More Adult, Less Censored Discussion of Agent 007 and Beyond : Where Your Hangovers Are Swiftly Cured
 
HomeHome  EventsEvents  WIN!WIN!  Log in  RegisterRegister  

 

 Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)

Go down 
3 posters
AuthorMessage
Harmsway
Potential 00 Agent
Potential 00 Agent
Harmsway


Posts : 2801
Member Since : 2011-08-22

Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty
PostSubject: Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)   Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) EmptySun Jul 07, 2013 5:18 pm

This one received a really warm reception at the New York Asian Film Festival, with some comparing it to Woo in his prime.

Back to top Go down
Strangways&Quarrel
'R'
'R'
Strangways&Quarrel


Posts : 353
Member Since : 2013-03-26
Location : Florida

Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)   Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) EmptySun Jul 07, 2013 6:02 pm

I've been looking forward to this one. I saw Johnnie To's Election and Triad Election last year on the Sundance Channel and consider those two masterpieces as far as the gangster genre goes.
Back to top Go down
Harmsway
Potential 00 Agent
Potential 00 Agent
Harmsway


Posts : 2801
Member Since : 2011-08-22

Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)   Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) EmptyMon Jul 08, 2013 2:06 am

I definitely need to familiarize myself with To's films. DRUG WAR is the first time he really appeared on my radar.
Back to top Go down
Loomis
Head of Station
Head of Station
Loomis


Posts : 1413
Member Since : 2011-04-11

Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)   Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) EmptyMon Jul 08, 2013 12:13 pm

Going purely by the trailer (I know nothing about this film or indeed about this Johnnie To geezer) this doesn't look anything special - indeed, it strikes me as nothing more than a generic, garden-variety Asian action flick (and I watched it twice just to make certain I hadn't overlooked something). I'm not getting the feeling that this could be something rather more than that - another OLDBOY or THE CHASER, in other words.

It's not even an above-par trailer as action flicks go, as were the trailers for, say, A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD and THE RAID: REDEMPTION (not that those two actually delivered on the promise of their trailers, IMO). Had you not started a thread about this, Harms, I'd wouldn't have given this trailer another thought (if I'd watched it in the first place).

Still, one cannot judge a movie by its trailer, and I'll keep an eye out for further word on DRUG WAR.
Back to top Go down
Harmsway
Potential 00 Agent
Potential 00 Agent
Harmsway


Posts : 2801
Member Since : 2011-08-22

Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)   Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) EmptyMon Jul 08, 2013 12:56 pm

There aren't too many reviews from the big publications, but here's what The Hollywood Reporter has to say:

Quote :
In Drug War, Hong Kong genre master Johnnie To gives a superlative lesson on how to give an updated, thoroughly engrossing twist to the classic cops-and-robbers chase.  Following his relatively action-less financial thriller Life Without Principle (currently Hong Kong’s nominee for Oscar candidacy), To cuts a sweet slice of genre cake that pits the balletic efficiency of police operatives against the wiles of organized crime lords and leaves few characters standing by its bloody end. The first action film To has shot in mainland China, it brings a reported budget of $16 million of cool to the mainland, where drug stories are very, very rare. Shot and acted with flair, it has the look of a potential hit for its opener in China and HK this December. Genre film or not, its premiere raised the temperature of competition at the Rome Film Festival considerably.

[ . . . ]

While the cast plays dead serious, etching their very distinct characters through action, To takes a playful approach shuffling the story elements and confusing the audience. Superior stunt-work gives even the most violent battles a realistic look, while scenes are swept along on an elegant stream of breath-taking shots and cinematography.

Not particularly enlightening, but I'm sure the major outlets will get to it in time.

It's the enthusiasm for DRUG WAR on Letterboxd that has gotten me excited.
Back to top Go down
Strangways&Quarrel
'R'
'R'
Strangways&Quarrel


Posts : 353
Member Since : 2013-03-26
Location : Florida

Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)   Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) EmptyTue Jul 09, 2013 7:48 pm

U.S. release date for the Blu-ray has already been set, October 15th:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=11594
Back to top Go down
Sponsored content





Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty
PostSubject: Re: Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)   Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To) Empty

Back to top Go down
 
Drug War (2013, dir. Johnnie To)
Back to top 
Page 1 of 1
 Similar topics
-
» The Marvel Cinematic Universe
» 2013 Movies
» General Movie News
» Red 2 (August 2013 US/UK)
» Elysium (2013)

Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum
Bond And Beyond :: Beyond :: Film News & Film Discussion-
Jump to: