Other Titles • The Killer • Die xue shuang xiong (1989) • Bloodshed of Two Heroes • Just Heroes • Blast Killer (1989) • Diexue Shuang Xiong
Synopses for The Killer (1989)
1.
John Woo's 1989 Hong Kong action classic, a stylish, bullet-riddled elegy to friendship under fire, firmly established him as the maestro of mayhem. Superstar Chow Yun-Fat, Asia's king of cool, plays the most charming hit man ever (and yes, he only takes contracts on those who deserve it), but when one of his killings leaves an innocent nightclub singer (Sally Yeh) blinded, he dedicates his life to giving her back her sight. Danny Lee is the cop on his tail, but the two adversaries become unlikely comrades when the mob decides to cancel its debt to Chow by taking him out, leading to a beautifully filmed and incredibly violent confrontation. Woo places the showdown in a church and punctuates the acrobatic gunfight with images of religious icons, flying doves, and burning candles. An ode to Jean-Pierre Melville's existential gangster classic Le Samouria, Woo's delirious mix of melodrama and stylized action recalls the balletic bloodletting of Sam Peckinpah, the elegant camerawork of Martin Scorsese, and the operatic, larger-than-life grandeur of Sergio Leone. Woo's love of American musicals (and his own background as a dance instructor) adds a touch of grace to the fluid choreography of the action scenes. In terms of sheer action, Woo topped himself a few years later with Hard-Boiled, his Hong Kong swan song, but most critics still rate The Killer as his masterpiece. --Sean Axmaker
(47 votes)
2.
One Vicious Hitman. One Fierce Cop. Ten Thousand Bullets.
Explosive, bold and mind-blowing, The Killer is a pulse-stopping action sensation more bullet-riddled than any movie in history.
Jeffrey is The Killer, the ultimate hitman, hired by the mob for one last job. Lee is the relentless cop, a maverick whose mission is to stop The Killer at any cost. The two enemies form a strange and powerful bond that blurs the line between good and evil.
When Jeffrey is double-crossed by the mob in a blazing shootout, Lee finally picks up The Killer's trail in a church while Jeffrey's beautiful mistress is caught in the crossfire. An arsenal of automatic weapons flair in a bloody date with destiny.
(45 votes)
3.
One vicious hitman. One fierce cop. 10,000 bullets.
In this bloody tale of loyalty and friendship, Chow Yun-Fat is Jeffrey, an assassin who wishes to leave the business so he can take care of Jennie, the beautiful lounge singer who he inadvertently blinded during a previous assignment. Danny Lee is the determined cop who will stop at nothing to bring him in, only he realizes that Jeffrey is no ordinary assassin, and wishes to help him in his quest. Only problem is that Jeffrey's employers refuse to pay him for his last job, money which is needed to restore Jennie's eyesight.
(50 votes)
4.
When Jeffrey, a hit man, accidentally blinds a young nightclub chanteuse, his guilt makes him leave the racket to take care of her. Falling in love with the vulnerable singer, he eventually agrees to do one last hit to raise the money needed for a cornea transplant that might restore her vision. His assignment is to assassinate mob leader Tony Weng during the crowded Dragon Boat Festival. The hit is successful, despite all the police protection, and he almost gets away. But a child is injured during his escape, and Jeffrey nearly gets caught while taking the time to drive her to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Because his identity was revealed while saving the child, the new crime boss now wants him killed. Refusing to pay him for the successful hit, he puts a contract out on his life instead.
(43 votes)
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