The Prosecutor

The Prosecutor is a legal crime action thriller directed by and starring Donnie Yen, reteaming with Ip Man producer Raymond Wong, and features a star-studded ensemble cast.

While it is not on par with the iconic status of the Ip Man film series, it is a modern Ip Man in spirit: Donnie Yen beating justice into a lawless world. Different robes, same job!

In its promotional trailer, it was baffling to see Donnie Yen, presumably the prosecutor in the title, holding a revolver running through a subway car like a police officer.

How would the story explain his fighting abilities and gun training? It's embarrassing to admit, but this ridiculous little hairball intrigued me for a month leading up to the film's release.

After a violent drug bust gone wrong, police officer Fok Chi-ho is disappointed with the criminal system, and quits the police force to become a government prosecutor...The answer I was looking for!

It was this precise moment ten minutes into the film, my expectations were firmly set. There was no use thinking how long it would take for a career policeman to quit, attend law school, and switch immediately to being a government prosecutor. Nor would I think about whether the film will portray the court of law authentically. It's not that kind of movie.

Under this mindset, The Prosecutor is an action-packed and entertaining popcorn film that's worth seeing once.

The ensemble cast, including Michael Hui, Francis Ng, Ray Lui, Julian Cheng, Kent Cheng and Lau Kong provide great support and keep the dramatic scenes engaging. There wasn't any feeling of waiting for the dialogue scenes to end so the fights can commence.

In fact, Francis Ng steals the movie in a hilarious reportedly-improvised scene where he openly challenges Donnie Yen to a fistfight, which was so close to a fourth wall break (whio challenges Donnie Yen in a movie?) that it had me cackling for a whole minute.

Julian Cheng completely morphs as the refined salt-and-pepper-haired businessman villain, a role that would normally played by Michael Wong. Cheng stands out, but falls short of being awards worthy.

The action choreography by Donnie Yen's Stunt Team, is noticeably more audience-friendly and less brutal than Yen's past MMA-themed films, like SPL, Flashpoint and Special ID.

In the past, Donnie Yen's priorities as star and fight choreographer were set on showcasing martial arts authentically. Whether it was police, wuxia or comic book action, he strived to deliver a sense of martial arts realism, notably power.

I see a maturation in Donnie Yen in The Prosecutor.

The Prosecutor felt like a culmination of Donnie Yen's filmmaking experience being applied in full as a director, with Raymond Wong supplying him all the proper resources.

This time, Yen is working with cast and crew he's familiar with and integrating the drama and action together to deliver a solid movie, and not just a movie with great fight scenes.

Donnie Yen brings his signature style and flair to The Prosecutor, a film that merges courtroom drama with martial arts action. While it delivers on innovative visuals and spectacular fight choreography, its legal intricacies might leave audiences-especially those unfamiliar with the differences between common and civil law-scratching their heads.

The film shines in its technical execution. Creative camera movements and first-person-shooter (FPS) sequences are used to great effect, pulling viewers directly into the action. The fighting choreography is, as expected from Donnie Yen, nothing short of epic. From fluid hand-to-hand combat to intense weapon fights, the action sequences are a masterclass in martial arts cinema. These moments are choreographed with precision and filmed with ingenuity, elevating them beyond typical action fare.

However, the legal drama is where the film falters. For audiences accustomed to the Indonesian legal system, the trial process in The Prosecutor can be baffling. The film's depiction of a prosecutor's journey to confront a supreme judge raises compelling ethical and moral questions, but the lack of clarity in its portrayal of legal norms might prompt viewers to do some research into the differences between legal systems.

One point of contention is the film's claim of being "inspired by a true story." While this lends an air of gravitas, it feels unnecessary-distracting from the narrative's standalone merits. Sometimes, a good story should simply be allowed to exist as fiction without the baggage of supposed real-world connections.

Despite these issues, the bravery of the protagonist to take on a figure of immense power, coupled with Yen's impeccable performance, creates a compelling emotional arc. The film also explores themes of justice and accountability, making it more than just an action-packed spectacle.

