Triad Wars (2008) Duo shuai (original title)

Director:

Dennis Law

Writer:

Dennis Law (written by)

Release Date:

28 February 2008 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

He can never walk alone...

Plot:

In the mist of a violent gang war, a series of unfortunate events threatens the fate of a powerful triad leader and his empire.

Plot Keywords:

Triad | Violence | Cage | Hand Chopped Off | Severed Finger

Cast

Sammo Hung Kam-Bo	...	Lin Ho Lung (as Sammo Hung)
Simon Yam	...	Lin Ho Tung
Niu Tien	...	Leung Yuet Lin / Soso (as Kelly Chu)
Danny Lee	...	Senior Inspector Liu Chi Chung
Jacky Wu	...	Lok Tin Hung (as Wu Jing)
Siu-Fai Cheung	...	Law Ting Fat (as Cheung Siu Fai)
Maggie Siu	...	Inspector Janet Liu Mei Chun (as Maggie Shiu)
Suet Lam	...	Wong Shu Chor / Fat Ball (as Lam Suet)
Ken Lo	...	Lau Kwok Wai / Wu (as Kenneth Low)
Jacky Heung	...	Kwok Chi Hang
Pinky Cheung	...	Tracy
Shiu Hung Hui	...	'Uncle' Tong Lai Yu (as Hui Shiu Hung)
Jay Lau	...	Josephine (as Jan Lau)
Zhan-Wen Keu	...	Billy (as Kou Zhan Wen)
Sze-Ming Lu	...	Jacky Ho Wing Kit (as Johnny Chen)
Hark-On Fung	...	'Uncle' Li Chun Tong (as Fung Har On)
Carisa Yan	...	Lisa
Tung So	...	Rocky (as So Tung)
Wan-Chung Lam	...	Ko Tat Wai (as Lam Wan Chung)
Hak-Shing Keung	...	Kwok Wing Ching (as Keung Hak Shing)
Yui-Wah Cheung	...	Cowie (as Cheung Yui Wah)
Hin-Wai Au	...	Superintendent Ricky Wong Kit (as John Au)
Chuen Sing Lee	...	Senior Inspector Fung (as Alexander Li)
Fanny Wong	...	Policewoman
Tian-lin Wang	...	Ma Wing Ying / Uncle Dee (as Wong Tin Lam)
Bing-Man Tam	...	Flirt Lok Ki Cheong (as Tam Ping Man)
Chung Chow	...	Kung (as Chow Chung)
Tak-bun Wong	...	Fred (as Kenny Wong)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny Arroyo	...	Lin Ho Tung (voice: English version)
Wah Cheung	...	Cowie
Siu-Ming Lui
So-Fun Wong	...	Policewoman
Anthony Carpio	...	Lung's Man (uncredited)
Tat-kwong Chan	...	Soso's Man (uncredited)
Jeffrey Chow	...	Man Entering Elevator (uncredited)
Woon Ling Hau	...	Woman Going Through Trash (uncredited)
Wong Yin Keung	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jonathan Lee	...	Ping's Buddy (uncredited)
Wah Wo Wong	...	Lung's Messenger (uncredited)
Courtney Wu	...	Kidnapper (uncredited)

Directed by
Dennis Law		(as Dennis S.Y. Law)

Writing credits
Dennis Law		(written by) (as Dennis S.Y. Law)

Produced by
Catherine Chan	....	production executive
Tiffany Chen	....	administrative producer
Charles Heung	....	executive producer
Dennis Law	....	executive producer (as Dennis S.Y. Law)
Dennis Law	....	producer (as Dennis S.Y. Law)

Original Music by
Tommy Wai

Cinematography by
Herman Yau		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Chi Wai Yau		(as Yau Chi Wai)

Art Direction by
Chi Hang Ho		(as Ho Chi Hang)

