beastly action movie. so many tense moments. likable lead character. i was into it throughout. so much intensity. good action and suspense. and had some powerful scenes. downsides are some unnecessary scenes and subplots, like the whole stock market thing. and also some of the english dialogue was really basic and doesn't really work from an american-english perspective. but that's something you have to accept with foreign films (1 viewing)

1/3/2017This movie has Oriental action splattered all over it from beginning to end and set in the quite busy Hong Kong setting. So much so that even if the story is very much original and clever, there's a nagging feeling it is just an iteration of something you've seen before. The definite consolation is definitely it being bannered by one of 90's hottest crooners, Andy Lau.

Very exciting and action pack movie and another great movie from Andy Lau

Definitely one of the best HK movies from Andy Lau and of recent years. Very engaging and action pack, touching as well. Andy is an undercover cop for years, working in a gang led by Jiang Wu who is expert in making bombs. Jiang's own brother Leo Wang, don't like Andy because Jiang trust him alot more than him. During a preparation for the next robbery, Andy report to his handler Felix Wong. The gang rob the bank vault and escape. Leo detonate the car bomb and killed a few cops chasing them. Andy can't take it anymore and stop him in his track. But Jiang and a few escape in another car. Few months later, Andy get to know Song Jia in a bar. She's a teacher in primary school and divorcing. They got into a relationship. 1 year later, Andy is promoted to Superintendent. He is the number 1 bomb expert in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau (EOD) and his number 2 is Ron Ng. After Felix congratulated Andy and board his car, it exploded. Jiang is back to HK for revenge. He is a mercenary now with soldiers at his command. Song want to so call remain platonic with Andy since the divorce and he is ok. Jiang create another scare fest in public and Andy manage to diffuse the bomb. Then another time bomb arrive. Philip Keung the next in-charge after Felix, drive the car to the harbor and Andy took a picture of it before tossing it to sea and explode. Jiang and gang drive bomb trucks and block 2 entrance of the harbor tunnel. He hold hundreds over civilians as hostages. His demand is for the government to buy back one of the harbor tunnel. This is a scheme plan by businessman Liu Kai Chi who want to earn billions since he is shareholder of the company that build it. Jiang want his brother out or he will kill hostage every 10 minutes. Leo surprisingly is a changed man and refuse to see Jiang but has no choice. The car they are in got into an accident and Leo is quite heavily injured. Jiang didn't care and kill the first hostage. They make it in time and Jiang release 100 hostages. The cops can't attack in because they can't find the explosives. Tunnel engineer says the 1000kg C4 will destroy the tunnel, bring chaos to HK financial. Among the hostage is a young Inspector and his ex-cop father and his colleagues. While letting them go, the baddies found out the Inspector identity and tie a timer bomb vest to him. Andy can't diffuse it in time and tell the Inspector his duty as a police. It exploded and Jiang tell Andy this is how he feel when his brother was caught and the helplessness feel. Among the hostages freed are few baddies. They kidnap Liu and made him transfer money to Jiang. Then they lock him in the cooler truck and blows it up. They also prepare helicopter to escape. Jiang tell Andy if he remember the taxi car bomb during their last heist. Song is kidnap and put in one of the taxi trunk, with a grenade in her hand. Andy guide her and save her, placing the grenade in sandbag wall. Philip keep suggesting to attack both sides of the tunnel. Leo scold Jiang he didn't want to see him at all as he is changed man in prison. Jiang make his last move as the money is in. He armed the bomb and want cops to let him escape in the helicopter. Andy strap bomb to himself and barge in, force Jiang to disarm the bomb or die together. Some mercenary want to back out already and Jiang kills them. Police attacks in both sides. Andy and Jiang face off. Andy is nearly dead when Philip ram his car to Jiang and cut his arm off. But he already destroy the timer remote. Andy ask Ron to prepare disarm the other truck bomb. It is so complicate there's not enough time. Andy says he will cut the yellow wire and if it explode, Ron must cut the red. So Andy make his move but too bad it is wrong. Just one truck 500kg of explosive cause havoc in the tunnel. Ron cut the red wire and the shock wave at the other end blows him out. Several cops are killed in this crisis and Song is sad when Andy is dead but messaged her "I love you".

... unapologetic piece of B-movie termite art...

Yau stands out in the Hong Kong crowd for his willingness to blend two very different styles of filmmaking: the traditional Chinese epic drama and the high octane thrillers that pull in the crowds today.

A taut crime thriller with just the right blend of action, suspense, and pathos.

A conventional and predictable but disarmingly entertaining actioner.

Yau does an impressive job of keeping the audience engaged amid the barrage of car crashes, shoot-outs and explosions.