Rating:

7.25

Year of release: 2002

Company: Columbia

Genre: action

Running time: 110 min.

Director: Corey Yuen

Action director: Corey Yuen

Script: Jeff Lau

Producer: Chui Po Chu

Cinematography: Venus Keung

Editor: Cheung Ka Fai

Music: Sam Kao, Kenjo Tan

Stars: Hsu Chi, Karen Mok, Vicky Zhao, Song Seung Hun, Michael Wai, Ben Lam

Rated IIA for violence

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So Close

So Close is almost ultra-cheesy at times and the script has plot holes the size of Rosie O'Donnell's ass. However, it's actually a pretty damn fun movie (much better than the horrid Charlie's Angels), mostly due to Corey Yuen's solid action work. Though it didn't do that well at the local box office, and had been blasted by many critics, this humble reviewer says that So Close was one of the better action movies to come out of Hong Kong -- or anywhere else for that matter -- last year.

The plot has Hsu Chi and Vicky Zhao as sisters who are a pair of assassins. Their father created a system that can tap into any closed-circuit TV system, and they use this for their jobs with a lot of success, attracting some high-class clients. One of these hires them to take out his brother so he can take over the family company. The job goes well, but afterwards Hsu runs into an old love (Song Seung Hun) and wants to retire. The problem is that there's one more job to do and there's a gung-ho cop (Karen Mok) on her tail.

That small plot synopsis points out two off the biggest faults in the script. First, with the CC-TV monitoring system: if the sisters wanted to get out of "the game", why don't they just sell it off for the billions of dollars it must be worth? The whole backstory for the pair is very flimsy, and really should have been left out, as is the case with the dreaded mandatory romantic subplot. It really goes nowhere and serves no real purpose. In a action movie starring male actors, this kind of stuff would just be an excuse to add in a hot woman showing her boobs. Song Seung Hun's character (who comes off as a boob) doesn't need to be here, and cutting out that part of the movie would have served to speed things up and get to the good stuff, namely the action.

Corey Yuen is known for his over-the-top wire-fu style, and So Close showcases some of the best work he has done in that field. Though it's not as hard-hitting as his last movie, The Transporter, it's still exciting, especially considering who he had to work with. I still have a hard time taking former porn star Hsu Chi as an action star, but she at least looks the part here compared to her earlier efforts in the genre like Martial Angels.

The CGI is a bit much in parts, especially the flying glass that comes up in every action scene, yet never seems to cut anyone. Yuen also does recycle a couple of gags from his older films -- most notably the bit from Yes Madam where Michelle Yeoh goes through a glass balcony, but these are still some of the best brawls I've seen on film in a while. It was really refreshing seeing a fight scene shot and edited with some style, unlike the MTV-wannabe junk cluttering up theatres now.

When it boils to its' core, So Close is just a really good "popcorn" action movie. But there's really nothing wrong with that. Don't bother watching this if you want to see great performances, a thought-provoking story or realistic action. On the other hand, if you want to check out a movie with some good-looking women kicking ass, then So Close is right up your alley.