Taiwan Strait News, July 1st (Straits Herald reporter Zeng Yushan Cui Xiaoxu) From an actor to an action actor to an action director, the upgraded Nicholas Tse cooperated with Jacky Cheung again after 14 years, joining hands with Wu Zhenyu , Liu Yase and other powerful The cast brings a pair of "kings" from the movie's summer season to audiences who love Hong Kong movies.
On June 28, the customs-themed explosive action film " Customs Front " directed by Qiu Litao was officially released. In the movie, Jacky Cheung and Nicholas Tse fight to the death amid a hail of bullets, and together they reveal a shocking transnational smuggling case. Focusing on the Customs and Excise Department, one of the five major disciplinary forces in Hong Kong, the film presents work contents that break the traditional public perception, such as anti-smuggling investigations and fighting crime, and the work tasks are extremely dangerous.
Nicholas Tse, who served as a film action director for the first time, said frankly at the film premiere that the film insists on "no post-production" for the fighting scenes and "no special effects" for the explosion scenes, and everything must be "real" because "this is a Chinese action movie" Towards the Essence of the World”. So, does such a sincere work surprise the audience?
The action design is top-notch, very rhythmic and rhythmic
Attracted by the strong cast, I watched "Customs Front" for the first time. The film's story clues are clear and fascinating, creating a strong suspenseful atmosphere from the beginning. The film tells the story of Hong Kong Customs who accidentally seized a cargo ship containing a large number of lethal weapons during a routine maritime patrol. As the investigation deepened, not only did they encounter violent attacks from overseas forces, but they also discovered that there might be an insider inside the Customs. I saw some people complaining about the poor plot of the movie, but I felt that such a plot was full of unknowns and dangers, which made people enjoy watching it. I recommend it to friends who are interested.
I have to mention that the action scene design of the movie is top-notch. Nicholas Tse is the starring role and is also the first action director. It can be seen that he uses the shooting techniques of traditional Hong Kong action movies to present real fighting and explosion scenes in a thrilling way. Almost every action scene is tense and exciting. The last time I saw the fight scene between Nicholas Tse and Donnie Yen in "The Fury", I noticed that Nicholas Tse's "fighting" sometimes had a "four-four beat" and sometimes a "three-beat beat", which was very rhythmic and rhythmic; this time I watched it After finishing "Customs Front", I am even more certain that he has artistic talent in fighting scenes. What impressed me the most was the scene where the protagonists were chasing each other in the arms black market. I couldn't take my eyes off it. It fully demonstrated his extremely high level of film production and pursuit of action aesthetics.
In addition to the wonderful action elements, the performance of the actors is also a highlight. The two masters and apprentices played by Jacky Cheung and Nicholas Tse have complex emotional entanglements and their own firm professional beliefs. Both actors gave superb performances and did not disappoint. At the end of the movie, you will feel that the relationship between the two male protagonists is handled very delicately, making the whole movie go beyond the action movie itself and bringing an emotional baptism to the audience. In today's world full of variables, "Customs Front" has inspired the audience to think: How do we stick to our beliefs when facing complex moral choices and career challenges?
Actress Liu Yase’s performance is equally remarkable. The hard work in her comes from the inside out and is very "saucy". Lin Jiaxin also showed a unique temperament. Her wisdom and beauty are unforgettable. (Short paragraph)
Pays attention to the psychology of small individuals and shows humanistic feelings
The hearty gun battles and martial arts scenes in "Customs Front" did not disappoint me. The plot of the film is gripping, and the real fighting is more vital than the special effects. But what moved me the most was the portrayal of the emotional illness of Zhang Yunnan, the senior customs supervisor played by Jacky Cheung in the film.
In the movie, this character suffers from "manic depression." Jacky Cheung's acting skills are delicate, specific and moving. Whether it's the side effects after taking medicine, the uncontrollable shaking of hands during an attack, or the uncontrollable self-destructive tendency during emotional attacks, he showed everything in a profound way.But he is such a painful person who insists on being a decent person in all aspects. He can face workplace violence, life and death, and even the absence of love from his lover without changing his expression. This kind of depression is so real that it makes people feel distressed. His firm decision-making and strong willpower are his most remarkable qualities.
When the whole world is praising grand narratives of world vision, feelings of family and country, and historical monuments, the director of "Customs Front" was able to leave a broad perspective in the evocative background, and saw that small individual. This kind of tenderness moved me. Got me. In today's era, caring about individual emotions and mental illness is precisely the most valuable humanistic sentiment, and this movie achieves that.
The whole movie is also very eye-catching in its portrayal of independent women. Shao Yaying, played by Karen Lam, on the one hand fully expresses her ambition to be promoted, not afraid of challenges and struggles, and marches forward bravely in a hail of bullets; on the other hand, she expresses her ambition to her lover. Neglected and failed to pay enough attention, such contradictions seem to be flaws in the characters, but they make the characters more complex and three-dimensional. (Beauty and Beauty Together)
The action scenes are full of firepower. A common problem in Hong Kong movies is still
. The action scenes directed by Qiu Litao have always been favored by movie fans. The action scenes in the movie are full of firepower. Whether it's swimming in the sea, rolling on the ground, or flying in the sky, the director never missed any opportunity to show it off. He focused his perspective on Hong Kong Customs, allowing us to see more border and port scenes. Large ships, small boats and even submarines all added to the film's appeal.
In terms of literature and drama, it also shows a delicate and rich sense of layering. Zhang Yunnan, played by Jacky Cheung, is conscientious and a good boss and boyfriend. His integrity and sense of responsibility made him a "spiritual icon." However, behind the image of a "good guy" there is hidden black energy that cannot be released, and this repression of human nature ultimately brings disastrous results. Jacky Cheung successfully showed the character's multi-faceted nature and psychological contradictions, and every expression was full of dramatic tension.
But to say that the audience is desensitized to Hong Kong movies and tired of the stereotypes of police and gangsters, undercover agents, and anti-corruption, this certainly exists in "Customs Front". Because the image is too perfect, the common problem of "handsome and capable of fighting" has reappeared. As a result, the combat effectiveness of the maritime operations team in the movie is comparable to that of the Flying Tigers. The customs investigator played by Nicholas Tse is almost going to become a character in the "Mission: Impossible" series. A replica of Tom Cruise. Obviously the overseas joint operation has changed the direction of the story to the Hong Kong Customs arresting the mole, but the climax scene is still a battle between the Customs Maritime Operations Team and the arms smugglers. It feels like it is to satisfy Nicholas Tse's desire for expression as an action director for the first time. (Full)
