The Killer (Dip huet seung hung) (1989)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  The best action movie of all time in my opinion. This is the blueprint to all the action films being made today. Even the melodrama is great.

• Cynthia S

  
  I just can't get into this genre of Asian films where the action scenes have added sound effects: like smack..smack..smack..during fight scenes. I've tried, but it just reminds me of those really bad (in my opinion) Asian films from the 70's.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"I always leave one bullet, either for myself or for my enemy."</i> A disillusioned assassin accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded, only to be double-crossed by his boss.… More
  <i>"I always leave one bullet, either for myself or for my enemy."</i> A disillusioned assassin accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded, only to be double-crossed by his boss. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Despite a few obvious points of influence (Peckinpah and Jean-Pierre Melville coming immediately to mind), "The Killer" was a wholly fresh film when initially released. Ever since than, Hollywood directors from the MTV school have been shamelessly ripping him off. None of them will ever top Woo. "The Killer", his best film, combines near-operatic violence with a poetic love story in a way no one else can. No other action director since Peckinpah has had characters this complex and fascinating. And like Peckinpah, Woo explores the themes of loyalty and friendship. Hollywood can copy his style all they want but they often forget to include the complex characters, which is ultimately what makes "The Killer" a classic film as opposed to just an action classic. There's much more to this film than just gun play. Chow Yun Fat became an international star as a result of his performance as John, the assassin with a code of ethics and a heart. The sheer emotion of the portrayal makes him one of the most fascinating protagonists ever. This isn't a "Rambo" style hero, but a realistic and flawed human being. Almost as good are Danny Lee, Kong Chu, and pop singer Sally Yeh. John Woo's direction is flawless. No one can fashion an action scene like him. The heights of bloodshed in the climax are an all-time high for cinema, but they also have a poetic resonance. The ending is tragic and likely to induce tears in the audience. "The Killer" is quite possibly the greatest action film of all time.

• Al S

  
  An unforgettable and killer action movie masterpiece. A full-throttle action-packed extravaganza that pushes the limit. A spectacular action flick that delivers some of the best action sequences and gun-battles in Hong Kong action cinema. The gun-fights snap and crackle of pure… More
  An unforgettable and killer action movie masterpiece. A full-throttle action-packed extravaganza that pushes the limit. A spectacular action flick that delivers some of the best action sequences and gun-battles in Hong Kong action cinema. The gun-fights snap and crackle of pure awesomeness. Director, John Woo is one of the true kings of action movie-making. This film stand with his best like Face/Off, Hard-Boiled and A Better Tomorrow. Chow Yun-Fat is at his best. A great film that has a great sense of characters and story as well as fire-power.

• Chris W

  
  From a stylistic standpoint, this is probably the most amazingly violent film I've ever seen. It's not the most violent film overall I've ever seen,(it's up there), but in terms of stylistic presentation of the violence-yeah it doesn't get better than this.… More
  From a stylistic standpoint, this is probably the most amazingly violent film I've ever seen. It's not the most violent film overall I've ever seen,(it's up there), but in terms of stylistic presentation of the violence-yeah it doesn't get better than this. Everyone talks about this (it seems) like it's the greatest action film ever made. That's basically true. This film lives up to the hype. What makes it even better is that it has an actually story, and not only that, it's a good one. There's really nothing to complain about here. I watched the R-rated dubbed version, which was a bit distracting, but other than that, I've got no gripes. Woo needs to return to making films like this. And Hollywood needs to take notes on how to do this type of thing. Believe the hype-this is a true masterpiece.

