This movie has some great fight scenes and incredible stunts but the plot is only average and the casting director should never have been hired. most of the acting is so awful it will have you cringing, especially the performances of Coolio and Norika. And while Aaron Kwok and Lee Hom give reasonably good performances, they've given the actor who can barely speak english (Kwok) the english lines and the American born actor (Lee Hom) with a rather bad mandarin accent got most of the mandarin lines
27 Reviews
Good Clean Fun
NIXFLIX-DOT-COM27 August 2003
CHINA STRIKE FORCE has some strikes against it. One is the odd casting of Coolio and the Japanese female lead. The other is the casting of two pop idols, which usually signal a flighty, silly movie.
While CSF is sometimes silly, it's mostly entertaining. Not incredibly so by any stretch, but entertaining enough that you wouldn't mind watching the film again. The action is good, and Coolio gives the film some terrific laughs.
CSF is one of those films that doesn't do anything it does with great excellence, but it's always good enough that you never feel cheated.
6 out of 10.
While CSF is sometimes silly, it's mostly entertaining. Not incredibly so by any stretch, but entertaining enough that you wouldn't mind watching the film again. The action is good, and Coolio gives the film some terrific laughs.
CSF is one of those films that doesn't do anything it does with great excellence, but it's always good enough that you never feel cheated.
6 out of 10.
Jesus Christ, D! You... button up your blouse!
lastliberal-853-25370825 April 2014
There was some outstanding stunt work at the end, and some really good fight scenes, but that was all there is.
The irritating Coolio completely played over Mark Dacascos (Cradle to the Grave). The constant jive just wore thin after five minutes.
Aaron Kwok was good, and Japanese model Norika Fujiwara really kept things interesting, but not enough to recommend the time spent.
Lee-Hom Wang is proving to be really good, and in recognition was in Lust, Caution.
If you want to see real action, there are many better films to check out.
The irritating Coolio completely played over Mark Dacascos (Cradle to the Grave). The constant jive just wore thin after five minutes.
Aaron Kwok was good, and Japanese model Norika Fujiwara really kept things interesting, but not enough to recommend the time spent.
Lee-Hom Wang is proving to be really good, and in recognition was in Lust, Caution.
If you want to see real action, there are many better films to check out.
A disappointment, despite some good action scenes
Wizard-819 February 2003
First of all, this H.K. movie is clearly aimed at a more international market. Nothing immediately wrong with that - in fact, I was excited when I saw Mark Dacascos in the cast. I've enjoyed his work in other movies in the past, since not only does he know his craft well, he has screen presence and even has some acting ability.
But perhaps because Dacascos is unfortunately still not that well known in North America, the producers also picked someone with more "name" value to pair up with him. While I can sort of understand this, they really made a bad choice with choosing Coolio(!) I guess I can't really blame Coolio, because in the past he has shown some screen ability. However, the screenplay and the direction make him EXTREMELY annoying, with his non-stop slang talking and insulting. What's even worse is that Coolio's character is given much more focus than Dacascos' character, right down to the climatic action sequence. To say that Dacascos is greatly wasted is putting it mildly.
The climatic action sequence IS entertaining, and so are the previous ones in the movie... what little there are. The remaining running time is talk, talk, talk, blah, blah, etc. Most of the focus is in fact on a plot so weak and so cliched that it gives dumb action movies a bad name. (I suspect this is the main reason why the movie has yet to receive an official release in North America, 3 years after it was made!) Stanley Tong really needs to return to his roots, to realize what made his past movies work.
But perhaps because Dacascos is unfortunately still not that well known in North America, the producers also picked someone with more "name" value to pair up with him. While I can sort of understand this, they really made a bad choice with choosing Coolio(!) I guess I can't really blame Coolio, because in the past he has shown some screen ability. However, the screenplay and the direction make him EXTREMELY annoying, with his non-stop slang talking and insulting. What's even worse is that Coolio's character is given much more focus than Dacascos' character, right down to the climatic action sequence. To say that Dacascos is greatly wasted is putting it mildly.
The climatic action sequence IS entertaining, and so are the previous ones in the movie... what little there are. The remaining running time is talk, talk, talk, blah, blah, etc. Most of the focus is in fact on a plot so weak and so cliched that it gives dumb action movies a bad name. (I suspect this is the main reason why the movie has yet to receive an official release in North America, 3 years after it was made!) Stanley Tong really needs to return to his roots, to realize what made his past movies work.
Train wreck
simon_booth15 February 2004
CHINA STRIKE FORCE is the poster child for the disastrous attempt the Hong Kong film industry made in the early 2000s to achieve more "international" appeal - notably to sell the film to US markets, which is why it is filmed in English, but you also have a Taiwanese singer and a Japanese model in the cast to try to appeal to those markets. This kind of calculated marketing driven film-making process is just not what Hong Kong film-makers do well (leave that to Hollywood boys), and the result is a grand disaster of a film that I can't imagine appealing to *anybody*, whatever their nationality.
