John-Woo Movie Reviews

You will love this story. it has everything of Jackie, withsome of the clips you will find, skip renting it and just buy.

If you've even heard of Jackie Chan, you must see this video. No documentary before this has ever given you such a real story on the life of this living legend.

Jackie Chan tells all! This video is a must for true Jackie Chan fans. Learn about Jackie's childhood,his brushes with death, and how he stays at the top of his game. This video has tons of great action clips and never before seen footage.

Last Hurrah for Chivalry is one of the best martial arts movie I've ever seen. We can see John Woo' style in many of the scenes (slow motion action scenes) and themes (friendship and adversity). Once again, Wei Pai (the snake in 5 Deadly Venoms) shows his great skills in martial arts, as well as Liu Sung Yen (Green Suit). The story itself is classic but above average. The action sequences are many and quite amazing.

The quality of the DVD is rather surprising for a 1979 Hong-Kong movie. The sound is OK, but what really shines is the picture. While not perfect (some scratches appear from time to time), it's still clear and sharp.

Overall, this movie is definitely a must-see.

This is one of the best kung fu movies featuring swordplay I have ever seen. It stars Wei Pai, the snake of the 5 Deadly Venoms. It has a great storyline, action, comedy, and it doesn't have a boring part in any part of the movie. Every fight scene is carefully choreographed and filmed thanks to John Woo, one of my best action directors. This is one of the best Golden Harvest productions since the time of Bruce Lee.

"Last Hurrah for Chivalry" has a large amount of perhaps one of the most lacking concepts in your average Kung-Fu title: character development. The two main characters, Cheung and Green Shirt, have their own personality, their own issues, and their own life story. When they begin to fight the bad guys you know what mettle of men they are and feel for their quests. You can also feel the partnership between them.

When I first saw this film I was expecting casual Kung-Fu fair along the lines of the "Wu Tang" titles, but I was pleasantly surprised. The action is well choreographed and almost realistic (with some stylized exceptions), and most of the fighting is sword-play, not chop suey. Sword fighting fanatics take heed!

The subtitles for this really helped, too, in clearing up some points that I didn't understand in the English dub. Ever wondered what was written on Prey's fan? Now you do. You also hear the lyrics of the main theme, and it makes all the more sense when you know what the singer is saying. Besides, a film as grand as this really doesn't deserve being dubbed.

Like many have said before, you should definitely buy this movie. Its one of Donnie Yen's earlier movies (1989) so of course its not going to look as recent as any of his others ones that has come out, but that shouldn't deter you from watching this...I found that some of the best Donnie Yen movies were those made before Iron Monkey. "In the line of duty iv" is one of them.
The plot is not original-basically its the good guys vs the bad guys with one or two twists in the movie. Cynthia Khan and Donnie Yen both play cops who must seek out and protect a dock worker (the actor is Yuen Woo Ping's brother in real life)from the bad guys. But those like myself watch this for the action scenes and there is definitely alot, in fact there is one almost every 10-15 min. Many classify this as a girls with guns flick which is true since the real star is Cynthia Khan. She can fight very well and is in some pretty good action scenes. Donnie Yen gets a lot of screen time and his fights with movie foes Michael Woods and John Salvitti are the best. He pretty much steals the show but the character he plays can be a little annoying and impulsive in the beginning.
Yuen Woo Ping is both director and fight choreagrapher. That right there is a plus. Some say that this is the best in the "In the Line of Duty" series (pertaining to action) with no real relation to the others except for Cynthia Khan. Unlike Iron Monkey, there is no "wire-fu", the actors do their own stunts and martial arts without the use of wires so really you could actually see how capable and amazing these actors are with their abilities.
The dvd is actually pretty good when you consider the fact that the movie is over a decade old. Both the sound and picture are pretty clear. The dvd is subtitled not englished dubbed-that might be a good or bad thing considering the preference of the viewer.
Overall its a great movie and dvd to own and to add to any collection. Any fan of Hong Kong Action, Yuen Woo Ping, Donnie Yen and Cynthia Khan would really enjoy this.

