Review of Hard Boiled (1992) by Bryan W — 27 Jun 2011

Perhaps the best pure action movie ever.

Before Woo came to the United States, he was well known in the underground video circuit as a master of action, the man who decided that one gun wasn't enough and stuffed two in the hands of his protagonists as he had them flip, roll, dive, duck, and leap around hoards of bad guys, bullets, and explosions. Even better, he imbued the story with more philosophical weight than most action films deserve, exploring the relationship between good and bad, and particularly the tenuous lines that divide them when a man is holding a gun.

This theme was explored with many variations, each different enough to warrant its own film, and when the time came to make a financial decision to move the US, he wrote his love letter to Hong Kong in this film. Here, Woo expertly mounts a story about two cops, one undercover, and one that makes Bullit and John McClane look like British toddlers in bonnets. Seeing them almost kill each other is worth the price of admission.

The story, of course, doesn't end there. In total, this film likely lays to rest about a thousand souls by the bullet while exploring the subject of moving past a life of violence and personal honor, and the twain meet frequently enough to form a strong theme, but not enough to dull each others edges.

Oh, and by the way, there are action scenes. To put it this simply should underscore the fact that action films you see after this will compared by way of their lower standards. As one scene gives way to another, it's hard to imagine how Woo can up the ante, but he always does. If you don't watch it, you can't go around telling people you like action movies. Watch it.