Sha Po Lang refers to three words derived from Chinese astrology that each represent a different star capable of good or evil depending on their position in the heavens. This is the third in the SPL series that started with Kill Zone and Kill Zone 2. Directed by Wilson Yip (Ip Man 3) with action director Sammo Hung it was written by Jill Leung and Nick Cheuk. The plot is a bit recycled from the first film, having to do with endangered children, organ trading and uber violent payback. The action scenes are exciting and creative with never ending bad guys. Everything you want from a Hong Kong action movie.
Louis Koo as Lee Chung-chi is a devoted father to his teen daughter Wing-chi (newcommer Hanna Chan). One day Wing-chi introduces her dad to her new boyfriend who blurts out that they want to marry, and she says that she wants to keep her baby. Lee is not cool with the situation and quickly has the boyfriend arrested for underage sexual contact. He also takes Wing-chi to abort the baby. Wing-chi takes off to Thailand to visit her tattoo artist friend who gives her some ink. One day Wing-chi is grabbed off the street. Her friend calls her father who immediately flies down to work with the police. Since he's also a cop, local Chinese detective Chui Kit (Wu Yue) and his Thai colleague Tak (Tony Jaa) give him the courtesy of helping with the investigation. They don't get any closer, until Lee uses the media to broadcast her picture.
Eventually the plot reveals that the kidnapping was connected to a butcher factory owner Sasha (Chris Collins) who was doing the job for the immoral mayoral aide Cheng Hon-sau (Gordon Lam). Cheng wants to tie up all the loose ends, so he blackmails Police Chief who is Chui's father in law. He puts Chui in charge of taking out Sasha and his gang including Lee. Chui righteously reminds him they are cops. This puts Chui's pregnant wife is danger as she is kidnapped to force him to to the job.
The non stop action fights and chases are relentless. If nothing else, this is worth the price of admission. The story, which focuses on the angst of the father who could not protect his daughter and the detective who relates to the Chinese father's need to get retribution. There is no happy ending here, but the balance of the universe is rightly put back in place. It was a good last movie to see at this years DIFF2018.
(Review by reesa)
No comments:
Post a Comment