Out of the 5 In The Line of Duty films, this one stands out by far the best. All you need to know is that Donnie Yen, one of my favorite fighters, is in this and he shows some of the best stuff I've ever seen. Story???...Donnie Yen and Cynthia Khan are on a team of first class police officers undercover on some drugdealer case. Their partner happened to take pictures of a drug deal with some major people, and he attempts to arrest them. He fails, tries to get away with the picture negatives, but gets shot, and an unfortunate dockworker is given the negatives to bring in to the police. Police officer dies and dockworker ends up losing negative. Now he's a suspect for the murder of the police officer and he's being chased by the dealers men for the negative. Donnie and Cynthia are to protect the suspect in this crazy cat and mouse chase, and the fact that there is a bad heel within the police force is no help either. The fighting is the brutal modern style that'll make you cringe. There are tons of great fights in this film, and very very little wirework thank goodness. This is Yuen Woo Ping choreography at its best. This is the first movie I've seen where there are so many great fighters on screen. There must've been 4-5 fighters in here that I really liked regardless of them being bad guys. Of course, Donnie Yen still steals the show with his awesome kicking and boxing abilities, but watching the fight scenes that were without him were awesome too. Cynthia Khan is a great fighter as well as the dockworker. There is yet another classic fight between Donnie Yen and Michael Woods that is breathtaking. This film is a total MUST-OWN. If you want great action every 5-10 minutes, this is a masterpiece for you. Don't get me wrong tho, there are some "sentimental" moments in this, and you'd start believin all these fighters really can act. In my opinion, this is Donnie Yen's second best film with Tiger Cage 2 being the first (a lot of the same actors are in this one too). As for the dvd, there are 2 versions out there. If you can play Region 2 PAL encoded dvds, then you must get the Hong Kong Legends version entitled simply In The Line of Duty. The remastered video and sound is unmatched, and completely uncut. There are some interesting extras as well like a Donnie Yen interview and biography. If you can't, then get the HK version that is sold everywhere online. Point is, you gotta have this if you're a martial arts or Donnie Yen fan. Other awesome Donnie Yen titles...Tiger Cage 2, Iron Monkey, Wing Chun (with Michelle Yeoh), and OUATIC 2 (with Jet Li)...Hope this was helpful, check my other HK reviews too!!!

I had the pleasure of watching the In the Line of Duty series in Chinatown SF when they first appeared. These DVDs capture the excitement of watching the first time. ITLOD4 is my favorite of the series. Non-stop action, Girls w/guns, Gun Fu, and Bad/Bad Guys are the staples of these films. If you are new to HK films this is the place to start.

This movie has all the essential elements of a John Woo movie, albeit in a nascent and underfunded manner. What is inadequate about it is made up for in recent films such as, THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, and FACE OFF. This film is great for going back and charting how John Woo's style has grown and changed over time, and also for the great aspects he has retained. After this, watch HARD BOILED, and you'll see what I mean. That movie is simply fantastic, with a great storyline.

Chow Yun Fat is the man, no doubt about it. His performance makes this movie one to remember. The movie obviously does not have the budget of a big, Hollywood production, and some of the cinematic quality and production editing suffers as a result. The story line is fairly decent, but the police bureaucrat and mob boss antagonists were so over the top and underdeveloped that they seemed silly. The assassin friend, played by Chu Kong was both well-written and performed; it's too bad he didn't get more screen time. The dubbed version isn't all that bad. The recurring theme song is about as enjoyable as Chinese water torture; luckily there's always the fast-forward button.

This is the movie which cemented John Woo as probably the worlds best action director. After the runaway success of A Better Tommorrow in 1986, Woo proved he wasnt a one time hit by making this masterpiece. The Killer is probably one of the most voilent movies made, with Chow Yun Fat playing the swauve hitman Jeffrey. Woo manages to blend hi octane action and violence with the themes of honour and betrayal which concoct to create one of the most memorable endings ever recorded onto film. The choreography by Chui Sui Tung is excellent creating some amazing action sequences and the script (written by Woo himself) is also excellent. Woo named this film his baby and rightly so as it established him as a player and later paved the way to Hollywood for him. Watching The Killer just once is not enough and it'll simply blow you away!

This movie is by far the most entertaining shoot-em up I have ever seen. I have seen some pretty violent Hollywood movies, but none of them match up to this. The movies almost 2 hours long and there are several slow parts. The action sequences are by far the highlight of this movie. Unlike Hollywood movies, the hero is not some muscle-bound Austrian who simply dispatches bad guys with a few shots and then says some sarcastic remark. In The Killer, Chow yun fat is a normal looking person who pumps an entire clip into some thug, who then crashes through a plate glass window or flies over a railing. The battle at the church and the first assassination scene are some of the greatest fight scenes on film. The camera work is great and the subtitles are okay. One of the things you have to realize that the violence is supposed to be over the top and outrageously violent, but the violence is never ridiculous. I dont think that people should complain about violence in Hollywood without noting that other countries make far more violent and explicit movies than the U.S. does.

This movie has all the essential elements of a John Woo movie, albeit in a nascent and underfunded manner. What is inadequate about it is made up for in recent films such as, THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, and FACE OFF. This film is great for going back and charting how John Woo's style has grown and changed over time, and also for the great aspects he has retained. After this, watch HARD BOILED, and you'll see what I mean. That movie is simply fantastic, with a great storyline.

Chow Yun Fat is the man, no doubt about it. His performance makes this movie one to remember. The movie obviously does not have the budget of a big, Hollywood production, and some of the cinematic quality and production editing suffers as a result. The story line is fairly decent, but the police bureaucrat and mob boss antagonists were so over the top and underdeveloped that they seemed silly. The assassin friend, played by Chu Kong was both well-written and performed; it's too bad he didn't get more screen time. The dubbed version isn't all that bad. The recurring theme song is about as enjoyable as Chinese water torture; luckily there's always the fast-forward button.

This is the movie which cemented John Woo as probably the worlds best action director. After the runaway success of A Better Tommorrow in 1986, Woo proved he wasnt a one time hit by making this masterpiece. The Killer is probably one of the most voilent movies made, with Chow Yun Fat playing the swauve hitman Jeffrey. Woo manages to blend hi octane action and violence with the themes of honour and betrayal which concoct to create one of the most memorable endings ever recorded onto film. The choreography by Chui Sui Tung is excellent creating some amazing action sequences and the script (written by Woo himself) is also excellent. Woo named this film his baby and rightly so as it established him as a player and later paved the way to Hollywood for him. Watching The Killer just once is not enough and it'll simply blow you away!

This movie is by far the most entertaining shoot-em up I have ever seen. I have seen some pretty violent Hollywood movies, but none of them match up to this. The movies almost 2 hours long and there are several slow parts. The action sequences are by far the highlight of this movie. Unlike Hollywood movies, the hero is not some muscle-bound Austrian who simply dispatches bad guys with a few shots and then says some sarcastic remark. In The Killer, Chow yun fat is a normal looking person who pumps an entire clip into some thug, who then crashes through a plate glass window or flies over a railing. The battle at the church and the first assassination scene are some of the greatest fight scenes on film. The camera work is great and the subtitles are okay. One of the things you have to realize that the violence is supposed to be over the top and outrageously violent, but the violence is never ridiculous. I dont think that people should complain about violence in Hollywood without noting that other countries make far more violent and explicit movies than the U.S. does.

This movie has all the essential elements of a John Woo movie, albeit in a nascent and underfunded manner. What is inadequate about it is made up for in recent films such as, THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, and FACE OFF. This film is great for going back and charting how John Woo's style has grown and changed over time, and also for the great aspects he has retained. After this, watch HARD BOILED, and you'll see what I mean. That movie is simply fantastic, with a great storyline.

Chow Yun Fat is the man, no doubt about it. His performance makes this movie one to remember. The movie obviously does not have the budget of a big, Hollywood production, and some of the cinematic quality and production editing suffers as a result. The story line is fairly decent, but the police bureaucrat and mob boss antagonists were so over the top and underdeveloped that they seemed silly. The assassin friend, played by Chu Kong was both well-written and performed; it's too bad he didn't get more screen time. The dubbed version isn't all that bad. The recurring theme song is about as enjoyable as Chinese water torture; luckily there's always the fast-forward button.

