Item #: 5159DVD Category: HONG KONG Format: DVD MPAA Rating: R

Woolly Rating: 4/10 (61 votes)

MEMBER COMMENTS ON THIS VIDEO

Random Smith

Mar 9, 2004 @ 1:4:3

Two assassins compete to be Asia's #1 Killer!
After renting Fulltime Killer, I immediately ordered a copy for my own collection. Why? Three reasons: 1) Andy Lau is a madass pimp, 2) violent cinema is fine cinema, and 3) this is one of the most entertaining action films ever! SPOILER WARNING: O (Takashi Sorimachi) is a mysterious and introspective isolationist...and the best killer in all of Asia. He lives by one rule, the ever-present assassin code 'never get close to anyone.' Bursting from his radiant leather jackets is the even louder Tok (Andy Lau). He is showy, brass, and kills with a confident smile. He wants to be the best assassin in the world, meaning that O is in his way. So instead of the predictable westernized shootout, the two killers attempt to outdo and 'one-up' each other. Killing is no longer the issue, clients lives being more worthless than the flying bullets, as the hits becomes mere opportunities to give the other killer the proverbial 'shaft.' Things get more intricate as the two learn that they love the same video store girl, Chin (Kelly Lin). And who wouldn’t love this gossamer video vixen, with her kindhearted life of simplicity? Ahh…. Kelly Lin…In fact, one marvelous scene (and I mean marvelous in the pseudo-shocking yet well-done sense) is a romantic moment with Tok and Chin, which is intercut with O ‘burying’ his past; One relationship ignites, the other resolves…Goddamn this dualistic juxtaposition! This leads me to my one major complaint with the film: Structure. Linear plots tend to bore me, but this film shifts narratives uncomfortably at times, from flashbacks to the police chief Inspector Lee (Simon Yam) following and tracking the killers. Just thirty minutes shy of the ending the focus shifts to Lee indefinitely. This was obviously done to accommodate the ‘interpreted’ ending scenes, but still feels abrupt. If only his character was developed earlier on, then perhaps this transition wouldn’t seem as jarring or unnecessary. The audience, by this point, is in love with O and Tok, and so Lee’s character is just a vessel to deliver the goods. I haven’t read the novel; Fulltime Killer was based off the book, same title, so perhaps it’s the atypical adaptation flaw. But seriously folks, it’s all about the guns and cool ways of holdin em! Don’t forget Andy Lau’s ‘pop star kills with total disregard’ charisma. It’s an Over-the-top action film, not to be troubled with finer dramatic sensibilities. This is what we mean by ‘over-the-top’ action. No, it’s not the glamorous bullet ballet of John Woo films like Hard Boiled, or magical mysticism of epic Asian fantasies like Crouching Tiger. Fulltime Killer’s action is a conglomerate of stylized cinematography mixing slow motion, time lapse, smooth cranes, movie homage, engaging shootouts and an ending confrontation that harks to the classic video game Metal Slug. If you enjoy that sort of party do yourself 2 favors; rent this whilst memorizing the name Andy Lau. Quickly, before Hollywood bastardizes Infernal Affairs or killing doesn’t seem cool anymore.

• GOODBYE UNCLE TOM
Snuff Film... (Tim)

• TAMPOPO
Awesome... (CMH)

• ROMERO
... (Sue)

• VAMPIRES VS ZOMBIES
horrible... (beachmonkey)

• PULP FICTION (COL ED)
a thrill ride... (Alan Hall)

• PERFUME
KINKY, DISTURBING... (DKB)

• BLACK MASK 2: CITY IF MASKS
not bad... (Dedeals)

• ELVIS ON TOUR
Elvis in Concert. ... (elvisandmeatloaf@aol.com)

• BORN YESTERDAY
A great performance... (micca)

• WONDERWALL
Why this film dserves more than a one star rating.... (Eric)

• PIT STOP (LTBX)
... (pike)

• BEWARE OF A HOLY WHORE
... (pike)

• BIG BAD MAMA
... ()

• GOODBYE UNCLE TOM
MISUNDERSTOOD... (Caribba)

• MONKEY KUNG FU
the best... (melo70)

• PANTERA 3 WATCH IT GO
WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... (leo)

• HOUSE OF STRANGERS
FINE 1949 NOIR/DRAMA... (DKB)

• KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
LOCALLY SHOT DRAMA... (DKB)

• GOODBYE UNCLE TOM
a genius reality check 4 our race we may live in the white mans land & call it hme bt in doing that we deny the truth of our being. All brown skin people nomatta hw light r african rayalty ... (lady swirl)