The story of three childhood friends Ben, Paul and Frank who cruise the streets of Hong Kong circa 1967 and are members of a gang. Defiant and proud, they're also fiercely loyal to their families and each other, and will engage in street fist fights and other assorted lengths to prove it. When Ben decides to marry girlfriend Jane, Frank and Paul secure a loan to pay for the wedding banquet, but Frank is attacked by the local gang. Bloodied, he still arrives at the banquet with the money, but Ben isn't satisfied with letting things go. He goes after the responsible parties, and accidentally leaves one dead. With the law after him, Ben is forced to flee to Saigon with his two friends. The three are supposed to deliver some illegal goods to a Mr. Leong, but things quickly go awry. The goods are lost in a terrorist bombing, and protesters and North Vietnamese sympathizers are shot without pity. Luckily, they have a contact: Eurasian mercenary Luke who helps the boys square things with Mr. Leong, but they're not satisfied with just completing their deal. Conflicts concerning money, love and friendship reveal the true personalities of the three. (Source: LoveHKFilm) Edit Translation
- English
- 中文(台灣)
- magyar / magyar nyelv
- dansk
Cast & Credits
- Jacky CheungFrank /Fai JaiMain Role
- Tony LeungBen / Siu BunMain Role
- Simon YamLuke / LokMain Role
- Waise LeePaul / Sau MingMain Role
- Fennie YuenJane (Siu Jan)Support Role
- Nina Paw[Ben's mother]Support Role
Reviews
PROS:
+ The multi-genre presentation is surprisingly well done and diverse, ranging from a war drama to a stylish gun-savvy action flick
+ While the film is long, it never really drags or loses momentum
+ The drama elements are touching and add a delicate, personal touch to the characters and their momentous tale
+ Jacky Cheung is a star and nails his role perfectly [even during the moral lapse moments, you will always cheer him on!]
+ There are actually a few profound life lessons to be learned from the themes of Bullet in the Head [this is the reason it outclasses most action movies]
+ There are PLENTY of explosions, gunfights, and "slow-motion" shots to easily identify John Woo's signature style
CONS:
- The musical score is awful, unfitting, and cheesy; it makes it feel like a low-budget made-for-TV experience at times
- Some of the thematic moments of contrast are not as well executed (example - jarring jumps in tone from hopeful/cheery to drab/doomed)
- There are a few editing transitions that look unprofessional [almost like Power Point fades and sweeps]
Well, this is not an easy film to digest. BUT, it is an easy one to enjoy and appreciate!
The heavy themes, long run-time, and Vietnam war scenes make this a hard watch. I recommend taking a break to process and jumping back in. This movie is great, even with the shortcomings!
Seriously though, I felt a lot while watching this movie. That is a rare statement when talking about action movies.
Controversial Woo is Good Woo
Released during John Woo's so-called "Golden Period", Bullet in the Head is easily Woo's most personal and bluntest film that he himself financed single handily. While hits like The Killer solidified his bromantic style of filmmaking, Bullet turns it on its head. It's a disturbing masterpiece that he rewrote as a reaction to the June Fourth Incident and it doesn't pull any of its punches. Even opening the film to "I'm a Believer" doesn't prepare you for the sheer masterclass that is about to unfold. I really wish his original 3-hour cut would grace our screens one day, but even in its truncated form, Bullet in the Head is sheer perfection.