The Prosecutor

The Prosecutor (2024) : Movie Review -

Donnie Yen, best known for his iconic role as Ip Man, returns in The Prosecutor-a gritty, action-packed legal thriller that dares to blend adrenaline-fueled sequences with courtroom drama. While we've seen our fair share of courtroom thrillers, few dare to mesh it with high-octane action the way this film does-and surprisingly, it works quite well. With a gripping, edge-of-the-seat narrative and intellectually charged legal mind games, The Prosecutor offers far more than your average legal or action drama. Yen not only throws punches but also throws light on the cracks within the justice system, encouraging introspection and awareness among viewers-particularly those who might one day stand before the gavel.

The story kicks off when a young man from an underprivileged background is falsely accused of drug trafficking, sending his life into chaos. Framed by a powerful and corrupt legal machinery, he becomes entangled in a system that is rigged against the innocent. Enter Fok Chi-ho (Donnie Yen), a former hotshot cop turned reclusive legal crusader, burdened by a haunting failure from his past. Compelled by a deep-rooted sense of justice, he returns to fight a system riddled with corruption, shadowy conspiracies, and moral decay. What unfolds is a tense battle involving institutional cover-ups, legal loopholes, and ruthless adversaries-both inside and outside the courtroom.

Clocking in at just under two hours, The Prosecutor maintains a relentless pace. Even in the quieter moments, the film keeps you riveted with tense legal exchanges and gripping investigations. Then come the explosive action set pieces-few but fiercely executed-and Donnie Yen delivers every punch, kick, and dramatic moment with commanding presence. Each action block feels earned and impactful. The climax delivers not only thrilling visuals but also a powerful social commentary. It speaks to younger generations and veteran members of the judiciary alike, nudging them to rethink justice beyond mere legal evidence. The final silent moment, showing the quiet joy on a judge's face, speaks louder than any words could-it's a rare cinematic scream for justice that only the emotionally tuned-in will fully appreciate.

Donnie Yen is in top form, leading the film with a mix of emotional gravitas and kinetic energy. His courtroom monologue in the finale isn't lengthy, but it lands with weight, reflecting the journey his character undertakes. Julian Cheung is a surprise package and owns every second of his screen time. Michael Hui, portraying the judge, lends genuine credibility to his role, while Francis Ng as the chief prosecutor brings grit and gravity. MC Cheung Tin-fu brings youthful energy to the narrative, and Lau Kong offers a veteran presence with a memorable performance. Mandy Wang impresses with her dual-shaded character-beauty, brains, and betrayal all rolled into one. The ensemble cast adds terrific support across the board.

Visually, The Prosecutor is striking. The cinematography captures both the glossy cityscape and gritty courtroom drama with finesse. Li Ka-wing's editing ensures a tight narrative that rarely lags, although it remains to be seen whether the emotional impact holds up on a second viewing. The background score is decent overall, though it shines brightest in the climactic rooftop sequence, where it adds tension and cinematic heft. That top view was insane! Edmond Wong's sharp script and Donnie Yen's focused direction result in a potent mix of action, intellect, and commentary. In conclusion, The Prosecutor is more than just another action flick-it's a well-rounded thriller with substance. From fast-paced action and legal intrigue to emotional depth and a subtle call for justice reform, it delivers a thoroughly satisfying cinematic experience. Watch it if you're ready to go beyond standard genre fare and want something that stimulates both the mind and the senses.

RATING - 6/10*

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.

Honestly, I went to the cinema to see Donnie Yen in this movie and thoroughly enjoyed the action scenes, kung fu, and the incredibly beautiful cinematography, especially the first-person perspective.

However, while the movie excels in its action moments, it falls short in terms of storytelling, feeling slow and somewhat trivial. Many scenes may even come across as boring.

The biggest highlight and positive aspect of the movie is Donnie Yen's performance. Over time, Donnie Yen has gained a more comprehensive understanding of his cinematic identity. His increased believability and comfort with genre clichés and traditions make action fans easily believe not only that they are watching a reliable and capable star performing a role in a moderately memorable film, but also affirm the social persona of a steadfast hero.

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.

This movie is a decent option for those looking for light entertainment, especially if you're bored and just want to kill some time while hanging out at the mall. It's the kind of film that requires very little effort or emotional investment, making it a casual watch rather than something truly memorable. However, it's hard to recommend it to anyone who has to go out of their way to see it, as the plot and execution feel overly conventional and lack originality.

The story plays it safe by sticking to the predictable formula of good triumphing over evil, which has been done countless times before. While Donnie Yen's fight scenes are undoubtedly a highlight, they can't fully compensate for the lack of depth in his performance. His acting feels stagnant, as though he hasn't challenged himself to grow or explore new dimensions in his craft. Once you strip away the action sequences, you're left with a film that feels hollow and uninspired, catering more to mainstream expectations than delivering something fresh or impactful.

In short, this is a film that serves its purpose as a casual time-filler but doesn't offer much more than that. If you're a die-hard Donnie Yen fan or just love action choreography, you might still find some enjoyment. Otherwise, it's a passable experience but not one worth going out of your way to watch.