Cheung fo (1999)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Johnnie To

Writer:

Nai-Hoi Yau (written by)

Release Date:

19 November 1999 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Five men. They appreciate each other's guts and wisdom, and they are always perfect partners in missions. But now, they'll have to hold their pistols at each other...

Plot:

Triad boss Lung, who has just escaped being killed in an assassination attempt hires the killers Curtis...

Plot Keywords:

Killer | Assassination Attempt | Triads | Kill | Punishment

Awards:

9 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	...	Curtis (as Anthony Wong)
Francis Ng	...	Roy (as Francis Wong)
Jackie Lui Chung-yin	...	Shin (as Jackie Lui)
Roy Cheung	...	Mike
Suet Lam	...	James (as Lam Suet)
Simon Yam	...	Frank
Tian-lin Wang	...	Fat Cheung (as Wong Tin Lan)
Eddy Ko	...	Lung (as Ko Hung)
Elaine Eca Da Silva	...	Lung's wife
Keiji Sato	...	Assassin (as Sato Keiji)
Wai Ai		(as Ai Wai)
Man Shing Yau	...	Lung's bodyguard (as Yau Man Shing)
Cub Chin	...	Saliva
Yick Tin Hung
Jerome Fung

Also Known As:

Qiang huo (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
The Mission (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

Japan:81 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

South Korea:18 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB

Company:

Milky Way Image Company

Goofs:

Continuity: During the gun battle at the abandoned warehouse, the window is cracked by gunfire. After few gun shots, the bullet holes disappear.

Quotes:

Shin: How much longer does it take to get the job done?
Curtis: Are you in a hurry? You may go if you wish.

Movie Connections:

Features Dance Dance Revolution (1998) (VG)

Starkly beautiful

Shot lovingly at a measured pace, the Mission is one of the best films I've seen all year.

The cinematography is simply incredible. Combined with a strong score and excellent sound, it sets the tone and pace of the film. Rather than rushing the gun battles and creating the furious duels of John Woo films, the Mission takes a slow measured approach. The bodyguards cover one another and move in harmony, taking up advantageous positions from which to strike. They do this slowly and methodically, but with an air of cinematic perfection to their languid movements. When they fire their guns, the weapons thunder and bullets either ricochet off or shatter their targets. No stock sound effects here - this is as good as Heat or Saving Private Ryan in the intensity and quality of its weapons fire.

The acting is first rate with much of the communication left unspoken. These men don't need to ramble on to one another, a few sentences or a simple gesture convey all the information that is required. All five of the bodyguards turn in first rate performances that leave you with a real sense of both who these men are and what they are all about.

The theme here is loyalty - and while it might be a simple one, this is one of its finest presentations. Definitely worthy of one's time.