Ban wo chuang tian ya

Wild Search is an excellent entry in the Honk Kong film genre. As usual with the Hong Kong cinema there is plenty of action. The thing that sets this film apart from others is the subtle romance between the leads. Chow Yun-Fat, as usual, is superb. The balance between action and drama is expertly handled by Ringo Lam.

(1990) Wild Search (In Chinese with English subtitles)

This is the Hong Kong version of Peter Weir's "Witness" that starred Harrison Ford, but this time it stars Chow Yun Fat as the hero on the run with actress Cherie Chung as the love interest. When upon watching this film without seeing the original source, still can hold up quite well, because the setting is different whereas in Witness, Harrison Ford hides out amongst Amish people protecting a young kid. In "Wild Search" Chow Yun Fat hides out amongst the countryside protecting a little girl who witnesses her mothers murder. Because it was made in Hong Kong, this film has more tension and more action than "Witness" where the people that're chasing them serves as sort of a backdrop for the rapport between Harrison Ford and the Amish. This is the third of five movies director Ringo Lam collaborated with Chow Yun Fat.

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 ...)

A loose reimagining of Peter Weir's 1985 film, Witness, Wild Search comes as an extremely pleasant surprise and showcases Ringo Lam's often underrated versatility as a director. It's a much more tranquil romantic drama with elements of his police procedural thrillers rather than high-octane action, although Lam does manage to provide us with some intense action regardless, patterned car chase included. With gentle pacing and exceptional performances from all involved, this easily ranks as one of Chow Yun-fat's best and his chemistry with Cherie Chung effortlessly enchants. Combining this with the gorgeous photography of Infernal Affairs' Andrew Lau and a dreamy score by Lowell Lo and Wild Search remains an extremely captivating and downright wholesome experience in its own right.

Chow Yun Fat stars as Mew-Mew, a reckless cop still mourning the loss of his wife and son, who were killed by a thief. Into his life comes Cher (Cherie Chung), sister of dead arms dealer Elaine Lee (Elaine Jin), and Cher's cute little niece Ka Ka (Cheuk Yan Chan), the only witness to her mother's murder. As Mew-Mew sets about investigating the killing, he begins to develop feelings for Cher, but suspecting Ka Ka's father Hung (Paul Chun) of being the ringleader of the arms smuggling gang, he becomes a target of the bad guys, which in turn puts the lives of Cher and Ka Ka in danger.

Wild Search sees one of Hong Kong cinema's greatest action stars, Chow Yun Fat, reunited with one of Hong Kong cinema's finest action directors, Ringo Lam, to bring us a film that might surprise their many fans, being just as much a subtle romance as it is a hi-octane action flick. However, thanks to superb central performances from Fat and Chung, and masterful direction from Lam, who balances the action and drama brilliantly, even those expecting far more bloodshed should find this film a totally captivating experience.

Some accuse Wild Search of being a rip-off of Peter Weir's Witness, and to some extent I guess they're correct, the basic plot bearing some similarities to the 1985 Harrison Ford thriller, but it is also a very good film in its own right.

7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.