Reviewed by: Hyomil Date: 04/07/2011 Reviewer Score: 2

Reviewed by: Anticlimacus Date: 03/13/2009 Summary: A Superior Dramatic Action Film Francis Ng is probably my favorite Hong Kong actor (tied with Simon Yam). "Exiled" (2006), "The Mission" (1999), "Infernal Affairs 2" (2003), "Curse of Lola" (2005), and "Crazy 'N the City" (2005) are some of my favorite flicks. I've only recently discovered that Francis will apparently star in any movie that comes across his desk. This includes some mediocre to downright awful films, which include "Wo Hu" (2006), "Too Many Ways To Be No. 1" (1997), "Karmic Mahjong" (2006), "The Closet" (2007), and "H.K. Triad" (1999). It's really disheartening to see such a charismatic actor in so many bad films. So much so, in fact, that I'm always nervous when watching them because of the chance that it could be another disaster. Will someone give this guy a good script? And for God's sakes, keep Wong Jing away from him! That said, I rented "A War Named Desire" and was just hoping that it would turn out okay. Needless to say, I was unprepared for such a spectacular dramatic action film that will go down as one of my all time favorites. In fact, I have officially declared that this film is *far superior* to most of John Woo's early classics, including "A Better Tomorrow" (1986), "The Killer" (1989), and "Bullet In the Head" (1990) – all films that I consider very good. More reasoning on this later. I don't like writing a long plot synopsis in my reviews, so here's a quickie. A man seeks to settle a debt with his gangster brother, but inadvertently becomes involved in a gang war. The story is familiar but intelligent, with multiple conflicts introduced to keep things interesting all the way through. Better yet, each conflict follows a logical progression where character motivation is completely understandable. You don't have people coming from out from nowhere to introduce obstacles out of the blue. When someone shows up, it's for a reason – and an important one at that. The greatest asset of this film though are the characters, with each serving an important role. It's very difficult to create a single memorable character, but "A War Named Desire" produced three! Most interestingly, all three characters (played by Francis Ng, Gigi Leung, and Dave Wong) are total badasses, but they are reserved badasses who only take action when necessary. This is evident in that the action scenes are backloaded toward the latter half of the movie. If the filmmakers are able to convince the viewer that the characters are likable, respectable, and deadly before the finale, it provides massive potential for some truly classic moments. This film most definitely provides them! I personally haven't seen such emotionally charged action since "Kill Zone" (2005). There are a number of hair-raising moments during the final half hour, with each character given the opportunity to shine numerous times. These scenes are about as perfect as one could possibly imagine, and outperform the finales of the highly acclaimed John Woo films mentioned previously. Why? Simple. They avoid all of the over-dramatic melodrama and eye-rolling, drawn out moments prevalent in Woo's entries. Yes, "A Better Tomorrow" and "The Killer" are really good, but their concluding gun battles get excessively cheesy and cringe-worthy at times. I watch those scenes and say to myself, "I know to feel sad, John. I'm not so stupid that you need to beat it into my forehead for minutes on end." "A War Named Desire" avoids these faults by limiting the slow-motion shots and doing away with all of the sickly sweet nicknames and homoerotic eye-gazing. When something bad happens, this film doesn't overdo it. The filmmakers know that the characters are developed to the point where the viewer is concerned for their well-being without the need for cheap cinematic tricks. That's what makes these scenes so powerful and propels this film into a stratosphere that the aforementioned titles were unable to achieve. The shootouts are less epic in terms of bullet and body count, but they come off as far more realistic than other films of this type. With few exceptions, the action is grounded to make every gunshot count, and positioning comes expertly into play during an apartment battle. One scene in particular, involving a knife, goes down as a classic, hair-raising suspense sequence that tops any John Woo movie, with the exception of maybe "Hard Boiled" (1992). The action in Woo's other films left me asking myself, "Our heroes are in the midst of a shootout with 30 bad guys and they have enough time for melodramatic chatting and walking around in open spaces?" I don't have a problem with unrealistic action, but in a dramatic action flick it's definitely an added bonus when realism presents itself. I know I'll get all sorts of flack by putting this relatively unknown gem (only 115 IMDb votes is ludicrous!) against highly regarded classics. I don't care. I personally consider "A War Named Desire" to be *much* better than those movies. Check it out and decide for yourself. It's practically a perfect action movie. Reviewer Score: 9

Reviewed by: honloo Date: 12/24/2002 Summary: Best Gigi Leung Movie!! Yes, Gigi Leung acted very well as a cold, capable killer. She was so damn interesting to watch when she got killed, it was very sad to see her suffering moments.

