Black Mask (1996)

A survivor of a supersoldier project must fight his former comrades as a masked hero.

Director:

Daniel Lee

Writers:

Hark Tsui (screenplay) (as Tsui Hark), Koan Hui (screenplay)

Stars:

Jet Li, Ching Wan Lau, Karen Mok

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jet Li	...	Tsui Chik / Black Mask
Ching Wan Lau	...	Inspector 'Rock' Shek Wai-Ho (as Lau Ching Wan)
Karen Mok	...	Tracy Lee
Françoise Yip	...	Yeuk Laan (as Françoise C.J. Yip)
Kong Lung	...	Commander Hung (as Patrick Lung)
Anthony Chau-Sang Wong	...	King Kau (as Anthony Wong)
Xin Xin Xiong	...	Jimmy Jimmy
Moses Chan	...	701 Squad Member (as Mouses Chan)
King-Fai Chung	...	Police Commissioner (as Chung King Fai)
Tat-Wah Lok	...	(as Ken Lok)
Lawrence Ah-Mon	...	Operating Room Doctor (as Lawrence Ahmon)
Henry Fong	...	Ricky Tai
Mei-Yee Sze	...	Chief of Library (as Sze Mei Yee)
Roy Szeto	...	Szeto
Suk-Yee Chan	...	Librarian (as Chan Suk Yee)

Storyline

Micheal, a former test subject of a project to create supersoldiers, is forced to escape with his comrades after the project was cancelled. Months later, he is trying to have a quiet life as a librarian with a tough cop as his best friend. However, a string of vicious gangland murders begins that has all the markings of his former compatriots who seem to have turned to violent crime. Realizing that the police are helpless to fight these soldiers, Micheal decides to take them on himself. Donning a mask to protect his identity, Micheal must fight these powerful villians as the mysterious superhero known only as Black Mask.

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Plot Keywords:

first part | mask | hero | superhero | police officer | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence including martial arts combat, some sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jet Li and Françoise Yip later appeared together in Romeo Must Die (2000).

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Goofs

In the beginning when Jet Li's character is talking to the lady and she says: Goodbye Michael, you can see his lips move immediately afterwards as if he said something but no sound is heard.

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Quotes

Michael: [after finding out something went wrong with his friend, Rock] Something's wrong! I'll go to save him.
Tracy Lee: Are we going down the gutter?
Michael: You can't go. It's too dangerous.
Tracy Lee: Why?
Michael: I can't let you take any more risks. If I don't come back in a half-hour, you should leave here at once.
Tracy Lee: Wait. Let me look at your face.
Michael: Why?
Tracy Lee: Because you promised me that.
Michael: You promise you'll keep this a secret?
Tracy Lee: Promise. I won't even tell Tsui Chik, that nerd!
[...]

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Alternate Versions

German version is edited for violence to secure a "Not under 18" rating. Additionally some plot scenes were cut.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Best Superhero Movies of the 1990s (2016)

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Soundtracks

Black Mask (We're Taking It All)
Performed by 701 Squad (featuring Diamonds in Da Ruff, Strick, Cover, Ryan Montgomery (as Royce the 5'9") & Fabbiden)
Written by M. Humphrey, C. Fossett and C. Parker
Produced by Just Blaze F.O.B. Entertainment
Published by Blackhaven Music, T-Boy Music L.L.C. Gold Lease Publishing, Sixth of July, F.O.B. Music Publishing (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Certainly not Jet Li's best

I can't understand why they decided to release this film to introduce the American audience to the dynamo that is Jet Li. Fist of Legend would have been a much better choice. Anyway, Black Mask isn't terrible, but it certainly isn't great either. The final fight sequence is well staged by Yuen Woo Ping who went on to coordinate The Matrix. But the English release suffers from rough editing and dubbing. (I'm begging the Hollywood studios to release these films uncut with subtitles.)Jet Li shows his characteristic charisma in the title role and Francoise Yip has a cool but brief role as the female 701.

Black Mask has a strange goth style that adds some interest but it is overloaded with gun battles and explosions. More focus on Li's fantastic physical skills were in order. Black Mask is a decent film but do yourself a favor and pick up Fist of Legend if you want to see a tremendous film that really shows Li's skills.

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese English

Release Date:

14 May 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Mask

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,449,692, 16 May 1999

Gross USA:

$12,504,289

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,504,289

Company Credits

Production Co:

Distant Horizon, Film Workshop, Win's Entertainment Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 89 min (USA)

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Dolby Stereo)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1