The Hong Kong action cinema has long been renowned for it's high-flying acrobatics, death-defying stunt sequences, spectacular explosions, artistic gunplay, and sometimes-outrageous plot storylines. When people talk action movies, two of the most resounding names that are often mentioned are Chow Yun Fat and of course, John Woo. With his cool, suave, yet deadly image, Chow Yun Fat's on screen presence whether cop or killer has earned him a legendary image as an action hero, wherein many critics have dubbed him the Clint Eastwood of Asia. John Woo is one of the most critically acclaimed directors of the Hong Kong film industry, and is now making his way into Hollywood

as well. His skills as an action director have earned him worldwide recognition as one of the greatest action directors of our time. His unique style and talent for creating action sequences has set the bar for many directors of the genre as well as pioneered many of the techniques imitated in the industry today. Some of his most memorable signature techniques include the double berretta grip, the slow-motion killing sequences, and the flying doves in the midst of a gunfight. His visually stunning and action-packed pieces, often has critics ranting and raving with commemoration.

One of the most memorable collaborations between these two famous action icons is The Killer. For many Canadian-born Chinese, The Killer was a mind-blowing introduction to the bloody and hyper-kinetic world of Hong Kong action cinema. Although the plot and dialogues were ridiculous and overly exaggerated, the numbing yet frivolous levels of violence raised the bar forever. The Killer in this movie refers to that of "Ah Jong" (Chow Yun Fat) or "Jeff" under the English subtitles. Ah Jong is a deadly and efficient assassin that is burdened with a nagging conscience. Growing tired and weary of his life as a career killer, he decides that his "next job" would be

his last. However, during that last mission, Ah Jong accidentally blinds a beautiful nightclub singer, Jennie (Sally Yip), amidst a brutal shoot-out. Jong's conscious convinces him that he is to be responsible for taking care of the now handicapped singer, and as time passes, the two develop a relationship and fall in love. Later on, Jong learns of an operation in the United States that could restore Jennie's sight, however, being that the operation is extremely costly, the only way to gather the funds is for him to perform "one last job". 
 

Jong, takes a final job, but is setup by his contractor, and suddenly finds himself pursued by an overabundance of bad guys that no matter how many he kills, just keeps on coming. On top of that, Inspector Li (Danny Lee) of the Hong Kong police is also determined to taking him in for justice. However, as Li investigates the case and runs into several close encounters with Jong, he finds himself feeling compassion for the assassin and develops a sense of respect and admiration for him. Li soon finds himself in a bizarre friendship and uneasy alliance with The Killer.

The storyline of the movie is not particularly original, and often fairly straightforward, with only several minor plot twists. However, despite that, all the elements that make a successful action flick is given equal weight and crafted magnificently much to the viewer's satisfaction and delight. The character development of the killer, and Inspector Li were given ample thought and time for the audience to connect to the characters' personalities, and understand the mental struggles that both sides are going through. There is a lot of opposition between the two characters in the beginning of the movie, but as the story unfolds, we see Li identifying himself with the killer, thus creating a complex opposition within himself; the moral struggle of what is "just", and what seems "righteous". The relationship between Jennie and Ah Jong is also handled appropriately, by not giving into too much romance that would typically ruin a tense action movie such as this, while still presenting a believable love story between the two characters. In addition to the internal depth of this movie, there is also the strong sense of action craftsmanship in this film, making it not only Woo's best, but one of the greatest action flicks of all time. It's an intense, frantic, adrenaline-pumping film filled with powerful action sequences that captivate the audience from the beginning till the end. Every action sequence is an orchestraic performance of gunplay, with characters being shot to a grisly death in slow motion, then going back to the regular turbulent speed of the scene.

'The Killer' in my opinion is the closet movie to fitting the definition of "The Ultimate Action Flick". It's a film with depth, characters that we care about, and non-stop blood-pumping action. So if you ever find yourself looking for a night of fast-paced action and excitement at the comfort of your own home; pick up a copy of 'The Killer' and sit back with your Doritos and a nice cool refreshing beverage, because this critic gives it two thumbs and my two big toes, Straight Up!