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Paradox

Original title: Saat po long: Taam long
  • 2017
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
4.6K
YOUR RATING
Paradox (2017)
Martial ArtsActionAdventureCrimeThriller

A tough Hong Kong cop's 16 y.o. daughter disappears in Pattaya. He goes to Thailand to find her and must deal with corrupt cops but an honest one helps him track down culprits involved in il... Read allA tough Hong Kong cop's 16 y.o. daughter disappears in Pattaya. He goes to Thailand to find her and must deal with corrupt cops but an honest one helps him track down culprits involved in illegal organ trafficking.A tough Hong Kong cop's 16 y.o. daughter disappears in Pattaya. He goes to Thailand to find her and must deal with corrupt cops but an honest one helps him track down culprits involved in illegal organ trafficking.

  • Director
    • Wilson Yip
  • Writers
    • Nick Cheuk
    • Lai-Yin Leung
  • Stars
    • Louis Koo
    • Yue Wu
    • Ka-Tung Lam
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    4.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wilson Yip
    • Writers
      • Nick Cheuk
      • Lai-Yin Leung
    • Stars
      • Louis Koo
      • Yue Wu
      • Ka-Tung Lam
    • 35User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 10 nominations total

    Photos166

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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Louis Koo
    Louis Koo
    • Lee Chung Chi
    Yue Wu
    Yue Wu
    • Chui Kit
    Ka-Tung Lam
    Ka-Tung Lam
    • Cheng Hon Shou
    • (as Gordon Lam)
    Chris Collins
    • Sacha
    Tony Jaa
    Tony Jaa
    • Tak
    Jacky Cai
    Jacky Cai
    • Siu Man
    Wai-Kwong Lo
    Wai-Kwong Lo
    • Ban
    • (as Ken Low)
    Hanna Chan
    • Lee Wing Chi
    Vithaya Pansringarm
    Vithaya Pansringarm
    • Commissioner Chai
    Sompob Benjathikul
    • Mayor Aziz
    Siraphan Wattanajinda
    • Soei
    Iris Lam
    • Jenny
    Michelle Saram
    Michelle Saram
    • Lee Chung Chi's Wife
    Cheng Si Lam
    • 6-year-Old Wing Chi
    Ho-Yeung Yuen
    • Chi's Boyfriend
    Nontacha
    • Aziz's Wife
    Wave Choo
    • Ano
    Oak Keerati Sivakua
    • Kook
    • Director
      • Wilson Yip
    • Writers
      • Nick Cheuk
      • Lai-Yin Leung
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews35

    6.54.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7steveo122

    Typically I get bored with it before it's over...

    Chopsocky (or chop-socky) is a colloquial term for martial arts movies and kung fu films made primarily in Hong Kong and Taiwan between the late 1960s and early 1980s. Though I am in no way qualified to judge all that's come since then, I still feel safe calling this the pinnacle of the chop-socky form. The production qualities are near-impeccable, including the script, which includes all of the expected elements of the form but layers in depths of characterization and emotional involvement, if you want it. The mayhem, the point of it all, is brutal, batshit crazy, clever and choreographed better than I have seen. Typically I get bored with it before it's over but this time I didn't even think about it.
    6totalovrdose

    Paradox is Aptly Named, Cuz this can be a Hard Pill to Swallow

    The opening fifteen minutes of Paradox's narrative is incredibly jarring and sets the stage for a film prioritizing visuals and action over story. Lee Chung Chi (Louis Koo) is having a birthday with his eight-year-old daughter, Wing; suddenly she's a teenager with a boyfriend; no he's her fiancé; no the father of her unborn child. Then Wing is in Thailand. Then she is kidnapped. Then we meet another man dining with his family. Then we're watching two politicians. And then; and then; and then. It all goes at breakneck speed, so much so I got whiplash.

    The film does eventually slow down and returns to some of its opening sequences later by using a non-linear narrative structure. Chung (Koo) is a type of super cop in Hong Kong, whose daughter Wing (Hanna Chan), in typical teenager fashion, fueds with her father. She travels to Thailand to spend a holiday with her friend, Jenny (Iris Lam), but after disappearing for three days, Chung is notified.

    Rushing to Thailand, Chung meets Kit (Yue Wu), a dedicated police officer, who accepts the case, alongside his partner Tak (Tony Jaa), who exhibits psychic abilities, and foresees this case will end violently. Kit's attempts to juggle the case, his wife, Soei's (Siraphan Wattanajinda) pregnancy, and pressure from his boss / father in law, Commisioner Cai (Vithaya Pansringarm) to wrap things up as quickly as can be, causes Chung to feel the investigation is not going fast enough.

