In recent years, several attempts have been made to adapt the manhua comic “City of darkness” for the big screen, probably the most famous of which is the version with Donnie Yen, which was supposed to be released in 2013. It seemed that this would never happen, but, fortunately, the film was released (without Donnie Yen) more than a decade later in the form of “Sieges of Kowloon” (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In). The second part of the name [in the original] refers to the Kowloon Walled City, a disenfranchised neighborhood densely packed with buildings on 2,6 hectares, which was demolished in 1993. Kowloon has been featured numerous times in Hong Kong films, ranging from the Shaw Brothers crime thriller “Brothers from Kowloon” 1982, and ending with the film Jackie Chan "Criminal history” 1993, filmed in abandoned ruins.
Although the town itself has been gone for over 30 years, the filmmakers spared no expense in recreating its narrow, sun-drenched alleys and multi-layered social structure. It's hard to imagine a more suitable director for this than Chin Pou-Soi. He has always been most successful in dark crime stories, his films “Dog bites dog” And "Shamo” The mid-2000s remain the pinnacle of his career. After being invited to the company Johnny To Milkyway Image, Rank unexpectedly switched to a bright trilogy “monkey king” in the mid-2010s, which was a far cry from the dark themes of his previous works. However, with filmsLimbo” 2021 and “Seer” In 2023, he returned to his dark themes again.
"The Siege of Kowloon" was the first film Pou Soi in the martial arts genre since 2015, when he directed “SPL Stars of Destiny 2“. This time, Donnie Yen was replaced as fight choreographer by Yen's student. Kenji Tanigaki, who has successfully worked on five films in recent years “Rogue Kenshin” (2012–2021) in Japan and made his directorial debut with “Exit the Fat Dragon” with Donnie Yen in 2020. Tanigaki is at the peak of his career and is given one of the biggest opportunities to work with, including kung fu film legends such as Sammo Hung.
Set in the 1980s, Kowloon Siege follows a mainland refugee recently arrived in Hong Kong, played by Raymond Lam. He makes a living by participating in illegal fights. At the beginning of the film, his next fight attracts the attention of the triad leader, played by Sammo Hung. Hong offers Lam a Hong Kong ID in exchange for joining their organization. Lam refuses and ends up being deceived, his retaliatory actions anger Hungg's henchmen, who are led by Philip Ng. Lam finds himself on the run and accidentally ends up in the maze of the Walled City, controlled by a rival triad led by Louis Koo.
After being beaten for trespassing, when it becomes clear that Lam just wants to make money, Koo and his inner group begin to take an interest in him, allowing him to settle in Kowloon and work various part-time jobs. However, when it is discovered that he may have a connection to the town's past, destroyed by bloody turf wars, the fragile peace is shattered and violence returns with disastrous consequences.
The film is over 2 hours long and Pou Soi gives the story room to progress. After a couple of nail-biting action scenes in the first 15 minutes, the first half “Sieges of Kowloon” is dedicated to Lam’s adaptation to a new environment. This is a wise decision that allows the audience to get to know Lam's character better and get to know the walled city and its many inhabitants. The Kowloon setting almost becomes a character in its own right, creating a believable world that transcends CGI.
As the action gradually picks up in the second half of the film, it lives up to expectations, albeit with the caveat that the film's aesthetic reflects its manhua origins. If at the beginning the fight scenes are of a harsh nature, with blows to the face from glass and dislocations of shoulders, then later they are more reminiscent of a manhua adaptation, as in the 2006 film “Dragon and Tiger Gate“. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it may be a bit of a dissonance for those expecting a more gritty style. The film is far from the second coming of kung fu cinema that some were hoping for, but expecting that from a Pou-Soi film would be a mistake.
It's definitely nice to see Sammo Hunga back in action, a living legend of kung fu cinema (and Hong Kong cinema in general). Many have already come to terms with the fact that “Old bodyguard2016 will be his last action film, so seeing him back on screen after 8 years is a treat. Yes, he has a stunt double (he’s 72!), but the staging of his fight with Louis Koo hides it. Plus, he plays a triad villain, something we haven't seen since his roles in “SPL” And "Deadly ShaG".
The only criticism of “The Siege of Kowloon” may be its somewhat lengthy length, since the main plot does not appear until towards the middle, and it is based on a lot of coincidences (although for those familiar with the original this may not matter). Also for those who haven't watched the trailers, the ascension Philipa Ng to the main villain may not seem entirely justified. He divides his screen time between threats and fits of laughter, and his role as the big boss's invulnerable right-hand man seems perfectly cast. However, when he becomes the main villain, the emotional involvement in his defeat decreases slightly.
However, these are minor quibbles in what is basically an entertaining throwback to the type of films that Hong Kong was famous for. Featuring supporting actors such as Aaron Kwok и Richie Ren, "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” proves that Hong Kong cinema is far from dead. Chin Pou-Soi hasn't missed a beat in the 2020s and let's hope it continues that way.
Paul Bramhall Rating: 7/10
Posted by Paul Bramhall (CityOnFire)
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Tags: Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Aaron Kwok, Kenji Tanigaki, Louis Koo, Richie Ren, Raymond Lam, Sammo Hung, Philip Ng, Chin Pou-Soi
Tags: Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Aaron Kwok, Kenji Tanigaki, Louis Koo, Richie Ren, Raymond Lam, Sammo Hung, Philip Ng, Chin Pou-Soi
Hopefully it will be released digitally in a couple of months.
Where can I watch it? I can not find.
The film has not yet reached us.
The film is worth watching just for Sammo Hung. I have been following the career of Louis Koo since the early 1990s and it reminds me very much of the career of Andy Lau. It looks like he will soon replace the latter. From a handsome model and an idol, he evolved into a powerful actor, and it seems that when he reached the level where he began to choose his own roles, he enjoys the images of scoundrels. So is Aaron Kwok.