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RED
WOLF (1995)
Reviewed
by Phil Mills
If
you were ever going to raid the works of one particular
actor's filmography then I very much doubt that Steven
Seagal's greatest hits would feature high on your list.
Strangely enough though, this is exactly what Yuen Woo Ping
decided to do for this remake of 'Under Siege' that he mixed
with a distinctive Hong Kong flavour.
After
quitting the Police Force for personal reasons, Alan (Ho)
decides to work as a security guard on a cruise liner.
During his maiden voyage he witnesses the murder of the
captain and is subsequently framed for the crime. His
only hope comes in the form of petty thief Linda (Chung) who
overhears the terrorists discussing their devious plans.
Unfortunately, it's a little difficult to tell who is on the
right side so she decides to free Alan who appears to be the
only good guy around. It's up to the two of them to
start taking down the terrorists kung fu style before more
innocents are butchered.
For
'Red Wolf', fresh faced Kenny Ho (normally recognisable as a
bit part player in Jackie Chan films such as 'Police
Story' and 'Project
A Part 2') takes the lead alongside fan fave Christy Chung
in an attempt to develop a new on-screen partnership.
Sadly for those hoping for a new breed of action hero, this
seems like a bad idea from the beginning as the whole film
wreaks of a Yuen Woo Ping and Donnie Yen collaboration that
suffers from the lack of an established leading actor.
Although he isn't exactly bad, Kenny Ho is just plain
forgettable and never really brings any of his own traits to
the role which only allows for his character to blend into
background, a fatal mistake for a hero. On the flip
side, a well known star like Chung who should have been
allowed to shine is given very little to do apart from display
a few moments of comic prowess. Other than that she is
only required to scream and get in the way during the fights
which is odd for an HK movie where women normally get to join
in on the action.
With
Woo Ping in the director's chair, even if the film does suffer
from a somewhat overexposed formula and disappointing acting,
you can normally expect him to make the most of the fight
scenes. When it comes to action he knows exactly what
makes the perfect shot and how to utilise it to his advantage,
employing slow motion where necessary and highlighting each
actor's strong points. For this film his skill is
evident as he takes a relative cast of unknowns and still
manages to create some fine set pieces that will ultimately
leave Hollywood scratching their heads in amazement.
That said though, by Woo Ping standards it is by no means his
finest hour as we all know he is capable of much more but it
is still expertly put together and is more than passable
entertainment for fans of his infamous style.
Overall,
'Red Wolf' is a perfectly watchable movie that really suffers
from it's own inability to create anything fresh. The
action is decent and the story is entertaining action movie
fodder but the lack of anything outstanding
on offer just seems to leave the viewer constantly wanting
something more.
If it's terrorists wreaking havoc on a boat that you seek then I
would recommend you check out 'City
Hunter' instead.
Rating:
 
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