So I've decided to start a new semi-regular movie review feature every now and then: Hong Kong Dangerous will be an outlet for my 20+ year love of the genre of HK film, and spotligh some of my favorites, not so favorites, and newest viewings. Today, I will review 'Tragic Hero', starring the legendary Chow Yun Fat.
For those of you who, upon turning off 1986's HK triad saga 'Rich and Famous', wondered, "wouldn't it kick ass if there was a sequel to this?" you're in luck. Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Alex Man, Carina Lau, and even Danny Lee (in what is more or less a small 30 second blip on the screen) all return to give us the final chapter in the exploits of Triad boss Le Ah Chai. For those of you who thought 'Rich and Famous' took a bit too long to get to the action and gangster gun play, you're in luck too. 'Tragic Hero' goes for broke in , frankly ridiculous, over-the-top shoot outs, and boasts one of the highest bodycounts in recent cinematic history. Where 'Rich and Famous' focused on issues of brotherhood and loyalty between the characters of Alex Man and Andy Lau, this one is a more straightforward mix of the Godfather and a typical Bronson revenge flick centering on the ever-slick and amazing Chow Yun Fat (the Killer, Tiger on the Beat, Bulletproof Monk).
So, I kinda dug this, but kinda didn't. I think I'd have to say 'Rich and Famous' is a little better, because it was more subtle, whereas this one just goes 'Commando' on our asses 20 minutes in and doesn't let up. Taylor Wong did a good job with the predecessor of balancing the action with a storyline that intrigued, yet couldn't fully develop in the hour and forty minutes alloted. Here, he seems content to say "fuck all," blow shiznit up, kill off pretty much all the main characters, and provide a visual feast of violence, vengeance. and blood on screen.
Chow Yun Fat does pretty well as Le Ah Chai, the HK godfather, but the rest of the cast seems distracted or rushed by the dizzying subplots and confusing tone. Alex Man is deliciously evil as Yung, who has been unusually quiet since getting out of prison. Yung's silence is soon punctured, and he gets his revenge on Chow's character until Chow literally has lost everything- friends, family, empire. This, understandably, makes Chow pissed, and he enlists the aid of Andy Lau (God of Gamblers, Running on Karma, Fulltime Killer), who has been living as a teacher on some island paradise, but still remembers how to fire semi-automatic weapons and grenade launchers in Rambo proportions in the finale. Together, they will not rest until many buildings are sprayed with bullets, small towns set on fire, and someone gets blown to bits with a rocket launcher in Death Wish IV fashion.
Speaking of the finale, many have deservedly compared its cartoonish violence to rival that of 'A Better Tomorrow II' or 'Death Wish III,' and I can't argue with that.
This one was in and out of the system pretty fast: pretty tasty when watching, but forgettable afterwards. There are definitely worse Hong Kong triad/heroic bloodshed movies out there, and you may find yourself enjoying the further exploits of HK godfather Lee Ah Chai. Otherwise, rent something more palatable like Johnny To's 'Election or tried and true stuff like Woo's 'A Better Tomorrow.'
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