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子彈出租 (1991)
Bullet for Hire


Reviewed by: Inner Strength
Date: 01/12/2002
Summary: Very confusing, but worth seeing

Bullet For Hire is a hard movie to review I think, as there are some really good points, and at the same time some really bad ones. It seems to switch genres every 5 minutes and nobody seems to know what anybody is supposed to be doing.

Simon Yam is a professional killer who’s boss has asked him to train a new guy from Vietnam (Jacky Cheung). Jacky Cheung screws up badly on several occasions and Simon Yam has to turn up to sort things out. It started off looking like a good movie, but something happened that I must admit shocked me. Jacky has to kidnap a girl and her mother, but due to messing things up again, Simon steps in and shoots the mother point blank in front of her 6 year old daughter. They then take her to her boss where she is also murdered along with her father who works for the same people. Yet after all this, there is a lot of comedy, and I thought this whole thing is wrong.
Eventually after a lot of other killing, there is a massive gun battle where just about everyone is killed, and these last few scenes did keep me on the edge of my seat, wondering who was going to survive out of Simon and Jacky (because it was very predictable that one of them was going to die, and the one who did was the one I guessed, but I won't say in case you want to see this).

I can't really compare this movie to another one, because there is really nothing quite like it I can think of, but the nearest I could say was it being a bit like City War (only as far as story goes).

Rating (of 5): 2.5

(This rating is based on the year & genre, so don't think it's based as a comparison on new releases etc.)

Reviewer Score: 5

Reviewed by: MilesC
Date: 10/02/2000
Summary: What were they thinking?

Movies in which hitmen do morally reprehensible things are okay with me. Ultra-black hitman comedies are also okay. What I don't find quite so acceptable is a movie that, despite the intentional killing of kids, is largely a comedy. It seems the screenwriter couldn't think of 90 minutes worth of dramatic material, so much of the first half consists of Jacky Cheung's wacky hick antics. I'm tempted to think the humor of a musical montage that starts wacky and proceeds into a series of hits is intentionally morbid, but more likely this movie was made by some really nutty people. There is a lot of action in the second half, with killers inexplicably finding our heroes every few minutes. Most of these scenes aren't executed with any particular flair, aside from the ending, which makes good use of the close quarters of a mansion as the combatants fight in, around, up and down it. Overall, if, like me, you watch almost any Hong Kong movies you can get your hands on, you will find this one won't bore; don't expect to discover a lost gem, though.


Reviewed by: leh
Date: 12/09/1999

Jacky Cheung is a naive kid who wants to be a professional killerjust like Simon Yam. Good for its kind, with a very down-beat ending.


Reviewed by: spinali
Date: 12/08/1999
Summary: NULL

Hired killer Simon Yam has to train a promising Vietnamese protege (Jackie Cheung, who provides the laffs) the basics of his craft, but girl problems (especially with babe-like kung fu cop Elaine Lui) lead to their ruination. Nearly the whole cast dies in this decent but bloody drama.

(2.5/4)



[Reviewed by Steve Spinali]

Reviewer Score: 6