Flash Point

Flash Point

Having watched this one and Invisible Target within a fortnight of each other, I can't help comparing them both.

Both had their baddies in a group, with Invisible Target (IT) having the close-knit-former-soldiers-turned-robbers and Flash Point (FP) having 3 hardline-refugee-turned-smugglers from Vietnam who happend to be brothers.

Naturally being a tad shallow than I've always been, I preferred the much younger (and better-looking) cast in IT as compared to the older faces in FP, with th exception of Louis Koo, whom I believe help to draw in the female audience to watch this movie with their guys who came to gawk at the action sequences.

Then there's the obvious difference in the budget allowance. While in IT, you see this gorgeous mobile like the Lotus Exige (think it's just a model), other cars, posh restaurants and the new police station (also a replica) being made a wreck, with every glass on scene being smashed into smithereens.

FP only turned a roadside stall upside down and the most damage was done in an open lalang field, a riverside hut and a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere. It helps that the movie was supposedly set in '97 so old cars were used (and damaged) and now-defunct phones were utilised. Although I suspiciously point at this certain car to be of a post-2000 model. hmm.... *rubs chin*

And the action scenes. More specifically the fights. Ahh..... The main reason why I totally dig HK action movies. Despite the action in IT being more consistent and evenly distributed throughout the movie, the fight sequences pale in comparison to FP. The fights done by the 3 youngsters come off as a tad ameteurish as compared to Donnie Yen's swashbuckling moves*like duh!*

This is a movie where the fighting scenes pack a superbly mean punch! Well, with Donnie Yen at the helm, I guess it all comes as no surprise. With martial arts choreography that come across as a mish-mash of kungfu, aikido, judo, boxing and even wrestling, one can't help being impressed and the speed at which they're executed.. wow! Breathtaking, to say the least.

If you stayed back even after the credits start rolling, you'll see how the stunts are done and not all are 'camera-tricks'. Like what they said in WWE, "The Pain Is Real"

Surprisingly, despite being heavy on the action, the movie doesn't stray from its plot (not that much there to start with). The touching bits are not really the love between Louis Koo's character - Wilson and his girlfriend but the obvious show of fillial piety in Donnie Yen's character and the antagonists (3 brothers) towards their mum. Guess there are lessons to be learnt there.

It's a pity that Donnie's dominace in this movie with all his fighting moves (despite his poor acting) kinda' overshadow Louis Koo's parts. I believe Louis have lots more to offer (besides looking good on screen). Even his previous movie role in Protege seemed so minimal.

Action movie buffs (esp. those who dig one-to-one fight sequences) should catch this. Girls, aside from Louis, you can ogle at Donnie's hot bod (shows it a lot). This movie makes me wanna invest in a punching bag. Bashing someone had never looked so good....