Sexy, Cool and Action Packed "GIRLS WHO KICK BUTT" Asian Film!

However, the past threatens to catch up with Charlene and Catt....



It's quite hard to judge "Naked Weapon"; despite the usual wooden acting (mostly by Daniel Wu) and the very stiff dialogue; I did kind of like the film. The film starts off strongly enough but gets lost in the middle with the usual morality lessons and the canned melodrama. Surprisingly, the film is shot in its entirety in English and I saw both the U.S. and the Asian releases; I was amazed how the U.S. cut was differently framed and edited on some scenes, the Asian cut showed more skin and nudity. (Especially in the shower scene with Cat and Charlene; also with the love scene between Jack and Charlene) I suppose the best way to describe the film's weaknesses is that while it contains the all the opportunity for "exploitation" it just uses them to provide wanna-be emotional sequences. Then, it turns around and shows a rape scene that most people may find distasteful; that it is a cheap shot to emulate raw violence against women. Looking at the special features, I rather thought Maggie Q, Jewel Lee and Anya Wu were a bit bothered by the footage. I guess critics may say that avoiding the obvious (if harmless) exploitation scenes but instead add a rape scene leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth. For me, I thought it was rather an attempt to shock and to express the cold, bitter world of the female assassins.



To the film's credit; Naked Weapon looks incredible. During the action scenes, there are more shots of individual shots than a good perspective view. The action sequences have the usual use of wires and trampolines that may look a bit over-the-top at times but darned if they didn't look sexy and cool. One of the film’s main central action scenes would have to be the ’elimination’ process (ala-wrestling’s “Royal Rumble”) through combat as Charlene draws the # 1 spot. The women are obviously in for the fight of their lives, each one vying for supremacy; Maggie Q. was able to portray the scenes’ emotional significance. Realism is pushed out the window with the kinetic action sequences. The use of slow motion is used occasionally, and while I am not a big fan of slow-motion, Maggie Q sure looks awesome in all the action and mayhem. I enjoyed Charlene’s signature killing technique and I had fun with the stylish final fight. I was a bit disappointed in Anya Wu and Jewel Lee’s limited screen time. However, thankfully, Daniel Wu only have a very brief action sequence (he doesn't do them well). The film has its redeeming qualities: decent martial arts action, scantily clad beautiful women dancing, “bullet ballet“, and limited Daniel Wu screen time.

Naked Weapon has a very strong potential and there is always "guilty pleasure" watching ultra-hot women perform mano-o-mano fights in very "short" shorts and tank tops. The film is a visual feast for the eyes; especially for testosterone-driven males (like me). I rather expected more of Tony Ching but I wasn‘t exactly disappointed. Despite the poor script, the occasional wooden acting and that it fell to the canned melodrama entrapment that falls like a stone in water; the film did redeem itself with the stylish fight sequences reminiscent of "The Matrix". The film starts off strong and ends with the usual climactic final fight; the film's lasting impression would be how cool Maggie Q and Anya looked.
 
I still remember their very sexy posturing...

Recommended To Action Fans; definitely worth a rental. [3+ Stars]

VIDEO/AUDIO: 1.78 Anamorphic Widescreen. The U.S. and Asian release both share the exceptional video transfer with deep contrast, natural colors and strong blacks. The transfer is sharp and clean. What tips the scale in the Asian release's favor is that it has a powerful 5.1 DTS track that magnifies the viewing experience. The Mega Star version is the one to get!