The primary culpit is the script, which fleshes out a paper thin and utterly generic plot with terribly inane dialogue, delivered in poor English by a cast for who the language is mostly not a natural choice (and I include Coolio in that :p). As a result it's hard for the acting not to be utterly dreadful, even if the cast *were* made of people who actually could act in their native language. I'm not sure how the spurious racism sprinkled through the script was meant to increase international appeal either.
The film's one saving grace is the action scenes, which Stanley Tong *does* know how to direct. There's a few moments of greatness to be found in these scenes, especially the finale set atop a pane of glass precariously suspended hundreds of floors above the ground (for whatever reason). This scene is almost worth the price of a rental by itself. If the film had just been a string of action scenes like this it might have been a significant guilty pleasure, but unfortunately these scenes are too few to really redeem an otherwise awful film.
The primary culpit is the script, which fleshes out a paper thin and utterly generic plot with terribly inane dialogue, delivered in poor English by a cast for who the language is mostly not a natural choice (and I include Coolio in that :p). As a result it's hard for the acting not to be utterly dreadful, even if the cast *were* made of people who actually could act in their native language. I'm not sure how the spurious racism sprinkled through the script was meant to increase international appeal either.
The film's one saving grace is the action scenes, which Stanley Tong *does* know how to direct. There's a few moments of greatness to be found in these scenes, especially the finale set atop a pane of glass precariously suspended hundreds of floors above the ground (for whatever reason). This scene is almost worth the price of a rental by itself. If the film had just been a string of action scenes like this it might have been a significant guilty pleasure, but unfortunately these scenes are too few to really redeem an otherwise awful film.
Good Action Movie, With Well Choreographed Action Scenes
claudio_carvalho21 August 2004
In China, Uncle Ma (Siu-Ming La) is a powerful mobster, who deals with smuggling. His bodyguard Tony Lau (Mark Dacascos) betrayals him with the American drug dealer Coolio, introducing drugs in his territory. Two young Chinese detectives and an undercover Japanese Interpol agent chases the `bad guys'. `China Strike Force' is a good action movie, with well choreographed action scenes. I do not know who perform these scenes (stunts or actors themselves), but I found this film a good entertainment. It works perfectly on video. Norika Fujiwara is really a very beautiful woman. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): `Fúria em Shanghai' (`Rage in Shanghai')
Title (Brazil): `Fúria em Shanghai' (`Rage in Shanghai')
So bad it's funny
Evil Tyrant11 July 2004
I saw this movie at an asian cafe and I can honestly say, this is one of those few movies that can elicit an entire room full of people to tearful laughter just for being so bad. While I have to admit that I didn't pay very close attention to the first half of the movie, the near-nekked back shot of one of the antagonist got my attention (*cough cough* =P) and thanks to the tepid company I had at the time, I decided to watch the rest of the movie.
It's essentially a very typical "Hong Kong Action Flick" (TM) with the helpless girl, the foreign baddies who speak English, and the protagonist with a good heart. A million bullets, ten cringe-worthy lines (at the very least), and a hundred thousand explosions later, everything is solved of course and everyone goes home nice and happy. Brainless, easy-to-follow entertainment, not bad after a couple of beers I would imagine, but being as I was ENTIRELY too sober at the time, I would say that the only reason I didn't run out of the cafe was because I was having too much fun laughing at their understanding (or lack thereof) of physics. Motorcycles slamming into walls with heroes flying into the air are just a tad too much for me to take and the entire cafe reverberated with laughter for five minutes after, and given this cafe was populated by geeks, explaining just WHY it was impossible. No duh.
Nevertheless, it's an action flick, so check your brains at the door and enjoy this movie for all it's testosterone-y goodness. It doesn't get much worse than this (speaking as a female of course), but then, why would anyone expect it to be better? Besides, watching Coolio try to act is just as hilarious as anything else. 2/10 (1 pt just for the sauna scene)
It's essentially a very typical "Hong Kong Action Flick" (TM) with the helpless girl, the foreign baddies who speak English, and the protagonist with a good heart. A million bullets, ten cringe-worthy lines (at the very least), and a hundred thousand explosions later, everything is solved of course and everyone goes home nice and happy. Brainless, easy-to-follow entertainment, not bad after a couple of beers I would imagine, but being as I was ENTIRELY too sober at the time, I would say that the only reason I didn't run out of the cafe was because I was having too much fun laughing at their understanding (or lack thereof) of physics. Motorcycles slamming into walls with heroes flying into the air are just a tad too much for me to take and the entire cafe reverberated with laughter for five minutes after, and given this cafe was populated by geeks, explaining just WHY it was impossible. No duh.
