Hak kuen

Wu Jing equals Jet Li, well not - just yet…

After last year's scene stealing performance as an assassin in the now acclaimed – Sha Po Long, Wu Jing is now the tiny territory's lone martial arts future. His skills and fluency are second to none and his reputation of training in the same school as Jet Li only furthers this compliment. With that being said, Wu Jing still have miles to go, before he should even be compared to the later superstar, as his acting is still stiff and lack any sort of emotional impact. Sure, his death stare role in SPL can do wonders, but this is a leading role that we are talking about and as likable as Wu Jing is, he does not have the on-screen presence of Jet Li – just yet. Luckily, whatever acting talents that Wu lacks, is duly compensated, by the comic presence of everyone's love and hate – Ronald Cheng and the increasing cuteness of his fellow female co-stars in Miki and Theresa. There are definitely moments of exceptionally well choreographed fight sequences that will make you – wow and wah, but ultimately the movie fails to connect as director Dennis Law resorts to a cliché filled end. Just like, most HK movies, it just doesn't finish off with a bang! The movie goes like this: Wu Jing plays a Peking opera actor and former national martial-art champion, who makes a short visit to Hong Kong and is lured to join in the underground boxing ring. While winning matches one after the other, he is also sinking deeper and deeper into the dangerous game.

Director Dennis Law is a strange newcomer, as he ventures into two completely different genres of film making one being Love @ First Note and the other being this one. The former one is obviously a sweet romantic comedy, about two not so-good-looking guy and girl - somehow getting together and somehow fitting a couple of promotional music video for Justin Lo, but here, Law moves to action and in displaying action, he is not afraid to show the full brutality of the punches and that alone is a success. There is potential in this lad, and hopefully, Law will be given more opportunities and freedom which can only head one direction - as he will only get better.

Fatal Contact isn't just a film about underground fighting, but Law attempts to show the darkness of the business and the fact that no matter whom you are, you are never in control of yourself. Winning might win you money, but the moment you enter into this black fist underworld, there is only one way out – death. It might seem a rather simple message, but at the very least it seems more realistic then most of the romantic comedies these days. There is a scene where Wu Jing was fighting Andy On, in a fight that almost met his death. It is this very moment that Wu Jing has transformed into a monster – no longer human and no longer humane. By entering this world, Wu have not only betrayed himself physically, but mentally and internally. Basically, Law is trying to say two words – dead end.

Having impressed Neo immensely in b420, Miki is a more than capable actress, and here, she is both convincing yet unconvincing, but that's partly for the director to be blamed. She engages the audience well in her scenes with Wu Jing, and even overshadowing his mainlander speaking canto accent. There are times where you feel you understand her character and then it all go downhill and eventually a forced resolution where the director preferred to take the route frequently taken. Ronald Cheng is funny and likable, but is wasted in a supporting that can be played by almost everybody and most notably Chapman To. You either love him or hate him, but here you just want to see more of him and his comic antics. Theresa appears here and there as a "chicken" and further emphasizing the darkness of the underworld.

All in all, Fatal Contact is a brutal, realistic and fluent fighting sequence and combines well with the deep yet simple message about the downfall of humanity and that anyone can be corrupted. However, like many other HK movies before him, director Dennis Law fails big time, by going the route of the clichés and the processes is destroying a movie that could have offered so much more. With that being said, both Law and Wu are still young and fresh talents and both have moments of greatness within the flick, even if it is not wholly consistent. Still, this is a credible effort and fights sequences that stand well alongside Sha Po Long and heck this isn't a bad movie after all. Let's hope that this movie will be remembered as the one that launched Wu Jing into a Jet Li and Dennis Law into a Corey Yuen – well at least we can hope… (Neo 2006)

I rate it 7.5/10

• www.thehkneo.com

I can understand why some people didn't like this, but on the whole I think this was a far superior offering than a lot of kung fu (or however you feel better classifies this type of film) offerings I have recently watched.

(I have been a long time fan of Hong Kong martial arts films, and I am trying to put this review in the context of both 70s/80/s classics as well as more modern takes on the genre. Also I have a wide ranging preference in kung fu films - from the serious, the comedic, through to plush high end productions.)

This film does start slowly, and perhaps is more in keeping with Asian dramas for the 1st quarter of the film. And I can understand why that would not be rewarding for some viewers. But if you hold out a little, as time goes on is increasingly riveting.

The plot, which tends to be incredibly thin in many martial arts films, is relatively rich. While, there are some guessable twists long the way, equally there are some surprising ones.

Perhaps more importantly, the action is very well choreographed and it's lead a very strong fighter. I was really impressed by Jacky Wu's technique - I wouldn't have wanted to be on any of his punches or kicks, and it wasn't all fantasy fight (e.g. loads of wires) either.

It is the momentary lapses in sentimentality that, for me, mark this down from 9 to about 7 1/2 (ish).

In a nutshell: if you can get past the 1st part's (and occasional) lack of pace, this is a well put together, well choreographed film, with a strong lead and impressive martial arts.

This movie is beautifully shot with some of the greatest fight scenes of any film in recent years. Anytime there is a fight, even the brief ones, the film shines. However, the rest of the film is awful despite the excellent photography. This movie is plagued by bad acting and bad story. This movie is extremely stupid. Every non-action scene is terrible.

That being said it is still worth watching for the fight scenes. The fights go at a fast pace and are pretty believable. They are somewhat similar to Flashpoint and SPL.

This is an absurdly silly movie that expects the audience to be morons but the fights are well-done.

This is a martial arts movie with a story that for the most part isn't compelling. Only the ending is a bit crude and brutal and come to think of it completely ridiculous. I think the director wanted to add some drama to make this movie more interesting. What the director seems to have forgotten that he doesn't need the drama, because he has Jacky Wu / Wu Jing (known from Tai Chi Boxer). When he does his thing, you are in for a treat. The man has some skill and he shows it whenever he can. The martial arts in this movie is great and that alone is the reason to watch this movie. The pace however is a bit slow. This due to the story. If they really wanted to make a interesting story they should have used "The Captain" more, since he was a great character. Instead we are confronted with some abstract fatalistic love story that does not make any sense. Who is to blame for that? Dennis Law , ladies and gentlemen. If you want more proof of his incompetence then go watch Fatal Move which was meant as a sequel to S.P.L. with Donnie Yen. Director Dennis Law is an example of a film maker who really shouldn't be in the business since he lacks vision and creativity. He basically copies and pastes stories and themes and combines them without adding something fresh or original and then thinks he is finished. Most of the time he is lucky that he is surrounded by competent people who more than once improve the film considerably. But it does beg the question why talented people like Sammo Hung, Simon Yam and Wu Jing would be involved with his productions at all.

In any case try to ignore the story and focus on the action. It's hard hitting and exhilarating.

I give it a 10.It's a movie full of soul.It starts pretty funny, gets into serious talking.But the ending and the characters make everything possible.It's about life, it's about priorities, it's about the human soul.If the soul is too damaged it will never survive happier times, it will crumble under it's own weight.Gives perspective on life....most people won't understand or appreciate it. The actors are playing a serious and simple act, they don't have fancy words or eccentric habits. The scenes are pretty simple and focus on the characters. I would not miss this movie if i like to see the unseen. The main characters are like children, they are in a pure form of existence, they are mortals, they are human.