Forbidden Arsenal (1991) User Reviews

"Everyone has the right to sing"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 6/10 · 7 May 2022]

Hong Kong gangsters are smuggling guns from mainline China but when that becomes difficult set up an arms factory in Hong Kong itself. Trying to arrest them are a mainland, a Taiwanese and a Hong Kong cop, all three joining forces in a rough and ready kind of way. There are comic elements to the film which frankly I can take or leave but the main thrust of the movie is action and you certainly get action, which is excitingly staged and performed, with blistering gunfights and lively martial arts. It has a good cast led by the sublime Cynthia Khan, one of the best fighting divas of Hong Kong cinema. The plot may be routine but the action leaves you breathless.

Forbidden Arsenal

[coltras35 · 5/10 · 16 December 2022]

Cynthia Khan returns for her fourth entry in the series, this time paired with a cop from Taiwan (played by Waise Lee) and a cop from the Mainland (Do Siu-chun). The three are on the trail of a gang of arms smugglers with branches in each of their territories, led with incomprehensible internecine conflict by Phillip Kwok and Robin Shou.

Fairly routine Hong Kong actioner that has some good fights, good characterisation and comic situation, however it lacks the energy and excitement of her previous instalments. Cynthia Khan shows off her prowess as usual; I reckon she's quite underrated. Pity she didn't become a bigger star like Michelle Yeoh.

Good fun

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 29 August 2021]

The sixth instalment of the long-running IN THE LINE OF DUTY series. FORBIDDEN ARSENAL is a familiar enough action-packed story which sees Cynthia Khan's returning police officer teaming up with both a Taiwanese cop (Waise Lee, always a pleasure) and an agent from the Chinese mainland to take down some gun smugglers. Shades of HER FATAL WAYS in that premise with the usual cultural differences and satire added to the mix. The plot is nothing special but there's the usual wealth of action, although inevitably more of an emphasis on firepower than hand to hand combat here. Former Venom Philip Kwok makes the very best of a small bad guy role although I would have liked to see a little more fighting from him. The opening fight on top of a truck shot from inside a helicopter looks fantastic although the cinematography is quite dark overall which spoils some moments. Still good fun though.

You have to wait a whole 6 minutes for the first action scene

[The-Sarkologist · 8/10 · 31 December 2012]

Well, there is little to say about this movie other than it is a typical Hong Kong action movie and that it is a mindless film to watch and to enjoy. It is about some smugglers who are smuggling guns into Hong Kong from China and then taking them to Taiwan. While busting up a sale, Cynthia Kahn encounters two undercover cops, one from Taiwan and another from China proper. This leads to an interesting clash of ideals as the communist and the Taiwanese try to up each other and Kahn is caught in the middle.

Des Mangan says a few thing about this movie. Action fans have to be patient and wait a whole six minutes for the first action scene, and that scene is awesome. Basically the gunrunners are surrounded and Kahn is in a chopper strafing them. This is definitely one of the best gunfights I have ever seen. And when Mangan says that Cynthia Kahn stars, he adds as a side comment that she can kick him in the head anytime.

This is a great little movie. There is little that I would discuss deeply regarding it, but rather sit back, turn one's mind off, and watch the action. The gunfight at the end is interesting, though I would have handled it differently. Instead of sending people to sneak into the hideout (which would have been difficult), I would have drawn their fire, and when they were exposed, then shoot at them.