Fatal Move
Encyclopedia
Fatal Move is a 2008
Hong Kong
action
crime film
written, produced and directed by Dennis Law
. The film features a large ensemble cast
which includes Sammo Hung
, Simon Yam
and Wu Jing, who reunite after 2005's SPL: Sha Po Lang
. The film focuses on a Triad gang led by brothers Lin Ho-Lung and Lin Ho-Tung (Hung and Yam), which faces a series of double-crossings, and violent misfortunes. Danny Lee co-stars in the film, returning in his first feature film role after four years, once again playing a Hong Kong police officer. Fatal Move was released in Hong Kong on 26 February 2008.
Liu Chi-Chung arrives outside of the club with his colleagues, warning the gang of throwing any parties without the police's consent.
Police officers raid a drug shipment involving Tung, Lung’s right-hand man and assassin, Lok Tin-Hung, and Wu, a drug dealer. A gunfight ensues between both the police and triads, resulting in Wu’s arrest. As Wu remains uncooperative with the police, his wife Tracy (Pinky Cheung) talks with Soso, threatening to have Wu expose Lung's gang, if she does not receive $20 million. Tung and Tin-Hung torture Tracy, who reveals that the threat was bogus and that her secret lover coerced her into creating a lie so she could flee with him once she had gotten the money. The gang executes Tracy’s lover, and breaks into police headquarters to assassinate Wu. Various police officers and Triad gang members are killed as the Triads try to escape the precinct.
Soso and Fat are revealed to be blackmailing Lung and his gang. They orchestrate a kidnapping of Lung's financial backer, Uncle Yu (Hui Shiu-Hung
). After receiving $200 million from Lung, Soso and Fat kill the hired kidnappers and Uncle Yu to cover their tracks.
Lung and Tung eventually start a war against a rival Triad gang whom they suspect was responsible for the murder. Lung later has a meeting with his rival, Flirt (Tam Ping-Man), a gang leader who reveals he had nothing to do with Yu’s death. Tung learns about Soso and Fat's role in Yu's killing. Lung goes after the couple, resulting in a shootout. After Fat is eliminated, Lung catches up to Soso whom he refuses to kill, after she expresses her bitterness about her inability to conceive and Lung's decision to have a child from a mistress. She is later arrested by the police.
Lung and Tin-Hung are trapped in a warehouse and surrounded by the police outside. Knowing that they will be unable to escape, Tin-Hung mentions that he was never convinced by the stories that claim Lung was an "invincible fighter." Lung accepts Tin-Hung's challenge. The fight ends with Lung impaling Tin-Hung with a pipe. While dying, Tin-Hung expresses that he forgives Lung, and hopes that he will soon join him after he dies. Refusing to surrender to the police, Lung walks out of the warehouse, armed with machine guns. He intimidates the police
by firing the weapons, and is shot to death.
As Soso is serving prison time, assassins disguised as painters slit her throat. Tung attempts to flee with Lung's mistress and their baby son. They arrive at a beach, presumably to escape via boat. Tung asks her to wait while he looks for the boat. Several shadowy figures approach the mistress. The ending is left ambiguous as the last shot of the film is a silencer aiming at Tung. It is uncertain as to who orders the assassinations.
, with initially the same crew and several actors he used to make the 2006 film Fatal Contact
. The film is a Hong Kong production distributed by China Star Entertainment Group
, and produced by One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
, along with Law's production company Point of View Movie Production Co. Ltd. The film was executive produced by Charles Heung
, whose son Jacky Heung
appears in the film in a supporting role. Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Herman Yau
, who has frequently collaborated with Law and Heung, served as a cinematographer, while Nicky Li, a member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team
served as a fight and stunt choreographer. Fatal Move was shot with a budget of HK$20 million.
Law originally wanted the film to be a sequel
to SPL: Sha Po Lang
, which would focus on the Sammo Hung
character for that film. Law then realized that the prequel
/sequel idea had limited potential, especially when he wanted to show the relationship between the Sammo Hung and Wu Jing characters from SPL. Though it has themes similar to SPL, and reunites Wu Jing and Sammo Hung, Law’s Fatal Move is a completely original work.
For his film, Law wanted to set his sights on North America
n audiences, by assembling a cast of familiar actor
s that are best known to them, such as Sammo Hung
, Ken Lo
, Simon Yam
and Danny Lee. Law believes that the martial arts
scenes are the strongest asset of Fatal Move, in particular, the major weapon fight scene between Sammo Hung and Wu Jing.
Filming occurred for two months in Hong Kong, beginning with a production inauguration on 1 August 2007.
for its execessive amount of violence. The film was not given a release in Mainland China
, since Law refused to compromise by editing a tamer version that conforms to their strict censorship.
Hong Kong films of 2008
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 2008:.-2008:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2008 at...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
action
Hong Kong action cinema
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. It combines elements from the action film, as codified by Hollywood, with Chinese storytelling and aesthetic traditions, to create a culturally distinctive form that nevertheless has a wide transcultural...
crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
written, produced and directed by Dennis Law
Dennis Law Sau-Yiu
Dennis Law Sau-yiu is a Hong Kong film producer, screenwriter and director. He is the former chairman and executive director of Milkyway Image, and a founder of its subsidiary company Point of View Movie Production Co. Ltd...