This is the movie which cemented John Woo as probably the worlds best action director. After the runaway success of A Better Tommorrow in 1986, Woo proved he wasnt a one time hit by making this masterpiece. The Killer is probably one of the most voilent movies made, with Chow Yun Fat playing the swauve hitman Jeffrey. Woo manages to blend hi octane action and violence with the themes of honour and betrayal which concoct to create one of the most memorable endings ever recorded onto film. The choreography by Chui Sui Tung is excellent creating some amazing action sequences and the script (written by Woo himself) is also excellent. Woo named this film his baby and rightly so as it established him as a player and later paved the way to Hollywood for him. Watching The Killer just once is not enough and it'll simply blow you away!

This movie is by far the most entertaining shoot-em up I have ever seen. I have seen some pretty violent Hollywood movies, but none of them match up to this. The movies almost 2 hours long and there are several slow parts. The action sequences are by far the highlight of this movie. Unlike Hollywood movies, the hero is not some muscle-bound Austrian who simply dispatches bad guys with a few shots and then says some sarcastic remark. In The Killer, Chow yun fat is a normal looking person who pumps an entire clip into some thug, who then crashes through a plate glass window or flies over a railing. The battle at the church and the first assassination scene are some of the greatest fight scenes on film. The camera work is great and the subtitles are okay. One of the things you have to realize that the violence is supposed to be over the top and outrageously violent, but the violence is never ridiculous. I dont think that people should complain about violence in Hollywood without noting that other countries make far more violent and explicit movies than the U.S. does.

This movie has all the essential elements of a John Woo movie, albeit in a nascent and underfunded manner. What is inadequate about it is made up for in recent films such as, THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, and FACE OFF. This film is great for going back and charting how John Woo's style has grown and changed over time, and also for the great aspects he has retained. After this, watch HARD BOILED, and you'll see what I mean. That movie is simply fantastic, with a great storyline.

Chow Yun Fat is the man, no doubt about it. His performance makes this movie one to remember. The movie obviously does not have the budget of a big, Hollywood production, and some of the cinematic quality and production editing suffers as a result. The story line is fairly decent, but the police bureaucrat and mob boss antagonists were so over the top and underdeveloped that they seemed silly. The assassin friend, played by Chu Kong was both well-written and performed; it's too bad he didn't get more screen time. The dubbed version isn't all that bad. The recurring theme song is about as enjoyable as Chinese water torture; luckily there's always the fast-forward button.

This is the movie which cemented John Woo as probably the worlds best action director. After the runaway success of A Better Tommorrow in 1986, Woo proved he wasnt a one time hit by making this masterpiece. The Killer is probably one of the most voilent movies made, with Chow Yun Fat playing the swauve hitman Jeffrey. Woo manages to blend hi octane action and violence with the themes of honour and betrayal which concoct to create one of the most memorable endings ever recorded onto film. The choreography by Chui Sui Tung is excellent creating some amazing action sequences and the script (written by Woo himself) is also excellent. Woo named this film his baby and rightly so as it established him as a player and later paved the way to Hollywood for him. Watching The Killer just once is not enough and it'll simply blow you away!

This movie is by far the most entertaining shoot-em up I have ever seen. I have seen some pretty violent Hollywood movies, but none of them match up to this. The movies almost 2 hours long and there are several slow parts. The action sequences are by far the highlight of this movie. Unlike Hollywood movies, the hero is not some muscle-bound Austrian who simply dispatches bad guys with a few shots and then says some sarcastic remark. In The Killer, Chow yun fat is a normal looking person who pumps an entire clip into some thug, who then crashes through a plate glass window or flies over a railing. The battle at the church and the first assassination scene are some of the greatest fight scenes on film. The camera work is great and the subtitles are okay. One of the things you have to realize that the violence is supposed to be over the top and outrageously violent, but the violence is never ridiculous. I dont think that people should complain about violence in Hollywood without noting that other countries make far more violent and explicit movies than the U.S. does.