Reviewed by: Sydneyguy Date: 11/23/2002 Summary: Pretty good I agree with MilesC by saying this is the best crime hk movie of this year (of when it was made)!! The character development in this movie is excellent and thus it's focus!! While the script could of been better, the action and the actors make you forget about this flaw!! What i said earlier about it being better than THE MISSION, i have recently changed my mind but still but still worth a look and a good ending!! 7.75/10 Reviewer Score: 8

Reviewed by: balstino Date: 07/20/2002 Summary: OK film but weird and annoying I thought this film had a really nasty atmosphere to it, which maybe due to its portrayal of Thailands cities and underworld. The actors got on my nerves but I thought they were all good in the Big Bullet. The film is OK, but it just didn't do anything for me. Maybe thats my personal preference, but IMO steer clear of A War Named Desire.

Reviewed by: crazytigerfong Date: 03/17/2002 Summary: Damn. What an awesome movie. It does seem a little slow and plodding in the beginning... there isn't really that much to get excited about. You're right, Daniel Chan and Pace Wu are likeable as the boyfriend and girlfriend, but it doesn't really amaze you. But when Francis Ng and Gigi Leung get pissed, that's when the fireworks fly. After that, it was one awesome movie. The ending was perfect. Just a sense of tragedy, along with a dose of revenge, and a hint of happiness. Beautiful movie!

Reviewed by: Sasami Date: 07/20/2001 Summary: Wonderful Film I am not a huge fan of violent movies, but this one kept me glued to the TV the entire time. The casting was done extremely well, in my opinion. I was surprised at how well Gigi handled her part as a guntoting, icy female. Her scene at the wet parade was magical; her face was ethereally beautiful and peaceful, in great contrast to what her motives were for being there. The plot was well manipulated, and the viewers got a real sense of urgency about the situation. My only gripe about the whole movie was that the relationship between Francis Ng's and Gigi Leung's characters was a little TOO subtle. I barely even saw the spark between them throughout the whole movie, until the end when you realize he had feelings for her. Many HK movies I see are totally ruined by a bad ending. This, thankfully, was not one of them. There's a clear cut resolution, without being too sappy or trite. I highly recommend this movie.

Reviewed by: David Harris Date: 04/19/2001 Another film starring the ever busy Francis Ng and as like a lot of his recent work well worth watching. It's another gangster film but don't let that put you off as it has a really great style and looks just wonderful. Easily the best looking gangster film since "The Mission" - that is what I call high praise! Whilst it doesn't quite scale the heights that "TM" does it is none the less a top film with some excellent performances and some interesting visual flourishes. If you think that the gangster flick is done then watch this - it might just change your mind!

Reviewed by: shelly Date: 04/07/2001 A movie that doesn't seem to have the courage of its convictions. This triad action drama wants to have it both ways: it displays a serious attitude, polished production values, and a relatively classy cast (for the genre) inspired to give performances near the top of their range. On the other hand, Alan Mak and co. seem to want to juicy, gory shock thrills that Clarence Ford can bring to a film, and they aim this way ("low") in War Named Desire's last act. But Ford's films work precisely because of their carefree abandon, wedded to virtuostic craft: they don't care if they're tasteless or over-the-top, but what Ford's films lose in tonal control and maturity they more than make up for in the power of their images, and the sheer brio with which they celebrate film making at its most fun, its most subversive. DESIRE won't go this far, but neither does it completely renounce cheesy subversive pleasures (largely of the blood-splattered, exit-wound fetishizing kind). Out of this mix of impulses which, unfortunately, largely work at cross purposes, one can pick out elements that shine. Francis Ng, Dave Wong Kit, and Gigi Leung (yes, even Leung) are offer quietly powerful performances that are hard to forget. The film's image crafting, when not over-reaching in a deliberate "look at my stylishness" mode (that we've seen in Mak's RAVE FEVER) is capable of some carefully composed, visually stunning images (Sam Lee's farewell, in ultra long shot, or Francis Ng, off centre, isolated between a starkly geometric foreground and background patterns that isolate and alienate him from his surroundings). And best of all, Mark Lui's beautifully crafted score, that lends even long scenes of cliche-mired dialogue a dignity and emotional heft that they wouldn't otherwise have deserved. Lui's combination of ground-bass defined elegies, dance music, and ballads resonate nicely with Mak's more stunning visuals to create moments (though the film can't sustain them) of emotional, even poetic weight. A shame that all of DESIRE can't be as inventive or stunning as Leung's rain-drenched ambush under the umbrellas. Reviewer Score: 7

