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Hard Boiled

Original title: Lat sau san taam
  • 19921992
  • RR
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
50K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
Theatrical Trailer from Milestone
Play trailer3:04
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Thriller
A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to shut down a sinister mobster and his crew.A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to shut down a sinister mobster and his crew.A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to shut down a sinister mobster and his crew.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
50K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Woo
  • Writers
    • John Woo(story)
    • Barry Wong(screenplay)
    • Gordon Chan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chow Yun-Fat
    • Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
    • Teresa Mo
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Woo
  • Writers
    • John Woo(story)
    • Barry Wong(screenplay)
    • Gordon Chan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chow Yun-Fat
    • Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
    • Teresa Mo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 289User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Hard Boiled
    Trailer 3:04
    Hard Boiled

    Photos449

    Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Dip huet seung hung (1989)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Lat sau san taam (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chow Yun-Fat
    Chow Yun-Fat
    • Insp. 'Tequila' Yuenas Insp. 'Tequila' Yuen
    Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
    Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
    • Alanas Alan
    Teresa Mo
    Teresa Mo
    • Teresa Changas Teresa Chang
    Philip Chan
    Philip Chan
    • Supt. Pangas Supt. Pang
    Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok
    Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok
    • Mad Dogas Mad Dog
    • (as Kwok Chun-Feng)
    Anthony Chau-Sang Wong
    Anthony Chau-Sang Wong
    • Johnny Wongas Johnny Wong
    • (as Anthony Wong)
    Hoi-San Kwan
    Hoi-San Kwan
    • Uncle Hoias Uncle Hoi
    • (as Kwan Hoi Sang)
    Wei Tung
    Wei Tung
    • Foxyas Foxy
    • (as Tung Wai)
    Bowie Lam
    Bowie Lam
    • Benny Makas Benny Mak
    Meng Lo
    Meng Lo
    • Lonnyas Lonny
    • (as Johnson Law)
    Bobbie Au-Yeung
    Bobbie Au-Yeung
    • Lionheartas Lionheart
    • (as Bobby Au Yeung)
    Shui-Ting Ng
    • Ah Chungas Ah Chung
    • (as Ng Shui-Tung)
    Kong Lau
    Kong Lau
    • Hospital Directoras Hospital Director
    Wai-Sun Lam
    • Hitman 1as Hitman 1
    Benny Lam
    • Hitman 2as Hitman 2
    Kenny Lam
    • Hitman 3as Hitman 3
    Michael Dingo
    • Jimmyas Jimmy
    Hoi-Shan Lai
    Hoi-Shan Lai
    • Librarianas Librarian
    • Director
      • John Woo
    • Writers
      • John Woo(story)
      • Barry Wong(screenplay)
      • Gordon Chan(screenplay) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the filming of the scene in which Tequila is running down the exploding hallway with the baby in his arms and explosions at his back was shot twice as John Woo wasn't happy with the first take -- the explosions were too far behind Yun-Fat Chow. For the second take, he took control of the explosives button, per Chang, and set it off far closer than Chow was expecting. "He was really running for his life." Chow apparently was professional enough to ask how it looked after the shot was finished, "but then he turns around and says 'that motherf*cker.'"
    • Goofs
      Throughout the film, characters fire more bullets than their guns would realistically allow without reloading, John Woo actually explained that he does this on purpose because reloading slows down the action scene.
    • Quotes

      Superintendant Pang: Give a guy a gun, he thinks he's Superman. Give him two and he thinks he's God.

    • Alternate versions
      The Chinese censors requested cuts to the scene where Tequila is graphically shooting thugs in the hospital when he is holding the baby.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Last Days of the Board (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Hello
      Written by Lionel Richie

      Sung by Chow Yun-Fat and Teresa Mo

    User reviews289

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Puts most action movies to shame.
    When someone mentions, "action movie", the first thing that gets in their minds is guns, fighting, blood, and so on. The people who they instantly think are the likes of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Willis, even the hammy Seagal, Snipes and Van Damme! Not until recently, I found myself confused about which action movie is the greatest. For me, the ultimate action hero is Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I cannot seem to find a perfect action movie.

    Until I began checking up films of John Woo, and stumbled upon this baby...

    Only a handful of action movies can compare to this, but most fail to be better. This movie IS the epitome of an action movie, it has never-ending thrill-a-minute stylish action sequences that just make your jaw drop in amazement. It has a body count that can be compared to most epic movies, and it has an excellent atmosphere to further enhance the story. The action sequences are a combination of outrageous, unreal and cool at the same time.

    The story is weak, but not very. It provides the basis for the action to unfold. And boy, when it does, you'll have a blast! I mean, they took the premise of a basic cops and robbers tale and highly jazzed it up somehow to deliver this truly authentic and unique piece of movie making. This is not just a movie which action fans alone should see, this movie deserves to be sought and recognized by other highly-ranked film critics.

    The director, John Woo, ups the ante on this one. After glorifying the gangsters in his "Better Tomorrow" movies and "The Killer" (which almost is as good as Hard Boiled), he decides to glorify the cops, and he does that, but with bigger elements. He doesn't show realism and humanism in this film, because he wanted to emphasize and slightly exaggerate on how big the elements can go. The criminals would kill lots of innocent people to complete their nefarious deeds, and the violence is hyper-stylized to the point where it becomes necessary to subdue the criminals using that technique. He combines unique Chinese Opera dancing techniques and dramatic shootouts to create stylistically significant and exhilarating gunfights for the eyes and ears to behold. The pace is hyper kinetic as Woo relentlessly dishes out whatever tricks he has up his sleeve, much to our delight.

    Chow Yun-Fat's status as an action hero is immortalized here in his performance as super cop Tequila, who dodges bullets and shoot crooks while cooing a baby to sleep and covering his eyes from the ensuing violence. This scene also signifies the violence in Hong Kong back in the days, but highly stylized to create a superb action experience. Tony Leung is also splendid as the disillusioned undercover cop, who seeks to regain his humanity and reputation. The rest of the cast gave good performances, with kudos to Anthony Wong as the sadistic villain who will do anything to get what he wants (fully exampled during the film's climax), and Cheng Jue-Luh as one of the most badassed villains ever, Mad Dog.

    The atmosphere of the movie further improves its credibility. John Woo's interests are shown through Tequila's passion of jazz and the beautiful and dark cinematography of Hong Kong, which, when combined together, gives an effect that signifies two different worlds, that is, the life of a cop and the life of a criminal. Also, the music score by Michael Gibbs is great, with a perfect melodramatic jazz score during dramatic scenes, and to pumping synthesizers, gritty and haunting scores during the majority of the action sequences. All of these add up to the amazing elements of the movie to make it even better.

    Overall, I cannot think of any other action movie than this. This is THE action movie for film-goers, critics, and action junkies alike. This perfectly shot ballet of blood and bullets is an example of how great and reliable Asian movies can be, when we are finally tired of cliché elements from Hollywood. Mr. Woo, Your Midas Touch has its full effect here. This movie is one of the greatest action movies ever made. And I will stand by that decision for as long as I live.

    A must see.

    9/10

    Delton
    helpful•79
    23
    • dvc5159
    • Dec 3, 2007

    FAQ4

    • What's the deal with the birds in the Chinese restaurant at the start of the film?
    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Taiwanese Version?
    • How can Tequila fire so many bullets without reloading?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 16, 1992 (Hong Kong)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Languages
      • Cantonese
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hard-Boiled
    • Filming locations
      • Hong Kong, China
    • Production companies
      • Golden Princess Film Production Limited
      • Milestone Pictures
      • Pioneer LDC
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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