Police detective Chan has been trying to convict triad boss Wong Po for years and he finally has a witness willing to testify. That is until an assassin rams the police transport vehicle and kills the witness and his wife. Chan and the witness’s daughter survive, but at the hospital, Chan learns he has a brain tumor and very little time left to live. With the full support of his loyal squad, he determines to put Wong behind bars by any means possible. This comes to include tampering with evidence, so when detective Ma Kwun is assigned to take control of the squad (with Chan’s retirement approaching), he’s in an understandably conflicted place.
The so-called ‘return to Hong Kong action’ finally arrives with a dark gritty story and a new glossy sheen in the form of Sha Po Lang (or S.P.L. or Kill Zone or whatever your heart desires), which’s brings Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam together in an epic blend of the crime and martial arts pics. At the very least, it succeeds as a throwback, reminding viewers of the high standards of 80s action, the heaps of male bonding and the fine line between good and evil that powered the classics, but there’s plenty of new in here too. Most notable is Donnie Yen’s unique action direction, which takes a more realistic approach to the fight sequences that incorporate wrestling, chokeholds and various other street fighting maneuvers. The hits are brutal and the physical pain is felt.
Wilson Yip also layers the film with tragic moments played out with just the right blend of subtlety and melodrama. Emotional scenes mean something in this film, often for the simplest reasons. Between Chan’s ticking clock, his squad’s unwavering loyalty and Wu-shu martial artist Wu Jing’s insane assassin antagonist, it’s hard not to get roused up for every plot turn and potential conflict coming to a boil. Sammo Hung also does a fine job as the intimidating Wong Po, who looks like he can kill you with a glare.
There’s also a fun dimension to be found in the genre blend that gives us a rare instance of noir-ish martial arts resembling Throwdown or Johnny To’s slick gangsters pics more than anything else. This isn’t, however, a simple transposition of martial arts into the crime world. By keeping Chan the main protagonist, Yip sets up some interesting situations with a likeable hero who does not have the fighting prowess to defeat many of his enemies. He has to get by with his craft, his luck and a strutting Donnie Yen to complete his quest; the film structures this well, giving an even balance to our stars.
Yes, some will inevitably be disappointed by the long wait for the action and/or the action sequences themselves because the hype machine spun ridiculously out of control for this one. But in the end, despite (and most likely because of) the brain cancer, excess of blood and broken glass, this is a fun film that entertains regardless of any missteps with plot logic or simplicity. Like the tradition it follows, it’s a blast because of its imperfections.
Reviewed by Tarun
