Blood Brothers (2007) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
Shu Qi (Actor)
| Daniel Wu (Actor)
| Liu Ye (Actor)
| Chang Chen (Actor)
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Customer Review of "Blood Brothers (2007) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"
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Kevin Kennedy
See all my reviews
December 11, 2007
See all my reviews
December 11, 2007
2 people found the following helpful
Memorable gangster drama
Memorable gangster drama
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"Blood Brothers" tells an effective, engrossing tale of the dehumanizing effects of life in Shanghai's underworld in the glamorous and decadent 1930s. Brothers Kang (Liu Ye) and Hu (Tony Yang), together with bosom friend Fung (Daniel Wu), decide to leave their small town behind to make their fortunes in Shanghai. Hu and Fung end up pulling rickshaws, while Kang waits tables in the nightclub of underworld honcho Boss Hong (Sun Honglei). Hong notes Kang's ambition, so he enlists him to steal weapons from a rival gang. Kang, Hu, and Fung undertake the theft, but it goes awry, with Fung forced to gun down several of the rival mobsters. Like it or not, the small town boys now have cast their lot with Boss Hong. The movie really gains momentum as we see Kang's rise within the gang, Fung's qualms about the blood on his hands, and Fung's growing feelings for Lulu (Shu Qi), Boss Hong's girlfriend. Liu Ye gives a magnetic performance as the ferocious embodiment of raw, ruthless ambition. Shu Qi is equally remarkable in her complex, subtle depiction of the world-weary girl torn between her dreams of stardom and her feelings for her suitors. Eventually the conflicting ambitions of the central characters generate a series of bloody shoot-outs, culminating in a final vengeful hale of gunfire that resembles nothing so much as the most violent moments of executive producer John Woo's "Hard Boiled". The film looks great, featuring lavish sets, sumptuous costuming, and atmospheric cinematography. The story will keep you glued to your seat, as you root for the better natures of Fung, Hu, and Lulu to rescue them from their dire circumstances. My only quibble with the film is first-time director Alexi Tan's heavy-handedness with the climactic moments; he needs to learn to trust his audience more. "Blood Brothers" provides a moody thriller that I recommend highly. |
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