R E V I E W

Take 2 in Life
Winson | 2001 | 89 minutes
Directed by Dick Lee Kwok Fai
Written by Raymond See

B A C K G R O U N D
director, in cinemas, recent and related films

The only credits for Dick Lee Kwok Fai are as an assistant director on 1994's Underground Judgment and executive director on Baroness in 2000.

The film played in Hong Kong cinemas in October 2001.

M O V I E

plot
Shan's father is a scientist, although his field of expertise is shrouded in mystery. When he dies, also under mysterious circumstances, she learns secrets about her family history. Upset both by the death and by the revelation of previously hidden truths, Shan becomes determined to uncover her own identity, and realizes that she must travel to Malaysia to do so.

Her best friend Tong goes with her, but soon after their arrival in Malaysia the group is joined by various other characters, including Tong's boyfriend, Ah Pong, and a newspaper photographer, Bull Wong. A detective from Hong Kong is also on their trail. Will Shan learn the truth about her father and herself?

performances
The large cast included Tan Kheng Seong, Sean Chen, James Chen, Iris Wong, Shirley Yeung, Chen Kwok Pong, Liew Wai Hung, K. K. Cheung, Low Kar Ying, Angle Cheng, and Eddie Lam. Eric Tsang has a cameo.

production
Teoh Gay Hian captured the images beautifully as director of photography. Mak Chun Hung composed the extremely flavorful musical score. Leung Kwok Wing edited the film.

rating
Category IIA. One early scene features a scalpel used on a corpse and some bloody mouths. Other scenes include some beatings and other bodily violence.

D V D

look
The full frame (1.33:1) presentation looks very good. Black levels are deep, colors are well saturated, and flesh tones appear natural. The source print betrays few imperfections.

sound
The DD 2.0 (stereo) Cantonese audio track sounds fine. Occasionally some of the dialogue is muffled. Also included is a DD 2.0 Mandarin dub.

subtitles
The white removable English subtitles are usually easy to read, well timed, with a limited number of obvious errors. Occasionally they disappear into the lighter-colored backgrounds. Also included are Chinese subtitles.

features
Six chapters can be selected from a still-frame menu. Click on "new movie" to watch trailers for Sino-Dutch War 1661 and an animated feature I could not identify (no English title).

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N
buy, rent, or pass?

Pass.

(Reviewed 12/18/01)

THIS DVD IS AVAILABLE AT HKFLIX.COM