Review of Ballistic Kiss (1998) by Jason J — 13 Sep 2011

Ballistic Kiss is over-loaded with bullets but suffers from a thin plot. However, if it did not succeed in becoming a great movie, at least it was a good try. The movie is simply stylish. It has great visuals, every frame is masterfully shot, scene transitions are smooth, and the sound track is unusually good for a HK movie.

Donnie Yen directed, starred in the movie, and choreographed the action scenes. An ambitious filmmaker, he managed to give the movie a fresh look. It's not a generic Hong Kong action movie, but one that cuts deeper into characters and disturbing emotions. It is a fine example of the Heroic Bloodshed genre and should be viewed by anyone remotely interested in the genre or Asian thrillers in general.