Plot: What’s it about?
Lynn (Shu Qi) is an assassin, a profession she shares with her sister Sue (Zhao Wei), not a common bond of sisterhood. The two work as a team when given assignments, in order to fulfill the contracts with ease. Lynn is the one who tracks down the target and does the actual deed, while Sue is stationed with a slew computers, which she then uses to guide her sister. As she is able to tap into closed circuit cameras, she can easily watch the targets and at the same time, give Lynn the best path to completion. This system has worked to perfection for the sisters, as it allows them to eliminate the targets in a simple, effective fashion, without leaving evidence or witnesses behind, which is quite crucial. But times have changed somewhat, as a new danger lurks around the corner, one which could end the sisters’ reign as supreme assassins. The new danger is Hong (Karen Mok), a police officer with immense skills of detection, not to mention a massive level of dedication to serving justice. In order to keep their latest hit out of the limelight, the sisters have to knock off the man who ordered the strike. At the same time, Lynn is considering leaving the trade behind, thanks to the presence of an old lover. As Hong closes in on the sisters, will she be able to prove her case and even then, will she still want the bust?
The case promises a dynamic, all out action adventure, but can So Close manage to back up those boasts? This film is a lot of fun to watch, with some excellent action driven scenes, but So Close does have serious flaws. I didn’t expect a complex, deep storyline here, but I did want a basic and consistent premise. As it turns out, So Close has a passable premise that holds promise, though its reach often exceeds its grasp. That results in some poorly devised sequences, in which the story tries to replace the action. I have no problem with that, but in the case of So Close, the action speaks louder than the storyline. So perhaps director Corey Yuen (High Risk, The Transporter) should have pushed for more action, letting the storyline remain in the background. I say that because when the movie focuses on action, it succeeds and is a blast to watch, so with more screen time for the good, that would lessen the bad elements. The action does rock in So Close, with wicked gun battles, hand to hand combat, and even car chases. These situations are made all the cooler by the presence of all the hot ladies, with Shu Qi (Martial Angels, Gorgeous) at the lead. So we have hotties with guns that kick ass, what more could we ask? If this all sounds like fun to you, then give So Close a rental, as it is a solid motion picture.
Video: How does it look?
So Close is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. A lot of foreign films wind up with lackluster visual treatments when imported to the United States but Columbia has ensured that So Close would be an exception. The print looks cleaner than expected, with only minor, infrequent debris and light grain. I found the grain to be almost constant, but it is very light and never impacts the visuals. The colors have a crisp and bold presence, though some scenes do have a restrained texture, which could be intentional. No such worries with the contrast however, as black levels are dead on and never suffer in the least. A few minor quibbles to mention, but on the whole, this is a terrific visual effort.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Cantonese soundtrack is preserved here, via a loud and active Dolby Digital 5.1 option. This track has a lot of range and knows when to drop the hammer, whether it be through the subwoofer or through an assault in the surrounds, this mix kicks when it needs to. I won’t say it keeps pace with elite level power mixes out there, but it deserves a look as a reference disc, at least with a few specific scenes in mind. The ample punch provided never hinders the more subtle sequences however, as dialogue, music, and more restrained audio elements come through in top form also, a great overall audio treatment. This disc also includes English, Mandarin, and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Thai, Portuguese, and Korean, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s trailer.
