Alec B
Fuqua was doing his best possible imitation of John Woo here, but all it did was invite comparisons to those much better action films.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
12/13/23
Full Review
DanTheMan 2
Extended Cut
A well-paced and highly glossy version of a Hong Kong action movie, just made in America, The Replacement Killers marks both the directorial debut of Antoine Fuqua and the international debut of the embodiment of coolness himself, Chow Yun-fat. Chow's unshakable cool presence is inescapable in the midst of a pretty barebones story, it isn't boring, but it could have amounted to a lot more, particularly as the final showdown is so thrillingly chaotic and brutal. No wonder, as the set pieces were all choreographed by John Woo, they shine amidst the chaotic production and how much this film was torn apart in the edit. With some great performances, especially Mira Sorvino and Chow, given he was learning English at the time and a darkly hypnotic synth-driven score by Harry Gregson-Williams (later getting him the job composing for Metal Gear Solid), The Replacement Killers manages to overcome its ho-hum narrative by just being good at what it does.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
09/29/23
Full Review
matthew d
Mira Sorvino and Chow Yun-fat are effortlessly cool.
Director Antoine Fuqua's action crime thriller The Replacement Killers (1998) rivals his seminal picture Training Day for Fuqua's finest film. Maybe I just miss the 90's, but the darker, stripped down music and gritty atmosphere makes The Replacement Killers one of those rare forgotten powerhouses of blazing shootouts, deep emotional characters, and sheer hazy directorial style. I love how colorful Fuqua makes the neon lights and endless foggy smoke fade into shots throughout The Replacement Killers. Fuqua cascades his characters in shadows, steam, and a hail of bullets with nonstop shootouts for riveting action sequences. The Replacement Killers will make you want to seek out more of Antoine Fuqua's features and certainly see Chow Yun-fat as an action hero like John Wick with a sincere heart. Mira Sorvino is supremely sexy, cool, funny, and unforgettable in The Replacement Killers.
Fuqua's direction is enthralling with characters meeting and immediately getting stuck in a firefight of endless bullets, jumping through breakable glass windows, and putting innocents in harm's way. Writer Ken Sanzel's script is simple and efficient with Chow Yun-fat's professional hitman finding a conscience because he does not want to gun down a 7 year old boy while he's in his father's arms for the sake of a Chinese Triad vengeance killing. Having the Triad chasing down Chow Yun-fat until he brings the bullets to his tormentors is a great plot and the characters feel very sympathetic and real. The raw emotional drama elevates the fiery action for a fearsome and brisk 87 minutes that wastes no time.
Editor Jay Cassidy's sharp cuts move from carefully framed shot to shot for a moody and gritty feel. I always felt like I knew where each shooter was located in a room or on a balcony due to Cassidy's economical cutting style. You get just the shots you need without sitting around in a shootout. The Replacement Killers is artfully shot by cinematographer Peter Lyons Collister. His sleek wide shots of empty hallways and desolate environments are as striking as his stunning close-up shots that hold on the tender moments.
Chow Yun-fat is simply perfect as hardened killer John Lee, who cannot in good conscience keep killing children for no reason. His conflicted feelings are earnest and his slick quickdraw and rapid fire pistol work is impressive. Chow Yun-fat was a born action hero and you get a glimpse of his Hong Kong heroism in The Replacement Killers before his Hollywood drama roles became his calling card in the West. He is subtle and sorrowful with a reckless abandon perfect for action packed shootouts.
Mira Sorvino is gorgeous, charming, and cool as passport forger and fierce gunslinger Meg Coburn. I love that she actually helps Chow Yun-fat out during the shootouts. I wish she was the lead actress in more films as she's a captivating femme fatale and a wickedly awesome heroine in The Replacement Killers. Her dramatic acting is as touching as Chow Yun-fat here to be honest.
Michael Rooker's tough guy Detective Stan "Zeedo" Zedkov is a fun foil. Zeedo is just trying to route crime and it's funny that he's utterly unaware of what is really happening until it's too late. Kenneth Tsang is cruel and callous as Triad head Terence Wei. His ruthless quest for revenge leads to the deaths of everyone involved. Jürgen Prochnow is surly and evil as Triad henchman Michael Kogan.
