Skyline Cruisers (2000)

Literally: Master Thief, The Next Generation

Director: Wilson Yip

Writer: Chan Sze-kit, Kwok Chi-kin, Zeto Kam-yuen

Producer: David Chan, Claudia Chung, Doris Tse

Cast: Leon Lai, Jordan Chan, Sam Lee, Shu Qi, Michelle Saram, Alex To, Patrick Lung, Terence Yin, Ken Wong

Running Time: 89 min.

Plot: Mac, a professional thief, shoots his partner who has killed his girlfriend in an operation. He is later caught and meets three then-small-time thieves in prison. They join together and become a top team of organized commercial thieves.

During an operation to steal a cancer vaccine, they surprisingly find a pre-set bomb in the laboratory and figure out that it is a setup against them. A mysterious girl suddenly appears...

ALEXANDER'S REVIEW: Having recently watched the films "Tokyo Raiders", "2000A.D.", '"The Blood Rules", and now "Skyline Cruisers" ("SC"),. I've finally come to the conclusion that HK action cinema has not only risen from the dead, but has surpassed the offerings of its big-budgeted American counterparts. "SC" -- while not great -- is still better than 90% of US action releases that are -- more often than not -- released straight to video and star -- more often than not -- a Sheen, Hauer, Lundgren, Snipes, Speakman, or *shudder* Van Damme and a requisite B-movie/porn starlet. But with a suspenseful plot, a hip, attractive cast, and a slew of hi-tech, innovative gadgets, "Skyline Cruisers" is as entertaining as any recent action release, Hong Kong or American.

I thoroughly enjoyed most of this film and its "M:I-2"-like story involving a gang of youthful super spies and their attempts to recover a vial that contains a supposed cure for cancer. The usual double-crosses are here and there is more than one reference to the Bond and "Mission:Impossible" franchises. While not wholly original (which films are nowadays?), "SC" still offers an entertaining blend of suspense, action, and gadgetry. Shu Qi is gorgeous and Leon Lai is ice-cool as a Bond-like uber-spy. Michelle Saram kicks some serious ass and looks great with "Run, Lola, Run" hair.

There is one absolutely ridiculous sub-plot featuring a monkey that defies logic. If simply the presence of a monkey is not absurd enough, this monkey actually saves the life of one of the characters in the film in a way that will leave you asking yourself, WHAT THE HELL?! There are also a few scenes that are so friggin' implausible - two involving roller blades and another involving a backpack that doubles as both a skateboard and air mattress -- you'll again be left asking yourself and those around you: WHAT THE HELL?! Yet despite the unusual presence of a life-saving monkey, "SC" is an entertaining ride that will certainly satisfy the action movie fan.

ALEXANDER'S RATING: 7/10

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: They're thieves that are hip, sexy, professional and slick-as-hell. Leon "pretty boy" Lai, Jordan "stoned-face" Chan, Sam "I act goofy in all my movies" Lee, Shu "I once posed nude, now I'm too good for it" Qi and Michelle "Remember me? I'm from Bullets Over Summer" Saram. All of the mentioned performers give what the film calls for: a tad of their true talent. The real talent goes to the film's MTV look and feel. Not one minute goes by without an ultra-stylized camera angle or funkdafied zoom. Definitely fun to watch. Much of the technique (and plot) credit should be given to it's inspiration - John Woo's Mission Impossible II. You can tell they were trying to top it (there's even a reference in the film) or match it if anything - but uh, how the hell do you compete with a big-budgeted Hollywood film directed by the former Hong Kong Film King himself? Well, that's easy. You can't.

Like I said, this film is fun to watch. Lots of eye candy, lots of action but I can never get enough of watching Michelle Saram in those cute little shorts of hers (I dig the red hair thing). Hey, I admit. I'm a pervert. I got every right to call myself a pervert because I must of rewound Michelle gettin' on that motor bike seven times (3 of those times were in slow motion). We're takin' about a 2-second scene here! Sad but true my friends. Sad but true...

Well, to sum it all up... "Skyline Cruisers" is enjoyable but you start to lose interest 3/4th into the film. From there it just gets kind of ridiculous and old. What's up with that off-road roller blade sequence? How damn pointless was that? I'm not even gonna mention the little "puffy" backpack Leon falls on after falling several stories from a building (which was also his skateboard a few minutes earlier). Hopefully "Tokyo Raiders" will be a little better.

Skyline Cruisers can be purchased at HKflix.com

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 6/10