Nevertheless, it's an action flick, so check your brains at the door and enjoy this movie for all it's testosterone-y goodness. It doesn't get much worse than this (speaking as a female of course), but then, why would anyone expect it to be better? Besides, watching Coolio try to act is just as hilarious as anything else. 2/10 (1 pt just for the sauna scene)
Entertainingly far-fetched!
supertom-329 December 2001
Warning: Spoilers
*warning- spoilers* The film is reasonably acted as far as Hong kong actioners go and this is the best non-chan, non- woo HK film I have seen. The actors are all okay ranging from adeqaute to moments of cheesyness or woodenness. Mark Dacascos is very good in this as the bad guy and he makes an excellent baddie in a limited part. His demise was also a let down, I felt there wasn't a big enough showdown between him and Aron Kwok. Mark was excellent in this as usual with his fighting, he did not look out of place infact his form and acrobats beat the others hands down and he did some impressive stunt work whereas say Van Damme would have been consistently doubled. The film has a good pace, Coolio is funny in an over the top way and there are some exceptional stunts. The fight scenes are first class although as far as Hong Kong goes I have seen better and some unrealistic stunts and wire work also look dodgy but overall I was entertained. Dacascos stole the show for me and his only weak moment was where he was smoking a cigar, it is obvious he's not really a smoker with his strict training he undertakes and the fact he looked like he was going to throw up, aswell as a sore sounding throat. Overall this is a good way to pass 90 or so minutes although the DVD I own has a bad picture and mediocre sound. 7/10
cultural identity crisis
jessejace20 December 2004
To put things in perspective, first understand that Norika Fujiwara is a huge star in Japan (although the nickname I made up for her, "Fujinori," has yet to catch on). As such, this movie's Japanese title is SPY N. Yeah, N for Norika. N for Ntrigue. N for "No, you shouldn't ever speak English in a movie ever again." Norika's acting isn't exactly prime stuff when she speaks Japanese either, but in this movie she is reduced to a device for almost-nudity and boner jokes.
I vaguely remember some kind of high-flying climactic fight for which the rest of the movie appeared to be one big vehicle. I mean, if you don't count the boner jokes.
I vaguely remember some kind of high-flying climactic fight for which the rest of the movie appeared to be one big vehicle. I mean, if you don't count the boner jokes.
Good dumb fun.
BA_Harrison30 June 2014
Coolio—he of the Gangsta's Paradise and the craaaazy hair—has a major role in Hong Kong action flick China Strike Force, which is enough to make any sane martial arts movie fan hesitate about watching; but even though the rapper's performance is as diabolical as one might expect, the film is simply too much fun to ignore. China Strike Force is also totally preposterous much of the time and requires a huge amount of suspension of disbelief, but it is precisely this bonkers 'screw logic' approach that makes matters so entertaining.
The opening scene gives a pretty good indication of what we're in for: cop buddies Alex (Leehom Wang) and Darren (Aaron Kwok) are on a mission to save a hostage, and use their martial arts skills to pummel the enemy into submission. After much hard-hitting violence it is revealed that the whole thing is actually a police training exercise—one in which the pretend enemy are willing to take an awful lot of damage for the sake of realism (and in which Alex and Darren seem more than happy to risk blindness, the other cops content to shoot the good guys in the head with paint-balls!).
After this daft intro, we get into the story proper: Coolio plays a drug dealer (also named Coolio—what are the chances?) trying to break into the Chinese market. Mark Dacascos is Tony Lau, Coolio's Shanghai contact, who goes against his uncle Ma's wishes by importing narcotics. Wang and Kwok are the policemen out to stop the drug smugglers, helped by beautiful Japanese Interpol agent Norika (played by the drop-dead gorgeous Norika Fujiwara). And that's really all you need to know about the plot, 'cos all the fun is in the fast, furious and far-fetched action
Marvel as one of the cops rides a motorbike onto the roof of a car, and then defies physics by leaping onto the top level of an open top bus. Watch in amazement as a racing car is driven underneath a moving lorry at high speed. Drool in excitement as Noriko does stretching exercises in a prison cell. Thrill to the sight of Kwok and Dacascos fighting on top of a pimped up, purple and yellow Rolls Royce suspended from the bottom of a helicopter. And stare in disbelief as Coolio, Noriko and Kwok battle it out on a plate glass window teetering like a see-saw hundreds of feet above ground level.
Thanks to its death-defying stunt-work (check out the end credits to see some of the not so successful attempts) and director Stanley Tong's excellent handling of the action, China Strike Force manages to be a hugely enjoyable no-brainer—even with Coolio in it!
