R E V I E W :    The Blood Rules 

Reviewed 3/26/01 | Background | Movie Review | DVD Review | Recommendation

Background 

Universe / 2000 / 97 minutes
Directed by Marco Mak Chi-Sin
Written by James Yuen Sai-Sang and Andy Law Yiu-Fai

Marco Mak Chi-Sin is a long-time film editor and associate of Tsui Hark. His films include Swordsman, Once Upon a Time in China, Swordsman II, Full Alert, The Storm Riders, and, more recently, The Duel and Time and Tide. This is his first film as a director.

The film was released in Hong Kong cinemas in June 2000 and grossed HK $600,000.

Later in the year Mak directed Love Correction, and his most recent film is Cop on a Mission.

Movie: plot, performances, production, rating

Plot: Mike, Jean, Shoot, and Q are a team of thieves whose boss is Uncle Lam. Jean is especially noteworthy as a coldhearted killer. She holds a soft spot, though, for Mike, despite the fact that he is married and dotes on his son Jason. Shoot pines away quietly for Jean, while Q is having problems keeping his ambitious girlfriend Bo from spending his money on new cards and the like. That would be a violation of "the blood rules," guidelines set down on the team by Uncle Lam. The team feels it may be time to split up, but Lam insists needs them to do one last job. This being a movie, the job goes horribly wrong, and vengeance must be repaid . . .

Performances: Michael Wong is extremely limited as an actor and is not able to pull off a convincing portrayal of the womanizing family man and leader of the team, Mike. On the other hand, Suki Kwan is terrific as the alternately brutal and lovelorn Jean. Lam Suet convincingly plays Shoot as an extremely loyal but practical crook, and Jackie Lui is fine as Q. Wong Tin-Lam is his usual greasy self as Uncle Lam.

Production: The script is not terribly original - somewhat surprising coming from co-writer James Yuen, a long-time creative force at UFO. Any movie that features a group of criminals doing "one last job" and a tropical fish shop (think of all the glass that can break!) has set itself up to be ordinary. Yet the film works against these tired clichés by the use of inventive camera work and a pace that, while not breakneck, is nonetheless invigorating. Focusing on the characters - for the most part - adds resonance to the inevitable gunfights.

Rating: Category IIB. Many scenes feature explicit depictions of gunshot violence and much bloodshed. Also contains two extremely brief (and unpleasant) sexual situations as well as some profanity.

DVD: look, sound, subtitles, and features

Look: The letterboxed presentation (1.85:1) is very good. The black levels are quite deep. The colors are a bit muted, but this appears to have been an intentional choice on the part of the filmmakers. Much of the film's palette tends toward a blue tint. As a result the flesh tones do not appear natural. The source print is very clean.

Sound: I listened to the DD 5.1 Cantonese audio track, which sounded very good with consistent use of surrounds. Also provided is a DD 5.1 Mandarin track.

Subtitles: Easy to read, removable white English subtitles, but with many little mistakes littered throughout. Other subtitles provided are traditional and simplified Chinese, Bahasa (Malaysia), and Korean.

Features: Eight chapters can be selected from the "Chapters" menu. Stars' files are included for Michael Wong and Suki Kwan. The film's theatrical trailer is included, as are trailers for Resort Massacre (Category III), The Temptation of Office Ladies, and Conspiracy.

Buy, rent, or pass?

Rent. Not a big "wow" factor, but a competent and good-looking crime film that provides some bang for the buck.

 

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