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R E V I E W
Doctor No……
2001 / Universe / 88 minutes
Directed by Albert Mak Wing Lun
Written by Chan Kin Tak and Keith LawWith Stephen Ma, Yoyo Mung, Jerry Lamb
B A C K G R O U N D : director, in cinemas, recent and related films
Director Albert Mak has made four films -- one drama (My Good Brother) and two ghost stories (The Road of Dead and Haunted Resort) in 1999, and another ghost tale in 2000 (Play With Strangers). He has also worked as an assistant director for Dante Lam (Option Zero, Beast Cops) and Clarence Ford (Cheap Killers).
This film appeared on video in August 2001. I'm not sure if it was released in Hong Kong cinemas.
Like its similarly-James Bond movie title soundalike Gold Fingers, the film is presented by Dream Movie Entertainment Ltd. and produced by Tonrock International Investment Ltd., yet has no resemblance to a James Bond movie.
Subsequently Mak has been credited with working as an assistant director for Joe Ma's recently released Funeral March.
M O V I E : plot, performances, production, rating
Plot: Triad boss Blackie escapes from prison, dragging along the dazed Rock (they're chained together). Once they've gone their separate ways, Rock is overcome by memories of a violent incident, evidently the one that resulted in him being sent to prison. Hiding from the police, he ends up rescuing an underaged prostitute (named Moon) from her pimp, and then just happens to be nearby when Blackie appears with his men, bleeding profusely. Rock steps up to help, and saves Blackie's life. Grateful for his help, Blackie's lieutenant arranges a place to stay for Rock and Moon. There, overlooking the sea, Rock attempts to piece back together his life (he was a successful doctor) and resolve the memories that haunt him.
Performances: Television actor Stephen Ma gives a fine, fully nuanced performance as Rock. Yoyo Mung is the love of his life, Ann, and has some very gentle and kind moments. Jerry Lamb plays Sik, described as a monk in the DVD packaging, but acting more like a psychic. Also in the cast are Ko Shou Liang, Pan Ya Kan, Liu Kat Lin, and Shaw Chun Yung. Lam Suet has a cameo as the pimp for underaged girls.
Production: Let's consider the positives first. The opening and concluding scenes are dynamically staged, filmed, and edited, with extremely effective music. The script doesn't give too much away too soon, drawing the audience into the puzzle of Rock's mind. The performances are consistently engaging. The setting and landscapes (evidently in Macau) are pleasant. The negatives are that two major plot points are hard to believe. One is that Moon turns out to be Blackie's long-lost daughter. The other is that Rock doesn't recognize Ann when she shows up as a patient at his "clinic." The audience realizes it -- it's Ann with some grey streaks in her hair and minor crow's feet at her eyes. So, unnecessarily, Ann becomes a red herring. The audience is left to decide: Well, if Rock doesn't recognize her, maybe it's not really Ann? Maybe it really is some 'granny' with a resemblance to Ann? It's puzzling, and the intentions of the filmmakers are not clear. Thus, the middle third of the film remains a bit muddled, until the rousing conclusion brings it to a satisfying conclusion. The cinematography was by Davy Tsou Lin Yau, the excellent editing by Leung Kwok Wing, and the enjoyable (though sometimes too chirpy) musical score by Tang Hin Fai and Alen Wong.
Rating: Category IIB. A few very bloody moments and violent imagery.
D V D : look, sound, subtitles, features
Look: The letterboxed (approximately 1.85:1) presentation looks good. Some scenes look a bit washed out, but that seems more to be a result of the low budget when filming than a defect in the mastering. Some dust and speckles are evident on the source print.
Sound: The Cantonese DD 5.1 soundtrack sounded very good -- especially the musical score. Bear in mind that this is mostly a drama, not an action spectacle that will sound tremendously dynamic. The only negative here is that the music seems to be mixed too loud in the middle third of the film -- it often overwhelms the narrative. Also included is a DD 5.1 Mandarin audio track.
Subtitles: It was very easy to read the white (with black edging) removable English subtitles. Many times, though, it seems the subtitles reflected a literal word-for-word transliteration, rather than a true translation. Also included are traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles.
Features: Eight chapters can be selected from a video capture menu. One star's file is included for Yoyo Mung. The original theatrical trailer is included.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N : buy, rent, or pass?
Rent. Very much worth watching -- a drama with a bit of excitement, romance, and family feeling, as well as a positive resolution.
(Reviewed 10/23/01)
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