    When local cop Ban (Ken Low) seemingly knows more about the case then he's letting on, Chung is forced to take matters into his own hands, and assists the help of Siu Man (Jackie Cai), a prostitute, who can help him navigate the criminal underworld.

    His investigation leads him to a human organ trafficking ring, led by the malicious Sacha (Chris Collins), but when Chung learns the corruption goes all the way to the top, with key political figures like Ka-Tung Lam (Gordon Lam) involved, he realises the fight to retrieve his missing child, will be so much harder than he ever imagined.

    So many of the character's, like Siu Man, are there in service of the plot, with no discernible character ark. Other characters appear to say or do one thing, then disappear forever. This sacrifice is done to keep the narrative moving forward, and though the story is held together with little more than tissue paper, it is succesful in establishing an often brutal plot.

    At other intervals, the film leans into melodrama, and though this can, at times, feel unnecessary, while making the otherwise raw seriousness of the story feel unintentionally like a comedy of errors, it likewise increases that sense of hopelessness.

    The film touches on themes of corruption, the difficulties of being good in a harsh world, class victimisation, and a father's limitless rage, though so often this is mere window dressing, with the film having hardly anything substantial to say about any issue.

    But, so many viewers are here for the action, right? What is *that* like? Fight sequences are directed by renowned martial artist Sammo Hung, his veteran experience bringing a strong sense of fluidity to the action. It's sort of like a dance, with characters moving like water, Tony Jaa especially executing some fantastic moves. That said, there is no major stand out sequence, and though fights become more visceral over time, viewers may be surprised by how few martial arts scenes there are.

    There is also some obvious wire-work - example, could a person really execute a 180-degree spin in mid-air while falling? Fundamentally, the sequences never truly reach the highs of Flashpoint, or the likes of Ip Man 2.

    Paradox clearly exhibits flashes of brilliance, but some of this feels bogged down. In the end, the film is appropriately named, as it seems unsure what it wants to be; an emotional thriller, or an action film, and this disconnect does more to hamper the film, than help it.
    7chuckxx

    Pattaya is known for its corruption

    Maybe not in the way it is in this movie, but don't expect help without donating some money in brown bags.

    Many places in the movie r not in pattaya.

    Though the kidnapping location looks like the beacb in south Jomtien.
    8phanthinga

    Worthy entry of the series

    Directed by Wilson Yip the man behind Ip Man and action choreographed by the legendary Sammo Hung you will know this movie gonna be good.Kill Zone:Paradox almost like a recreation of the last movie with the same actors but with different background and motivation.Louis Koo now as the new main character team up with Yue Wu to rescue his daughter and busting a illegal organ trafficking in Thailand.Tony Jaa for some reason starring in this movie too but his role is small and i guess the movie need his imagine to draw viewers but the action scene with him is quite nice so i'm not complaining.Apart from the top notch action as usual the movie is very depressing with one of the best performance by Louis Koo this year.The pacing is better and more easy to follow than Kill Zone 2 so fan of the series will have a blast while watching this movie
    9Top_Dawg_Critic

    Excellent Chinese action flick with a great story and amazing choreographed fight scenes

    This film had all the elements of a Hollywood production. The story was told well, had a lot of heart, with lots of twists and turns. The score could have been better and I would have loved to see more of Tony Jaa, but nevertheless, the directing and cinematography where on point and all the leads played their roles great. The action was not overwhelming and just right for the story being told. The pace and length of the film were perfect and the subtitles on screen at the right speed/length. Very enjoyable and a recommended viewing from me. A well deserved 9/10!

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    Related interests

    Bruce Lee in Opération Dragon (1973)
    Martial Arts
    Bruce Willis in Piège de cristal (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in Les Soprano (1999)
    Crime
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Louis Koo did most of his own stunts and doesn't have formal martial arts training.
    • Connections
      Follows S.P.L. (2005)

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Paradox?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 17, 2017 (China)
    • Countries of origin
      • China
      • Hong Kong
    • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • Cantonese
      • Thai
    • Also known as
      • Sát Phá Lang 3: Tham Lang
    • Filming locations
      • Bangkok, Thailand
    • Production companies
      • Aether Film Production
      • Alibaba Pictures Group
      • Bona Film Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $79,226,860
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 41m(101 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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