Duo bao qiao jia ren (1991) User Reviews

Sharon Kwok has the cutest smile ever

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 6 September 2008]

Sharon Kwok is so damn cute and adorable in everything I've seen her so far, it's a shame her film career was relatively short. In "Dead Target" she plays the granddaughter of a man who, several years ago, had hidden a priceless crown - a Chinese national treasure - somewhere in Thailand, where he continues to live. When Sharon receives a letter from her grandfather asking her to meet him in Thailand and bring with her a pendant that is part of a treasure map, she does not suspect that he was forced to write that letter by an evil gang of guys (and girls) who have kidnapped him. Luckily for her, she meets an undercover Interpol officer (Chin Siu Ho) aboard her flight, and although they don't really get along at first, he offers to help her.

"Dead Target" is almost worth seeing for Sharon Kwok alone. She has one of the most winning smiles you'll EVER see, but she's also not afraid to get knocked around as well as do some knocking around of her own when it's time for action. What makes her especially enjoyable in this film is that her character is not a martial arts expert, but she's still able to fight using her bravery, her smarts, her fitness (she is an aerobics instructor), and any object that can be used as a weapon. The story is kind of monotonous (little more than one long chase), but there is plenty of action, some nice moves from Chin Siu Ho, some impactful falls, and a scene where some elephants attack and stomp the bad guys that looks amazingly real! And of course, it could also inspire you to seek out more Sharon Kwok films. (**1/2)

Dead Target aka Chasing in Pattaya (1991)

[horseboxingkiller · 25 January 2022]

The alternative English title is more appropriate than the generic sounding Dead Target, as the film is basically one long chase through various exotic and scenic Thai locales.

A Caucasian treasure hunter (Corwin Sperry) and his militia are out to steal a precious Chinese relic in Thailand. Poon Chi-Man is a Chinese soldier who is entrusted with a pendant that holds the key to the whereabouts of the treasure (a jewel-encrusted crown). The pendant is sent to his grand-daughter (Sharon Kwok), a fitness instructor in Hong Kong, for safe keeping. However, she later receives a letter from her grandfather asking her to come to Thailand. On the outbound flight, she meets an Interpol agent (Chin Siu-Ho) and, after a shaky start to their relationship, the two team up to try and save grandad and find the relic.

Dead Target's strengths lie in the chemistry between the two charismatic leads, Sharon Kwok and Chin Siu-Ho (who were already married in real life when the film was made), and the Thailand setting, most of which is shot on location. The hunt for the treasure has our heroes chasing through massage parlours, crowded ladyboy clubs, shootouts aboard a train and coming face-to-face with indigenous tribesmen. The budget is clearly low but despite its shortcomings, the film moves along at a decent pace and offers up plenty of variety. Where else can you find a herd of elephants fighting and impaling the bad guys in a kung fu film?

The director takes full advantage of Sharon Kwok's looks and infectious smile, wisely keeping the camera on her whenever possible. During one chase, Kwok must have gone through at least four costume changes, ending up fending off some thugs in the street with just a bath towel around her!

Chin Siu-Ho is impressive as usual in the film's few fight scenes but these are marred slightly by some lame comedy. There is a touch of mild gore too with a bloody machinegun maiming near the start of the film and impalement by an elephant tusk.

Dead Target has all the right ingredients but somehow not everything gels as it should (for 'kung fu in the wild' done right, see Stone Age Warriors, 1991). A higher budget, a few more fights and some familiar faces in the cast may have helped. Although not a highlight of the genre, the film is still worth a watch for fans of Sharon Kwok or those looking for something different from the usual Hong Kong or Taiwan settings.

2.5 out of 5

Review sources: Star Entertainment, Laserdisc (Hong Kong) (Cantonese language with Chinese subtitles) ; Scholar / Long Shong, VHS (Taiwan) (Mandarin language with English subtitles)