Review of Fulltime Killer (2001) by Zak G — 17 Aug 2004

[font=Garamond][size=3]Action films by a rule are generally dumb as shit. You've got your Michael Bay action films, which completely turn violence into some kind of fetish. You've got your James Cameron action films, which are generally great but sometimes overly bombastic. You've got your Wachowski Brothers action films, which are also good but completely ripped-off from Hong Kong. Then you've got your classic 80s Mctiernan films like PREDATOR and DIE HARD that just get the job done with no pretension. [/size][/font].

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[font=Garamond][size=3]Which of these is the best? Well, you can't really pick a "best" action films category. Each of them have their own virtues, each of them have their own faults. While they are all not to be taken seriously, they are still great escapist entertainment. I hate Michael Bay with a fervid passion but I own BAD BOYS II. I like James Cameron but his ALIENS is not the best in the series. No, my favorite action director would have to be that Hong Kong favorite, John Woo. Despite his Americanized film sins, I will still defend to the death each and every one of his Hong Kong masterpieces. Like THE KILLER, which gets my vote as one of the 3 greatest action films ever made. A master stylist, his films never get the credit that they deserve when talking about influential filmmakers. You wouldn't have the lobby shootout in THE MATRIX without the hospital shootout in HARD BOILED. He's a brilliant filmmaker, and he always will be, no matter how many bad American films he makes.[/size][/font].

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[font=Garamond][size=3]DIE HARD is a great film too, almost perfect. I say almost perfect because when you watch it today, it's just a tad dated. That's the only complaint though, because it's still a classic film. Now, the one I recently viewed for the first time was FULLTIME KILLER. I'm thankful for Netflix, because they turn me on to so many great films that I would probably never get to see. Like this one, which is reminiscent of Woo films, only in a good way. I still have a couple to watch, that's why the entry is titled best three out of five. The last two?[/size][/font].

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[font=Garamond][size=3]TSUI HARK'S VAMPIRE HUNTERS[/size][/font].

[font=Garamond][size=3]JOHN WOO'S ONCE A THIEF[/size][/font].

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[font=Garamond][size=3]I have a feeling I'll only like one of these...................I wonder which?[/size][/font].