Triad Wars

FATAL MOVE is a grisly Hong Kong Triad movie that reunites many of the same cast members from the excellent KILL ZONE (aka SPL). The storyline charts the misadventures of a Triad gang who initially seem to have it all before lies, backstabbing and deceit beget eventual destruction and chaos.

At first, it's quite odd seeing all of the familiar cast members on the same side for once; there's little conflict, and it takes a while for the plot to begin properly. Once it does, though, things become almost Shakespearian in tone, with one character's imprisonment (Jackie Chan's former bodyguard, the excellent Ken Lo) leading to all manner of massacres and berserk action.

The brutal fight scenes are what propel this action-packed enterprise and they make liberal use of CGI blood throughout. Wu Jing plays another cocky, hateful killer who enjoys mutilating his victims and during a torture sequence the film takes violence to a whole new level. Vicious car chases and the like certainly keep the energy flowing, and my only complaint is that there's too little martial arts to enjoy. We have to wait until the climax before we see Sammo back in action, although I have to say it's well worth the wait.

Cast-wise, Sammo bags the most interesting role, playing a conflicted mob boss who doesn't seem to be that bad a guy for the most part. Simon Yam has a slick, somewhat minor role and doesn't really do much, and Wu Jing is there for the violence alone. However, it's great to see Danny Lee (THE KILLER) back on the screens once more, even if the film doesn't give him much to play other than the stereotyped dogged cop.

FATAL MOVE is no masterpiece but I found it highly entertaining as genre entries go. It's certainly not on the level of the Wilson Yip/Donnie Yen collaborations but it comes close at regular intervals.