It works better as a legal thriller than as an action film—though the action scenes are absolutely insane. As intricate as the best procedurals, every loose thread eventually ties together, and when the fists start flying, the sheer exhilaration reaches peaks that only Donnie Yen can deliver. The real problem is that, at least where I live, I’ll never get to enjoy these little gems on the big screen—which is downright hypocritical, considering this is a country that loves to wax nostalgic about the 'golden age of real martial arts films.' But as soon as the market shortsightedly decides these movies don’t sell anymore, poof—they vanish.
It works better as a legal thriller than as an action film—though the action scenes are absolutely insane. As intricate as the best procedurals, every loose thread eventually ties together, and when the fists start flying, the sheer exhilaration reaches peaks that only Donnie Yen can deliver. The real problem is that, at least where I live, I’ll never get to enjoy these little gems on the big screen—which is downright hypocritical, considering this is a country that loves to wax nostalgic about the 'golden age of real martial arts films.' But as soon as the market shortsightedly decides these movies don’t sell anymore, poof—they vanish.