. The film features a large ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
which includes Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
, Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
and Wu Jing, who reunite after 2005's SPL: Sha Po Lang
SPL: Sha Po Lang
SPL: Sha Po Lang , , is a 2005 Hong Kong martial arts and crime film written and directed by Wilson Yip, starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Simon Yam and Jing Wu...
. The film focuses on a Triad gang led by brothers Lin Ho-Lung and Lin Ho-Tung (Hung and Yam), which faces a series of double-crossings, and violent misfortunes. Danny Lee co-stars in the film, returning in his first feature film role after four years, once again playing a Hong Kong police officer. Fatal Move was released in Hong Kong on 26 February 2008.
Plot
Triad boss Lin Ho-Lung is celebrating his son's first birthday, the child having been conceived from his mistress. The party, however, is interrupted when Police InspectorInspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
Liu Chi-Chung arrives outside of the club with his colleagues, warning the gang of throwing any parties without the police's consent.
Police officers raid a drug shipment involving Tung, Lung’s right-hand man and assassin, Lok Tin-Hung, and Wu, a drug dealer. A gunfight ensues between both the police and triads, resulting in Wu’s arrest. As Wu remains uncooperative with the police, his wife Tracy (Pinky Cheung) talks with Soso, threatening to have Wu expose Lung's gang, if she does not receive $20 million. Tung and Tin-Hung torture Tracy, who reveals that the threat was bogus and that her secret lover coerced her into creating a lie so she could flee with him once she had gotten the money. The gang executes Tracy’s lover, and breaks into police headquarters to assassinate Wu. Various police officers and Triad gang members are killed as the Triads try to escape the precinct.
Soso and Fat are revealed to be blackmailing Lung and his gang. They orchestrate a kidnapping of Lung's financial backer, Uncle Yu (Hui Shiu-Hung
Benz Hui
Benz Hui Shiu-hung is a Hong Kong actor who currently works on the TV station TVB. He used to work on ATV before switching over to TVB.-Family background:...
). After receiving $200 million from Lung, Soso and Fat kill the hired kidnappers and Uncle Yu to cover their tracks.
Lung and Tung eventually start a war against a rival Triad gang whom they suspect was responsible for the murder. Lung later has a meeting with his rival, Flirt (Tam Ping-Man), a gang leader who reveals he had nothing to do with Yu’s death. Tung learns about Soso and Fat's role in Yu's killing. Lung goes after the couple, resulting in a shootout. After Fat is eliminated, Lung catches up to Soso whom he refuses to kill, after she expresses her bitterness about her inability to conceive and Lung's decision to have a child from a mistress. She is later arrested by the police.
Lung and Tin-Hung are trapped in a warehouse and surrounded by the police outside. Knowing that they will be unable to escape, Tin-Hung mentions that he was never convinced by the stories that claim Lung was an "invincible fighter." Lung accepts Tin-Hung's challenge. The fight ends with Lung impaling Tin-Hung with a pipe. While dying, Tin-Hung expresses that he forgives Lung, and hopes that he will soon join him after he dies. Refusing to surrender to the police, Lung walks out of the warehouse, armed with machine guns. He intimidates the police
Suicide by cop
Suicide by cop is a suicide method in which a suicidal individual deliberately acts in a threatening way, with the goal of provoking a lethal response from a law enforcement officer or other armed individual, such as being shot to death....
by firing the weapons, and is shot to death.
As Soso is serving prison time, assassins disguised as painters slit her throat. Tung attempts to flee with Lung's mistress and their baby son. They arrive at a beach, presumably to escape via boat. Tung asks her to wait while he looks for the boat. Several shadowy figures approach the mistress. The ending is left ambiguous as the last shot of the film is a silencer aiming at Tung. It is uncertain as to who orders the assassinations.
Cast
- Sammo HungSammo HungSammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
as Lin Ho-Lung - Simon YamSimon YamSimon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
as Lin Ho-Tung - Tien Niu as Leung Yuet-Lin / Soso
- Carisa Yan as Lisa
- Danny Lee as Senior Inspector Liu Chi-Chung
- Maggie Shiu as Inspector Janet Liu Mei-Chun
- Wu Jing as Lok Tin-Hung
- Cheung Siu-FaiCheung Siu-FaiEddie Cheung Siu-fai is a Hong Kong actor best known for his many supporting or everyman roles similar to Liu Kai-chi.-Filmography:-TV series:-External links:* on Sina Weibo* at the Hong Kong Cinemagic* on LoveHKFilm.com...
as Law Ting-Fat - Ken LoKen LoKen Low Wai-kwong is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist and a ex-member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.-Early life:...
as Lau Kwok-Wai / Wu (as Kenneth Low) - Hui Shiu-HungBenz HuiBenz Hui Shiu-hung is a Hong Kong actor who currently works on the TV station TVB. He used to work on ATV before switching over to TVB.-Family background:...
