Hard Boiled (1992)
John Woo’s opera of bullets.
Presentation:
John Woo’s most famous film for western audiences is a guilty pleasure of gratuitous gun fu action. The overwhelming popcorn action approaches Michael Bay territory with abundant explosions but its real practical effects provide a tactile realism that never fail to captive you. That is until characters start talking. The plot is completely decorative and I had trouble keeping awake until the guns started blasting. If you want a more substantial film plot wise, The Killers is probably the better film to watch. But I don’t think you go into this film for its story. The action here is absolute cinema with signature slow motion and dual akimbo pistols. The lensing is intimate and the stunt sequences are inventive like sliding on elevators and hospital gurneys, nearly as impressive as Police Story. The action is poetic influencing directors like Tarantino’s style in both filmmaking and fashion.
Conclusion:
This is pretty quintessential John Woo - cops leaping in the air with 2 pistols, and perhaps may be quintessential Hong Kong cinema. I personally prefer Jackie Chan’s creative martial arts, but if you like martial arts with guns, this absolutely delivers your vintage John Wick fix. Overall this film has the most appeal and should be your introduction to John Woo, but his other films may have some scenes that do it better, but check this one out first to make sure you’re willing to leap into the John Woo universe.
Recommendations
John Woo’s opera of bullets.