I remember watching this in the cinema in November 1997 with 698 other people (a full house) and only me and my pal hated it. Which is weird because I expected it to be great. The original script for the film had it set in the future but Woo insisted it be written in present day to not distract the audience. But the only thing that distracted me was how dull the film was.

Since coming to Hollywood John Woo has done little to impress. He mad a very strong debut with Hard Target but the film was cut to shreds and the impact severely muted. Broken Arrow was thoroughly unexciting and Face/Off is not much better.

The bulk of the blame lies not with Woo but with Travolta. As Sean Archer he's fine. But as soon as he becomes Castor Troy he turns the camp all the way up to 11. Face/Off eventually becomes an unashamed pantomime. Cage, as both characters, is very good. But Travolta takes Troy to the same place he took Vic Deakins in Broken Arrow. It's like he assumes that no matter what he does, it's automatically cool because IT'S A JOHN WOO FILM. Sorry, but that logic doesn't work out in real life.

The plot, while being crafty, doesn't really do much. Exactly what does Troy plan after becoming Archer? To look like his enemy for the rest of his life? If not it was a bad idea burning down the Plastic Surgery Joint then. Some interesting imagery is used and the subtext gives the movie a sharper edge despite its superficial appearance. All the 'gun ballet' stuff does is glamorise guns. And that's becoming real old hat.

Weird tho, when you think that this film is written by the folks that gave us The Mask and Death Wish V: The Face of Death. And John Woo would also dabble in face swapping later on with Mission: Impossible 2.

The DVD is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound. The only extra is a trailer.

One of the most preposterous story concepts in history results in one of the best action films of the past 20 years: What would happen if a terrorist and the agent hunting him surgically switch faces? How can you even make that movie? John Woo (Mission Impossible 2) takes the reigns of the clever screenplay and has a blast. This film has way-cool Woo action and a couple over-the-top performances as well as a wild screenplay filled with twists that always manage to be one-step ahead.

Director Woo fills the screen with slow motion gun battles and even slower motion character reveals. His action is usually immune to things like logic, physics and gravity but that never gets in the way. If you thought it was in the way, a stray bullet'd probably fly off the screen and hit you. Pretentious elements adorn the screen as much as gunfire. From a tremendous battle of good vs. evil to the sound of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' to white doves filling a church during a shootout. He puts a lot of respect toward the films top performances. In doing so, he sorts out the potentially confusing screenplay leaving only the most inattentive behind.

John Travolta has the responsibility of setting up the character of covert agent Sean Archer. Nicholas Cage, the terrorist Castor Troy. Both have to reveal not only the character but also their identifiable quirks, as they will quickly switch roles. Both actors appear to be having a blast at each other's expense. Closing out the confusing triangle is Joan Allen as Archer's brilliant wife. She is willing to allow the story to take its course, only getting involved when she is forced.

The screenplay nicely increases the stakes after the face Switch when both men use each others power to escalate their own needs. Woo's presentation of the final stand-off in the church is sure to bring a smile to your face with it's clever reveals. This is the stuff that elevates the story above most action fodder.

FACE-OFF is a great film with a lot to offer, especially to your sub-woofer. The audio transfer carries it well but the video transfer could use a remaster. There are no special features other than the trailer. Enjoy FACE-OFF.

This blasts Die Hard right out of a building and sends it flying down 33 stories. It jump kicks The Matrix and breaks its back on a granite wall. It grabs Cliffhanger by the throat and throws it onto a pile of jagged rocks. Yes, this movie indeed kicks major buttocks. It's a story about an F.B.I. agent and a terrorist who change identities and get a first hand glimpse at how the other lives his own lifestyle. This used to be my favorite flick for about two years until I just watched it so much that I just played it out completely. But it still remains my favorite action film of all time. Nicolas Cage steals each scene and John Travolta is fun to watch playing the bad guy again. This movie is very quotable ("I could eat a peach for hours") and offers some of the most stylish and intense action scenes offered on the silver screen. One of the big summer hits of 1997, there won't be another shoot-em-up as great as this one to come along in a while.