Reviewed by: magic-8 Date: 02/05/2001 Summary: Smooth and Hip Gangster Flick "A War Named Desire" is a smooth and hip film that demonstrates what can still be done with the tired triad genre. Alan Mak directs with the elan and self-assurance of a fan schooled on gangster flicks. He gives a wink and nod to older triad films by evoking music-associated themes in the soundtrack. You hear references run the gamut from the disco and cheesy synth of the '80s and '90s to the electronica-inspired contemporary sounds as the film progresses. The movie's plot revolves aound Daniel Chan's search for his estranged brother, played by Francis Ng. Chan finds Ng and they get caught up in the local triad scene. Along the way, they rediscover brotherhood as things escalate into a bloody mess. The acting is what makes this film so smooth. The performances are uniformly watchable. Even though the characters are sketchy and not fully developed, the shining moments are provided by Dave Wang and Gigi Leung. I've never seen Gigi better. The interplay between Wang and Ng recalls the "righteousness" or moral code found in characters of early triad-gangster films. Even Dan Chan's effort was on the mark. All of the actors seemed to generate a good deal of their cool aloofness through the focus of Francis Ng. Surprisingly the action is what seemed a tad awkward. Even though the action scenes are well executed, it's as if Mak knows that audiences have long been desensitized to the violence in triad films. So, the next step would be to shock the viewer and use the carnage as a visual tool--splashing blood in drops and more extremely, streaming down the camera lens. This method was more emotionally charged than if Mak sliced in a pure red or white frame to generate the same impact. The strong camera work accents almost get a bit too cute, but luckily never distracting. "A War Named Desire" displays some inventiveness and attention to detail. These factors and a top-notch cast do wonders for this small gem. Reviewer Score: 8

Reviewed by: MilesC Date: 11/23/2000 Summary: Another solid film from up-and-coming Alan Mak. Alan Mak has named Johnnie To as one of his favorite directors worldwide; good taste for sure, and it shows. Bits and pieces of various Milkyway productions show up throughout A War Named Desire, some perhaps coincidental, some that would politely be called "homage." Mak is not yet Johnnie To. There is a definite feeling throughout of a young, inexperienced director taking inspiration from a more experienced director, but without quite the same clarity of vision. A War Named Desire doesn't really transcend its genre-film origins like Johnnie To's best work. That said, A War Named Desire is a very stylish and enjoyable gangster film. The plot is minimal; Daniel Chan journies to Thailand get back some money he feels long-lost brother Francis Ng owes him. Complications arise, though, and after a fairly rote series of murders, kidnappings and framings, things get ugly and we're in good old "heroic bloodshed" territory. The first half hour or so is less than stunning; the setup is routine, (though not miserable or dull) Daniel Chan doesn't do much with his role, and Pace Wu is obviously dubbed by someone else. When things shift to Francis Ng and Gigi Leung, (in a role that, while not requiring a huge stretch in the acting department, finally allows her to play something other than a simpering girlfriend)though, the pace speeds up and the charisma level rises considerably. The last 30-40 minutes contains a number of standout scenes and moments. The photography is attractive throughout, (though I could take or leave some of the more gratuitous "cool" shots) and the action scenes, though sparse and not the major focus, are well done, particularly the finale. The eclectic, "hip" soundtrack works much more than it doesn't; the same, in fact, could be said for the movie as a whole. While Alan Mak has some learning to do before he'll make a movie that really sticks, for a third feature this is very impressive and promising. With Johnnie To producing only comedies this year, A War Named Desire is the best crime movie of 2000.