Dai zek lo

I did not expect the depth that this film mines when buying tickets yesterday for "Running on Karma" starring Andy Lau. In fact, when it began, I cringed wondering how campy it could possibly be. This first impression quickly transformed as some special effects were artfully used to convey that I was in for fast and thought-provoking ride.

The violence in the film stops just short of being gratuitious. In fact, it is quite purposeful and well done. As a whole, the film has a little of everything that attracts me: the supernatural, special effects, humor, love story and surprise, surprise, an actual heartfelt message that provides the viewer with 'the big picture' on life. I wanted to give the flick an 8.5/10 but opted for the 8 since this system does not take half points.

By the way, seeing this film is Hong Kong has the added effect of illustrating one of the film's points: there are many layers to our day-to-day 'reality.' This may not have such a strong effect for the viewer who lives elsewhere.

Johnnie To supernatural film with some Buddhist elements. Two-part movie: first part they are catching Indian murderer, second-part reveals Big past and the secret behind Sun-Ko

First part 9/10 Second part 5/10

I'm sitting her slack jawed and wondering what in the hell these people were smoking or ingesting when they made this off kilter little film. To say that this film is unique is an understatement.

A body building ex-monk who dances as a male stripper and who can see the future gets mixed up with a police woman going after a killer. Mix in some laughs, comic book villains, some very bloody deaths, some serious action, discussions of the nature of the universe and predestination; shake well and perhaps, just perhaps you may get an idea of what this film by Johnnie To is like. Then again you may not since this film operates in its own orbit, going from pillar to post on its own crazy course.

Its a flawed film, thats so incredibly quirky that it never really seems to pull it all together. Normally not pulling it all together will kill a film, but here you don't really mind simply because it simply being different than pretty much any other film ever made. Its not a bad thing, unless you're looking for a movie that you're going to want to watch more than once.

If you want to see a movie thats certainly unlike any other film out there this film is for you. But be warned its bumpy and imperfect and you may hate yourself for liking it in the morning.

I will list three major reasons why this film should rock your world: 1. (The action.) It is a mixture of Chinese-martial and superhero choreography. The protagonist and the various "villains" he encounters are over-the-top, their abilities are by all means supernatural, there's nothing believable about them. All this exists in a contemporary Hong Kong setting. The film isn't even about kung-fu or wild action sequences. This is brilliant.

2. (Andy Lau showing off his skills with a piece of tissue.) The most original way of demonstrating martial art skills of all time.

3. (Unconventional genre mixing.) It has action, it has comedy, and it has philosophical depth. It features Andy Lau in a goddamn body-suit. There's a love story. It's a tragic love story. There's a tragic love story involving Andy-freaking-Lau in a goddamn body-suit. He does kung fu. There are cops. There's mystery. There's a detective story. This is very brilliant.

I find this film brilliant. There's no other adjective I find more fitting. Every word of that screenplay and every movement captured by the director (Johnnie To), is goddamn brilliant.

Along with One Nite In Mongkok, this was my favourite HK film of 2004.

What do you want from your movies? A shaolin monk turned stripper/bodybuilder with psychic abilities? A young female Hong Kong cop cursed by her former life as a murderous WW2 Japanese soldier? A mysterious mountain-dwelling, serial-killing hermit who's evaded the authorities for five years? A karmic feud between two men dating back generations? A rage-filled police chief who thinks nothing of beating and/or killing suspects to get results? Well, look no further than Running on Karma! Co-Directors Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai throw all these ingredients into the mixer and come up with one original cinematic cocktail. By turns funny, tragic, romantic, horrific and action packed, Running on Karma is a film that could only have been made in Hong Kong. Great performances from Cecilia Cheung and Andy Lau make you care about the characters and their fates, despite the loopy/deep(?) storyline that will have your brain spinning. No description of this film is a match for actually seeing it, so what are you waiting for?