So Close: any good?
10-21-04, 01:12 AM
#2
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Fantastic action movie with solidly choreographed action scenes, strong performances from all the principal actors, good story, and high production values. Definitely worth a look if you like HK action movies.
10-21-04, 02:26 AM
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HK has put out this same movie about 20 times in the last... say six years, and Shu Qi has probably starred in 60% of those. It wasn't bad, but the only thing separating it from everything else was a slightly higher budget.
Shu Qi is perty though.
Shu Qi is perty though.
10-21-04, 04:09 AM
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The movie is nice to look at, stylistically and because of its picture-perfect cast. The movie is fun while you watch it but it's probably not gonna end up on any best-of lists. In ten years it's not gonna be remembered, either.
It's fun, thouh, there's no doubt about it.
It's fun, thouh, there's no doubt about it.
10-21-04, 08:04 AM
#6
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It falls closer to "waste of time" rather than "good" for me.
The first half - aside from okay bits of action - is pretty bad and the music is incredibly grating. Things improve in the second half but that doesn't keep it from going into the "people say it's good only because it's foreign" category for me. Don't bother watching it for the rather dubious cheesecake factor either - there are far better choices. Many reviews say that it's better than - imho -awful "Charlie's Angels" and that may be the case but really not by very much.
Even if you're looking for a mindless action flick there are innumerable better alternatives with far greater replay value.
Lauding "So Close" as an example of Hong Kong superiority over Hollywood film-making rings utterly hollow.
The first half - aside from okay bits of action - is pretty bad and the music is incredibly grating. Things improve in the second half but that doesn't keep it from going into the "people say it's good only because it's foreign" category for me. Don't bother watching it for the rather dubious cheesecake factor either - there are far better choices. Many reviews say that it's better than - imho -awful "Charlie's Angels" and that may be the case but really not by very much.
Even if you're looking for a mindless action flick there are innumerable better alternatives with far greater replay value.
Lauding "So Close" as an example of Hong Kong superiority over Hollywood film-making rings utterly hollow.
10-21-04, 09:30 AM
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Wish they could've mixed both original Mandarin and Cantonese tracks together. You have to choose to either hear Shu Qi dubbed or Karen Mok dubbed (until they are in the same scene talking together; then just choose Mandarin).
10-21-04, 03:47 PM
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Not great, but a pretty decent action film, although the middle does drag somewhat. But almost anything featuring Shu Qi is worth watching, as far as I'm concerned. 
10-23-04, 08:46 PM
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wow, opinion about this movie is polarized...kinda like the election atmosphere!
thanks for your input guys, guess i'll just rent it and have a look-see for myself...
thanks for your input guys, guess i'll just rent it and have a look-see for myself...
10-24-04, 10:32 PM
#12
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Terrible movie, incredibly cheesy. But worse than cheese, it's more annoying than it is entertaining.
I was tempted to buy it as a blind buy, but am glad as hell that I didn't (rented it).
And hell, I even liked Twins Effect. So Close was just too much.
I was tempted to buy it as a blind buy, but am glad as hell that I didn't (rented it).
And hell, I even liked Twins Effect. So Close was just too much.
10-25-04, 10:43 PM
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I rented it. For me it was worth a look, but not one I would buy. I kept thinking that the movie was trying to be "too Hollywood" style-wise. Trying to be ultra-hip cool rather than develop an interesting plot with interesting characters. I found the action to be overproduced and left me somewhat detached from the experience.
But, Shu Qi *is* a cutie.
But, Shu Qi *is* a cutie.