The opening scene gives a pretty good indication of what we're in for: cop buddies Alex (Leehom Wang) and Darren (Aaron Kwok) are on a mission to save a hostage, and use their martial arts skills to pummel the enemy into submission. After much hard-hitting violence it is revealed that the whole thing is actually a police training exercise—one in which the pretend enemy are willing to take an awful lot of damage for the sake of realism (and in which Alex and Darren seem more than happy to risk blindness, the other cops content to shoot the good guys in the head with paint-balls!).
After this daft intro, we get into the story proper: Coolio plays a drug dealer (also named Coolio—what are the chances?) trying to break into the Chinese market. Mark Dacascos is Tony Lau, Coolio's Shanghai contact, who goes against his uncle Ma's wishes by importing narcotics. Wang and Kwok are the policemen out to stop the drug smugglers, helped by beautiful Japanese Interpol agent Norika (played by the drop-dead gorgeous Norika Fujiwara). And that's really all you need to know about the plot, 'cos all the fun is in the fast, furious and far-fetched action
Marvel as one of the cops rides a motorbike onto the roof of a car, and then defies physics by leaping onto the top level of an open top bus. Watch in amazement as a racing car is driven underneath a moving lorry at high speed. Drool in excitement as Noriko does stretching exercises in a prison cell. Thrill to the sight of Kwok and Dacascos fighting on top of a pimped up, purple and yellow Rolls Royce suspended from the bottom of a helicopter. And stare in disbelief as Coolio, Noriko and Kwok battle it out on a plate glass window teetering like a see-saw hundreds of feet above ground level.
Thanks to its death-defying stunt-work (check out the end credits to see some of the not so successful attempts) and director Stanley Tong's excellent handling of the action, China Strike Force manages to be a hugely enjoyable no-brainer—even with Coolio in it!
Good only on the action scenes
gila_film23 May 2002
I really expect much from Stanley Stong, because he is well known as a good action director (Rumble In The Bronx, Martial Law), but when I decide to watch this one, I found my self fell in a such boring movie. The things that deserve to watch are only the action scenes and (off course) Noriko Fujiwara. The plot is trashy, and Aaron Kwok was seems to gorgeous to be a cop. Bad for you, Stanley. I hope he could do better next time.
5/10
5/10
This movie was a bucket of fun!
GenX25 September 2001
I was totally entertained by this film. I enjoyed every minute of it. There was plenty of action (for those who love action) and there was some funny moments along the way.
Aaron Kwok was excellent in his role as Darren. His charisma was just what the film needed. Wang Lee-Hom was just ok for I think his first role in a feature film. Norika was quite good for eye-candy, and Dacascos and Coolio were quite funny.
Overall I enjoyed this farfetched film, the action is ridiculous, but nonetheless, very enjoyable. This is one film that isn't to be taken too seriously, otherwise you won't have FUN.
Aaron Kwok was excellent in his role as Darren. His charisma was just what the film needed. Wang Lee-Hom was just ok for I think his first role in a feature film. Norika was quite good for eye-candy, and Dacascos and Coolio were quite funny.
Overall I enjoyed this farfetched film, the action is ridiculous, but nonetheless, very enjoyable. This is one film that isn't to be taken too seriously, otherwise you won't have FUN.
Undeniably exciting at times.
Hey_Sweden3 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Darren Tong (Aaron Kwok) is a Chinese security officer, who together with his partner Alex Cheung (Leehom Wang), fights the good fight when it comes to the war on drugs. Scum such as the young Tony Lau (Mark Dacascos) are now intent on smuggling narcotics into the country. Fortunately, there is also an agent with Japanese Interpol on the case.
Kwok and Wang are a very likable and animated pair in this effort from co-writer / director Stanley Tong, who injects a lot of comedy into the proceedings. The plot is real comic book type stuff, and, truth be told, there's more talk in this than action. There's quite a bit of silly dialogue, and some of the performances are rather awkward. Rapper Coolio, filling out the role of an American "draw", is mildly amusing as a smooth criminal - named Coolio - but Dacascos is more charismatic and more effective as a bad guy. Norika Fujiwara provides a wonderful amount of eye candy; like Coolio, she's playing a character with the same name. This would seem to suggest a certain in-joke tone to the whole production.
While there may not be enough action here to suit some tastes, it *is* quite breathless when it occurs, and is deliciously far-fetched. The chase scene with the motorcycle early on is a hoot, but the *real* highlight is the incredible final fight sequence taking place on a pane of glass suspended high up in the air. If nothing else in "China Strike Force" grabs your attention, this certainly should.
It's all attractively shot in Panavision by Jeffrey C. Mygatt, and Tong does get down to business immediately with his opening set piece. Overall, the movie is fun.
Six out of 10.
