Full Alert (film)
Encyclopedia
Full Alert is a 1997 film directed and co-written by Ringo Lam
. The film's plot is set in 1997 when cops find a corpse and bomb chemicals, Inspector Pao (Lau Ching-wan) arrests suspect Mak Kwan (Francis Ng
) hoping that his girlfriend will lead them to his Taiwanese gang, but Mak makes an escape and the girlfriend makes off for Macao. Pao then figures that the gang will go for the $230 million at the Hong Kong Jockey club while Mak plans his escape from prison.
Full Alert was shown at both the Rotterdam Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival in 1997. It was nominated for five awards at the seventeenth Hong Kong Film Awards
.
The Region 2 DVD for Full Alert was released on July 17, 2000. It included a Ringo Lam filmography and the film's theatrical trailer. The BBC
referred to DVD's image quality as more poor than average mainstream DVDs but has suffered less print damage than other Hong Kong films.
for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Lau Ching-wan), Best Editing (Marco Mak
and Angie Lam), and Best sound. At the 4th Hong Kong Film Critics Society
Awards, Full Alert won the award for best film and best actor (Lau Ching-wan).
Outside of Hong Kong, the New York Times praised the film, calling it "one of the best new Hong Kong cop stories (rivaled only by Benny Chan's Big Bullet
)" and praising the plot and characters as "well-drawn" and the camerawork as "Mr. Lam's best". Variety
gave the film a positive review noting that Ringo Lam "invests the outwardly formulaic crimer with dark character play and a visceral power that are new in his career." A review from the BBC
gave the film three stars out of five calling it "far more entertaining" than Ringo Lam's previous film Maximum Risk
and that the film "has its moments".
Ringo Lam
Ringo Lam Ling-Tung , born in 1955 is a Hong Kong film director, producer and scriptwriter.He is known for gritty, dark and realistic action thrillers. He was born in Hong Kong and studied film at York University film school in Toronto...
. The film's plot is set in 1997 when cops find a corpse and bomb chemicals, Inspector Pao (Lau Ching-wan) arrests suspect Mak Kwan (Francis Ng
Francis Ng
-Career:Like so many of Hong Kong's actors, Ng has his roots in television. He graduated from TVB's training classes in 1985. He acted in minor roles working gradually upwards in the television hierarchy, but his looks did not fit in the conventional leading man role...
) hoping that his girlfriend will lead them to his Taiwanese gang, but Mak makes an escape and the girlfriend makes off for Macao. Pao then figures that the gang will go for the $230 million at the Hong Kong Jockey club while Mak plans his escape from prison.
Full Alert was shown at both the Rotterdam Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival in 1997. It was nominated for five awards at the seventeenth Hong Kong Film Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
.
Plot
Mak Kwan (Francis Ng) is an expert in bombs. After killing off his partner, he is arrested by police officer Pao (Lau Ching-wan). His girlfriend, Chung Lai-hung (Amanda Lee) informs the head of the gang that Mak is being held by the police. Since mafia leader fears that Mak will reveal their plans, and promises to rescue Mak with his underling and Chan Wah. Knowing the leader's plan, Pao prepares for the battle. Although the mafia leader cannot get to Kwan, they manage to kill Pao's subordinate Yung. Pao and his subordinate Bill are upset over Yung's death and swear to get revenge. Chan Wah is also killed by the gang leader to frame Pao. Meanwhile, Kwan escapes from prison with the assistance of a fellow prisoner. As he grows to understand Kwan's personality, Pao waits for Mak at the Jockey Club. Kwan reacts by tying up Pao's family. When he sneaks into the Jockey Club and takes the money, the head gang leader then wants to kill him so that he can take the whole portion of the money for himself. This leads to Mak killing the leader. Mak takes the money with Lai-hung but is followed by Pao. As they battle each other, Pao shoots Lai-hung. Kwan cannot handle her death and shoots himself.Release
Full Alert was released in Hong Kong on July 18, 1997 and earned a total of HK$ 14,691,880 in the box office. In 1997, the film was shown at the Rotterdam Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival.The Region 2 DVD for Full Alert was released on July 17, 2000. It included a Ringo Lam filmography and the film's theatrical trailer. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
referred to DVD's image quality as more poor than average mainstream DVDs but has suffered less print damage than other Hong Kong films.
Reception
In Hong Kong, the film received five nominations at the seventeenth Hong Kong Film AwardsHong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Lau Ching-wan), Best Editing (Marco Mak
Marco Mak
Marco Mak Chi-Sin is a Hong Kong film editor, director, production manager, actor, screenwriter, film producer, music composer and assistant director.-Director:* The Blood Rules * Love Correction * A Gambler's Story...
and Angie Lam), and Best sound. At the 4th Hong Kong Film Critics Society
Hong Kong Film Critics Society
The Hong Kong Film Critics Society , founded in 1995, is the first organization of film critics and professionals in Hong Kong. It is also a member of FIPRESCI.-History:...
Awards, Full Alert won the award for best film and best actor (Lau Ching-wan).
Outside of Hong Kong, the New York Times praised the film, calling it "one of the best new Hong Kong cop stories (rivaled only by Benny Chan's Big Bullet
Big Bullet
Big Bullet is a 1996 action film directed, produced and co-written by Benny Chan. The film won awards for film editing at the 1996 Golden Horse Film Festival and the 16th Hong Kong Film Awards.-Plot:...
)" and praising the plot and characters as "well-drawn" and the camerawork as "Mr. Lam's best". Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
gave the film a positive review noting that Ringo Lam "invests the outwardly formulaic crimer with dark character play and a visceral power that are new in his career." A review from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
gave the film three stars out of five calling it "far more entertaining" than Ringo Lam's previous film Maximum Risk
Maximum Risk
Maximum Risk is a 1996 American action film directed by Ringo Lam. The film starred Jean-Claude Van Damme and Natasha Henstridge.-Plot:Alain Moreau is a cop in Nice, France. Alain is at a funeral that is being held for a fellow cop, when Alain’s partner Sebastien shows up...
and that the film "has its moments".