SPL: Sha Po Lang
Director: Wilson Yip
Producer: Carl Chang
Action Director: Sammo Hung & Donnie Yen
Plot: Detective Chan (Simon Yam) is forced into a early retirement when he diagnosed with a cancer, a brain tumor. This was discovered when he and his fellow officers were transporting witnesses to court, they were deliberately crashed into, killing the witnesses.
Without the witnesses, notorious gang leader Wong Po (Sammo Hung) is released from prison. Detective Chan tries his best in the next following years to put the wicked crime lord behind bars, but can't quite cut it. On his last days of the Job he is introduced to his replacement, Officer Ma (Donnie Yen) a young fierce cop with a bad 'ass reputation.
When video evidence is brought forward of Wong Po attacking one of Chan's officers and then witnessing the murder. Chan with the help of his squad attempt to frame Wong Po, guaranteeing him a length sentence, but it doesn't quite go to plan...
Review: This is probably one of the most anticipated movies of 2005, Why? Well there is in imaginable thought of Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen starring in a movie together. Even more that they are lead up to some brutal fight scenes. Mr. Cool as Cucumber - Simon Yam portrays the role of a dying man who has a iron grudge against Sammo. There is also minimal use of wires, probably only two or three uses towards the end. Both Sammo and Donnie as action directors for the movie (which must have worked out well with them winning the 2006 Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards). Bio-Zombie director Wilson Yip taking the helm, these combinations were a guaranteed success story.
At first I felt like the movie has been overrated by the strange introductions between Yen and Yam, the strange camera zoom whilst both men are in their cars. I thought, 'Aw crap don't do this', thankfully it didn't.
The film turns out to run rather smoothly for it's 93 min running time. I was expecting a film with this much hype to strain into the 2 hour zone, but I was proved wrong, thankfully so.
As everyone can guess the action is pretty cool, Wu Jing (Legend of Zu) plays a rogue assassin who practically rips through his enemies with his wee sword, I don't what it's actually called, looks like a small katana though. Wu Jing is basically one of Sammo's Hitman, he proves to be amazingly deadly, but finds himself in for a fight with Donnie Yen. Then at the end of the movie we get to see one of these fights that are what dreams are made of, Sammo Hung vs. Donnie Yen!
Any notable people? Well for me I couldn't many people in the film, maybe because of my inexperience, but I did recognize Liu Kai-Chi mainly because of his role in the sickly Fu Bo. Also we get to see the son of Sammo Hung, yes Timmy! Timmy Hung makes a brief appearance as someone Donnie Yen nearly beheaded with a single punch, the effect of the punch has pretty much disabled him. Yet Donnie's character now seems to have a soft side to him as he now seems to be taking care of him financially.
Final Thoughts, another great achievement that Wilson Yip should be proud of.
Highlights
- Ma's battle with Jackie
- Chan and his crew chasing/beating the killer
- The opening crash
- Ma's deadly punch
- The final fight between Ma and Wo Ping
- Jackie hunting down and killing the cops
- The ending twist with Ma's character
Letdowns
- The dodge camera technique used when introducing Ma & Chan
Rating: 8.5 out of 10.0
