Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Divergence: a fitting title for a film that's never sure what path it wants to take(2.5 stars), January 19, 2009
Divergence is one of those odd cases of a weak film being done really well-- I mean, it's certainly watchable, has a cast made up of some of China's "finest" pop stars, and has flashes of that kinetic energy that makes Asian cinema so appealing... on the other hand though, it's deliberately paced enough that it took me 3 tries to make it all the way through, the aforementioned "pop stars" seem rather miscast in their roles, and why watch an Asian film that only features "flashes" of greatness when there are plenty of similiar films that deliver nonstop doses of it? Could be you're a huge fan of one of the stars(aka, a 14-year-old Chinese girl), or the director Benny Chan(Big Bullet, Gen X Cops, Invisible Target)? Could even be that you watch WAY to many Asian films and this one made it to the DVD player by a process of elimination(that'd be me, as lame as it may sound)? Whatever the reason is, let me just give those interested a little info on the fim. Divergence centers on 3 main characters: a down and out cop who's wife has been missing for 10 years(played by Aaron Kwok), a criminal lawyer who never loses a case(played by Ekin Cheng), and an assasin with possible ulterior motives(played by Daniel Wu). A few similiar styled murders and the kidnapping of(ironically enough) a male pop star bring the cast into an eventual collision course. It should be added that the lawyer has a wife that looks eerily similiar to the police officers missing love(which became the main plot device that drove me to finish the film). The movie then carfully tip toes it's way to closure and some answers to just what's been going on(let's just say the questions seemed better than what we're left with). It's not that the entire premise isn't interesting, but there is enough left unanswered(or plot holes if you prefer) that the reason behind the film kinda caves in on itself(at which point you sit back and rationalize that it all makes sense and was worth the hour and a half of your life... maybe?). Another important point to make, Divergence is NOT an action film(don't let the Tartan Asia Extreme logo fool you, there's nothing "extreme" to be found here). There are a few well done moments, but this is actually an emotional character study being acted out by a cast that's never been that emotionally convincing(everyone is solid here though). Still, the direction from Benny Chan is good enough to forget what is or isn't happening and enjoy the show-- even if the show won't be remembered much past the end credits(2.5 stars).
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Negative Words about Divergence? Here are some Positive for a Change., December 11, 2007
I was very surprised when looking for other opinions about this film on the internet after seeing it. I found almost nothing more than negative reviews!
I found this hard to believe and just have to say that "Divergence" is a really underrated movie.
"Divergence" is a Hong Kong action thriller with an actually very good emotional edge attached to it, which makes this movie definitely watch able.
The story follows cop Suen (Aaron Kwok) who fails to bring a key-witness safely to court. The witness gets murdered. The killer (played by asian superstar Daniel Wu), keeps a close eye on Suen. Meanwhile, Suen has problems dealing with his own past. His girlfriend has disappeared 10 years ago and has never been found since. When he sees a woman who resembles his girlfriend alot, his past keeps coming back to him, while killers, and unsolved mysteries are closing in on him.
"Divergence" has won 3 Hong Kong Film Awards (the Oscars of Asia), not 4 like the dvdcover says, back in 2005 and deserves every one of them. I was surprisingly touched by the film's emotional edge which made it a powerful watch.
First of all, Aaron Kwok won an award for best performance by an actor. He acts a very emotional part and does it very well. He is tough but has that everyman likability at the same time. Different opinions are flying around about his acting (with alot of "over-emotional acting" talk), but I found it an excellent performance.
Than there is Daniel Wu, now a familiar face in films, who plays the role of a hitkiller. Just like Kwok he plays his role good and knows what he's doing.
The film is stylishly filmed and the action is well captured on camera by director Benny Chan. There isn't very much action in the film, but still quite alot which is well filmed, exciting and energetic. A footchase down a Hong Kong highway in the middle of the city is magnificent. One of the Hong Kong film awards was therefor won for editing, which is indeed very good. The footchase down the Hong Kong street is, like another reviewer said before me, very well synchronized.
The last award was won for Cinematography and indeed, just like with the other awards, well deserved. The film has a good atmosphere in it thanks to the cinematography.
Another strong factor in the film is the music. Beautiful sweeping themes are at the emotional scenes while suspencefull music is there when it's needed. A nomination at the Hong Kong awards was for this music, but was not won.
Therefor I found "Divergence" a very good film from the Hong Kong cinema, and it deservers better than all these negative words about it. The film's final is for some people a bit unclear, but the film as a whole is an emotional gangster drama with some very nice scenes and moments, which is an absolute must see for Hong Kong cinema fans.
It is the emotional edge that does it.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a very good movie actually, June 5, 2007
this is an amazingly good movie patched and intertwined with a complicated die-hard tormenting romance, helpless detective works, betrayals, attorney turned killer, hitman tried to do some good, memory loss...aaron kwok proved himself a very talented actor, daniel wu was also very good, the weak actor and role in this movie, as usual, was ekin cheng, always with cardboard rigid acting, and ning gin, the actress who played the contract killing broker. signed her up for this role was a casting disaster, because she was totally out of place in this movie. 'divergence' was realized with a very nicely crafted screenplay, strong casting and very good directing. some parts in this movie were even poetically beautiful mixed with subtle and appropriate music score floating in and out timely. the car crash scene and street chasing scenes were both the best directed and synchronized action scenes i've ever seen. aaron kwok's performance was so good, he acted just like a cop obsessed and forever hurt by his sudden lost love, very convincing and very moving. this is a rarely good production out of hongkong, if you could be smart enough to compare this movie to other pretentious, overly being cool hongkong films.
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