Kwok and Wang are a very likable and animated pair in this effort from co-writer / director Stanley Tong, who injects a lot of comedy into the proceedings. The plot is real comic book type stuff, and, truth be told, there's more talk in this than action. There's quite a bit of silly dialogue, and some of the performances are rather awkward. Rapper Coolio, filling out the role of an American "draw", is mildly amusing as a smooth criminal - named Coolio - but Dacascos is more charismatic and more effective as a bad guy. Norika Fujiwara provides a wonderful amount of eye candy; like Coolio, she's playing a character with the same name. This would seem to suggest a certain in-joke tone to the whole production.
While there may not be enough action here to suit some tastes, it *is* quite breathless when it occurs, and is deliciously far-fetched. The chase scene with the motorcycle early on is a hoot, but the *real* highlight is the incredible final fight sequence taking place on a pane of glass suspended high up in the air. If nothing else in "China Strike Force" grabs your attention, this certainly should.
It's all attractively shot in Panavision by Jeffrey C. Mygatt, and Tong does get down to business immediately with his opening set piece. Overall, the movie is fun.
Six out of 10.
Decently entertaining one-time watch.
tarbosh2200028 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Tony Lau (Dacascos) is a gangster trying to convince the higher-ups in his organization to start running drugs, but they say no. Coolio (Coolio) (no, that's not a mistake; in what has to be the most perfect casting of all time, Coolio just happens to play a guy named Coolio) is a gangsta from South Central L.A. who is trying to make inroads into the Hong Kong criminal underworld. So naturally Tony and Coolio gravitate toward each other so they can achieve their own personal aims. Meanwhile, cops Darren Tong (Kwok) and Alex Cheung (Wang) are part of an elite squad who are determined to stop the gangsters and the drugs they import. These guys will stop at nothing, and they're constantly doing crazy stunts to stop the baddies. When they're transferred to Lung Cheng, their contact is Sheriff Lin (Chun), who resembles a Chinese Joe Mantegna. But the real question is: who is the mysterious and beautiful Norika (Fujiwara)? Where do her allegiances lie? So sets the stage for the ultimate showdown between cops and criminals. What will happen? Perhaps the question foremost in the minds of viewers of China Strike Force is: why...WHY is Coolio of all people involved in a Hong Kong action film? And why is his name in the film Coolio? It would have made so much more sense for his character to have a different name, because there is dialogue such as (and I'm paraphrasing here): "Coolio killed my partner two years ago!" Do they mean Coolio or...Coolio? And lets also keep in mind he has a fedora-style hat with no top, so his bizarre, plant-like hair can sprout out the top of the hat. Words can't describe how silly this looks. But in all seriousness, he and Mark Dacascos have good chemistry together, and for American audiences like us, they are the two "names" in the cast, so we already have a sort of recognition factor with them. While Coolio's stereotypical chattering can get irritating, it makes you wonder why this didn't become a three-part series like Rush Hour.
Seeing as China Strike Force is light in the character and plot development departments, it makes up for it with stunt work and Martial Arts fights. The stunts stand out as being particularly impressive, especially the car chases. But it's not really enough to keep a 90 minute film afloat, so there is definitely some filler. But it should be noted that American movies have either a Black Yelling Chief (BYC) or a White Yelling Chief (WYC) at the precinct, but here, in a wild twist, is a CYC, or Chinese Yelling Chief. But the movie as a whole has a huge American influence, as best indicated by its numerous Arnold Schwarzenegger references. And of course the presence of the one and only Coolio, who - though you have to wait quite a while for it - gets to do some Coolio-Fu on his opponents. And in an (unintentionally?) "Meta" sequence, we find out Coolio is played by Coolio, while Coolio music plays on the soundtrack. We believe the official mathematical term for that is Coolio Cubed.
In the end, China Strike Force isn't really the most consequential movie out there, but it makes for a decently entertaining one-time watch, thanks to the obvious care that went into the stunt work.
Seeing as China Strike Force is light in the character and plot development departments, it makes up for it with stunt work and Martial Arts fights. The stunts stand out as being particularly impressive, especially the car chases. But it's not really enough to keep a 90 minute film afloat, so there is definitely some filler. But it should be noted that American movies have either a Black Yelling Chief (BYC) or a White Yelling Chief (WYC) at the precinct, but here, in a wild twist, is a CYC, or Chinese Yelling Chief. But the movie as a whole has a huge American influence, as best indicated by its numerous Arnold Schwarzenegger references. And of course the presence of the one and only Coolio, who - though you have to wait quite a while for it - gets to do some Coolio-Fu on his opponents. And in an (unintentionally?) "Meta" sequence, we find out Coolio is played by Coolio, while Coolio music plays on the soundtrack. We believe the official mathematical term for that is Coolio Cubed.
In the end, China Strike Force isn't really the most consequential movie out there, but it makes for a decently entertaining one-time watch, thanks to the obvious care that went into the stunt work.
