Saat Po Long (2005)
Genre: Action
Duration: 93 minuten
Alternative titles: SPL / SPL: Sha Po Lang / Kill Zone / 殺破狼 / 杀破狼
Country:
Hong-Kong
Directed by: Wilson Yip
Stars: Donnie Yen
IMDb score:
6,9 (13.885)
Releasedate: 18 November 2005
Saat Po Long plot
It is 1997 and Hong Kong is about to be handed over to China. Inspector Ma is to replace Chan as leader in the case against mob boss Wong Po. Chan has only three days to get Ma ready for the task.
Actors and actresses
Inspector Ma Kwun
Wong Po
Detective Chan
Jack
Lok
Lok Kwun Wah
Kwok Tze-sum
Cheung Chun Fei
Drug Trafficker
Wong Po's Wife
Reviews & comments
Onderhond
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- 87623 messages
- 12890 votes
Revised and still great.
A film that stands out on all counts. Visually, it's somewhat better than you might usually expect, with strong use of color and smooth camerawork. The acting is also excellent, especially when Sammo Hung takes on the role of the bad guy for once. But Jing Wu and Donnie Yen are also true martial arts champions.
The style of this film is a bit different, with many brawlers reminiscent of characters from King of Fighters, a game that, not surprisingly, also gets a spot on the screen halfway through. The story is also a bit more brutal than usual, with the cast facing some tough challenges, and truly no one is safe.
As a dessert, some fantastic martial arts scenes that still stand the test of time. The final one between Yen and Hung, in particular, is a highlight in modern HK film history. The film simply still stands. It doesn't transcend its niche, but it has certainly raised the bar. The beginning of a new series of HK gems and the de facto launch of Wilson Yip's career.
4.0* and an extensive review
Translated from Dutch · View original
frolunda
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- 1115 messages
- 4602 votes
Quite a few heavyweights from Hong Kong cinema here, now that often doesn't mean everything, but in the case of Saat Po Long (also called SPL and Kill Zone) from 2005, it results in a film that I found to be far above most genre enthusiasts in terms of quality.
This wasn't directly due to the story, which was relatively straightforward; however, the execution added considerable value. The fact that there wasn't one nearly untouchable hero, but that all the main characters, without exception, faced a difficult time, was a positive boost. Furthermore, I found the depressing ending both strong and quite original.
Another strong point of Saat Po Long, for me, was the beautiful, colorful visuals, which, however, quite frequently took us into gloomy streets and narrow alleyways. This, in fact, created a somewhat oppressive atmosphere throughout the film (another plus).
With names like Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Jing Wu, and to a lesser extent Simon Yam, you know the action scenes are going to be good. And here too, Saat Po Long doesn't disappoint. The confrontation between Donnie Yen and Jing Wu, with a blackjack and knife, is particularly impressive.
In terms of acting, the gentlemen also did well (Yen thought he was the worst), which meant that most of the dramatic situations came across well.
The film also marked a breakthrough for director Wilson Yip, who went on to make a name for himself in the years that followed with films including Flash Point, three Yip Man films and the third installment in the SPL series, Paradox.
I had a great time with Saat Po Long and I'm very curious to see whether the other two films in this series can approach that same excellent quality.
Translated from Dutch · View original
filmkul
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- 2513 messages
- 2273 votes
A decent action film. The story isn't overly complex and serves purely as a framework for action and suspense. The execution is reminiscent of a classic 80s action film. It's simply good guys vs. bad guys with a few distinctive characters, and the action builds in difficulty. The action scenes are quite good and skillfully shot with plenty of gore. There's also room for some drama. The actors are well-rehearsed. 3.0/3.5
Translated from Dutch · View original
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