Plot: What’s it about?
I mean this film no disrespect, but when the storyline is a few sentences long in the first place, a synopsis is impossible to pen. I could give the rundown on what happens, but this movie is not worried about plotline so much as pace, lots of action, stylish visuals, moments of humor tossed in. The basic premise makes sense, but the details that are revealed as the story unfolds are sometimes hard to swallow, but this is an action movie, so I won’t complain much. The film is a lot of fun and one heck of a ride, but don’t expect a literate and believable storyline, as this film simply doesn’t have one, not in the least. Lin (Tony Leung) is a detective with real skills, in terms of talking and fighting, so he can usually complete his assignments without much trouble. As of now, he is working on a very important case, which involves gangland boss and all around mean fellow, Takahashi (Touro Nakamura). As time passes, Lin meets up with a bride left at the altar, Macy (Kelly Chen) and a mysterious stranger, Yung (Ekin Cheng), who end up by his side as the case unfolds. Can these three really trust each other and as they close in, who knows what will happen, but once thing is for sure, it is going to be one heck of a ride.
I like martial arts movies, I like action movies, and I like comedic films, so of course, Tokyo Raiders was a natural selection for me, as it uses all of those elements. The storyline is thin, but the brisk pace and intense visuals more than compensate, at least most of the time. I do wish there was a better plot here, but the movie never tries to be more than a fun ride, so I have no problem just sitting back and letting this flick entertain me. And on that basis, Tokyo Raiders delivers and then some, with a barrage of stylish visuals, action sequences, comic relief, and even some romance mixed in. We’re given basic outlines of the characters and little else, but it proves to be enough, given the wild nature and very quick pace of the film. The cast is very impressive and includes Tony Leung, Ekin Cheng, Touro Nakamura, and Kelly Chen, among others. The turns are lacking on the overall scale, but when you consider the nature of this picture, all surface in fine form and that’s what counts here. If you love a fast paced action movie and can overlook a paper thin storyline (and what action lover can’t), then give Tokyo Raiders a look and see what you think.
This film has a very strong cast all around, but I think Tony Leung deserves the main mention, as he is terrific here. I know a lot of people dislike this film and the performances within because of the weak storyline, but I think when you look at what this is supposed to be, the actors all turn in fine performances. Of course, Leung has done better work and he relies more on humor & action than dramatic skills, but given the nature of the flick, Leung’s turn is more than adequate and adds a lot to the film’s impact. I think Leung excels in the action driven sequences, but he also supplies some terrific dialogue moments, a perfect balance between the needed elements. You can also see Leung in such films as Chungking Express, Hard Boiled, Ashes of Time, Gorgeous, In The Mood For Love, and Flowers of Shanghai. The cast here also includes Touro Nakamura (Gen-X Cops, Blue Tiger), Kelly Chen (The Age of Miracles, And I Hate You So), Cecilia Cheung (The Legend of Speed), Hiroshi Abe (Godzilla 2000), and Ekin Cheng (A Man Called Hero, The Storm Riders).
Video: How does it look?
Tokyo Raiders is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition included on the disc’s flip side. As is usually the case with Asian imports, the source materials aren’t as pristine as expected, but the debris and damage is not too bad here. A lot of scenes look excellent in fact, while small specks and other flaws can be seen in others. I do think the colors seem a little faded at times, but not overly so and bright hues still surface, as well as natural flesh tones. The contrast is even also, no detail loss is evident and black levels are solid, no real complaints. Given the nature of the source materials, I am pleased with this transfer and hope to see more Asian imports from Columbia/Tristar soon.
Audio: How does it sound?
I was pleased to see that this disc includes Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in both Cantonese and English, so everyone should be covered here. As usual, I think the original Cantonese option is the one to choose, but both offer terrific experiences, in terms of technical presence. The surrounds are used often thanks to the musical soundtrack and a lot of sound effects work, especially in the action driven scenes. But even the more reserved sequences have a nice presence, so the nuances weren’t overlooked in either edition. Of course, the English version has some really bad voice acting, so if I were you, I’d stick with the Cantonese option. This disc also houses 2.0 surround tracks in English and Cantonese, as well as subtitles in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a behind the scenes featurette, which runs about twenty minutes and offers an interesting look at the production. This piece uses mostly interviews, but also some on set clips and of course, clips from the finished film to put together a complete peek at how Tokyo Raiders was created. This featurette is offered in Cantonese, but includes English subtitles, so all is well in the end.
