Search - Extreme Crisis on DVD

Extreme Crisis... you got that right.

Rolling Donut | Aiea, Hawaii United States | 10/16/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Bruce Law - known for his work as an action choreographer, directs his debut film Extreme Crisis... so what's the big deal? Can't think of anything right now... maybe if I watch it again and again and again (but not likely). Universe Laser and Video Company released this DVD under their label - so you can expect great quality video, sound and DVD extras (trailers, making of, multiple languages and subtitles, stars files, etc. etc.)The movie itself is a big budget, Hong Kong version of Die Hard and The Rock - both of which are far more superior films. In fact, it has so much similarities between the two - that it starts to look like a shameless rip-off. What's the difference between a rip off and an inspired idea? An inspired idea actually makes the film better... a rip-off usually makes the film worse. This is a pretty bad film with some good moments thrown in between.The action scenes are well done with one exception - the sound editing. Gun shots do not match and the music drones on over the sounds of battle. I can only assume that Law was trying to make the scenes more dramatic... but he fails miserably. It's not often where a film's sound and music makes the movie worse... but this is a good example.The cast is pretty strong - with Chinese and Japanese leads. Stars include Cheung Chi Lam, Theresa Lee, Shu Qi, and Ken Sawada. The problem is that the actors have very little time to develop while things are getting blown up, or while they're getting killed - whichever, I lost track while watching the movie. The film is pretty brutal - taking no prisoners... expect the body count to be pretty high. Law even disgraces the Hong Kong SDU unit by wiping them out at the end... which is pretty lame (an entire team gets wiped out by two Japanese terrorists... In a scene that rips off The Rock in exact detail)Other problems include the languages the actors speak. Law prefers the Japanese actors to speak English... and the result is pretty bad. Most of the movie is done in Cantonese and English (very bad English). Use the subtitles... you're gonna need them - although the subtitles are also pretty bad).OK, I think I should stop bashing the movie and point out what's good (I did give it three stars). The big budget pays off with the beautiful explosions and special effects. The cinematography is also decent during some of the action scenes. Some of the stunts are also cool to watch - especially the ending with the elevator shaft.Overall, most people will choose to pass this movie. But some might want to check it out - you action buffs out there especially. Not everyone will hate this movie... but almost no one will like it."