Cheung fo (1999)

Director:

Johnnie To

Writer:

Nai-Hoi Yau (written by)

Release Date:

19 November 1999 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Five men. They appreciate each other's guts and wisdom, and they are always perfect partners in missions. But now, they'll have to hold their pistols at each other...

Plot:

Triad boss Lung, who has just escaped being killed in an assassination attempt hires the killers Curtis...

Plot Keywords:

Killer | Assassination Attempt | Triad | Kill | Punishment

Awards:

9 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	...	Curtis (as Anthony Wong)
Francis Ng	...	Roy (as Francis Wong)
Jackie Lui Chung-yin	...	Shin (as Jackie Lui)
Roy Cheung	...	Mike
Suet Lam	...	James (as Lam Suet)
Simon Yam	...	Frank
Tian-lin Wang	...	Fat Cheung (as Wong Tin Lan)
Eddy Ko	...	Lung (as Ko Hung)
Elaine Eca Da Silva	...	Lung's wife
Keiji Sato	...	Assassin (as Sato Keiji)
Wai Ai		(as Ai Wai)
Man Shing Yau	...	Lung's bodyguard (as Yau Man Shing)
Cub Chin	...	Saliva
Yick Tin Hung
Jerome Fung

Also Known As:

Qiang huo (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
The Mission (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

Japan:81 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

South Korea:18 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB

Company:

Milky Way Image Company

Goofs:

Continuity: During the gun battle at the abandoned warehouse, the window is cracked by gunfire. After few gun shots, the bullet holes disappear.

Quotes:

Fat Cheung: The restaurant hasn't been doing well lately. I want to sell out my shares.
Lung: You don't have many shares left in the restaurant.
Fat Cheung: Well, forget it then.
Lung: How much do you want?
Fat Cheung: 30 million.
Lung: I'll transfer the money to your account tomorrow morning.
Fat Cheung: Thanks.
Lung: Don't do too much gambling.
Fat Cheung: [leaving] Okie dokie.

Movie Connections:

Features Dance Dance Revolution (1998) (VG)

Starkly enjoyable

The third Johnnie To film to be released this year (following "Where A Good Man Goes" and "Running Out Of Time), "The Mission" is surprisingly different in a lot of respects. Beautifully photographed but slightly underwhelming, "Mission" features a simple storyline about 5 bodyguards protecting a triad boss in his daily endeavors.

The film is defined by gorgeously stark cinematography and visual framing that utilizes wide angle lenses effectively. Just check out the sequence at a mall where the bodyguards are all focusing on different unseen targets. It all resembles a whacked-out target-shooting video game. There is also some solid performances, esp. by Anthony Wong as Curtis, one of the bodyguards.

Unfortunately, the story is a little underwhelming since we're now accustomed to seeing Milky Way films that feature interweaving tales that deal a lot with fate and consequence. While this one does have a certain element of that, for the most part it's about both the loyalty and monotony that is inherent in the bodyguard profession.

While "The Mission" is slightly lacking in certain respects, it is still a solid Milky Way production and a good capper to To and company's good year.