Customer Reviews

The Corruptor [VHS]

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This film seems to better represent the Chinese, Chow Yun Fat especially, in American film. Recent efforts by HK film stars have resulted in the terrible stereotyping that always takes place in Hollywood. Rushhour and Lethal Weapon 4 both made objects of their Chinese stars, Chan and Li, respectively. The Corruptor shows the respect neccesary of an actor like Chow Yun Fat, one of the finest and most prolific actors that has ever lived. It deals with the Chinese in a more mature way, almost as if previous knowledge is helpful in fully understanding the movie. The only problem with this movie is that Fat is better than it. No one can expect Foley to provide the action neccesary to impress an American audience that knows Fat, but in American action standards he does fine. The opening to the film is a very intense shoot-out in a Chinese lamp shop and later in the film a Chinese song is actually played as the prominent background music. The film's mood is dark and dramatic. A very well done film.

I was really surprised by how good this movie is. I figured a straight-forward shoot-'em-up and some exotic intrigue was about all it would have going for it. The cover had the usual fatuous nonsense on it: "You can't play by the rules when there aren't any." Why is it 90% of video covers have a reformulation of the same stupid subtitle? Apparently there is some lucky guy out there is employed writing new, yet indistinguishable ways to either deny the existence of Rules/Boundaries/etc. or at least deny their applicability to some beautiful, well-armed people. Good for him.

Anyway, this movie definitely exceeded my expectations. Great direction, but most of all great performances from Chow-Yun Fat and Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg's relationship with his father was fairly cliched, yet it still came across as believable. The various moral predicaments of the two cops were just as interesting and well-done as the fight scenes. There is one major chase scene, which I found silly after a while, since it gave the impression that there were absolutely no other police cars within ten miles of some maniac with an Uzi blowing away civilians.

But that is a nothing criticism. Really, the only sore spot was the FBI goonish guy, who was both tiresome and one-dimensional in comparison with the other characters. But on the main, an excellent action-thriller. Chow-Yun Fat wasn't limited by John Woo's formula this time around, and his chops definitel show as a result.

"The Corruptor" is a tough complex crime thriller set among the vicious power grabs by competing tribes in New York's Chinatown. Out to bring them down is decorated detective Nick Chen(Chow Yun-Fat), head of the Chinatown Gang Unit, and the partner that was foisted on him, the apparently green officer Danny Wallace(Mark Wahlberg). Chen is an effective cop but some of his methods are a little unorthodox and occasionally skirt the law. This does not always go over well with the more idealistic Wallace. Yun-Fat is excellent as the tarnished hero and Wahlberg is solid in a role that is not as stereotypical as it first appears. Ric Young is effectively creepy and villainous as the duplicitous gang leader Henry Lee. The film has many plot strands to it and may appear at some junctures to be overplotted. Never fear because these elements come together in the end for a satisfying experience.

I loved the confrantation that Danny Wallace had with his dad about the contemplation of what to do about turning in his partner Nick Chen .. I won't spoil the quote you have to take it in context of the scenario of the movie. What an impact it made in my life that what I do in my life will be what I live with. I don't know if I over looked the goings on with Nick Chen because after all he was Yun-Fat Chow or that his over looking Uncle Benny's activities was some how a kindness to help May a lost drug addict and prostitute unable to escape her fate he tries to be more then a cop in her heart. The entire movie was tastefully done, story line excellant, directed in a way to make you laugh, cry, sit at the edge of you chair during those action scenes. Not to mention the sound track subpurbly done. I have had always found Yun-Fat Chow a believable actor in all rolls he portray; this movie he stole my heart (more then in Anna and the King).. the ending must be seen to appreciate how to me he was a good cop, with admiration to the writer in whatever message he wanted to leave you at the end. If you thought Mark Wahlberg was exceptional in this roll you should see him in The Perfect Storm and never thought he would play such a sicko in Fear but had me convinced. Lady's don't judge all men by what goes on in this movie but be wise to it's message of common sense. It always amazes me when an actor can play his/her complete opposite. I look forward to watching more of both of these great actors movies. Don't wait to buy THE CORRUPTOR should it go out of print you will regret it! Well I think so. Thanks for listening - Bye. Would welcome your comments too.

"The Replacement Killers" was terrible. It was like a Chow Yun Fat/John Woo movie by numbers and poses. Nothing to speak of in terms of storyline or compelling characters (apart from Chow's) that his best known HK work featured. This movie however features Chow Yun Fat as the sort of conflicted yet ultimately principled man he should play, but with tons of intrigue and a good performane by Mark Wahlberg as a rookie under Chow's wing. It's not very "Hollywood" which is a good thing. It definitely has a feeling closer to a foreign film and that is very welcome. This doesn't have as much action as "The Killer" or "The Replacement Killers" but it had a solid storyline. Hopefully with the success of the phenomenal "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Chow Yun Fat's other movies will get the look they deserve. This man shines whenever he's on the screen. He saved "Anna & The King" as well. I forgot to mention that for once New Line has SOME additional features, and they interesting.

