Romeo Must Die
I saw this film about a year ago with a friend and decided to check it out again tonight. I was impressed. Very much so indeed!
It's basically a modern-day abstraction of the 'Romeo and Juliet' story: Two families; one impossible love. It's set in a U.S. city (shite, I missed which, sorry!) and focuses on the turf-war between the two clashing families: one of black origin and the other Chinese. Jet Li coincidentally plays a character from the Chinese family and Aaliyah plays the daughter of the head of the Black family; these two meet by chance and a bizarre love unfolds (though no tongues..seriously, no toungueage to be seen!). However, the story line isn't as simple as this and a whole network of plot twists and unexpected events unravel throughout...
The action scenes (read: Fighting!) are excellently done and make full-use of Jet Li's skills and the 'Chinese wires' that we've come to love him for. Further more, such scenes are enhanced by excellent camera work and the odd splash of CGI. There are, of course, a number of gun-based fight scenes, though old jetty-boy never makes use of such arms (as the ancient chinese proverb goes: "Guns don't kill people, Kung Fu does"..honestly! [Flora, can we get a translation on that?!]). There's also a number of car-chase style scenes which are visually pleasing and fairly origanal too!
Aalyiah portrays a convincing character throughout in her debut role, including a tag-team effort with Li to bitch-slap some slag that starts on him: "I don't know how it is in China, but here in the U.S., when a girls kicking your ass you don't have to be a gentleman" - Li's views are too strong and he decides not to hit her (..hence no chinese equivalent of Jerry Springer) , and so he employs the business end of Aalyahs boot/fist instead.
On a related note, I was saddened when my mate informed me that she had died since making the film - Her onscreen charisma, warmth and overall presence are so genuine and attainable that it just seems tragic that she no longer exists beyond the realms of celluloid. Very tagic indeed.
The end face-off between Li and mystery perp' X is fiery to say the least. The end itself is a little strange too in regards to Li's fathers actions - though I think it's some sort of twisted 'adaptation' to the climax of 'Romeo and Juliet', sort of.. watch it and see what you think!
Overall an outstanding film! It's unusual to find something that caters to each and every one of my diverse needs: A decent sound track (with kick arse bass: thanks Bootsy), martial arts, good camera/lighting work, crap one-liners and a plentiful supply of easy-on-the-eye chinese ladies - yet it manages it! ^^,
PS - I quit driving today. It finally got to me, I'm useless. Maybe after the summer, eh?
It's basically a modern-day abstraction of the 'Romeo and Juliet' story: Two families; one impossible love. It's set in a U.S. city (shite, I missed which, sorry!) and focuses on the turf-war between the two clashing families: one of black origin and the other Chinese. Jet Li coincidentally plays a character from the Chinese family and Aaliyah plays the daughter of the head of the Black family; these two meet by chance and a bizarre love unfolds (though no tongues..seriously, no toungueage to be seen!). However, the story line isn't as simple as this and a whole network of plot twists and unexpected events unravel throughout...
The action scenes (read: Fighting!) are excellently done and make full-use of Jet Li's skills and the 'Chinese wires' that we've come to love him for. Further more, such scenes are enhanced by excellent camera work and the odd splash of CGI. There are, of course, a number of gun-based fight scenes, though old jetty-boy never makes use of such arms (as the ancient chinese proverb goes: "Guns don't kill people, Kung Fu does"..honestly! [Flora, can we get a translation on that?!]). There's also a number of car-chase style scenes which are visually pleasing and fairly origanal too!
Aalyiah portrays a convincing character throughout in her debut role, including a tag-team effort with Li to bitch-slap some slag that starts on him: "I don't know how it is in China, but here in the U.S., when a girls kicking your ass you don't have to be a gentleman" - Li's views are too strong and he decides not to hit her (..hence no chinese equivalent of Jerry Springer) , and so he employs the business end of Aalyahs boot/fist instead.
On a related note, I was saddened when my mate informed me that she had died since making the film - Her onscreen charisma, warmth and overall presence are so genuine and attainable that it just seems tragic that she no longer exists beyond the realms of celluloid. Very tagic indeed.
The end face-off between Li and mystery perp' X is fiery to say the least. The end itself is a little strange too in regards to Li's fathers actions - though I think it's some sort of twisted 'adaptation' to the climax of 'Romeo and Juliet', sort of.. watch it and see what you think!
Overall an outstanding film! It's unusual to find something that caters to each and every one of my diverse needs: A decent sound track (with kick arse bass: thanks Bootsy), martial arts, good camera/lighting work, crap one-liners and a plentiful supply of easy-on-the-eye chinese ladies - yet it manages it! ^^,
PS - I quit driving today. It finally got to me, I'm useless. Maybe after the summer, eh?
posted by Ben at
7:57 AM
