In “One Nite In Mongkok,” Derek Yee, takes us on a tour of the most densely populated part of Hong Kong. Mongkok is teaming with life. Two rival gangs take a spat to a deadly, unresolved level, which escalates to the hiring of an assassin from the mainland. The police get tipped off and attempt to locate that hitman, Daniel Wu. Wu meets up with Cecilia Cheung, a hooker with a generally sunny disposition, who guides Wu through the crowded streets. What ensues is the manhunt, as Alex Fong leads his police squad to search throughout Mongkok, tracking down stoolies and their leads.

Filmgoers get to see Derek Yee’s new flick soon after his previous effort, “Lost In Time.” Since Yee isn’t as prolific as some other Hong Kong directors, “One Nite In Mongkok,” also written and directed by Yee, is a pure treat. Yee uses Mongkok as another character in the movie, showing off the bright neon colors of the city and the teaming masses. Some of the handheld camerawork also helped to heighten the claustrophobically cramped streets and alleyways.

Yee does an excellent job with the actors, and especially Daniel Wu. Wu does some of his best work in this picture, and his performance rivals that in “Purple Storm.“ The ensemble cast hit all the right notes, with special mentions for Alex Fong and Chin Kar Lok. Cecilia Cheung was a bit too bubbly, but otherwise looked radiant for a prostitute in the slums of Hong Kong. There were moments when Yee's direction displayed the grittiness associated with Ringo Lam’s work, as the violence is, at times, quite jarring.

“One Nite In Mongkok” sucks you right in from the very beginning, as Yee grabs you by the throat with this tale and won’t let go until the very end. On the surface, the movie appears to be another conventional police, procedural thriller, but add in some very subtle character flaws while peeling back the layers for both the hunters and the hunted, and you get one of the best movies in 2004. Take the “One Nite In Mongkok” tour now. The ride may be bumpy but the payoff is well worth the time.