Fulltime Killer (Hong Kong, 2001)

In the last few years, good Hong Kong action films have been few and far between after the big boom of the nineties. This fine Johnnie To movie stands out, by its style and quality. Mind you, it is not perfect, and there are quite a few rip-offs from early John Woo and Chow Yun Fat material. Not that it is a bad thing all together, Andy Lau makes for convincing Chow-like scenes and moves.

Andy Lau also produces the film, which explains some of the “cool” character moments that do not necessarely serve the story. That said, it did not prevent Johnnie To from making the other main character, played by Takashi Sorimachi as interesting.

In the movie, Takashi plays the number one veteran killer for hire and Lau plays the new kid who wants the number one spot. Of course, in the middle of this, there is a girl (Kelly Lin) and a police officer trying to catch them (Simon Yam). There is treachery, love, gunplay, scheming, skeletons in closets and plenty of action.

Not the best, because it does not reinvent the genre, but definitively and genuinely an excellent Hong Kong action movie. Could be a good introduction for an unintiated to the genre, easily accessible.

Seriously, watch it.

Gog