Flash Point (2007)

Cop drama with criminals killing witnesses so they won’t be charged with the crimes they committed. Louis Koo plays an undercover cop and Donnie Yen plays the same type of cop he plays in SPL (aka Killzone in the US).

The movie itself is nothing too special, the action is the reason you want to watch it. The relationship between Donnie Yen and his partner Louis Koo is very well done. Collin Chou gives a magnificent performance as the villain and Xing Yu is even better. Ray Lui rounds out the trio of villains and does a great job. These guys are truly scary.

A few funny moments. The funniest is a scene where Donnie takes his anger out on Ray Lui.

If you liked the action at all in SPL, then you are in for a real treat. The final fight in Flash Point is easily one of the best fight scenes ever filmed. Probably top 10. It is much better than Donnie Yen vs. Sammo Hung. At one point I thought I was watching a UFC match, except they aren’t fighting in a cage and there are no rules. Donnie Yen is on his back kicking upwards and trying to block Collin Chou’s punches, and he manages to grab hold of Chou’s shirt and gets his legs around his neck. Almost choked out, Chou decides to bring Yen up and then slam him onto the ground. He slams Yen a few times, and it just keeps going back and forth like this nonstop. And the fight goes on for about 8 minutes! Fast and furious doesn’t even begin to describe it. I have never seen anything like it before.

Donnie Yen was in an experimental stage with his choreography during the late 90′s and had some good and bad movies. Ballistic Kiss was not too good, but Legend of the Wolf had some great stuff in it. In SPL, Donnie mixed in some grappling and a few other techniques, but the final fight felt too choreographed and dance like. Flashpoint focuses more on realism, but is still very much focused on style. Donnie and his crew have perfected their style and are in my mind the top action crew in Hong Kong after making this. Hopefully he does another movie that has fights like this soon.

Xing Yu. He is the definition of badass in this movie. Collin Chou. People always wonder why he doesn’t get many roles as a good guy, and this is why. He’s so good at being evil.

The Dragon Dynasty version is the best version to get. It has an exclusive 32 minute interview with Donnie Yen, commentary with Bey Logan and Donnie, and other special features.