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Flash Point (Dao huo xian)
Flash Point (Dao huo xian)

A movie directed by Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen

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TO BE OR NOT TO BE A PREQUEL TO SPL

  • Sep 1, 2010
Rating:
+4
Flash Point

FLASHPOINT

Depending on who you ask this is either a prequel to the excellent SPL [KILLZONE] or it is very much not. Depending on when you ask Yen himself I guess you will get a different answer, I know it sounds complicated. From what I have read star Donnie Yen before and maybe even during production was claiming this to be the second SPL film. But afterwards Yen denied the claims of this being related to SPL as it turns out it seems due to copyright issues they could not officially do that. I guess it makes sense since Yen portrays Ma Jun in this film and Ma Kwun in SPL.

Still whether it is or isn't it is still the third collaboration between Donnie Yen and Director Wilson Yip [also worked together on SPL & DRAGON TIGER GATE] also a co writer from SPL also co wrote this. So maybe it is an unofficial one or something, to be honest I don't really know. All I know is I keep hearing differing things on this. Regardless this is still an excellent flick especially if you are after an action film. This movie is very much entertaining and full of fights galore, including a very long and entertaining battle.

Ma Jun [yen] is a police inspector who is basically at war with three brothers who are running the crime world. He needs a way to get to them so he bring them down so he plants his friend and co worker Wilson [Louis Koo] in with them. The plan works as Wilson gets in with them and even earns their trust becoming very close to them. But when a meeting with a rival gang is raided by Jun and his men things get set off on all sides. From gang on gang violence to the discovery of moles everything happens when these brothers get involved.

This film is pure action and excitement from the start with very little if any character development. But it is one of those rare films were that stuff is actually not really needed because it is really not missed. To be honest every time we watch this we love it for the excellent Mixed Martial Arts inspired action and things going bang. All performances are great from Yen, Koo and basically every one in the film does what is need to make the film fun. That is not to say that they couldn't have been more, certainly the villains [who are good with what the script gave them] could have been more interesting and given more to do. But hey the action once again saves us from really noticing, at least until after the film is over.

The special features of this film are excellent from behind the scenes, making of, and of course the great commentary with Donnie Yen and Bey Logan. The commentary is really interesting as Yen describes his influences from MMA, and you know I love that Jiu Jitsu [I myself being a practitioner of course]. This 2-disc special edition from Dragon Dynasty is excellent and you of course will enjoy it I am sure. So yes I very much recommend this film because it is very fun, now if only we could answer that question we asked earlier.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE A PREQUEL TO SPL TO BE OR NOT TO BE A PREQUEL TO SPL TO BE OR NOT TO BE A PREQUEL TO SPL TO BE OR NOT TO BE A PREQUEL TO SPL

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September 08, 2010
I have the DVD for this movie but haven't had a chance to see it yet but definitely looking forward to it especially after reading your review and after seeing SPL and IP man 1 and 2.
September 09, 2010
Thanks for reading it, I think you will enjoy it, full of great fights and action.
 
September 01, 2010
Heck yeah, man! I liked SPL better but this was really action-packed and fun.
Seen Ip Man yet?
September 01, 2010
Indeed Sir I have, may review it some time myself.
 
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More Flash Point (Dao huo xian) reviews
Quick Tip by . February 09
posted in ASIANatomy
While lacking most of the emotional drama, and build up that made SPL so successful as an action film, Flash Point does come complete with hard-hitting fights and the usual over-acting from Donnie Yen as the tragic cop Inspector Ma. Still worth a watch if you are an action junkie.      See Full Review here.     
review by . May 19, 2009
posted in ASIANatomy
Dragon Dynasty Dvd cover
FLASHPOINT is the third collaboration between Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen. This is the prequel to the highly successful "SPL: Sha Po Lang" (a.k.a. Killzone, U.S. title). Directed by Wilson Yip with fight choreography directed by Donnie Yen, "FLASHPOINT" looks very promising. How does it compare with one of my favorite action films of 2005, "SPL"?       Synopsis partially derived from the DELTAMAC dvd back cover:    Pre-1997, a hero's story. …
see all Flash Point (Dao huo xian) reviews (3)
About the reviewer

Ranked #6
I basically am just a normal person obbsessed with Mixed Martial Arts, pro wrestling, movies of all kinds, music of all kinds, books of all kinds, and of course foods of all kinds. Just trying to keep … more
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About this movie

Wiki

Winner of the 27th Annual HK film Award for Best Action Design. The Donnie Yen-Wilson Yip tag team return with the blistering actioner Flash Point. The actor-director combo previously made waves with SPL and Dragon Tiger Gate, reaching new levels of excitement with their depiction of onscreen martial arts mayhem. Flash Point is a return to SPL territory - at least character-wise. This prequel to SPL finds Yen's Inspector Ma involved in a difficult case versus a trio of deadly Vietnamese bad guys. Inspector Ma's partner Wilson (Louis Koo) poses as a member of the gang to keep tabs on the trio, leading to the arrest of Archer (Ray Lui of To Be Number One). However, Archer's cohorts Tony (Collin Chou of The Matrix Reloaded) and Tiger (Xing Yu of Kung Fu Hustle) are still at large, and will stop at nothing to prevent Wilson and other witnesses from testifying. When they kidnap Wilson's girlfriend (Fan Bing Bing) to blackmail him, only Inspector Ma is willing to come to his partner's aid - and whoever stands in his way had better watch out!
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Movies, Action Movies
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Details

Genre: Action, Adventure
Release Date: March 14, 2008
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 1hr 28min

First to Review

"Lacks the RAW Intensity of "Shah Po Lang" But this Prequel Still Rules as an Action Film!"
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