Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) poster
7.8
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.8/10 from 178 users
# of Watchers: 361
Reviews: 1 user
Ranked #3732
Popularity #14762
Watchers 178

In the 1980s, troubled youth Chan Lok Kwun accidentally enters the Walled City, discovers the order amidst its chaos, and learns important life lessons along the way. In the Walled City, he becomes close friends with Shin, Twelfth Master and AV. Under the leadership of Tornado, they resist the invasion of the villain, Mr Big, in a series of fierce battles. Together, they vow to protect the safe haven that is Kowloon Walled City. (Source: Letterboxd) ~~ Adapted from the manhua "City of Darkness" (九龍城寨) by Andy Seto (司徒劍僑). Edit Translation

  • English
  • Tiếng Việt
  • magyar / magyar nyelv
  • עברית / עִבְרִית
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Type: Movie
  • Release Date: May 1, 2024
  • Duration: 2 hr. 5 min.
  • Score: 7.8 (scored by 178 users)
  • Ranked: #3732
  • Popularity: #14762
  • Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Cast & Credits

Photos

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) photo
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) photo
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) photo
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) photo
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) photo
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) photo

Reviews

Completed
PeachBlossomGoddess Flower Award1
14 people found this review helpful
Jul 15, 2024
Completed 12
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Gangsta's Paradise

I bounced off walls with joy and excitement when I came across this movie. It has been too long since we have seen a hard core Hong Kong style triad martial arts movie like this. Not to mention the cast - Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Raymond Lam; literally a Who's Who of veteran Hong Kong action super stars. Adapted from Andy Seto's manhua "City of Darkness," this movie is set in the 1980s in the Kowloon Walled City, or Hak Nam/黑暗 as it was known to locals. Dismantled in 1993, this was once the most crowded place on earth, packing 35,000 people within 6.4 acres. This infamous den of iniquity was a gangsta's paradise; a dystopian, lawless enclave of mostly refugees where crime proliferated and triads kept the peace with their own brand of street justice. The replica of the Walled City is viscerally authentic down to the chaotic claustrophobia of structure piled precariously upon structure and the stench of overflowing humanity permeating the dank, narrow corridors.

This fast-paced action-packed movie that pays tribute to the golden age of Hong Kong cinema exploits tried and true themes of loyalty, brotherhood and vigilante justice. Chan Lok-Kwun (Raymond Lam) is a mainland refugee that sneaks into HK in the 1980s. He runs afoul of triad boss Mr Big (Sammo Hung) and in a thrilling chase, jumps from the frying pan into the fire of the Walled City. Through blood, sweat and bone-crunching fights, he earns the grudging respect of Typhoon and his underlings, who keep the peace within the Walled City. The narrative rushes through not that well fleshed out subplots involving past grudges and shady business deals but who cares? They are simply excuses to stage one innovative, physics defying action scene after another featuring fighters dressed to kill at 1980s comic-con. While Typhoon and his rival Mr Big anchor the narrative, the younger crew really hold their own up against the intimidating cast. I laughed out loud at their moments of dark humor and brash camaraderie.

One of this movie's top highlights is the the gritty, awe-inspiring recreation of the dystopian underworld within the Walled City; a place that spawned countless video games and works of fiction. The action scenes pay tribute to the manhua with outlandish cartoon-like combatants and the death proof brawls featuring wildly exaggerated superpowers. The fight scenes got more fantastical as the movie progresses and climaxes in a crazy, all-out extended take down of an almost invincible villain. I was on the edge of my seat with excitement and anxiety the entire time; thinking more than once that the bad guy was gonna win. Nonetheless I felt the best fights were early on, where despite the astounding athleticism, they were still grounded in some semblance of reality. I had my heart in my mouth watching Chan Lok-Kwun's opening shattered glass skirmish, the way he fights his way out of tight spaces on the bus and his parkour like first foray into the Walled City. This is how real martial arts action scenes should be choreographed and filmed. Later on, while still inventive and gripping, the action strays a bit too far into the realm of the fantastical.

This movie is a must watch and not just for old times' sake; preferably in Cantonese and on the big screen. It shows that Hong Kong cinema is still alive and well and stands the test of time. I am only rating this an 8.0/10.0 because the plot could have been better but the overall entertainment value vastly exceeds this rating.

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Details

  • Movie: Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Release Date: May 1, 2024
  • Duration: 2 hr. 5 min.
  • Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Statistics

  • Score: 7.8 (scored by 178 users)
  • Ranked: #3732
  • Popularity: #14762
  • Watchers: 361

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