Saat po long (S.P.L.) (Kill Zone) (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Justin Y

  
  Wilson Yip puts together a great Hong Kong crime drama with <i>S.P.L.</i>.<p>Despite barely reaching 90 minutes, the film effectively uses the time wisely and efficiently. The story itself isn't exactly extravagant; however, the storytelling is on the mark.… More
  Wilson Yip puts together a great Hong Kong crime drama with <i>S.P.L.</i>.<p>Despite barely reaching 90 minutes, the film effectively uses the time wisely and efficiently. The story itself isn't exactly extravagant; however, the storytelling is on the mark. The cinematography is thought-out and the protagonist characters, while performing some questionable deeds, are still likable over the villains.</p><p>This isn't a martial arts movie per se; however the action isn't comprised of just cops shooting robbers. There is major emphasis on close combat including knives and hand to hand combat. There are bits and pieces throughout most of the film, but the final act is where it all happens. Fortunately, when it happens, it really does happen. The choreography is superb and that leads to visually pleasing action sequences.</p><p>Donnie Yen is one of the more notable faces, and while he does have a major role, Simon Yam also shares the spotlight as a lead character. Sammo Hung, along with Yen, puts up a good performance alongside his showcasing of martial arts.</p><p><i>S.P.L.</i> excels all around and when all is said and done it is a highly recommendable film.</p>

• danny d

  
  donnie yen against sammo hung, while not as anticipated as chan vs li and not nearly as epic, was still very fun to watch. its great to see two kung fu icons battle it out. the film featured some slick images through great camera work and solid editing choices, but the script was… More
  donnie yen against sammo hung, while not as anticipated as chan vs li and not nearly as epic, was still very fun to watch. its great to see two kung fu icons battle it out. the film featured some slick images through great camera work and solid editing choices, but the script was weak, the story choppy, and the action sequences mostly average until the end of the film. overall this is a fun movie but misses out on opportunities to be great.

• Dean M

  
  Donnie Yen's really awesome in his marital arts and action sequences against Sammo Hung as the crime boss, but little sadly at the end.

• Steve K

  
  Great action melodrama. Sammo Hung is ferocious.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Hardly the resurrection of HK gritty action films, as many have call it. Certainly a much better turn than most HK "action" films these days where teen idols take the leads instead of real action pros like the ones in this cast. The cast certainly helps to mantain the… More
  Hardly the resurrection of HK gritty action films, as many have call it. Certainly a much better turn than most HK "action" films these days where teen idols take the leads instead of real action pros like the ones in this cast. The cast certainly helps to mantain the almost invisible plot here, Sammo Hung turns out as a very solid villian, Simon Yam is good as usual and Wu Jing (Jacky Wu/the guy with the knife) more or less steals the whole thing. Recommended for action fans and HK aficionados. This is hardly the next Hard Boiled, or anything like that, but it's not a bad choice compaired with most american (and as i said already, HK) so called action films. Heck, i'm giving the 3 stars mostly based on that fight between Donnie Yen and Wu Jing, one of the most intense fight sequences i have seen since the hall fight in Oldboy (totally different style of course)

• Khris N

  
  From Hong Kong comes a great martial arts crime thriller.... paving the way for modern Hong Kong cinema to fuse it very famous action genius with hard core and brilliant story telling. In this case, its a story of one police seargant's tirless battle against the crime kingpin… More
  From Hong Kong comes a great martial arts crime thriller.... paving the way for modern Hong Kong cinema to fuse it very famous action genius with hard core and brilliant story telling. In this case, its a story of one police seargant's tirless battle against the crime kingpin who was responsible for killing his goddaughters parents. Driven by years of rage and frustration, he and his loyal squad finally decide to do anything to bring the gangster down, which ultimatley means crossing the fine line of police work into corruption in this war between worlds. But as the detective is on the verge of retirement, and his war seems all but lost, the new boss, a former street cop with a knack for violence and a moral consciene intervenes and also becomes entertwined in the dark war. The keyword here is THRILLER - not action. Dont expect a Jackie Chan stunt fest every 5 minutes... this is a movie made with in the tradition of such thrillers like Infernal Affairs, New Police Story, The Corruptor and others.... though I would personally think SPL is much more classy and the action clearly is some of the best seen in a movie. And to top it off, veterans Donnie Yen, Simon Yam and HK legend Sammo Hung lead the way with a good cast, especially the psychotic killer in white. Well, the most important thing: Action scenes. Some of the best ever. The climax fight scenes all star Donnie Yen, whom I think in martial arts ability matches the likes of Jet Li and Jackie - but Yen seems far more faster and skillfull - if you have seen Iron Monkey, then you would defintley have a new name added to your favourite martial arts stars. And Sammo Hung at old age still shows he's got the goods to whoop ass and plays the powerful gangster with an exuberance and protrays a very deadly character. There are many scenes which show really good climaxes, from the beginning where Simon Yam and Sammo face off with golf clubs after batterring each others in their cars, to Donnie and Simon's confrontation with the 100 gangsters in the street, which really build up the tension and strength to the powerhouse ending fights. Pretty nifty! And very bloody. The sound effects as knives enter the body and out..... woah! squish, and squash and blow flows....... graphic as hell. Marvelous!