Til Schweiger's Ryker and Danny Trejo's Collins replacement killers are fearsome and have a clear love of violence even with like one line of dialogue between them. Clifton Collins, Jr. is unhinged and hilarious as gun smuggler and arcade frequenter Loco. Frank Medrano is like a walking Sopranos joke as the portly Italian passport forger for the Triad named Eddie Rawlins. Randall Duk Kim is very moving as the kind monk Alan Chan. Yau-Gene Chan is crazy in The Replacement Killer's full throttle opener as Triad son Peter Wei.
Production designer Naomi Shohan creates torn up apartment buildings and a shrine to Buddha in a temple for a gritty impoverished LA and a neon lit Chinatown. David Lazan shows off Triad hideouts and dark alleyways with equal Gothic nighttime imagery. Clare Scarpulla and Evette Knight's set decoration has computers for forging passports and gun props aplenty for Chow Yun-fat and Mira Sorvino to use to gun down every single bad guy in their path. Kelley Ray's visual effects lean into surprisingly realistic gunshots and explosively exaggerated blasts and collateral damage for fun.
Composer Harry Gregson-Williams provides a dark and atmospheric score that roars to life for the action sequences. I love the alternative sounding music throughout The Replacement Killers that permeates every scene. Sound designers Christopher Assells, Per Hallberg, Steve Jablonsky, Paul Massey, Doug Hemphill, Peter Michael Sullivan, Matt Patterson, Karen Baker Landers, Dan Hegeman, Dennis Johnson, Scott Wolf, and Gregg Silk create a cacophony of gunshot noises. There's pistol and machine gun fire all throughout The Replacement Killers with a massive echoing noise barrier.
Costume designers Arianne Phillips, Larry Velasco, and Wendy M. Craig gives Chow Yun-fat and every bad guy a cool long trench coat and chic style. Mira Sorvino's sultry outfits are 90's fashionable with a sexy red blouse held together by a single pin with black lingerie underneath. I love her long blonde hair here as Mira has never looked sexier in a film besides Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. Make-up artists Katalin Elek, Zoltan Elek, and Collier Strong give Mira the 90's Rachel from Friends hairstyle with more flourish and plush red lipstick that's breathtaking on a beautiful actress.
In all, The Replacement Killers is visceral with intensely entertaining action and sheer cool style.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
carlos t
Minha opinião: Um filme de 1998 e você pode assistir nos dias de hoje que não sentira diferença. Um clássico filme ao estilo #chinês de #máfia e #vingança O tempero não muda, mas bem feito. Boa atuação Cho Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino que na época bem jovem e linda. Temos também Michael Rooker, Danny Trejo. Muito tiro ao estilo dos filmes de #JohnWoo Conta a estória onde a policia com Michael faz uma batida e acaba matando o filho de um grande mafioso. O mafioso então contra Chow que é um matador para vingar e matar o filho do policial. Mas na hora ele não executa. Então em vingança o mafioso agora esta atrás dele e do filho do Michael. Chow quer fugir para China para salvar sua família e contrata uma falsificadora de passaporte. Ai surge na estória Mira, que não tem nada a haver com estória, mas é envolvida pela máfia, e ela começa a afeiçoar por Chow. E ajuda ele a matar o chefão. Nisso ele contrata outros matadores, entre eles Danny. E chega ao final do filme com muito tiro, muita morte. E claro no final o mocinho vence. Vale apena assistir.
Roteiro: Apesar do roteiro não trazer novidade, ele é bem feito. Oque faz da produção boa para assistir.
Nota: 7
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
LOL, the best of now-English speaking Chow Yun-Fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I don't know what the hate is about, I love this as an action movie. I will admit as a soldier I think the two gun thing belongs in action movies and anime, because it is functional stupid, but it is part of the art in this movie. It is like any Chinese martial art movie (in this case pistol being the art), very stylized, but there is a beauty to it. There is more soul in this movie than you would think. It is not a western aesthetic, if you are looking for Clint Eastwood you will rate it low. If you were looking for Crouching Tiger hidden Beretta, you will be in love.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/18/23
Full Review
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