• xGary X

  
  When a contract killer accidentally blinds a nightclub singer, he takes on one last job in order to pay for an operation to restore her sight but his employer is less than willing to let him retire. John Woo's international breakthrough film, The Killer explores his favourite… More
  When a contract killer accidentally blinds a nightclub singer, he takes on one last job in order to pay for an operation to restore her sight but his employer is less than willing to let him retire. John Woo's international breakthrough film, The Killer explores his favourite subjects of honour, loyalty, and revenge. It's pure XY pleasing male bonding and excessive gunplay and to be honest, it's showing its age a little. His penchant for heavy handed sentiment is clearly in evidence (although it's nowhere near as cloying as it was in A Better Tomorrow) and the dialogue is clumsy and repetitive; in fact when Danny Lee is describing Chow for a composite picture he sounds like he's in love! But let's face it, this film is all about the action and Woo's trademark "heroic bloodshed" is as thrilling as always, the slow motion acrobatics, duffel bags full of firearms and exploding masonry will be familiar to anyone who has seen everything from The Matrix and beyond. Hardly the height of subtlety and sophistication, but it's still a stylish and exciting throwback to the days of 80s machismo.

• Stella D

  
  the killer with a heart of gold? chow yun fat plays the nicest assassin ever but still manages to be almost as cool and every bit as hot as alain delon in le samourai. john woo's streak of sentimentality keeps this from being a really great film but it is a great bloody opera… More
  the killer with a heart of gold? chow yun fat plays the nicest assassin ever but still manages to be almost as cool and every bit as hot as alain delon in le samourai. john woo's streak of sentimentality keeps this from being a really great film but it is a great bloody opera with stellar gun battles; very entertaining

• Tsubaki S

  
  Over the top in the best possible way.

• Lenny M

  
  John Woo used to belt out the Hong Kong Classics until Hard Target with Van Damme came out and went Hollywood, love those doves though.

• Ken S

  
  Not as good as I was told, but looking forward to Hard Boiled

• Aaron N

  
  Jeffrey: Are you always so determined? Lee: Yes, it's my style. Jeffrey: Mine too. One of John Woo's best films and certainly one of his best developed stories. It has a great character drama at heart, with a hit man trying to end his career on a redemption note and a cop… More
  Jeffrey: Are you always so determined? Lee: Yes, it's my style. Jeffrey: Mine too. One of John Woo's best films and certainly one of his best developed stories. It has a great character drama at heart, with a hit man trying to end his career on a redemption note and a cop understand the mind of this killer. The best way to summarize the the style of the film is as a Shakespearean tragedy mixed with action. The action is great, it may not deliver the amount of craziness seen in Hard Boiled, but still great, with a number of those awesome cool moments. Chow Yun-Fat does a great job as the recently conflicted hit man as does Danny Lee as the troubled cop. The film does a great job of pacing the film between its story and its action sequences, and despite the action scenes as a whole, why the scenes happen are not gratuitous. A very well made action film, with the right amount of story. Jeffrey: You're an unusual cop. Lee: Well, you're an unusual killer.

• Sarah G

  
  In this bloody tale of loyalty and friendship, Chow Yun-Fat is Jeffrey, an assassin who wishes to leave the business so he can take care of Jennie, the beautiful lounge singer who he inadvertently blinded during a previous assignment. Danny Lee is the determined cop who will stop at… More
  In this bloody tale of loyalty and friendship, Chow Yun-Fat is Jeffrey, an assassin who wishes to leave the business so he can take care of Jennie, the beautiful lounge singer who he inadvertently blinded during a previous assignment. Danny Lee is the determined cop who will stop at nothing to bring him in, only he realizes that Jeffrey is no ordinary assassin, and wishes to help him in his quest. Only problem is that Jeffrey's employers refuse to pay him for his last job, money which is needed to restore Jennie's eyesight. An excellent film. One in which I didn't think I would like at all. John Woo's Asian films are FAR superiorer to some of the American films he's made recently. The thing the kept it from a full 5 stars was the beginning. I don't quite know what was wrong but it felt out of place with the rest of the picture. It certainly made up for it about half way through the movie. Some oustanding camp-action going on here. I mean it can be quite funny at times and the music is also a little odd, but the action overshadows the events. I'm not going to write tons about this as I haven't watched it straight away but it's gone into my favourite films of all time. A must see! <b>Highly Recomended!</b>

• Dean M

  
  What an incredible Hong Kong action of John Woo's gangster melodrama with bullet hailstorms. Chow Yun-Fat's portrayal of Jeff is charismatic and compelling. Danny Lee does an excellent job as Inspector Li.

