Kap ba ba dik sung

I've seen quite a few of these "re-released in America" films lately. 95 percent were only worth watching because of the cool fight scenes, but The Enforcer adds drama and character development to make a well rounded experience. The two boys' friendship is a prime example and is quite touching. Some people complained about fight scenes being unrealistic (wire work). To that I say-every movie from this genre has the same problem, so don't criticize The Enforcer. For those of you who plan to watch this on DVD: I found the English dubbed version (Dimension Home Video) to be much better in quality than the imported Chinese/Mandarin version. Subtitles draw your eyes away so you miss certain things, and the video transfer was pretty bad on the imported version. Bottom line--add this to your collection, it's a keeper.

Interesting mix of family drama, crime thriller and kung fu as Jet Li plays a mainland Chinese cop going undercover to infiltrate a robbery gang in Hong Kong. His young son has been told his dad is a wanted criminal, but the son continues to have faith in him. When Jet's wife dies, a female HK cop (played by Anita Mui) enters the mix and brings the son to Hong Kong. While the plot is fairly engaging, it sometimes slows down the action, which is not as extensive here as it is in so many of Jet Li's Hong Kong films. However, the boy (played by Tze Miu) is a kung fu champ himself and contributes some clever fight scenes including a confrontation with taunting classmates. There's one mind-boggling action scene involving a garbage dump and a garbage truck, which finds Anita scurrying up a tall iron gate, shooting the truck driver as the truck barrels towards her, leaping from the top of the gate through the smashed windshield and into the passenger's seat, and commandeering the truck, all without a scratch. The big action finale takes place on a large yacht where an auction of illegal Chinese treasures is underway and Jet takes on all three bad guys, played by the formidable trio of Yu Rong Guang (IRON MONKEY), Ngai Sing (THE BODYGUARD FROM BEIJING, KUNG FU CULT MASTER), and Ken Lo (DRUNKEN MASTER II). Here Jet uses his son in a most ingenious (and impossible) manner to defeat the bad guys.

I was entertained when I saw this Jet Li film in a second hand theater. The story is a little melodramatic but the fight scenes are outstanding. Gei Ba Ba De Xin/My Father is a Hero(1995) was the first Jet Li movie that I ever saw. One of his last films from Hong Kong before heading for Hollywood. My Father is a Hero(1995) is an unusual Jet Li picture because it mixes gunplay with plenty of martial arts.

My favorite scene is the shootout at the restaurant. I hate the version released here as The Enforcer because of the English dubbing. The action scenes are aggressively directed by Corey Yuen(director of the visually splendid Saviour of the Soul{1992}). Jet Li shows that he's the closet there is to a successor to Bruce Lee. Anita Mui kicks butt as Inspector Fong Yat Wah.

Review: I quite enjoyed this movie. I really liked the little boy, who played Jet Li's son and there chemistry and fighting skills was a joy to watch. The storyline was well put together and Jet Li proved that he can act as well as kick butt. Basically, Jet Li plays an undercover cop, trying to take down a crime boss but while he's on the job his wife dies and his son goes to live with a cop whose trying to work out Jet Li's true identity. The fighting scenes were quite good, especially when his son is using his martial arts skills to help take down the baddies and the showdown at the end was worth waiting for. In all, it's an entertaining film with enough material to keep you interested throughout. Enjoyable!

Round-Up: This film also has intense drama and you feel for Jet Li who can't reveal his undercover status to his family. After earning the trust from the baddies, he's unable to go back home because it might break his cover so his only communication with his loved ones is through a pager and phone calls to his son. I was really impressed with his sons acting skills and he really did show true emotion for such a young boy. The director didn't go overboard with the string action so the fight scenes looked realistic and well choreographed. Anyway, if your into your martial arts movies, this is definitely worth a watch.

Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: HK$15.5million

I recommend this movie to people who are into their Jet Li movies about a undercover cop fighting against a crime boss, with the help of his young son. 6/10

Maybe Jet's most successful break from traditional hero to modern day action man, this isn't a classic in any means but does deliver a contemporary Li performance in keeping with his growing US following. The story doesn't take us anywhere new - Jet is an undercover cop set to bring down top criminal Yu Rong Guang and things get messy when the family becomes involved. Thankfully the moderate screen action demands top-drawer performances from its stars and delivers - of course wushu wonderkid Tze Mui, playing our hero's young son, is notably the best thing. Of the action, a nifty three-on-one near the end may require the odd rewind.