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The good and the bad
"Time and Tide" - directed by Tsui Hark
05.22 - Posted by Editor
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Tsui Hark's "Time and Tide"
Pretty faces, pretty lame
Review by Claudia Chung
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5.22.01 -- Tsui Hark - director of Hong Kong gems like "Once Upon A Time In China" and American flops like "Double Team" and "Knock Off" - returns to Hong Kong to
make this over-the-top action flick, "Time and Tide."
To my delight, the main character Tyler is played by Hong Kong's teen
superstar Nicholas Tse. Tse's baby face took me back to my New Kids On The
Block days, when I use to cry every time Joe McIntyre sang "Please Don't Go
Girl." Also featured in this Jump! Kick! Fight! kind of movie is Wu
Bai,Taiwan's biggest rock star. I can't say he's a cutie pie like Tse or
even a good supporting actor, but it was entertaining to watch him trying
hard to look tough. The female character, Ah Hui, is played blandly by
another pop star, Cantonese diva Candy Lo. The only thing I can say about the
casting is that Hark wanted a hit.
The plot is elaborate and hard to follow. Here's the one-minute version.
Tyler (played by Tse) is a small time thug hired as a bodyguard by Jack
(Bai), a lethal mercenary trying to start a new crime-free life. Predictably,
Jack gets thrown back into the old business and people start getting
assassinated. Things get complicated when Jack's friend, a Latino hit man,
turns on him. And did I mention that Tyler knocks up a one night stand? It's
all confusing and contrived, but it sets up some enjoyable high-flying action
scenes, and you even get to see Jack's pregnant wife (Lo) go into labor in
the middle of a shoot out.
With a Hong Kong teen idol, a super Taiwanese rock star, a Cantonese pop
princess,and tons of action, "Time and Tide" was clearly made to succeed in
China. But Americans unfamiliar with these stars will have a tough time
understanding the appeal of this cast. My suggestion is grab a beer before
heading off to the local theater and watch some serious ass kicking.
Below are comments to this review which have been moved over from the old site. Enjoy! -- Editor
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Name: Aaron
This movie was really good. The fast pace sequences and the choreographing was what made it good.
12/29/02 01:28
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Name: bingo
Perhaps one of Hark's worst films ever...and perhaps Claudia's "review" was one of the worst reviews ever...anyone that starts off a "review" based on how "cute" the lead is and how potentially "not-as-cute" another is compared to the lead, is asking for trouble.....it's almost as bad as all the drooling male sycophant "critics" that rage over Gong Li's "beauty" and not much else...Jimmy Lin I'm sorry you had to sit through as much as you had to...!
09/13/01 16:41
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Name: Jimmy Lin
The only thing good about this movie is Nicholas Tse, who's hot... but the movie is an absolute mess... I walked out of the Hong Kong premiere after 15 minutes because it was just unbearably loud and flashy... The tasteless marketing team gave out toy guns at the premiere party at HK Planet Hollywood... I wish they would have done something as tasteless in the U.S. and get their butts kicked by FTC
05/22/01 16:34
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Name: Dave
E-mail: sachsel@yahoo.com
CLAUDIA's review is right on!!!!! Thanks Claudia Dave
05/22/01 13:36
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