I remember watching this in the cinema in November 1997 with 698 other people (a full house) and only me and my pal hated it. Which is weird because I expected it to be great. The original script for the film had it set in the future but Woo insisted it be written in present day to not distract the audience. But the only thing that distracted me was how dull the film was.

Since coming to Hollywood John Woo has done little to impress. He mad a very strong debut with Hard Target but the film was cut to shreds and the impact severely muted. Broken Arrow was thoroughly unexciting and Face/Off is not much better.

The bulk of the blame lies not with Woo but with Travolta. As Sean Archer he's fine. But as soon as he becomes Castor Troy he turns the camp all the way up to 11. Face/Off eventually becomes an unashamed pantomime. Cage, as both characters, is very good. But Travolta takes Troy to the same place he took Vic Deakins in Broken Arrow. It's like he assumes that no matter what he does, it's automatically cool because IT'S A JOHN WOO FILM. Sorry, but that logic doesn't work out in real life.

The plot, while being crafty, doesn't really do much. Exactly what does Troy plan after becoming Archer? To look like his enemy for the rest of his life? If not it was a bad idea burning down the Plastic Surgery Joint then. Some interesting imagery is used and the subtext gives the movie a sharper edge despite its superficial appearance. All the 'gun ballet' stuff does is glamorise guns. And that's becoming real old hat.

Weird tho, when you think that this film is written by the folks that gave us The Mask and Death Wish V: The Face of Death. And John Woo would also dabble in face swapping later on with Mission: Impossible 2.

The DVD is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound. The only extra is a trailer.

One of the most preposterous story concepts in history results in one of the best action films of the past 20 years: What would happen if a terrorist and the agent hunting him surgically switch faces? How can you even make that movie? John Woo (Mission Impossible 2) takes the reigns of the clever screenplay and has a blast. This film has way-cool Woo action and a couple over-the-top performances as well as a wild screenplay filled with twists that always manage to be one-step ahead.

Director Woo fills the screen with slow motion gun battles and even slower motion character reveals. His action is usually immune to things like logic, physics and gravity but that never gets in the way. If you thought it was in the way, a stray bullet'd probably fly off the screen and hit you. Pretentious elements adorn the screen as much as gunfire. From a tremendous battle of good vs. evil to the sound of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' to white doves filling a church during a shootout. He puts a lot of respect toward the films top performances. In doing so, he sorts out the potentially confusing screenplay leaving only the most inattentive behind.

John Travolta has the responsibility of setting up the character of covert agent Sean Archer. Nicholas Cage, the terrorist Castor Troy. Both have to reveal not only the character but also their identifiable quirks, as they will quickly switch roles. Both actors appear to be having a blast at each other's expense. Closing out the confusing triangle is Joan Allen as Archer's brilliant wife. She is willing to allow the story to take its course, only getting involved when she is forced.

The screenplay nicely increases the stakes after the face Switch when both men use each others power to escalate their own needs. Woo's presentation of the final stand-off in the church is sure to bring a smile to your face with it's clever reveals. This is the stuff that elevates the story above most action fodder.

FACE-OFF is a great film with a lot to offer, especially to your sub-woofer. The audio transfer carries it well but the video transfer could use a remaster. There are no special features other than the trailer. Enjoy FACE-OFF.

This blasts Die Hard right out of a building and sends it flying down 33 stories. It jump kicks The Matrix and breaks its back on a granite wall. It grabs Cliffhanger by the throat and throws it onto a pile of jagged rocks. Yes, this movie indeed kicks major buttocks. It's a story about an F.B.I. agent and a terrorist who change identities and get a first hand glimpse at how the other lives his own lifestyle. This used to be my favorite flick for about two years until I just watched it so much that I just played it out completely. But it still remains my favorite action film of all time. Nicolas Cage steals each scene and John Travolta is fun to watch playing the bad guy again. This movie is very quotable ("I could eat a peach for hours") and offers some of the most stylish and intense action scenes offered on the silver screen. One of the big summer hits of 1997, there won't be another shoot-em-up as great as this one to come along in a while.

