The movie marks Yuen Woo Ping's first venture into contemporary action movies, and succeeds directing such a dark and ruthless tale of cops being exposed to brutal violence. Everyone doesn't get away, and what they go through is gruesome for Woo Ping's own standards. It's a true getaway from his trademark kung fu and action comedy, with very little comedy present and more focus on character build-up and story twists.

Everyone in the cast does a admirable job immersing into their roles, and participating in the action scenes with conviction and to great effect. Yuen Woo Ping's action choreography perfectly fits the cruel nature behind the violence going for absolute damage and pain when people are getting hit and slammed onto things. Donnie Yen, who is restricted to a supporting role, gets the best action set-piece in the whole movie going up against two foreign action performers -- played by Donnie's real-life friends and martial arts expontants Michael Woods and Stephen Berwick -- and showcasing a new style of contemporary onscreen fighting (at the time it was released) very different from Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan, which earned him more recognition and meatier roles from there.

I can imagine how hard it was for Yuen Woo Ping to transcend from traditional kung fu movies and hybrid kung fu/fantasy movies to contemporary action movies. But for his first attempt, TIGER CAGE delivers in all spades thanks to the nature of the story, and everyone involved in the cast and crew.