Hail, hail the cell phone queen...
morakanabad28 April 2003
When Stanley Tong shot Rumble in the Bronx, I suppose the North American setting and actors made it a lot easier to secure a North American release (and presumably a bigger overall box office total) for the movie; it doesn't take much of a cynic to suggest that Japanese TV star Norika Fujiwara's presence in the cast was meant to give this one a shot at a third market.
The Japanese release of the movie makes a big deal of Fujiwara's presence as a second- string character and underwear model, perhaps deservedly so. With the camera's help, she fights better than Jade Leung did in the first Black Cat movie, and she's certainly got the goods as far as the stripping and stretching scenes go. Still, you sort of have to wonder if some distributor wasn't going a bit far in releasing it here under the name "SPY_N"... it is, after all, primarily a movie about other characters.
When it isn't making you wince over the English pronunciation or chuckle at the really obvious subbing of stunt doubles, though, this is a halfway decent attempt at creating a B-grade action flick with international appeal. The plot is disjointed, but piles on enough stunt pieces that you aren't endlessly looking at your watch during the eventual plot exposition scenes, and the rest of the movie is silly enough (see the motorcycle that rides up the back of a bus, or the hopefully intentional comedy resulting from Coolio's character being named "Coolio"... "Coolio killed my partner!", etc.) that you don't feel completely bad for renting it and turning your brain off for an hour and a half. Besides, just like in the commercials, Norika Fujiwara is always nice to look at, so there are definitely worse things to spend your rental dollars on.
The Japanese release of the movie makes a big deal of Fujiwara's presence as a second- string character and underwear model, perhaps deservedly so. With the camera's help, she fights better than Jade Leung did in the first Black Cat movie, and she's certainly got the goods as far as the stripping and stretching scenes go. Still, you sort of have to wonder if some distributor wasn't going a bit far in releasing it here under the name "SPY_N"... it is, after all, primarily a movie about other characters.
When it isn't making you wince over the English pronunciation or chuckle at the really obvious subbing of stunt doubles, though, this is a halfway decent attempt at creating a B-grade action flick with international appeal. The plot is disjointed, but piles on enough stunt pieces that you aren't endlessly looking at your watch during the eventual plot exposition scenes, and the rest of the movie is silly enough (see the motorcycle that rides up the back of a bus, or the hopefully intentional comedy resulting from Coolio's character being named "Coolio"... "Coolio killed my partner!", etc.) that you don't feel completely bad for renting it and turning your brain off for an hour and a half. Besides, just like in the commercials, Norika Fujiwara is always nice to look at, so there are definitely worse things to spend your rental dollars on.
Ho hum action flick
lastliberal30 April 2008
There was some outstanding stunt work at the end, and some really good fights scenes, but that was all there is.
The irritating Coolio completely played over Mark Dacascos (Cradle to the Grave). The constant jive just wore thin after five minutes.
Aaron Kwok was good, and Japanese model Norika Fujiwara really kept things interesting, but not enough to recommend the time spent.
Lee-Hom Wang is proving to be really good, and in recognition was in Lust, Caution.
If you want to see real action, there are many better films to check out.
The irritating Coolio completely played over Mark Dacascos (Cradle to the Grave). The constant jive just wore thin after five minutes.
Aaron Kwok was good, and Japanese model Norika Fujiwara really kept things interesting, but not enough to recommend the time spent.
Lee-Hom Wang is proving to be really good, and in recognition was in Lust, Caution.
If you want to see real action, there are many better films to check out.
Aaron Kwok's best movie
ebiros220 June 2009
This was the best movie I've seen starring Aaron Kwok. He shows more involvement with his part, and this is the first time I've seen him look genuinely interested in the female lead (Norika Fujiwara). Norika Fujiwara might have been big in Japan, but with so many gorgeous Hong Kong actresses, she's with tough competition.
What was surprising was how good Aaron Kwok looked in this movie. He might have found a niche that he excels in, but there aren't enough movie of this type made in Hong Kong.
The action in this movie stretches believability a bit. Like in the motor cycle chase scene, the bike literally climbs up vertically on the back of the van, then launches off its roof on an angle to land on top of a double decker bus. Not likely to happen !
The rap music used in this movie sounds very dated, and using them were a fad the year this movie was made.
I liked the cinematography, and the way they selected the background for each of the scenes.
Pretty experimental movie for HK, and not bad for a first try.
What was surprising was how good Aaron Kwok looked in this movie. He might have found a niche that he excels in, but there aren't enough movie of this type made in Hong Kong.
The action in this movie stretches believability a bit. Like in the motor cycle chase scene, the bike literally climbs up vertically on the back of the van, then launches off its roof on an angle to land on top of a double decker bus. Not likely to happen !
The rap music used in this movie sounds very dated, and using them were a fad the year this movie was made.
I liked the cinematography, and the way they selected the background for each of the scenes.
Pretty experimental movie for HK, and not bad for a first try.
