The Killer (1989)

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Writer/Director: John Woo

Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Kong Chu, Kenneth Tsang, Fui-On Shing, Wing-Cho Yip, Ricky Wong Chun-Tong


I can't agree with the reviewers who get all misty over the human dimension of this film.
 

I found it to be a very lightweight story--an intricate mesh of cliches buoyed by some pretentious imagery. 


The film's considerable power lies in the staging of the action scenes and Woo's confident use of the camera.
 

They transcend the story and some of the more absurd elements of the action (i.e., handguns that fire more bullets than most police departments could afford) and give iconic power to the characters.
 

It's empty, but very entertaining to watch.



















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