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Tiger on Beat More at IMDbPro »Lo foo chut gang (original title)
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| Index | 11 reviews in total |
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Hong Kong Lethal Weapon?, 3 January 2005
Author:
Antzy88 from Thatcham, United Kingdom
'Tiger On The Beat' is considered by some to be the Hong Kong version
of 'Lethal Weapon', in which Chow Yun-Fat plays Sergeant Francis Li, a
police officer who has not had a promotion in 11 years due to his
constantly chasing women with his irrepressible charm instead of
knuckling down to his work. His supervisor gives him his big case that
he needs to earn a promotion -- a drug heist that may or may not
involve a group of local Thais -- and is put with antagonistic
martial-arts cop Michael Tso (Conan Lee).
Unfortunately, Francis and Michael really do not see eye to eye, and
clash frequently over many things. But when things hot up, can they put
their differences aside for long enough, especially when their trail
leads to that of a possible link to the crime, a woman named
Marie-Donna (Nina Li Chi ['Twin Dragons'], who's now best known for
being married to Jet Li), is thrown into the mix?
This is more of a comedy than an all-out actioner, and some possible
unintentional comedy can be found in the 1980's fashions (bright yellow
trousers, anyone?). The intentional humour will depend on whether you
are watching an English dub (which, like many other English dubs, loses
some of that comedy) or its original Cantonese with English subtitles
(and those will depend on who released the version you watched). Some
of the humour doesn't travel that well outside of the
Cantonese-speaking market, but there's still some great one-liners in
the version I saw (the DVD release by Hong Kong Legends, which also has
an audio commentary from Bey Logan explaining some of the more obscure
gags), and one particular one from Chow when up against a Western
kung-fu fighter had me in stitches when I first saw it -- just the
timing of it! Chow is actually a gifted comedy performer, and for those
used to his work in 'The Killer', 'Hard-Boiled' or even 'Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon' may be surprised at this difference. He does
still get to do some action himself, though.
As with many Hong Kong 1980's movies, the main reason people lapped up
these movies was because of the action sequences, and that's largely
where Conan Lee comes in, although he really doesn't get that much
fighting to do in the movie. He still gets to do a one-on-one encounter
with Gordon Liu (recently seen in 'Kill Bill') in which they are both
armed with some very unique weapons in one of the most memorable
battles of this era (I won't give it away but it's crazy!). Still,
there are some bits that make you really wish that things had worked
out better for Conan (who's also known as Lloyd Hutchinson in other
movies) in terms of his potential career as an action superstar.
One thing I should warn women in particular of, however, is a scene
where Francis and Marie-Donna have a bit of a disagreement. It's
something that played well to local audiences in Hong Kong, but many
Westerners may object to it and it may leave an unpleasant taste in the
mouth, and it wouldn't surprise me if even some Chinese-speakers found
it over-the-top in today's climate.
All in all, though, while not completely great, it does have a certain
retro charm, and the action in it is enjoyable.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Not just comedy, 21 October 2003
Author:
kz7 from Finland
The movie begins as a light-hearted comedy but will not stay for long. There are some excellent fight sequences (especially at the end) and sometimes the movie is very violent. A classic Hong Kong blood opera anyway, a must see for fans of the genre.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Prett good, 80's buddy cop comedy, 23 October 2000
Author:
iaido
Before Tiger on a Beat hits the ten-minute mark Chow Yun Fat is taken
hostage, not only does he wet his paints, but he faints and falls into a
puddle of his own urine. If his wardrobe of a black sun visor, a Hawaiian
print shirt tied at the waist, and bright colored golf pants didn't clue
you
in that he is not the same tough character he played in The Killer, Prison
on Fire, or Hard Boiled, that diner holdup scene will. However, in the
same
scene he does swallow eighth raw eggs in one gulp, so thats to his credit.