Fun, if you can look past the terrible production
Useful_Reviewer19 June 2015
I'll admit that much of the acting is very bad, the dialog is even worse, many of the stunts look so fake that they're ridiculous, nothing about the action scenes is in any way believable, and the story itself has been done to death... BUT...
Coolio is consistently funny as the South Central LA drug dealer trying to make a Chinese connection, Norika Fujiwara is as beautiful and sexy as you could want an actress to be, Mark Dacascos is actually pretty good in the movie, and even the fake-looking stunts are fun to watch as long as you don't let yourself get shaken out of the story by the extremely poor production values.
So although I grimaced in a few places, after it was over I realized I had enjoyed watching it.
Coolio is consistently funny as the South Central LA drug dealer trying to make a Chinese connection, Norika Fujiwara is as beautiful and sexy as you could want an actress to be, Mark Dacascos is actually pretty good in the movie, and even the fake-looking stunts are fun to watch as long as you don't let yourself get shaken out of the story by the extremely poor production values.
So although I grimaced in a few places, after it was over I realized I had enjoyed watching it.
It tries but gets bogged down...
renosuniverse26 August 2004
I sought the movie for my Mark Dacascos collection, and because of him I watched it all the way through. The scenes he's in are solid, and (of course) his fists and footwork are the icing on this otherwise dry cake. The movie begins very slowly and seems disjointed. You have to piece together plot elements which is unfortunate because a little bit more effort to include the viewer would have improved the flow. The places where you get a break from that feel opportunistic and thin. There is a feeling that the characters are just trying to get to the next action sequence, and those aren't well-timed or particularly powerful. Everyone in the film is visually interesting, but the backdrops seem opportunistic and static, and the stunts often look like the evening news, shot too wide and far away, never sharp or startling enough to rouse. Kwok looks like he's really trying to find a character in there somewhere; he's likable and the bits of banter that occur between Darren (Kwok) and his partner Alex make you want to see their efforts succeed, but it's just too little spread too thin and nobody else is acting like there's room for humor in the scene. Mark Dacascos is top-notch with what he's given. If you like how he moves his presence through a scene, using his skin, eyes, those long elegant hands, you'll appreciate his sense of proportion here. He brings the film a sense of solidity when he's in the frame and offers the only intimacy in the venture, using his eyes to evoke it even though his character is aloof. Coolio wields a brutally candid hood mentality charm, pulling no punches with his brazenly observant racism. I found it refreshing and palatable - it's aimed at everybody, even his old friend Tony Lau (Dacascos). His abrasive drama plays well off Dacascos' polished and saturnine hauteur, but the two of them aren't enough to carry a film about "two other guys and some other stuff"... and that's exactly what this feels like. The action scenes are slow, and shot from less than optimal angles. There are ways to shoot people who look this interesting ( Andrezej Bartkowiak and Christophe Gans both know how to put a camera on Mark Dacascos), and with the abundance of attractive personages it's too bad that didn't happen here. I was hoping for another Cradle 2 The Grave, something that surprised my mode of thought and shook up the mix, that had punch, pride, and balance. I was sorely let down. Even so, I give it four stars out of ten, all of it due to Mark and Coolio.
If you want to watch a movie that goes where this one doesn't - see Cradle 2 the Grave for some good-looking people, broken stereotypes, nice dialogue, fine music, and superb acting by DMX. If you want mystery, lyrical execution, passion, and art with your kung fu - see Crying Freeman for its beautiful dialogue and provocative tone set by Gans' shooting and Julie Condra's amazing voice flowing throughout. Mark Dacascos is in them both, for all the right reasons.
If you want to watch a movie that goes where this one doesn't - see Cradle 2 the Grave for some good-looking people, broken stereotypes, nice dialogue, fine music, and superb acting by DMX. If you want mystery, lyrical execution, passion, and art with your kung fu - see Crying Freeman for its beautiful dialogue and provocative tone set by Gans' shooting and Julie Condra's amazing voice flowing throughout. Mark Dacascos is in them both, for all the right reasons.
Idiotic Stupid Nonsense
spike5427 February 2001
This movie was reportedly the top grossing local film in HK movie theatres over the Xmas 2000 season. Tired plot, stupid dialogue (and Aaron Kwok's Mandarin is awful, even worse than his English), "entertainment" (if one can even use the word to describe this waste of celluloid) for the easily amused. Rated it a "2" because some of the action sequences are at least halfway decent and because Fujiwara does appear in a very tiny bikini. Hard to believe that Stanley Tong could have gone downhill from Mr. Magoo, but he has done it!
Very disappointed
thisloke15 January 2001
I would expect China Strike Force to be better or as good as his previous movie (AD2000) but it disappointed me. Not enough fighting scene and too many sex scenes. Well, I feel that they were trying to sell the whole movie with the sexy Japanese actress. Very hard sell. I think they can do better than that.
