Invisible Target

Directed by: Benny Chan

Starring: Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Jaycee Chan, Jackie Wu

Synopsis:

A gang of bank robbers, lead by Tien (Wu) are tearing through Hong Kong. Three cops are conducting their own investigations into the gang, each for different reasons: Detective Chan (Tse) wants revenge for his dead fiancé, collateral damage in one of the gang’s raids. Inspector Fong (Yue) and his team came off worse in a confrontation with the gang during a routine traffic stop, whilst naïve constable Wai King Ho (Chan) wants to know what happened to his brother, who’s been linked with the gang’s activities and may have been undercover. Working together, the three cops learn that the gang have come back to Hong Kong to find a traitor who’d stolen their loot, and find themselves on a collision course...

Review:

Ladies and gents, strap yourselves in for one of the most exciting, action packed movies to come out of Hong Kong or anywhere else for that matter in many a year. This is pure Summer Blockbuster fun, filled with excellent fight choreography, amazing stunt-work and some exciting shoot-outs as well.

The pace barely flags for a second. After the initial robbery in which Chan’s fiancé is killed, there is a parkour-style footchase, as we see Chan in action, swiftly followed by Fong as he ties up the loose ends to a homicide investigation. Meanwhile the genteel Ho is handing out parking tickets and giving CPR to an unconscious tramp!

Each of the three main characters are very different, with different motivations. Fong wants revenge for being humiliated (won’t spoil it here, but it is pretty funny). Chan of course wants revenge for his fiancé’s death (he still has their last conversation together – during which she was killed – on his phone), while Ho simply wants to know what’s happened to his brother. Each are given enough room to grow on the viewer, but being the sort of film it is, the audience and the characters only truly bond in the manliest way possible – a big fight! In a scene reminiscent of Kill Zone, Ho confronts a whole gang of teen thugs while Chan and Fong look on. Initially beaten and humiliated, Ho shows the same sort of tenacity Jaycee’s dad’s characters would, never giving up and overcoming the odds, stirring respect in the more experienced officers who come to his aid despite themselves.

On the other side of the fence meanwhile is Jing (Jackie) Wu as Tien, the leader of a gang of criminals who’d bonded since childhood. They are utterly fearless and impeccably prepared, and aren’t afraid of walking into the lion’s jaws to get what they want, be it a crime scene or a heavily guarded police station. Jackie Wu has recently wowed UK audiences with the recent release of Kill Zone, and I can heartily recommend Legendary Assassin if it is ever released here.

As good as our intrepid trio are, they are no match individually for Jackie and his gang. It is only working together that they have a chance, which brings us onto the finale, a great throwback to classic kung fu movies.

There’s some amazing stunt-work on show here, my favourite being Chan bouncing off the front of a double-decker bus, which is a really “Holy Crap!” moment. The end credits and the behind the scenes features give an insight into how these marvels were performed. Partly due to the clarity of the blu ray picture, I was wondering if the fire fx were CGI, but again – check the end credits and you can see the actors rolling around in real fire!

Shawn Yue and Nicholas Tse’s look a lot more comfortable than in their previous collaboration, Dragon Tiger Gate, especially with the wire-work being kept to a bare minimum. Jaycee Chan has earned the right to not be referred to as “Son of Jackie Chan” in every write-up as he can more than hold his own in the action scenes while at the same time doesn’t make the mistake of trying to emulate his dad’s roles.

Invisible Target is definitive proof that Benny Chan can make a proper, solid action movie, rather than a half-decent film highlighted with good action scenes (Divergence, New Police Story). And as much as I enjoyed Bodyguards and Assassins, there is a clear contrast between the quality in the action. More of the former, please, Mr Chan.

Verdict:

Been disappointed by the Summer Blockbusters? Then check out Invisible Target , it’s pure Action Therapy!

9 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

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