Tiger on a Beat features Yun Fat and muscle-bound Conan Lee (who looks
like
Jackie Chan on steroids) as mismatched cops, Yun-Fat the unambitious,
streetwise, womanizer, and Lee the hot-tempered, rookie. Its a buddy cop
movie, the Hong Kong Lethal Weapon or Running Scared, with less emphasis
on
action than the cops drama-comedy antics in trying to bust a drug
smuggler.
They use a girl named Marydonna, who has started smuggling dope for her no
good brother, to try and catch the gang, one of whom is the great Gordon
Lui
as the main henchman, but even rarer is the fact that he has hair (fans
will
know what I mean). Veteran Lau Kar Lueng keeps the pace going, though the
action is minimal, until a fantastic final battle that involves Conan Lee
and Gordon Lui dueling with some big chainsaws. Other than that it is your
standard fare, some humor, some drama, an action scene or two. The film is
dated, you can tell it was an 80's flick as easily Breakin' 2: Electric
Boogaloo. Die-hard Hong Kong action fans should enjoy it. All others may
want to approach with caution, as the comedy and wardrobe may be too silly
for some tastes.
Also, A Better Tomorrow fans take note, Ling Ti does a cameo as an
informant.
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Standard HK 80's police action flick with a good team up, 10 May 2006
Author:
Chung Mo from NYC
The HK action film had by the mid-80's developed a set of
characteristics that hardly varied from film to film. Absurd gun
fights, swingy arm kung fu fights with lots of people yanked around on
wires to simulate powerful kicks, lots of dangerous stunts frequently
involving unprotected falls from balconies or second story windows and
plots that shouldn't be dwelled on lest the holes be revealed. This is
one of those but with some pluses that lift it above the crowd.
Chow Yun Fat plays it light and gives his character an appealing
goofiness that carries the entire film. His chemistry with co-star
Conan Lee works really well. Anyway the movie deals with drug smugglers
and a beautiful mainland Chinese woman whose criminal brother gets her
to delivery his stolen illegal drugs. Chow and Lee are cops assigned to
the case.
The film is very rough at times. The action scenes are frequently
bloody and harsh which is in contrast to the light comedy of Chow's
scenes. There's a lot of juvenile humor about breasts and a tough scene
where Chow's character smacks around the beautiful woman, tosses her
through a glass table and stuffs her mouth full of powder. She, of
course, falls in love with him. Director Liang, know for his
distinctive kung-fu films earlier in the decade, is absolutely
invisible in the film. Aside from the well paced fight scenes, his
style is not apparent at all. The whole film is very much in debt to
Jacky Chan's earlier police films.
Not bad if you give it a chance and don't expect too much.
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Incredible, 18 November 2004
Author:
AwesomeWolf from Australia
Version: Cantonese, with English subtitles (by SBS)
Hong Kong cops can do anything - including jumping off bridges, trucks,
cars, shoot anything they want, all while not wearing any pants as they
chase a suspect. Of course, being Hong Kong cops, they could just
approach a random bystander, flash their badge, and say "I'm
requisitioning your pants". If I were Chow Yun Fat, its what I'd do.
'Tiger on the Beat' has all of that and more (except for the
requisitioning of pants), including the obligatory English and American
bad guys. Chow Yun Fat is buddied up with Conan Lee to take on a drug
syndicate, and then the fun begins. The movie begins in an entertaining
light-hearted action/comedy sort of way, but as the movie progresses,
turns more into an excellent action movie, getting better and better
along the way. Chow Yun Fat gets to drink raw eggs, and wet his pants
when a gun is pointed at him. Obviously this isn't the Chow Yun Fat you
would recognize from some of his work with John Woo.
Chow Yun Fat gets top billing, and doesn't disappoint (the
shotgun-on-a-rope, and a fight with an American tai-chi expert are his
highlights), but the amazing Conan Lee steals the show. From hard,
fast-moving fight scenes and jumping off speeding cars, to an
incredible, final chainsaw-fu showdown with Gordon Liu, Conan Lee is
the real star of the movie.
