Yeshou xingjing (1998)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Gordon Chan
Dante Lam

Writers:

Gordon Chan (writer)
Hing-Ka Chan (writer)

Release Date:

9 April 1998 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

One of the most universally acclaimed motion pictures in the history of Hong Kong cinema. Acclaimed director Gordon Chan ("Fist Of Legend"...

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Police

Awards:

9 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	...	Tung
Michael Wong	...	Michael Cheung
Stephanie Che	...	Yee
Kathy Chow	...	Yoyo
Sam Lee	...	Skinny Sam
Patrick Tam	...	Pushy Pin
Roy Cheung	...	Brother Fai
Arthur Wong	...	Tai Ge
Sammuel Leung	...	Paul
Kong Kim	...	Kai
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Mak	...	Man with hostage

Directed by
Gordon Chan
Dante Lam

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gordon Chan		writer
Hing-Ka Chan		writer

Cinematography by
Tony Cheung

Film Editing by
Ki-hop Chan

Art Direction by
Alfred Yau

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sharon Lam	....	first assistant director
Gary Mak	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Steve Chan	....	sound

Other crew
Tak Yuen	....	action choreographer

Production Companies

• Media Asia Films
• People's Production Limited

Distributors

• Media Asia Distribution (1998) (worldwide) (all media)
• Mega Star Video Distribution (1998) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special collector's edition)
• Hong Kong Legends (2001) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cubists

Other Companies

• Cinerent  camera and equipment provided by
• Fine Art Film Production Company  subtitles
• Kodak (Hong Kong) Ltd.  film stock supplied by (as Kodak [Far East] Ltd.)
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  film processing
• Props Company  firearms
• Showreel Film Facilities  Avid editing facility
• Showreel Film Facilities  digital optical effects

Also Known As:

Beast Cop
Beast Cops

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Media Asia Films

Sophisticated Hong Kong Action/Drama

A cops-n-robbers movie, but not at all typical. An interesting departure from the stylized violence of classic HK movies, such as those directed by John Woo. Despite the chaos of those movies, there was always something "neat" and organized about the action, a choreography. Kind of like a fireworks display. As exuberant and fun as that style is, Beast Cops is an example of a new sort of HK cinema.

And it's a bit messy. Even the characters are somewhat sloppy; spitting on sidewalks, flinging beer cans in the backseat, etc. No one in this movie looks particularly dashing.

Even the violence is messy. For some reason, guns are seldom used, and most of the damage is caused by beating people with sticks or stabbing them with knives. And the knives aren't even cool-looking, they look like kitchen cleavers. So there's a more "hands-on" and labored feeling about the violence as opposed to the more effortless killing accomplished by guns.

But the slapdash feel and somewhat primitive action actually amounts to a very purposeful sophistication and insight about the characters. All the characters are realistically flawed, and the emotions feel genuine. The usual conflicts of loyalty/betrayal and the notion of brotherhood are all addressed, but the outcome is not formulaic or predictable.

Over all, this is a very well-made movie. The acting is first-rate, with Anthony Wong (as Tung) being especially good, as his character spans a confident wise-ass, a dejected lover, a ballsy hero, to a full-on psycho. Instead of a fireworks display, this movie is more like abstract art - a whole different kind of pleasure.