On the surface, Black Ransom would seem to be your standard nail-biter kidnapping thriller. But, since we're dealing with a script by Wong Jing, that means there's over-the-top stuff like psychically-gifted marksmen and wire-fu thrown into the mix which gives the end product a weird feeling.

Of course, the addition of elements other than a film's purported main thrust is a common theme in Hong Kong movies, and a big reason that so many people enjoy them. However, with Black Ransom, the randomness derails the story proper and takes away the picture's focus. I can enjoy a good fight scene as much as the next person, but sometimes it would be better to just not have one, especially when it occurs during the finale which should really be concentrating on cat-and-mouse antics, not fists of fury.

It also doesn't help that most of the cast looks like they'd rather be somewhere else. There's very little passion espoused by any of the actors. In particular, Simon Yam seems to be channeling Danny Glover and muttering "I'm too old for this shit" under his breath. Sure, he is supposed to be the worn-down shell-shocked veteran cop, but did have to look so bored? As Simon's adversary, Michael Mui doesn't fare much better, veering wildly between barely uttering his lines at an audible level and literally screaming at the screen.

Still, for how underwhelming the acting is and how disjointed the story comes off as, there is a quick and breezy "popcorn" feeling to the proceedings that end up making this perfectly passable fare if you're not in a picky mood. Wong Jing certainly has his faults, but he does know how to keep an audience interested, even if they're not likely to remember what they just watched a few months (if not days) down the road.

RATING: 5