Any Chow Yun Fat fans, and fans of Hong Kong action movies in general,
should enjoy this movie. It is, simply put, awesome. Be forewarned
though, there is one moment that some might find rather tasteless
(you'll know it when you see it), but otherwise it really is an
incredible action movie - 9/10
Some missed potential, but still a pretty sweet Hong Kong action comedy, 30 July 2009
Author:
t-birkhead from United Kingdom
Tiger on the Beat surely could have been a truly awesome film. With the fine cast and direction from the mighty Liu Chia Liang could be forgiven for expecting fireworks, but strangely fireworks are largely absent in this film. The plot sees a lazy sergeant played by Chow Yun Fat teamed up with the hard fighting and enthusiastic young Conan Lee. They then become involved in gang violence and drugs in an occasionally humorous, sometimes violent but ultimately inconsequential story, though the heat is turned up by martial arts veteran Gordon Liu playing a vicious baddie. Shaw Brothers regular Norman Chiu plays another bad guy and there are cameo turns from David Chiang and Ti Lung as well. The moments of bona fide fighting in the film are pretty ace but generally the film has more gun violence, which though suitably bloody isn't quite what is expected from the terrific performers involved and one of the greatest of all fight choreographers. There's the argument to be made of course that martial arts is less appropriate for the setting, but on the other hand the film doesn't take itself seriously enough for such considerations to be reasonable and even if they were it still seems a shame not to explore the potential for brilliance. The action is exciting and well choreographed though, and like I said violent. Though there could have been more of it and it would be more effective if connected to a better plot. There are however two scenes, one with chainsaws and one with a shotgun that are utterly inspired and very entertaining, scenes that any Hong Kong action lover will likely find memorable. Acting wise everyone does well, Chow Yun Fat isn't as likable or cool as his more noble roles, Conan Lee makes one wonder why this film and the great Ninja In The Dragon's Den didn't propel him to stardom and Norman Chu makes a good villain, whilst Gorodon Liu is ace, mean and savage. The film moves along nicely, its just a bit lacking in punch. There are sweet scenes, and one part with a female suspect that will likely have a lot of people gasping but the movie is never quite funny or exciting enough to be truly great. Still, I'd recommend it to Hong Kong action junkies, its pretty good stuff overall, just not one of the greats.
Good, But A Little Dizzying, 26 April 2009
Author:
crossbow0106 from United States
This film showcases HK star Chow Yun Fat as a police sargeant, who is paired up with detective Cho, played by Conan Lee. This film gets less like a comedy as it goes along and becomes a series of fairly violent scenes. This film is better on a big screen for full effect, but its still good. The action is fast paced and the kung fu moves, especially by Conan Lee, are fun to watch. Women are extremely secondary in this film, despite the pretty Nina Li. If you like Stallone type action with some HK acrobatics thrown in, you'll like this. Chow Yun Fat, as anyone knows who has watched him in America, is always an asset to a film. Its not great, its a little too much a few times, but if you like action/police buddy films, you'll like it.
Fluff, but fun fluff., 6 August 1999
Author:
Leigh Melton (leigh@nbi.com) from USA
A pleasant police/buddy comedy starring Chow Yun-Fat and Conan Lee. The requisite action scenes are there as well as a few dramatic moments, but this one is still played more for laughs. It reminded me of a Hong Kong "48 Hrs", but brightened considerably by the two leads. A fun way to waste a couple of hours.
great chainsaw fighting scene, 26 June 1999
Author:
Gustav-8 from geldrop, holland
Tiger on the Beat is one of my favorite Hongkong action movies. It is a great combination of fire- and musclepower. The highlight is an amazing fighting scene where two guys (one of them is Conan Lee) take on each other with chainsaws. One warning for female Chow Yun-Fat fans though, in this movie he beats up a chick real good. Anyway, it's great. Watch it. Now.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Absolutely bombastic, 9 September 2002
Author:
Shippmeister from Australia
Man this movies chainsaw fighting seen is probably the best their ever will be, if you need any more reason to see it there is something wrong. Good script, good ideas (shotgun on a rope, who would have thought) and good acting, an explosive action packed movie
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