Genre: Action

Johnnie To charges out the gate with ‘Drug War’: a blitz of tension, style and almost unrelenting momentum.

No one who claims to be a Hong Kong action cinema fan or a true Chan fan should be without a copy of this movie.

This is truly a masterpiece of the genre with Chan, who was approaching his 40th birthday at the time, on astounding form.

The weak plot and general ridiculousness are just too much to bear, and most of the star power winds up being utterly wasted.

The action ranges from the adequate to the quite good – hardly a ringing endorsement, I grant you – but suffers from that same curse of poor wirework.

The choreography is refreshing and innovative though the storyline is badly developed and cannot fall back on well-written characters.

Yuen Woo Ping weaves more choreographed magic into the narrative and allows the entire cast to show what they can do.

A poor script, uninvolving direction and some tepid fight scenes combine to test even the most forgiving viewer’s patience.

‘Duel To The Death’ is ostentatious proof director Ching Siu Tung is not someone merely told where to put the camera.

This is a sharply original love story set to incredible moving pictures. It has beautiful actors, heartfelt emotion and a genuine sense of originality.

Fun if frivolous, ‘Dynamite Warrior’ is not the best of its kind but worthwhile for the awesome combat.

‘Eagle’s Claw’ is a reminder of Lee Tso-Nam’s ability to take a potentially pedestrian storyline and fill it with shades of intrigue throughout.