Butt-Kicking Action Shows Hong Kong Roots

Rating: 9/10 (30 March 1999)

This movie shows a lot of the benefits of Hollywood power and will surely dazzle the considerable majority of viewers with action scenes unlike any they have seen before. The deep pockets of Hollywood have slicked-up with post-production CGI and editing pure Hong Kong style martial arts and gun fight sequences heavily influenced by imagery drawn from Japanese anime. The synthesis is quite fresh, but really is an anticipated evolution of East meets West action motifs. Worldwide audiences should eat it up. Action-director Yuen Wo Ping is a veteran of Hong Kong masterpieces and should get much of the credit for the visual impact of the action. To experience more of his dynamic work (not to mention the soon to dazzle America charisma and skill of Jet Li) please check out Fist of Legend and the Once Upon a Time in China series from the martial arts section of your local video store. You will not be disappointed. The Matrix receives an eight out of ten.