Derivitave but a guilty pleasure

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2000)

I liked this movie the first time I saw it, when it was called "The Matrix," "Face-Off," and "James Bond."
I enjoyed the movie, but only because I was able to suspend every shred of disbelief. If you can't do that, you'll laugh out loud at how ridiculous it is, from the first mountain climbing scene, to the last sequence. But, hey - it's an escapist comic-book-esque experience, not a film about realism.

And while Woo is a stylistic director, does he have to keep reminding us? The slow-mo, the constant use of pigeons and doves, the focus on flowing fabric in the air - yes, John, we know you made this movie - your signatures are all over it like a graffitti artists overdone tags.

The romance storyline was unneccesary - in love after one night? I guess ultra-good looking people don't have to build relationships like the rest of us normal folks.
I would even say there are two nods to Star Wars. The opening credits shift to a starry sky, then the camera drops to the skyline. Every SW movie opens this way.
POSSIBLE SPOILER HERE And the other is the entry into the Biotech company's building. The fortress of security is penetrable through a shaft (not for ventilation but light) - it's the one place of weakness. Is it just me, or isn't this like SW Ep 4's blowing up of the Death Star?

Overall, I enjoy picking on these little things, but as your action movies go overall, still a good escapism. However, I have to agree with other comment writers that the violence was ultra-high. The PG-13 was probably because of little or no profanity, and no nudity - the ratings board is all screwed up -you can kill and maim and get a PG-13, but Jason's Lyric was slapped with an NC-17 for making love.