Fatal Contact
Craig
The Hong Kong film industry gets star power in value-packs. When someone figures out that there are a bunch of talented kickers over in Korea, every director heads to Korea to look for Tae Kwon Do practicioners. When Sammo Hung emerged from the Chinese opera, Jacky Chan, Yuen Biao, Cory Yuen, and several others came along. The Beijing Wushu Academy has also been a fountain of talented martial arts actors. Jet Li and Donnie Yen were both students. Following their lead, Jason Wu Jing has emerged as one of the most charismatic action stars of his generation.
Release
Bonzai Media. Overused stamper, flow marks. Hey guys! People notice this crap! Pay attention to your quality control!
Starring
Jason Wu Jing, Ronald Cheng, Miki Yeung, Ken Low, Lau Yee Tat
In Brief
Kong (Wu) is an opera player, and a member of the National Wushu Academy. A gangster invites him to compete in underground boxing matches. Kong is reluctant, but Tin (Miki Yeung) impresses on him the importance of financial well-being.
As the stakes are raised from one fight to the next, the opponents become more skilled, and more brutal. Captain (Cheng) warns Kong against being kind-hearted in the ring, and begins coaching him.
Do I see some subtext about vulnerability?
Fatal Contact is not a reference to the fights, though. Through the whole film, no one is killed in the ring. We lower our guard around the people we trust; the more we trust, the more vulnerable we are. Kong’s relationship with Tin is the center of the story, and the relationship is accented well even in the fight scenes. When Kong fights the K1 champion, he is knocked to the ground at Tin’s feet, but he lunges back up without sparing a glance in her direction.
After he has maimed his opponent, Tin jumps up and cheers. Kong wrestles the grimace from his face, and turns around to smile.
The show is rounded out by solid performances all the way down the credits. Ken Low is a menacing antagonist, even in that goofy pimp outfit. (You know he’s tough, or someone would have kicked his ass for wearing that getup.) Lau Yee Tat is memorable in a short appearance as a beggar.
Nice Shots
Well framed throughout, but I especially enjoyed the Chinese opera theater, and the subway fight.
Best Stunt(s)
When Kong fights the K1 champion, they close in and start throwing each other and grappling. Hong Kong films in general are getting more comfortable with locks and throws in a hurry. The grappling techniques are integrated well with the fast-paced punching and kicking, and the falls are terrific.
Wu Jing vs. Fourth Wall
“I want to be the next Jet Li.”
“What are you standing around posing for?”
“Buying pirated DVDs is disgusting.”
Disappointments
The character conflicts were building up nicely, but one element of the story sort of jumped the track right at the end.
Final Analysis
Four stars.
If You Like This
If you would like to see Wu Jing beat people down with a happy ending, try Tai Chi Boxer.
If you like Wu Jing beating people down, and you’re okay with the down ending, watch Sha Po Lang. (Watch Sha Po Lang regardless, but, I don’t know, bump it up the que or something. Watch it twice, maybe.)
And while we’re watching all the best Wu Jing movies, get Drunken Monkey, and see Wu Jing work with the Lau clan.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Hmm. He’s easy on the eyes, too. And it seems he has some range as an actor. Maybe we can bump off Keanu and make Jason the next Klaatu. Eh? Eh!?!
August 28th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
See, when you make suggestions like that, I take them seriously. Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever heard an ill word spoken about Jason Wu Jing from anyone who has worked with him, or anyone who has seen him in a film. I’m sure that will change sometime soon. I’m not sure how his English is. But, what the heck? He’s probably going to do a big Hollywood film sooner or later; why not break in with a movie that he couldn’t possibly hurt?