Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Combine ‘Beat’ Takeshi , Sam Peckinpah via John Woo and a touch of Scorcese and you might wind up with something like Johnnnie To's : The Mission. It's one of the better late 90's Hong Kong films you're likely to see and boasts some sharply drawn characters, stylish set pieces and above average acting.

A triad boss is ambushed and nearly killed in a restaurant. He calls his brother Frank (Simon Yam) on the cell phone to get the best recruits he can to keep him alive and help stop a nasty gang war. Frank recruits a diverse group of men many of whom lead rather quiet normal lives. There's a pudgy peanut eating guy, a pretty boy, a hair dresser, a wound way too tight and ready to explode bar owner (an excellent Francis Ng) and then there's the cold and calculating aging hitman named Curtis --nickname Ice (Anthony Wong), who's good with a gun, but even better with razor blades.

It's a treat to watch the second and third best Hong Kong Actors (first remains Chow Yun Fat ) Wong and Yam in a film together. They are not wasted in this film and have some wonderful moments on screen.

As they come together we get the expected scenes of male bonding and posing. Most of them have worked together in the past. So when push comes to shove they quickly become a well oiled team ready to be an unstoppable force if need be. As they work together to complete one mission they learn one of the team has been having an affair with the wife of the Big Boss. Since the Big Boss knows one of them has got to go. Is there honor, and integrity among
Thieves?

There's some over-the top gun duels that take place in quieter than should be Hong Kong settings like an almost but not quite empty indoor shopping mall, and some back alleys. The police never seem to be anywhere in sight during these duels.

Never mind the logic, it's an action film after all and action film fans have seen this kind of stuff many times before. It's done with some style and flair here.

What's nice and a little out of the ordinary for these types of films is the film picks it's over-the top moments carefully and in between gives us some good acting, believable characters and even moments of silence where the main characters are waiting for something to happen--and inevitably does.

The synthesizer sound track is a bit John Carpenter-ish and too late 80's for this late 90's film. It gives the film an almost too positive and updeat theme which we hear many many times over the course of the movie. However, the theme works in nice contrast to some darker and tense scenes in the film and is actually utilized quite well.

My favorite couple of moments in the film are when these colorful gangsters
remind us they are guns for hires and employees who sometimes get bored waiting around for something to happen. They play practical jokes (usually with cigarettes) with one another. The comically play soccer with a wadded up piece of paper while waiting for the boss and then quickly pretend they aren't fooling around when he appears.

That's the kind of moment not a lot of action films bother to give its audience and it makes the characters and situations a little more identifiable and 'human'. It's something you see in a ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano film and it's a nice touch by Director To.

The DVD offers no more than a couple of previews, but the film is presented widescreen and the subtitles are legible throughout the film.

The Mission is an exciting fast moving 95 minutes genre movie that will satisfy somewhat discriminating Hong Kong action film fans. Some of it is a little too familiar and a few scenes play too flat but the director gives his actors some room, exhibits a nice assured somewhat flashy style and delivers a worthwhile film.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age