at her most interesting when portraying less sophisticated, more down-to-earth women and one really wishes she had had more to work with in this role; the scenes of her cutting bamboo and mixing traditional Chinese medicines for the new love in her life are solid and seem very natural. This pair of two of Hong Kong's finest actors are given wooden characters and while they manage to paint them in realistic colors, Mew Mew and Cher never really come to life except for some very brief moments.

The subtitling is very bad on this film (the Mei-Ah DVD version); it looks as if the translation was done by machine, and not by a very sophisticated piece of software at that. For those who have seen a lot of these HK flicks subtitled in English you will be able to take the Canto-English and translate it on the fly; those who are unused to doing such may find the subtitling confusing at times and downright frustrating at others. At least most of the words are spelled correctly, even if misused; I would give the effort a 2 of 10 rating just for that (and that's being generous).

The direction, even though by Ringo Lam, is unexciting and unoriginal. It may be that he, apparently like CYF and Miss Chung, was simply uninspired by the whole idea of this film.

CYF looks good as usual, but a bit tired. 1989 saw the release of "A Better Tomorrow 3", "God of Gamblers", "The Killer", "Triads - The Inside Story" and this film. Two classic pictures, one very good one and two not-so-good ones in one short year is a remarkable achievement. Rent this one if you just want to see CYF and Cherie Chung together again, but only buy it if you are a CYFanatic looking to complete your collection.

Good things: Chow Yun Fat. Well directed. Good pacing, never boring. Roy Cheung is always (not so) nice to see. The bad guys are brutal.

Bad things: It is a remake of Witness (but not so similar that you will be disturbed by the fact). Too lighthearted, too sentimental, especially for people like me who likes children in movies, but only if they die. Not enough violence. No, it is not better than Witness, only different. 7/10

The partnership of Ringo Lam and Chow Yun-fat has resulted in some brilliant films. Their first collaboration, 'City on Fire,' helped establish Chow as a Bonafide action star, influencing many Western films, notably 'Reservoir Dogs.' Their second, 'Prison on Fire', as well as its later sequel 'Prison on Fire II', kept the box office roaring, while 1992's 'Full Contact' was so blisteringly intense that a 2014 Time Out poll ranked it among the greatest action films ever made.

Their third film, 'Wild Search,' is an electrifying, wildly entertaining ride. A very, very loose remake of Peter Weir's 'Witness', it follows widowed detective Lau Chung-pong, better known, for reasons never quite explained, as Meow-Meow. After a botched raid leaves a young girl orphaned, he finds himself protecting her while forging an uneasy alliance with her aunt Cher. Sparks fly- not just from gunfire, but from unexpected romance. However, with ruthless criminals closing in, sentiment can be as dangerous as a loaded gun.

Screenwriter Yin Nam's narrative is a delicate balancing act. While the film delivers bursts of intense action- expertly staged with Lam's signature grit- it also carves out space for humour, romance and surprising tenderness. The relationship that develops between Meow-Meow and Cher is refreshingly organic, unfolding through shared responsibility rather than forced melodrama.

The trio of Meow-Meow, Cher and Ka Ka, the orphan, anchors the film, their bond growing through small moments- gentle humour, unspoken understanding and the kind of trust that doesn't come easily in a world as unforgiving as theirs. Lam never overplays the sentimentality though, keeping emotions grounded in the characters' lived experiences. This restraint makes their connection all the more affecting, ensuring that when the bullets start flying, the stakes feel personal.

Despite its lighter touches, 'Wild Search' never loses its edge. Lam keeps tension simmering, using the looming threat of violence to remind us that sentimentality can be dangerous in a world where criminals don't hesitate to exploit weakness. This constant push-and-pull between warmth and brutality makes the film richer than a straightforward action thriller, elevating it into something more nuanced.

Visually, it is one of Lam's most striking films. Wai Keung Lau's cinematography embraces a naturalistic aesthetic, capturing both the grittiness of urban crime and the softer, more intimate moments with equal finesse. The film's action sequences, though not as bombastic as those in 'Full Contact' or 'City on Fire', are impeccably choreographed- fluid, impactful and always serving the story rather than overshadowing it. Shootouts crackle with tension, and Lam's skilful blocking ensures that even smaller-scale confrontations feel kinetic and immersive.

Moreover, Tung-Nei Chow's editing keeps things tight and propulsive, balancing clarity in action with breathing room for emotional beats. Chow cuts for impact rather than chaos, ensuring the film never feels bloated or indulgent. In addition, Lowell Lo's moody, atmospheric score enhances both the film's tension and its quieter moments. Avoiding the dramatic swells of typical Hong Kong action films, his music subtly underscores the romance while hinting at the ever-present threat of violence.

Chow Yun-fat, known for his effortless charisma, dials back his usual cocky bravado to play Meow-Meow as a world-weary but compassionate cop, a man whose tough exterior softens as he bonds with Ka Ka and her aunt, played with warmth and depth by his frequent co-star Cherie Chung. She brings quiet strength to the role, making the budding romance with Chow feel natural rather than obligatory. Their chemistry adds an emotional core to the film, giving the quieter scenes as much weight as the shootouts.

Alongside them, Cheuk Yan Chan is fantastic as the young Ka Ka, demonstrating a natural ability and emotional intelligence quite beyond her years. Ku Feng does sterling work as Ka Ka's ornery Grandpa, while Kwong-Leung Wong is similarly good as Meow-Meow's partner Nam. Further, as the villains of the piece, Paul Chun and Roy Cheung ooze menace, bringing a ruthlessness to proceedings that keeps the tension simmering.

In conclusion, Ringo Lam's 'Wild Search' is a marvellous crime flick, expertly balancing romance, comedy and drama. Boasting striking cinematography and a fine score, as well as pulse-pounding action sequences, it fires on all cylinders. Featuring brilliant performances across the board- especially from Chow Yun-fat and Cherie Chung- it is well worth a watch, especially for fans of Hong Kong cinema. In short, 'Wild Search' is worth hunting down.

Yes, "Wild Search" IS a remake of Peter Weir's "Witness", but just like "Bullet in the Head" is a better film than "The Deer Hunter", this movie surpasses its American predecessor IMO. The subtle and subdued romance between Chow Yun Fat and Cherie Chung (who have a great chemistry that matches those of the classic screen-couples like Mitchum & Kerr or Bogart & Bacall) makes this one of my favourite love-stories in Hong Kong cinema (along with "In the mood for love", "Comrades - Almost a Love Story" and "C'est la vie mon cherie"). Naturally, the action is not too bad either (hey, we're talking about Ringo Lam here after all ...)