This is a movie to watch over and over. Sweeping sound track, stunning video effects, I read some of the other reviews and assumed they were watch some other film.

With bad guys you love to hate, flawed good guys you hate to love, and an FBI guy so disgusting you want to drop a car on him, if you can't find someone to love or hate in this film, stick to cartoons.

Fucanese dragons made my blood boil every time they stutted their sneering faces across the screen. I cheered every one oficer Chen took out. I can't get enough of this film, I can't seem to stop watching and listening to it.

I think that is the key. The sound track carries your emotions so well through the visual treat and savy scene cuts. The high overhead shots continue to point out just how pointless it all was, but we watch the cast struggle through it all. Temptation provided at a level no red blooded man could resist. Boy did I want a rub down as I listened to "Candy Perfume Girl".

Watch this film. Watch it often and loud. Don't worry about the volence and blood, it's just a movie and nobody "really" gets hurt. Just enjoy the thrill of one of the best chase scense ever filmed.

My thanks to everyone involved. You have given me many hours of enjoyment and escape from a world too often not worth watching.

I was really surprised at how good this film was. Chow Yun Fat was absolutely mesmerizing. Both he and Mark Wahlbergh create an unexpected chemistry between their two characters. This is a lot more restrained in the action department than the usual John Woo directed gun fest, but it's actually a welcome respite from the cartoonish violence in most of Fat's films. Robert Foley, the director, struck a good balance: There is enough action and acrobatics to satisfy most HK action fans, while a strong plot and good performances round out the rest of the film.

This is a good American crossover for Fat's cool charisma and tragic hero character.

I have been a fan of Mark Wahlberg since Fear. Although he usually plays a similar character, he always treats us with a combination of innocence and violence. Although Boogie Nights was his breakthough film, I think his performance in The Corruptor raises his respectability as an actor to a new level. In fact he's so rooted in acting now that it's hard to imagine him as Marky Mark rapping about Sunkist in his video "Good Vibrations". But even then there was something street level and real about him that completely eclipsed his brother Donny from New Kids on the Block. Chow Yun-Fat also has grown since The Replacement Killers, filling out a broader range of emotions onscreen. He's still a bit stiff, but he's getting there. The story itself is old school buddy cop territory, with another tried and true twist towards the end. These two manage to make it seem fresh again however.

This is a Hong Kong action flick with a distinct taste of the west. The movie starts off with a bombing and small store shoot-out that is right out of John Woo's stylebook but then it under goes a change. The story starts taking over and it is one of intrigue within intrigue. There are great moments of action with two guns blazing and an unbelievable amount of bullets but the story becomes the main thing. This works as glue that a lot of Hong Kong movies don't have. There are long pauses of plot developments between double crossing bad guys that are a real change to what is a typical Hong Kong action flick.

The director John Foley likes to place people in positions where they have to make critical decisions under pressure (At Close Range and Fear) and this is no exception. A caring cop caught up in a situation of corruption is under constant pressure to decide what is right. You are kept guessing as to his ultimate decision but the pressure is there under a dozen different situations. The sub-plots add to the texture of this movie and add to its richness. These side stories of the bad cop father in trouble, the interaction of rival Chinese gangs and his love of Asian culture are all parts of the puzzle that is Danny Wallace played by Mark Wahlberg. Foley knows Wahlberg from the direction of his acting breakthrough in Fear and uses him at what he does best, the confused tough guy with the sensitive agenda. (His latest movie "The Yards" is an example of what I mean). Nick Chen the experienced street cop played by Chow Yun-Fat is the perfect slightly crazy hard-hitting loner, who has embedded himself in the struggle of rival gangs in New York's Chinatown. There is no black and white here, only shades of gray, in a world of who is doing what to whom but like the cultural differences between East and West the relationships between individuals overcomes the hard facts of doing business on the street.

A very good blend of the Hong Kong actions movie that was brought in by Chow Yun-Fat (if you hear the commentary that Foley never saw a Woo movie) and what Foley's image is for street life in New York. Coming from New York and living and working in Asia gives me insight into the homework that went into the making of this movie and I will say they did a very good job.

Chow Yun Fat and Mark Wahlburg are amazing in this
all I can say is
action action
moving story
see this
see this seriously
it's just as entertaining and interesting as the Replacement Killers
see that one too
I will watch this more times then I can count on my dvd player. rest assured