Saat po long (2005)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Wilson Yip

Writers:

Wilson Yip (written by) &
Kam-Yuen Szeto (written by) ...

Release Date:

18 November 2005 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Chan, an articulate senior detective nearing the end of his career, is taking care of the daughter of a witness killed by ruthless crime lord Po...

Plot Keywords:

Retirement | Mob Boss | Witness Protection | Gangster | Neo Noir

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Donnie Yen	...	Insp. Ma Kwun
Simon Yam	...	Det. Chan Kwok Chung
Sammo Hung Kam-Bo	...	Wong Po (as Sammo Hung)
Jacky Wu	...	Jack (as Jing Wu)
Kai Chi Liu	...	Det. Lok Kwun Wah (as Liu Kai Chi)
Danny Summer	...	Det. Kwok Tsz Sum
Ken Chang	...	Det. Lee Wai Lok
Austin Wai	...	Det. Cheung Chun Fei
Timmy Hung	...	Drug Trafficker
Tat Chi Chan	...	Policeman (as Chan Tat Chee)
Jing-kei Liang	...	Wong Po's Wife (as Liang Jing Kei)
Vincent Sze	...	Chan Wai
Kenji Tanigaki	...	Wong Po's Bodyguard
Ching-Lam Lau	...	Hoi Yee (as Lau Ching Lam)
Maggie Poon	...	Sum's Daughter (as Maggie Poon Mei Ki)

Also Known As:

Kill Zone (USA) (DVD box title)
Kill the Broken Wolf (Hong Kong: English title) (literal title)
S.P.L. (Hong Kong: English title)
S.P.L.: Kill Zone (USA) (DVD title)
Sha po lang (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)

Runtime:

Hong Kong:93 min | Hong Kong:93 min (uncut version) | Canada:97 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:97 min

Country:

Macau | Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA | Malaysia:18SG | Hong Kong:III | Finland:K-18 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18

Company:

Abba Movies Co. Ltd.

Trivia:

The movie wasn't going to have MA action in the first place, but that changed once Donnie Yen was on-board and asked the producer to put additional funds in order to shoot them accordingly to the story. The result became the now famous alley fight and the last fight with Jacky Wu and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo respectively.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Despite taking place in the late-1990s, Donnie Yen plays The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle (2002) (VG), first released in 2002.

Movie Connections:

References The Pink Panther (1963)

Soundtrack:

The Trick

SPL may revive HK Cinema

For being 53 years old, Sammo Hung sure can move. The martial arts legend is still a marvel to watch in Sha Po Lang, Wilson Yip's glorious police drama/action film that may be Hong Kong cinema's saving grace. Sammo Hung stars as Po, the boss of a crime syndicate who is being hunted down by Detective Chan (Simon Yam) and his team of fellow officers. Early on in the film, Detective Chan suffers from an injury that leads to his early retirement. Detective Ma (Donnie Yen), a fierce but disciplined martial artist, steps in as Chan's replacement. What follows is a brutally nihilistic depiction of the crime world, where the police morality is just as questionable as the criminals'.

What makes SPL so enjoyable is how startlingly raw it is. Director Yip infuses harsh vigor into the fight scenes, recalling the golden age of martial arts cinema in the 1970's. The fighting is coarse and merciless, thanks to Donnie Yen's choreography, as each connection hits the viewer with enormous impact. Yip courteously lets the camera roll during the fight scenes in long, unedited takes. The results are jaw dropping, especially the alleyway fight between Donnie Yen and Wu Jing. What makes it more impressive is the fact that this scene is not choreographed, as Yip told the two actors to just "go at it." It's a battle of the old-school against the new-school, as Yen, a martial arts icon, faces off against Jing, the spearhead of the next generation of martial arts. Wu Jing, who has the same trainer as Jet Li, will surely be the next big talent to watch. Along with Tony Jaa, Jing could restore faith and bring about a new movement in the martial arts genre.

Sha Po Lang is also expertly directed. I was impressed by the cinematography and lighting, as each scene was sharp and perfectly lit. The dramatic strings score enhances the mood of the film, which often portrays melodrama in the police force. It has comedic elements here and there and is also surprisingly bloody. Wilson Yip should be commended for making such a passionate film that gives heed to the classic days of HK cinema. With the remarkable on-screen presence of Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung, and the introduction of a rising star in Wu Jing, Sha Po Lang may be the revival that HK cinema needs. With a stroke of good fortune, Sha Po Lang will inspire a new wave in the industry that focuses on strong storytelling and incredible action that doesn't rely on CGI and wire-work.