This film has the same director and writer as Lifeline and the same screenwriter as Expect the Unexpected and The Longest
Nite, among others. It also has Wai Ka-Fai as producer. Wai Ka-Fai and Johnny To have collaborated in various roles
(producer, screenwriter, director) on Too Many Ways to Be No. 1 and The Odd One Dies. These films (excluding Lifeline,
which was good but not great) are some of the best work to come out of Hong Kong in the last few years, having solid scripts,
fine acting, and often daring direction. A Hero Never Dies continues that tradition of excellence.

The film is about Jack (Leon Lai) and Martin (Lau Ching-Wan). They are the chief enforcers for two different crime bosses,
who as the film opens, are at war with each other. Because of this war, there is a personal feud between. However, it is also
apparent that they deeply respect one another. The scene in the bar at the beginning of the film where this relationship is
developed is priceless. Of course, their positions will inevitably lead them into violent conflict.

Continuing the Wai Ka-Fai/Johnny To tradition of playing with time, it is extremely difficult to determine the exact
sequence of events in the first portion of the film. Also continuing a tradition, this works quite gracefully, making the viewer
think but not becoming so confusing as to ruin the film.

Tbe first portion culminates in a raging gun battle. Afterwards, the two bosses abandon Jack and Martin in Thailand to their
fates, having been told by 'The General' (the bosses' boss) to settle their feud. The rest of the film should be fairly easy to
figure out. Revenge.

A Hero Never Dies has a strong mythic tone that reminded me very strongly of Wai Ka-Fai's Peace Hotel The heroes, Jack
and Martin, are much larger than life. This is in keeping with the heroic bloodshed genre which this film builds upon. Many
aspects of A Hero Never Dies will remind the viewer of John Woo's classics The Killer and A Better Tomorrow. However, this
film, and other recent Wai Ka-Fai and Johnny To films takes this genre and builds on top of it. A Hero Never Dies, though
told in the present tense, often feels like a story being told by a third party remembering past events. Like many myths, it is
recalling a time when there were true heroes. Also like many myths, there is a moral to this tale (actually, there are many
morals that can be drawn from this story).

The film is extremely well-directed, from beautiful shots of Thai landscape to several extremely exciting action sequences.
There is not a shot out of place or misused. One of the directorial highlights is the previously mentioned scene between
Jack and Martin in the bar, as well as a scene involving Leon Lai fighting off three assassins in Thailand. This scene has the
single most stunning shot in the film (which I will leave unexplained so as not to reveal too much).

Lau Ching-Wan gives another great performance (who could expect less?) and Leon Lai's general lack of expression works
quite well in this role. Perhaps he has found his calling playing killers. I do think he is getting better as an actor, given his
recent performance in City of Glass. He still has work to do before he will be in same class as many of the people with whom
he has costarred. The supporting cast are all good as well, though they have very little screen time compared to the two
stars.

It might not be far off to suggest that the Johnny To/Wai Ka-Fai combination has taken the place of John Woo (who is busy
making mediocre films in Hollywood). They, perhaps more than any others, have defined the heroic bloodshed genre in the
late 90s, starting with Wai Ka-Fai's Peace Hotel and continuing up to A Hero Never Dies. A lot of people are talking about the
decline of the Hong Kong film industry. It is true that there is not the same volume of impressive, original work being
produced as there was during the late 80s and 90s. However, with films like A Hero Never Dies I can at least be assured that
someone over there is still committed to originality and quality. Here's to hoping that Johnny To and Wai Ka-Fai never come
to Hollywood.