Donnie Yen is truly one of the greatest box office draws in the world. His contributions to martial arts and action films is immeasurable. His star status transcends continents, language, and generations. In his latest film release his skills as both a dramatic actor and martial arts action hero are on full display. This film is based upon unbelievable real events.

The Prosecutor is unique in that it could have easily been done as a courtroom drama or a martial arts action film. However, the filmmakers, Yen included, decided to combine the two to make a courtroom drama that is also a martial arts action film. This highly risky gamble really paid dividends in the final result; this film is fantastic.

Yen plays the lead character; a police officer turned Prosecutor whose overarching tenant is Justice, not a mere conviction for political sake. He goes against the establishment in his pursuit of justice for a young man wrongfully convicted to a twenty (27) year sentence for drug trafficking.

The story not only puts him at odds with his own Department, whose characters are adeptly played by the Kent Cheng and Francis Ng, but also with the real drug traffickers he is looking to uncover.

Yen is also the Director on this one and he does a very good job balancing the drama inside the courtroom with the high flying, gritty, martial arts action that takes place in the police chase scenes, and the other fight scenes that The Prosecutor has no shortage of. The courtroom scenes are as good as any courtroom drama films or television productions you will see. Julian Cheung's performance in this film is also notable.

The martial arts fight choreography in this film are first rate. Yen has made a career of consistently innovating and reaching new heights of action choreography in his films. The unique and visually stunning fight scenes in this film make for a highly watchable martial arts action film. Yen never rests on the body of work that has catapulted him to stardom. The fight sequences in The Prosecutor are memorable. The climactic scene on the train is an homage to Sean Connery's From Russia With Love, and it is spectacular.

This international martial action drama is distributed by Well Go USA and is in Cantonese with English subtitles.

The film uniquely respects the two very different genres it lives in and the viewer is winner in this successful merger. We highly recommend The Prosecutor as a great way to start the New Year.

When I saw the trailer to the movie, I was hyped because Donnie Yen's character looked desperate and the title suggests he needs more than his expert martial arts skills to succeed. This is what makes the movie work. In all of Donnie Yen's movie, you know he can use his fists and kicks to solve problems, so to raise the stakes,not only should there be a formidable nemesis but something that even Yen's superb fighting skills will not suffice. In The Prosecutor, Donnie Yen plays a former cop on his first case as Prosecutor and decides to investigate a possible framing of an innocent teen. Of course, he has to fight multiple henchmen and there are great fight scenes but, he still needs to find evidence and keep people alive. So that the challenge is in ensuring people live because Donnie's character can always overcome his enemies but not everyone is him. For me, balancing the action with the story worked to raise the stakes. While there are prolonged dialogues with very in your face lecturing about the duty of a Prosecutor, you can feel Yen's character's desperation because he can't do it alone. Furthermore, Yen is also emphasizing his age. His character admits he can't run after thieves anymore, and we see him taking beatings, but all the fight scenes are still intense and brutal. Yen can still move fast and deal powerful blows. However , playing and aging character, his fights are more tactical and employs use of the surroundings a lot. Yen, being the director, also allows his co star to shine in a few fight scenes. This shows that he is generous as an action star too. I would love to see more movies like this from him, where he is not only physically challenged but intellectually or emotionally challenged. Moreover, Yen consistently tries new techniques in his movies. There is the use of POV camera, to wide-screen shot over a rooftop, to the cramped space of a subway train. It's like he is using his experience in John Wick to use in the movie.

Powerful storyline and action scenes that had me sitting at the edge of my seat the whole movie. They took a complex plot and delve deep into the emotions that makes you question the judicial system and question right from wrong.

Great moments that made you chuckle, yet tug ant your emotional heart strings. Great flow, symbolism, and narrative throughout.

Like there's a scene where he puts down the wine and there's a balance scale showing how the situation is currently unjust.

At the end I couldn't believe Donnie Yen was the director and actor. I had watched the IP man series back in the day and was very impressed at how he pulled everything together. Super talented guy & Very impressed overall. I got to watch it overseas in Asia and excited that it's going to make its way in the US. Definitely worth watching in theaters when it comes out.