• Sheldon C

  
  Despite its electrifying and full-speed fight sequences, KILL ZONE [SPL] is unfortunately doomed by its cheesy melodramatic story that fails in both its coherency and logic. Director Wilson Yip puts together a great cast for this HK crime thriller, but manages to pull off a blunder… More
  Despite its electrifying and full-speed fight sequences, KILL ZONE [SPL] is unfortunately doomed by its cheesy melodramatic story that fails in both its coherency and logic. Director Wilson Yip puts together a great cast for this HK crime thriller, but manages to pull off a blunder in which characters are sloppily scattered with shallow backstories. Not only do we have a vague idea of what our leading man Detective Chan's (played by Simon Yam) true motivations are, but his fellow policemen are also given ridiculous sub-storylines (regarding Father's Day) to pathetically amp the dramatic tension that ends up futile. It is more or less a horrendous tactic for the extra-sentimental stringy score to come into play - an element that proves to be one of the film's consistent low points. Additionally, although the action scenes that surround Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung are terrific, the slow-motion crying and staring and overused camera push-ins become a bit excessive and even comedic. With that said, where the film is supposed to excel (the action), it really does. The action is top-notch, and the choreography is crisp and exciting. Donnie Yen lives up to his name in serving as the action director, and puts forth two major fight sequences that (depending on the type of audience) redeems the film. The alleyway fight with Jacky Wu is a tense and fast-paced back-and-forth duel between two highly skilled weapon-wielding fighters. It features exciting camerawork within a very confined and interesting space, along with a pumped-up score and some impressive sound effects editing. Likewise, the final duel with Sammo Hung is a pleasure for martial arts fans. The fight spans multiple styles and involves throws and tosses and lots of acrobatic punches and kicks between two Hong Kong screen legends. In a way, it rewards its viewers for making it through the 93-min running time, and truly plays as if it has saved the best for last. As a whole, KILL ZONE isn't quite there. But realistically, anyone who comes into this film already has a particular expectation that they hope to have fulfilled - an expectation that comes naturally given the Donnie Yen vs Sammo Hung billing. Yip provides exactly that, and so in this sense, the film succeeds.

• Jason T

  
  I fail to see the point of this movie. It's really only an excuse to see Donnie Yen whip out a can of whup ass. Some great fights scenes in this movie but the plot is devoid of anything that will engage any brain activity.

• Jojo S

  
  This movie shows how a villian has his weak spot--his wife and baby--though he deserves every punishment possible. Very dark, intense emotional thriller.

• Kevin "

  
  Man, title certainly matches the tone of the movie. This movie had some awesome fight scenes, especially the alley fight. Not the greatest story, but still a good movie.

• Christopher B

  
  Released on DVD as Killzone by the new Dragon Dynasty label (a great label formed by Quentin Tarantino and the Weinstein brothers) this is what an action film should be. An all-star cast including Donnie Yen, Simon Lam and Sammo Hung do a great job in telling the story of corrupt… More
  Released on DVD as Killzone by the new Dragon Dynasty label (a great label formed by Quentin Tarantino and the Weinstein brothers) this is what an action film should be. An all-star cast including Donnie Yen, Simon Lam and Sammo Hung do a great job in telling the story of corrupt cops and a merciless Triad leader. The fight scenes are a marvel to behold, especially the end fight with Sammo Hung against Donnie Yen, and the casting of Hung as the villian and Lam as the good guy (well, maybe not completely good) is excellent. Only a matter of time before this is remade.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings