Chek law dak gung (2002)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Siu-Tung Ching

Writer:

Jing Wong (writer)

Release Date:

15 November 2002 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

They will seduce you - just before they kill you!

Plot:

A mysterious woman, known as Madame M, kidnaps forty pre-teen girls and transports them to a remote island to train them as the most deadly assassins...

Plot Keywords:

CIA | Hong Kong | Assassin | Assassination | Gunfight

Cast

Marit Thoresen	...	Fiona Birch
Almen Wong Pui-Ha	...	Madam M (as Almen Wong)
Daniel Wu	...	Jack Chen
Natalie Kyoko Waters	...	Little Katherine (as Kai Yan Kwok)
Renee Nichole Rommeswinkel	...	Young Charlene Ching
Chia-li Mo	...	Little Jing (as Mo Ka Lai)
Augustin Aguerreberry	...	Drillmaster
Maggie Q	...	Charlene Ching
Anya	...	Katherine
Jewel Lee	...	Jing
Monica Lo	...	Student murdered in Cage
Benny Lai	...	Tattooed Yakuza Boss
Pei-pei Cheng	...	Faye Ching
Dennis Chan	...	Mr. Chan
Andrew Lin	...	Ryuichi

Also Known As:

Naked Weapon (Hong Kong: English title) (USA)
Chi luo te gong (China: Mandarin title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, some sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

92 min | USA:90 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Finland:K-18 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:R-18 | South Korea:15 | Australia:R | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:R18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Media Asia Films

Trivia:

Mark Aldred, who played the Russian crime boss (uncredited) was fired from his job as an English teacher in a Hong Kong primary school because the principal had discovered his role in this film. After a lengthy hearing, an industrial tribunal awarded Aldred HK$11,600 as a contract gratuity. However, it threw out his claim for around $79,000 in damages and dismissed Aldred's claims that his sacking was unlawful.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the scene where "china doll" is analyzed, they misspell PHILIPPINES as PHILLIPPINES.

Movie Connections:

References Batoru rowaiaru (2000)

Style over substance - but what style!

The plot of Naked Weapon is not too bad, but the way it is ultimately presented leaves a lot to be desired. The pacing is dreadful, scenes are arranged haphazardly, and far, far more could have been done with the interesting premise. Most of the dialogue is really terrible.

However, even with all the shortcomings of the script, the movie is saved by its stylism. The action is pretty good, and while the characters obviously don't actually hit each other, their moves and speed are absolutely incredible and breathtaking. The acting is pretty good, too.

All in all, a highly entertaining package filled with sexy girls kicking ass. It's not as good as So Close, though.

7 out of 10.