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Distributor: Universe,
Tai Seng
Format: Region 0
DVD, NTSC
Length: 96 min
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio Tracks:
Cantonese, Mandarin
Subtitles: n/a
Extras: n/a
Notes: This version contains
both the original Chinese and English-language versions of this film
on either side of the DVD. The Chinese version features Mandarin
language only with sloppy fixed English and Chinese subtitles, a
chapter index, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, and is presented uncut.
The American version features English dubbing, removable English and
Chinese subtitles, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, a chapter index, and
is cut down to 89 minutes.
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Genre(s): Martial
Arts, Action
Origin: Hong Kong
Length: 96 min
Studio(s): Golden
Harvest, Bo Ho Films
Director(s): Corey Yuen Kwai
Producer(s):
Chan Pooi-wa, Shut Mei-yee, Corey
Yuen Kwai
Action Director(s):
Tyrone Hsu Hsia,
Yuen Biao, Mang
Hoi, Corey Yuen Kwai, Jue
Wai-gwong
Writer(s): Szeto
Cheuk-Hon (script), Barry Wong Ping-yiu (script)
Cinematographer(s):
Tom Lau Moon-tong
Music:
Romeo Diaz, Sing Kam-wing
Rated:
II
(HK) - strong violence
| Cast:: |
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Yuen
Biao
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... Jason Chan |
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Cynthia
Rothrock
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... Sandy Jones |
|
Melvin
Wong Gam-san
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... Sgt.
Wong Jing-wai |
| Corey
Yuen Kwai |
... Joe Doh |
| Fan
Siu-wong |
... Sammy |
| Wu
Ma |
... Joe Doh's dad |
| Lau Siu-ming |
... Sammy's Grandfather |
| Peter
Lai Bei-dak |
... |
| Sandy Chan Yuk-han |
... Jason's girlfriend |
| Tai Bo |
... (yellow
shirt cop |
| James Tien Jun |
... Johnny Kwong |
| Chung Faat |
... cameo |
| Karen
Shepherd |
... Connie |
| Roy Chiao Hung |
... Judge |
| Peter Cunningham |
... Black Assassin |
| Paul Chang Chung |
... Four Eyes Bill/cameo |
| Terence Howard |
... |
|
Fung Lee |
... |
| Chin Yuet-sang |
... Buffalo |
| Lee King-chue |
... |
| Tyrone Hsu Hsia
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... Leung |
|
Tsang Choh-lam |
... |
| Billy Ching Sau-yat |
... cop/cameo |
| Yam
Ho |
... |
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Links: n/a
Quotes: n/a
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Righting Wrongs (1986)
AKA: Above
the Law
Premise:
After
a crime boss is set free when the key witness and his family
are murdered, a prosecutor named Hsia decides to take the law
into his own hands. After the boss is killed, police detective
Cindy Si begins hunting for the killer who turns out to be
Hsia. Yet, Hsia's unlawful deeds are overshadowed by a
criminal on the police force. When his identity is discovered,
putting the young witness's life on the line, Hsia and Cindy
find themselves teaming up to enforce their own brand of
justice.
Review: In
this remarkable take on the vigilante genre, Corey Yuen had
assembled some of the best martial arts practitioners from
Hong Kong and America to lock horns. With a ultra-grim tale of
good guys gone bad, the film explodes with enough frenzied
fights and spectacular stunts to send Charles Bronson running
for cover.
Righting
Wrongs is Hong Kong's answer to the Dirty Harry and
Charles Bronson vigilante films in the U.S. The story itself
is a rather bleak portrayal of police corruption and civil
apathy. Eventually, all of the main characters are willing to
bend the law to varying degrees to suit their needs. Yet, the
price to pay is high as few players remain alive by the end.
In fact, the original Cantonese version was dark enough to
warrant shooting new scenes for the international (Mandarin)
version. Corey Yuen's incredible choreography shines
regardless of the film's tone.
Speaking
of tone, the lighting on the film was generally not very good.
Its a small complaint but valid. Often, shots of combatants
were left in the dark with not enough highlight, slightly
diminishing otherwise excellent scenes.
Yuen
Biao was at his peak, having recently turned in excellent
performances in Sammo Hung's Eastern Condors (1986)
and Millionaire's
Express (1986). Being one of Biao's best
showcase films, there are a number of terrific sequences that
have him nimbly ducking speeding cars, trading blows with
Cynthia Rothrock, and engaging in a glass-shattering brawl
with Peter Cunningham. One of the unique features of this film
is the choice of cast. A number of American actors, namely
Rothrock, Cunningham, and an equally devastating Karen
Shepherd look just as good as their Asian counterparts. This
is thanks, in part to the incredible choreography of Corey
Yuen (Kiss of the Dragon). Cynthia Rothrock was a world champion
martial artist whose mastery of wushu, Eagle Claw, and
Northern Shaolin kung fu gave her a distinct advantage over
other American martial arts film stars. While her subsequent
American films have suffered due to inferior choreography, Righting Wrongs remains a testament to her potential on screen
and is perhaps her best role overall. Cunningham and Shepherd
have both appeared in only several inferior American films.
But once again with the right direction, these two give Biao
and Rothrock a run for their money in two excellent fight
scenes.
Even
though this film appears visually attached to the eighties, Righting
Wrongs is still great to watch and remains a good
introduction to the world of Hong Kong action cinema. The
fights are well paced and intense with terrific performances
by all the martial arts stars. Thankfully, this tempers a
dismal story of vengeance where righting a wrong doesn't make
a right and the only rule is: everybody dies.
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- Mark Pollard |
Recommendations:
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