Costume Design by
William Fung

Makeup Department
Kit Ling Chan	....	on-set dresser (as Chan Kit Ling)
Gloria Lam	....	hair stylist (as Lam Wai Lok)
Carmen Man	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Eddie Wong	....	assistant production manager
Ivan Wong	....	production manager
Pu Wai Wong	....	unit manager (as Wong Po Wai)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laurence Tong	....	second assistant director
Lemmon Wong	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Wing Kei Au	....	props master (as Au Wing Kei)
Shui Tin Chi	....	pyrotechnician (as Chi Shiu Tim)
Kam Tong Fok	....	pyrotechnician (as Fok Kam Tong)
Molly Siu	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Michael Chiu	....	foley recordist
Siu-kei Ip	....	adr recordist (as Ip Siu Kei)
Siu-kei Ip	....	dialogue recordist (as Ip Siu Kei)
Chung Wai Leung	....	boom operator (as Leung Chung Wai)
Chung-hau Leung	....	location sound recordist (as Leung Chung Hau)
Man Keung Ngai	....	boom operator (as Ngai Man Keung)
David Wong	....	sound designer
David Wong	....	sound effects editor
Ken Wong	....	re-recording mixer
Ken Wong	....	sound designer
Tomy Yu	....	foley artist (as Yu Ka Luk)

Special Effects by
Derek Ansell	....	project engineer
Ying-Ho Cheng	....	project technician (as Cheng Ying Ho)
Eric Lai	....	technical director: SFX
Leo Lam	....	project technician
Calmen Lui	....	project supervisor
Wendy Nam	....	project supervisor
Kuen Man Yip	....	project technician (as Yip Kuen Man)

Visual Effects by
Chris Lee	....	digital colorist (as Li Kin Sing)
Alex Lim	....	CG director
Kam Fat Liu	....	digital composer
Raymond Man	....	digital touch-up artist
Edwin Van Huizen	....	digital colorist
Anna Wan	....	CG coordinator
Kwok Leung Yau	....	CG director (as Yee Kwok Leung)

Stunts
Shan Peng Dang	....	stunts (as Dang Shan Peng)
Zhuo Yu Ji	....	stunts (as Ji Zhuo Yu)
Wai-Leung Lee	....	car stunt choreographer (as Lee Wai Leung)
Chung Chi Li	....	action choreography (as Nicky Li)
Teng Fei Ma	....	stunts (as Man Teng Fei)
Jack Wong Wai Leung	....	assistant action coordinator (as Wong Wai Leung)
Chi Zhang	....	stunts (as Zhang Chi)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sing Hong Chan	....	best boy (as Chan Sing Hong)
Kin Man Ng	....	gaffer (as Ng Kin Man)
Man Yin Ngai	....	focus puller (as Ngai Man Yin)
Wing-Hang Yuen	....	making-of camera (as Yuen Wing Hang)
Yuk Wah Yuen	....	still photographer (as Yuen Yuk Wah)

Animation Department
Ping Kit Cheng	....	animator (as Cheng Ping Kit)
Fog	....	animator
Gy Lee	....	animation supervisor
Jules Lin	....	animation supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anna Lai	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Hung Poon	....	color timer (as Pon Hung)

Other crew
Kurt Cheung	....	production assistant
Michael Fong	....	production assistant
Sze Ming Lai	....	set runner (as Lai Sze Ming)
Lai Bing Lam	....	tea lady (as Lam Lai Bing)
Sharon Lam	....	production coordinator
Stephen Ng	....	continuity
Chi Fai So	....	set runner (as So Chi Fai)
Angel To	....	production assistant
Ka Ho Yuen	....	set runner (as Yuen Ka Ho)

Production Companies

• China Star Entertainment
• Point of View Movie Productions
• One Hundred Years of Film Company

Distributors

• China Star Entertainment (2008) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Elephant Films (2011) (France) (all media)
• Kam & Ronson Enterprise Co (2008) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Grindstone Entertainment Group (2012) (USA) (all media)
• Gryphon Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD) (as "Fatal Move")
• Koch Media (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (all media)
• Shaanxi Culture Audio & Video Publishing House (????) (China) (DVD)
• Showbox Media Group (2009) (UK) (DVD) (as Cine Asia)

Special Effects

• Free-D Workshop Company (cgi effects)

Other Companies

• Props Company  special thanks
• New Generation Police Props  special thanks
• Shaw Brothers  digital intermediate
• China Star Production Services Limited  digital intermediate
• Cinedigit Sound  sound studio
• i Zone Sound Design  foley design
• Lau Heung Workshop  dubbing: Mandarin
• Toplight Engineering  camera and lighting equipment
• Tai Fung (Tsu's) Co. Ltd.  film stock
• Zurich Insurance  insurance
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  subtitles
• Shanghai Film Technology Plant  optical transfer
• Shaw Brothers  digital film output
• Shaw Brothers  film processing
• CineDigit  sound studio
• Jet Stream Sound  English dubbing services
• Shaw Brothers  film processing and prints
• Tai Fung (Tsu's) Co. Ltd.  film supplied by
• Toplight Engineering  camera and lighting equipment provided by

