Wicked City Movie Review

Based on the Japanese comic strip by Hideyuki Kikuchi, but looking more like a remake of the anime of the same name, Wicked City delivers the now-expected doses of over-the-top Hong Kong-style action, special effects, and outrageous stunts. Hey, the atmosphere is cool too, with lush cinematography capturing a futuristic Hong Kong with both its neonlit color and the dark, Blade Runneresque feel necessary to convey the uncomfortable feelings of the humans forced to co-exist with the sinister reptoids, shape-shifting disguised-as-human creatures intent on ruling the world. Luckily for humankind, the monster-police are more than happy to do a little reptoid-bashing. A little like John Carpenter's They Live, but without the glasses and a whole lot more intense. Produced and co-written by Tsui Hark, who has directed some fine kick-butt demon-kung-fu action flicks himself.

1992 88m/C HK Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Michelle Li; D: Peter Mak; W: Tsui Hark. VHS FXL