• Khris N

  
  Classic! A melodramatic mayhem of guns, blood and action! Like an opera of violence! One of John Woo's classics.

• Michael G

  
  It's no Hard Boiled but it's better than Paycheck.

• Emily A

  
  This movie was really good. It works as an action movie, and as a drama and as a character study. I loved the relations ship that the cop and the hitman form and hoiw it changes; it's like Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter's, but with less animosity. It was a really… More
  This movie was really good. It works as an action movie, and as a drama and as a character study. I loved the relations ship that the cop and the hitman form and hoiw it changes; it's like Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter's, but with less animosity. It was a really intereesting movie. I could have done without the lounge singer though.

• Donnie D

  
  Now going into The Killer I expected a good movie considering it's a movie with Chow Yun-Fat movie directed by John Woo. Like any other Chow Yun-Fat and John Woo collaboration, the movie ended up being great. A disillusioned assassin (Chow Yun-Fat) accepts one last hit in… More
  Now going into The Killer I expected a good movie considering it's a movie with Chow Yun-Fat movie directed by John Woo. Like any other Chow Yun-Fat and John Woo collaboration, the movie ended up being great. A disillusioned assassin (Chow Yun-Fat) accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded, only to be double-crossed by his boss. I found the story to be well paced, but some will probably complain how it's not evenly spaced out between action and drama, but they won't mind it once the movie shift into full gear and delivers the goods on it story. The story is masterfully told in my opinion and doesn't suffer from having to much action either. Even though I saw the dubbed version, I can tell you the movie still had some great lines. I got more into the story when it showed that our killer was sympathetic and caring giving him depth instead of just making him look like a cold heartless killer like other movies. The action is nothing short of spectacular as you would expect with any movie directed by John Woo. It's beautiful to watch, it's intense, it's enjoyable, and has a purpose with the story. I have to praise to Woo for his good camera work in this movie and writing what I consider to be one of the best action movie ever made. Beside the acting, I want praise the music in the movie, while it may pass viewers as they get entertain by what they see, I want to say that adds to the greatness and entertainment value for this movie. The Killer is amazing experience I would recommend for anyone. It's a great action movie that delivers the goods on the story with some of the best action sequences ever filmed. The Killer is by far one of the greatest action movie i've ever seen.

• Marcus W

  
  Let's face it, you don't watch a John Woo movie for the plot or characters - you watch it for the slo-mo balletic, blistering, bullet-ridden action. And he doesn't disappoint...

• Jonny C

  
  Great movie. I'd been looking forward to seeing this movie for years, and I wasn't disappointed. The Killer is about an assassin who accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded, only to be double-crossed by his… More
  Great movie. I'd been looking forward to seeing this movie for years, and I wasn't disappointed. The Killer is about an assassin who accepts one last hit in hopes of using his earnings to restore vision to a singer he accidentally blinded, only to be double-crossed by his boss. Chow Yun Fat is awesome when he's got a gun in his hand, and like Hard Boiled, Once and Thief, and the Better Tomorrow movies, his charisma and talent for action has made him a legend in this genre. But like most movies of the eighties this is high on the cheese factor, and the moralistic characters are a little 2 dimensional. The Killer is however exciting and action packed, with stunning gun play and car chases.

• Ivan D

  
  In a time where action films were defined as "explosions, running, explosions, running and more explosions", it's completely refreshing to see John Woo's "The Killer", a film that dignified its action sequences with perfectly choreographed bullet ballets,… More
  In a time where action films were defined as "explosions, running, explosions, running and more explosions", it's completely refreshing to see John Woo's "The Killer", a film that dignified its action sequences with perfectly choreographed bullet ballets, and yet never overloading the film with style to compromise the substance. The story was very simple and even have cliched lead characters(an assassin with a heart, a principled policeman). But what puts it atop the pile of endless action pictures is its flawless execution and a surprisingly well-balanced emotional core. "The Killer" is made up of elements like great action scenes, a swell story, and a likable protagonist, which a good action film should routinely have. So what makes it special? Multiply "great action scenes" by 10, add some great performances, and John Woo's pure passion as an action poet. So, who can say tears and blood never mix?

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