Zui hou yi zhan (1987)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Kin Lo

Writer:

Kar Wai Wong (writer)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Cast

Siu-hou Chin	...	Assassinated Worker
Sau Leung 'Blacky' Ko	...	The Foreman
Billy Lau	...	Dirty Nose
Deborah Sims	...	Jo Jo
Eric Tsang	...	Sum's Contact
Austin Wai	...	Sum Ying-Mo
Wah Yuen	...	The Chairman

Also Known As:

Ji hau yat jin (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
The Final Test (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Not Much Offered Here To Entice Viewers.

The new supervisor of security services for a mining colony in the year 2025 accepts (for pay) a very dangerous mission as we recognize from having seen his predecessor chased and shot to death by apparently unimpassioned colony guards, but after he arrives at his new post, an undercover assignment since he is contracted as an "intelligence agent", he learns that there is a deeper conspiracy at hand than that (use of illegal drugs to improve performance of workers) for which he was prepared. The principal drug being administered at the colony is Ritalin with another, more powerful, substance additionally injected into the hired help, and the new security chief discovers that he is fighting virtually alone against the controlled addiction, with his sole collected ally the location's resident physician, a woman who is under a cloud for prior malpractice. Obviously grounded to large extent upon the Peter Hyams film OUTLAND, this low-budget Hong Kong affair lacks those production values requisite to lift it above the standard, its score flagrantly derivative and its production design and costuming unimaginative, while logic is murdered in a script that is full of foolishness; however, the sets are cleverly constructed and the camera-work is skillful throughout. Direction is uninspired as is the acting, heavy emphasis placed upon physical humour that generally falls flat, despite efficient editing that moves the piece smartly along while helping viewers to avoid pondering upon why a futuristic society would utilize old-fashioned crossbows as weaponry. The film's ending is so abrupt that it appears obvious someone in control simply decided that enough is enough. A DVD version provides no extras other than a menu but the Mandarin soundtrack is benefited by optional English subtitles that are a cut above the norm for Hong Kong cinema.