EU STRIKE FORCE
A film review by Sherrie Lee
Copyright 1997 Flying Inkpot
Director: ? Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Jordan Chan. Rating: *** out of *****
BIG BULLET, SMALL WOUND
Action movies seem generally to have earned the epithet, "What plot?" While one bemoans the departure from a strong story line, the action movie continues to survive as long as kicks and punches and bombs and bullets get more sophisticated to satiate the public's hunger. But to what end?
EU STRIKE FORCE (better known as "BIG BULLET" in Hong Kong Cinemas) tries to be impressive in the area of heart-stopping action as well as plot. Sadly, both areas lose steam after 45 minutes into the movie. Once the plot becomes clearer and motives are established, there is nothing much to look forward to. This is forgivable if the action makes up for it. However, spoilt by the glut of Hollywood and the Jackie Chans of Hong Kong, one can't help but feel disappointed in this case.
Lau Ching-wan plays Sergeant Bill Zhu, a hot-tempered but dedicated crime-fighter. He assaults a superior officer Inspector Guan for Guan's misinformation leading to casualties of his colleagues, but suffers a disciplinary penalty for the offence and is transferred to the Emergency Unit (EU). Despite the blow, Bill is encouraged by superior and friend, Yang (Ng Chun-yu) to work hard to face his new duties. In the background, an international crime warlord, "Professor" (Yu Rong-quang) creates havoc after a successful jailbreak. Subsequently, Yang gets killed while pursuing the "Professor."
Heartbroken at the loss of his close friend, and fuelled by the need to stop "Professor," Bill goes all out to investigate the case. However, he is limited by his appointment as Team Leader in the EU. Without consent from his superiors, Bill manages to win over his team mates and together they attempt to stop "Professor."
The gripping scenes include power-packed shoot-outs and bomb sequences along the streets. The car chasing scenes appear promising in the beginning but begin to look typical by the fourth one or so. There are also one or two borrowed ideas. One may be reminded of DEMOLITION MAN when a severed hand is used to open a safe guarded by a palm-reading device. And while Tom Cruise fights his nemesis on top of a speeding train, Lau fights "Professor" on top of a plane speeding along the runway.
Even if the action may not have been thoroughly sustained throughout the movie, there are endearing moments. Lau's portrayal of the frustrated cop within imposed limits is compelling. One is quickly impressed with his keen deductive mind. Lau's character is challenged by straightlaced team member Jeff (Jordan Chan Siu-chun). Chan's first dramatic role is that of the potential novice uncomfortable with Lau's unorthodox methods. Both characters complement each other, working out the tension between them.
The sub-plots amount to trivialities except for the relationship between Jeff and his brother, a cop turned bad. Their reunion at the end makes a better cushioning effect than the little happy endings provided by the other team mates who celebrate their success with their loved ones. The resolution on the whole seems too easy, too typical of the countless of action movies. What is more of a sell-out is perhaps Lau's character, the lone man at the beginning and the lone man at the end. Everybody is celebrating with someone except him. Another dimension of his character could have been explored but an overall feel good factor was opted for instead.
Despite unspectacular stunts and easy resolutions, the movie doesn't sink into an abyss. In the beginning it is a vehicle for Lau's acting but ensemble acting soon takes over in typical Hong Kong style, making EU STRIKE FORCE rather enjoyable.
Sherrie Lee collects leather trinkets and secretly wishes that bellbottoms will become fasionable again.
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