Also Known As:

"Duo shuai" - Hong Kong (original title)
"Fatal Move" - Hong Kong (English title), USA (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, and brief drug use

Runtime:

UK:112 min (DVD) | Germany:100 min (European Film Market) | USA:117 min (DVD)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hong Kong:III | Malaysia:18PL | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | Singapore:R21 | UK:18 | South Korea:18 | USA:R | Germany:18 | Australia:R (2012)

Company:

China Star Entertainment

Trivia:

Although this is the 4th film that legendary action icon Sammo Hung and rising martial arts star Jacky Wu Jing have made together, this is the first where they actually share a fight sequence with one another

Soundtrack:

HEAVEN

HK Neo Reviews: Fatal Move

Tagline: Almost as good as SPL… Review by Neo: Dennis Law have finally come of age and after 2 unfulfilled attempts, Law have strike third time luckily with Fatal Move. Fatal Move is not just a good movie, as saying that would be a clear understatement, but one that Neo can proudly claim as the best in 2008 HK cinema so far. Despite a few unnecessary parts in between and some moments of predictability, Fatal Move qualifies as an action movie with HK flair and almost matching the feat of 2005's SPL. It's been a while since Neo have witnessed a good HK movie and with it being so close to his 22nd birthday, Fatal Move comes just at the right timing.

Director Dennis Law have previously debuted in the teenage targeted Love @ First Note and have since then gone on to make his first shot at action cinema with the above average Fatal Contact. There is no doubt that Law's career lies in action cinema and if this flick is any indication, his direction is only heading one way and that is up and coming. It is always refreshing to witness a new generation director producing a good quality flick and it is all the more exciting when it comes to action cinema. Law smartly casts a trio from SPL, namely Sammo Hung, Simon Yam and Wu Jing and the result is some quality martial arts sequence and lots of fun to be had.

Also of special mention, it is probably the first time in years, where action flicks have succeeded without the involvement of Donnie Yen. Perhaps it is time to unleash Wu Jing on his first true starring in almost a decade since Tai Chi 2. Like his role in SPL, Wu Jing, the protégé of Jet Li is cool enough to rock the screen and likable enough to keep the audience attention. His fighting is slick and his youthfulness sets him apart from the rest of the aging cast. Still, these kinds of roles might make him look cooler than anyone deserves to be, but ultimately they are paper thin and not ones that allows Wu Jing to show his full potential. However, it is nonetheless a sigh of fresh air as the days of Sammo Hung is closer to retirement than debutant.

Also in the mix is Lee Sir, Danny Lee and without a second though there is no doubt that Lee have aged considerably since his The Killer days and the sight of him with a gun is about as believable as a pensioner robbing a bank. With that being said, it is always a pleasure to see him back on the big screen and once again reminding the audience exactly how movies are used to be made. Sammo Hung almost reprises his role of SPL but this time with a degree of remorseless and thus allowing the audience to maintain interest in his character. Unfortunately one of Law's weak points is that he is no Wilson Yip, which means that he is not a character director. Luckily, the fight sequences more than compensate and the result are some quietly entertaining long takes of these coolly filmed scenes.

Simon Yam also appears here and there, but is somewhat subdued and almost certainly a role more suited to the likes of Francis Ng. Veteran actress Tien Niu impresses the audience with a performance that is menacing yet understanding. Those final words of her are strong and her facial expression matched the strong dialogue given to her. As for Lam Suet, he is just himself, but for an actor that does so little, Lam is damn memorable and his acting is just priceless to laugh or cry for.

All in all, Fatal Move is easily the best movie of 2008 so far and it is safe to say that it is a movie that Neo actually liked. I understand that the current reviewer has been a little too strict in recent times, but there is no argument that the quality being delivered so far this year has largely been disappointing. With that being said, it always feel good and makes Neo's day a hell lot better whenever he witness good HK cinema. Firstly, it is surprising, secondly, it makes him feel like his effort and passion for this industry isn't just going straight to the garbage dump and finally, it allows the current review to sleep well at night. So what's wrong with Fatal Move, the answer is that there is nothing wrong, but the fact that Neo got sort of over-excited like a little kid receiving a balloon… (Neo 2008)

I rate it 9/10

- www.thehkneo.com