I remember watching this in the cinema in November 1997 with 698 other people (a full house) and only me and my pal hated it. Which is weird because I expected it to be great. The original script for the film had it set in the future but Woo insisted it be written in present day to not distract the audience. But the only thing that distracted me was how dull the film was.

Since coming to Hollywood John Woo has done little to impress. He mad a very strong debut with Hard Target but the film was cut to shreds and the impact severely muted. Broken Arrow was thoroughly unexciting and Face/Off is not much better.

The bulk of the blame lies not with Woo but with Travolta. As Sean Archer he's fine. But as soon as he becomes Castor Troy he turns the camp all the way up to 11. Face/Off eventually becomes an unashamed pantomime. Cage, as both characters, is very good. But Travolta takes Troy to the same place he took Vic Deakins in Broken Arrow. It's like he assumes that no matter what he does, it's automatically cool because IT'S A JOHN WOO FILM. Sorry, but that logic doesn't work out in real life.

The plot, while being crafty, doesn't really do much. Exactly what does Troy plan after becoming Archer? To look like his enemy for the rest of his life? If not it was a bad idea burning down the Plastic Surgery Joint then. Some interesting imagery is used and the subtext gives the movie a sharper edge despite its superficial appearance. All the 'gun ballet' stuff does is glamorise guns. And that's becoming real old hat.

Weird tho, when you think that this film is written by the folks that gave us The Mask and Death Wish V: The Face of Death. And John Woo would also dabble in face swapping later on with Mission: Impossible 2.

The DVD is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound. The only extra is a trailer.

One of the most preposterous story concepts in history results in one of the best action films of the past 20 years: What would happen if a terrorist and the agent hunting him surgically switch faces? How can you even make that movie? John Woo (Mission Impossible 2) takes the reigns of the clever screenplay and has a blast. This film has way-cool Woo action and a couple over-the-top performances as well as a wild screenplay filled with twists that always manage to be one-step ahead.

Director Woo fills the screen with slow motion gun battles and even slower motion character reveals. His action is usually immune to things like logic, physics and gravity but that never gets in the way. If you thought it was in the way, a stray bullet'd probably fly off the screen and hit you. Pretentious elements adorn the screen as much as gunfire. From a tremendous battle of good vs. evil to the sound of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' to white doves filling a church during a shootout. He puts a lot of respect toward the films top performances. In doing so, he sorts out the potentially confusing screenplay leaving only the most inattentive behind.

John Travolta has the responsibility of setting up the character of covert agent Sean Archer. Nicholas Cage, the terrorist Castor Troy. Both have to reveal not only the character but also their identifiable quirks, as they will quickly switch roles. Both actors appear to be having a blast at each other's expense. Closing out the confusing triangle is Joan Allen as Archer's brilliant wife. She is willing to allow the story to take its course, only getting involved when she is forced.

The screenplay nicely increases the stakes after the face Switch when both men use each others power to escalate their own needs. Woo's presentation of the final stand-off in the church is sure to bring a smile to your face with it's clever reveals. This is the stuff that elevates the story above most action fodder.

FACE-OFF is a great film with a lot to offer, especially to your sub-woofer. The audio transfer carries it well but the video transfer could use a remaster. There are no special features other than the trailer. Enjoy FACE-OFF.

This blasts Die Hard right out of a building and sends it flying down 33 stories. It jump kicks The Matrix and breaks its back on a granite wall. It grabs Cliffhanger by the throat and throws it onto a pile of jagged rocks. Yes, this movie indeed kicks major buttocks. It's a story about an F.B.I. agent and a terrorist who change identities and get a first hand glimpse at how the other lives his own lifestyle. This used to be my favorite flick for about two years until I just watched it so much that I just played it out completely. But it still remains my favorite action film of all time. Nicolas Cage steals each scene and John Travolta is fun to watch playing the bad guy again. This movie is very quotable ("I could eat a peach for hours") and offers some of the most stylish and intense action scenes offered on the silver screen. One of the big summer hits of 1997, there won't be another shoot-em-up as great as this one to come along in a while.