as 'Uncle' Tong Lai-Yu - Fung Hak On as 'Uncle' Li Chun Tong (as Fung Har On)
- Johnny Chen as Jacky Ho Wing-Kit
- Pinky Cheung as Tracy
- Lam SuetLam SuetLam Suet is a Hong Kong actor.-Biography:Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after all the money had been squandered and Lam had to work various odd jobs to make a living.In the mid-eighties he got employment...
as Wong Shu-Chor/'Fat Ball' - Wong Tin-LamWong Tin-LamWong Tin-Lam was a Chinese screenwriter, producer, director, and actor, who has contributed a lot to the Hong Kong cinema scene with a career spanning six decades...
as Ma Wing-Ying/Uncle Dee - Tam Ping-Man as Flirt Lok Ki-Cheong
- Jacky HeungJacky HeungJacky Heung Cho is a Hong Kong actor. He is the son of film producer/presenter Charles Heung, and the nephew of Jimmy Heung.-Filmography:-External links:*...
as Kwok Chi-Hang - Anthony Carpio as Lung's Man (uncredited)
- Chan Tat-kwong as Soso's Man (uncredited)
Production
Fatal Move reunites writer, producer and director Dennis LawDennis Law Sau-Yiu
Dennis Law Sau-yiu is a Hong Kong film producer, screenwriter and director. He is the former chairman and executive director of Milkyway Image, and a founder of its subsidiary company Point of View Movie Production Co. Ltd...
, with initially the same crew and several actors he used to make the 2006 film Fatal Contact
Fatal Contact (film)
Fatal Contact is a 2006 Hong Kong martial arts film that was written and directed by Dennis Law and stars Wu Jing as a young man who is trained with the fighting techniques of Sanshou martial arts, and lured into the world of illegal martial arts fighting...
. The film is a Hong Kong production distributed by China Star Entertainment Group
China Star Entertainment Group
China Star Entertainment Group is a Hong Kong film production company and film distributor. It was established in 1992 by film producer Charles Heung, and has been known as a huge distributor and film producer of films made mostly in Cantonese dialect....
, and produced by One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd. is a Hong Kong film production company. It is a subsidiary for Hong Kong film distributor China Star Entertainment Group. The company was formed by Charles Heung in 1999.-Company:...
, along with Law's production company Point of View Movie Production Co. Ltd. The film was executive produced by Charles Heung
Charles Heung
Charles Heung Wah-Keung is a Hong Kong actor-turned-film producer and presenter. As founder of Win's Entertainment in the 1980s and China Star Entertainment Group in the 1990s, he has helped established the careers of various cinematic icons in Hong Kong that include Stephen Chow, Chow Yun-fat,...
, whose son Jacky Heung
Jacky Heung
Jacky Heung Cho is a Hong Kong actor. He is the son of film producer/presenter Charles Heung, and the nephew of Jimmy Heung.-Filmography:-External links:*...
appears in the film in a supporting role. Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Herman Yau
Herman Yau
Herman Yau Lai-To , born 1961 in Hong Kong is a film director, actor, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer.-Background:A Chiuchow by origin, Yau studied film at The Department of Communications, Hong Kong Baptist College from 1981 to 1984 where he spent much of his early days hanging out...
, who has frequently collaborated with Law and Heung, served as a cinematographer, while Nicky Li, a member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team
Jackie Chan Stunt Team
The Jackie Chan Stunt Team , also known as Jackie Chan's Stuntmen Association is a group of stuntmen and martial artists who work alongside Jackie Chan.-History:...
served as a fight and stunt choreographer. Fatal Move was shot with a budget of HK$20 million.
Law originally wanted the film to be a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to SPL: Sha Po Lang
SPL: Sha Po Lang
SPL: Sha Po Lang , , is a 2005 Hong Kong martial arts and crime film written and directed by Wilson Yip, starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Simon Yam and Jing Wu...
, which would focus on the Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
character for that film. Law then realized that the prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
/sequel idea had limited potential, especially when he wanted to show the relationship between the Sammo Hung and Wu Jing characters from SPL. Though it has themes similar to SPL, and reunites Wu Jing and Sammo Hung, Law’s Fatal Move is a completely original work.
For his film, Law wanted to set his sights on North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n audiences, by assembling a cast of familiar actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s that are best known to them, such as Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
, Ken Lo
Ken Lo
Ken Low Wai-kwong is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist and a ex-member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.-Early life:...
, Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
and Danny Lee. Law believes that the martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
scenes are the strongest asset of Fatal Move, in particular, the major weapon fight scene between Sammo Hung and Wu Jing.
Filming occurred for two months in Hong Kong, beginning with a production inauguration on 1 August 2007.
Category III rating
The film was awarded a Category III ratingHong Kong motion picture rating system
The Hong Kong motion picture rating system is a legal system of movie screening and rating. An official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong movie theatres.-History:...
for its execessive amount of violence. The film was not given a release in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, since Law refused to compromise by editing a tamer version that conforms to their strict censorship.