Hei mao (1991)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Stephen Shin

Writers:

Lun Ah (writer)
Lam Tan Ping (writer)

Release Date:

17 August 1991 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Catherine is a violent and disturbed young lady who is shot down by the government in one of her escapades...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Secret Service | Chip In Head | Bitterness | Death Of Boyfriend

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jade Leung	...	Erica Leung / Catherine
Simon Yam	...	Brian
Thomas Lam	...	Thomas
Curtis Fraser	...	Prison Guard
Denise Stauffer	...	Prison Guard
Jordy Shane	...	Disguised old woman
Audrey Rene	...	Bride
Mary Rawbins	...	Hostess
Randi Lynne	...	Prison Guard
Glen Morrison	...	Gun Instructor
Kiara Hunter	...	CIA Agent (as Cara Leigh Hunter)
Jamie Estio	...	Groom
Yvonne Drinovz	...	Prison Guard
Dickie Motherwell	...	Language Instructor
Chan Korlikian	...	Mysterious Killer

Also Known As:

Black Cat (Hong Kong: English title) (USA) (literal English title)
Hak mau (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG (video rating) (cut) | Singapore:R(A) (theatrical release) | South Korea:15 | UK:18 | Spain:18 | Germany:18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

D & B Films Co. Ltd.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Catherine is let out of the car at the wedding hit, there is some kind of large farm equipment on the road in the distance. The car starts to drive away, the shot cuts to her face, then back to the car leaving. Despite the fact that the car has only traveled a few feet, the combine in the distance has disappeared.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Nikita (1990)

Not a great film

Black Cat is directed by Stephen Shin and it stars Jade Leung, in her first feature role. This is the Hong Kong "remake" of Luc Besson's classic La Femme Nikita, which is one of the greatest action pieces in the world of cinema. Black Cat fails to be great even though it is made in Hong Kong, where action films are usually unmatchable. Erika/Catherine/Black Cat is a violent young female who goes to jail and has the same offer as in Nikita: to become an assassin to the government. She starts the training and once she's ready and skilled enough, the killings may start. What follows is tired scenes and nothing special in the whole movie.

The action scenes are okay and stylish at times (especially during the credits) but they are so few and can't save the whole film. There is absolutely no depth in the characters (Leung, Simon Yam or others) and the film is pretty irritating to watch because it offers nothing more than just gun fires and action, which are nothing special considered this is made in the land of Woo, Lam, Mak and other great directors.

So I can't recommend this too much but Hong Kong fans will want to check it out and so did I. This could have been far far worse and due to the few stylish scenes and images in the film, it is not too impossible to sit through, and in fact, I've watched this two times now.

4/10