Thin On Plot, Heavy On Action
issac4 January 2001
In a nutshell, this flick simply rocks, the energy never stops. Pumped by leading action star, Aaron Kwok and the sexy charms of Noriko, the movie paces at a breakneck speed. Stanley Tong definitely succeeds to hold the audience. Casting, Aaron and Noriko was a good move, both of them have screen presence, inadvertently though Lee Hom suffers, he is pale compared to the zesty Aaron, or even Mark Dacascos. The action, just keeps building up till it reach a breathtaking crescendo, the finale is mind-blowing and a nightmare for those with vertigo. "THE" Hong Kong Movie to check out now :)
Starts well... (I turned it off before the end, that's how bad it was)
5b23 May 2002
This movie ranks as one of the worst 3 movies I have ever seen! The action is ok, but the never-ending scenes of poorly dubbed dialogoue and semi-erotic "acting" made me turn off before the end. Coolio makes it even worse, if possible.
Mainly fuelled by great action set-pieces
jackhnatejko9 March 2023
It's far from being a perfect Hong Kong action movie, but it is certainly a solid entry. It's unintentionally funny in places and thanks to Stanley Tong direction moments that were supposed to be humorous are as stale as a week-old bread.
Both Aaron Kwok and Norika Fujiwara are performing well, Mark Dacascos is hypnotizing and Coolio drops one liners all over the place - it is funny to watch him on screen, playing this gangster persona, but really struggling to fit in the crime reality of Hong Kong - constantly making you feel like he's out of place.
The action scenes are of an essence here, and let me tell you - they are extraordinarily choreographed. They feel dangerous, they look dangerous and spectacular - which is what you want to see in this genre - it was a pleasure to watch.
If you can get through the stale jokes and sometimes confusing direction from Mr. Magoo director Stanley Tong, this movie is certainly worth pursuing, purely for the action moments and Coolio one liners. It was a surprisingly enjoyable endeavour.
Both Aaron Kwok and Norika Fujiwara are performing well, Mark Dacascos is hypnotizing and Coolio drops one liners all over the place - it is funny to watch him on screen, playing this gangster persona, but really struggling to fit in the crime reality of Hong Kong - constantly making you feel like he's out of place.
The action scenes are of an essence here, and let me tell you - they are extraordinarily choreographed. They feel dangerous, they look dangerous and spectacular - which is what you want to see in this genre - it was a pleasure to watch.
If you can get through the stale jokes and sometimes confusing direction from Mr. Magoo director Stanley Tong, this movie is certainly worth pursuing, purely for the action moments and Coolio one liners. It was a surprisingly enjoyable endeavour.
Some Good Stunts but Underwhelmed by a Pretensious Production
LeonLouisRicci29 December 2014
Average for This Type of Thing, an Expensive, Slick Looking, Overproduced Kung Fu Action. Director Tong (a former stunt man) has Made a Career Helming Hong Kong Films and Seems to be Trying Forever to Become "International".
Problem Is, the Appeal and Charm of Hong Kong Action is Hong Kong Action Unfettered by a Hollywood Looking Production that is so Pretentiously Pandering to a "Wider" Audience that the Core and Soul of its Raw and Reliable Homeland Sizzle is Wanting.
The Only Thing Recommended Here is Some Daring Set Piece Stunt Work. But Even that is Derivative and Lacks a Certain Spontaneity. The Wire Work is Clunky and Rapper Coolio is the Clunkiest of the Clunk Going On Here.
It's Not Awful but Some of it Is. A Very Weak Story and Even Weaker Acting, Makes the Whole Movie Sink Under its Contrived Conceit of Cool, and Again, Not Helped by Hiring Coolio.
The Movie Looks Good and the Few Disjointed Action Scenes Make for Some Fun, but Overall it is a Mediocre Mess. An Appeal for a Hollywood Sleekness when None is Required.
Problem Is, the Appeal and Charm of Hong Kong Action is Hong Kong Action Unfettered by a Hollywood Looking Production that is so Pretentiously Pandering to a "Wider" Audience that the Core and Soul of its Raw and Reliable Homeland Sizzle is Wanting.
The Only Thing Recommended Here is Some Daring Set Piece Stunt Work. But Even that is Derivative and Lacks a Certain Spontaneity. The Wire Work is Clunky and Rapper Coolio is the Clunkiest of the Clunk Going On Here.
It's Not Awful but Some of it Is. A Very Weak Story and Even Weaker Acting, Makes the Whole Movie Sink Under its Contrived Conceit of Cool, and Again, Not Helped by Hiring Coolio.
The Movie Looks Good and the Few Disjointed Action Scenes Make for Some Fun, but Overall it is a Mediocre Mess. An Appeal for a Hollywood Sleekness when None is Required.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
