SPL: Sha Po Lang
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- This article is about a 2005 Hong Kong martial arts film. For the videogame, see Killzone.
| SPL: Sha Po Lang | |
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 SPL: Sha Po Lang DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Wilson Yip |
| Produced by | Carl Chang |
| Written by | Wai Lun Ng Kam-Yuen Szeto Wilson Yip |
| Starring | Donnie Yen Sammo Hung Kam-Bo Simon Yam Jacky Wu Liu Kai Chi |
| Music by | Ken Chan Kwong Wing Chan |
| Cinematography | Wah-Chuen Lam |
| Editing by | Ka-Fai Cheung |
| Release date(s) | 2005 |
| Running time | 93 min |
| Country | China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin |
| IMDb profile | |
SPL: Sha Po Lang (殺破狼, US title: Kill Zone) is a 2005 Hong Kong martial arts-crime film directed by Wilson Yip. It stars Simon Yam, Sammo Hung, Jacky Wu and Donnie Yen. Yam portrays a retiring police detective who resorts to the use of questionable methods in order to catch a ruthless Triad boss (Hung).
The title, Sha Po Lang refers to three words derived from Chinese astrology that each represent a different star capable of good or evil depending on their position in the heavens. [1].
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[edit] Plot
Hong Kong Police Detective Chan has devoted his career to putting the notorious triad boss Wong Po behind bars. While escorting a witness with damning evidence of Wong Po's wrong doing to court, the police van is rammed at high speed by a car driven by the ruthless assassin Jack. The wreck kills the witness and his wife, but spares the witness' young daughter. Detective Chan is left with a piece of glass in the back of his head. When the glass is removed, doctors notice a tumor in Detective Chan's brain. He doesn't have long to live making Detective Chan all the more determined to bring down Wong Po.
Ma Kwan, a detective from another precinct with a harsh reputation – he punched a suspect so hard once that he left the man with permanent brain damage – is assigned to take over the squad. The men on the squad are:
- Lok – Very moody; was angry when Chan told him about his brain tumor. Has issues with his sick father, whom he hasn't spoken to in years.
- Kwok – A long-haired cop; his wife left him.
- Lee – The youngest on the squad.
All the men are very protective of Chan, who's since adopted the slain witness' daughter.
When an undercover detective from the squad is killed, and video showing the murder surfaces, Chan and his detectives see a way to frame Wong Po, who is caught on tape swinging a golf club, presumably at the man outside the frame of the video. The detectives decide to alter the tape, intimidate a witness and eliminate the real killer.
Ma Kwan is upset when he discovers the deception by the squad, but assists in the arrest of Wong Po, which culminates in a brawl in the lobby of a department store with the rotund crimelord, who has just purchased a large stuffed animal for his one-month-old son.
The action, coincidentally, comes to a head on Father's Day.
Lee goes to buy a gun to frame Wong Po with, and is killed by the knife-wielding Jack. Lok and Kwok are both eliminated by Jack as well.
Chan then goes to Wong Po's office alone, and is thoroughly beaten by the gangster.
Ma Kwan, in a dispute with his superiors over the handling of the case, turns in his badge and gun, and then goes to Wong Po's. He is met by Jack in the alley. Armed with only a baton, Ma Kwan engages in intense martial arts combat with the knife expert, and is especially angered when the blade slices his leather jacket. He then defeats Jack and gives him a taste of his own knife.
Ma Kwan then heads up to Wong Po's office. The big gangster is more than a match for Ma Kwan's martial arts skill. The fight is a grueling test of strength and endurance. But Wong Po is stronger, and he pushes Ma Kwan through a wall and out of the building. Ma Kwan falls many stories and lands on a car parked in the street – a car driven by Wong Po's wife, who is carrying the couple's one-month-old baby. Both passengers are killed by the impact of Ma Kwan's body.
Afterwards, Chan and his adopted daughter are seen playing on the beach. Chan collapses and presumably dies, watching his little girl play around on the beach.
[edit] Cast
- Donnie Yen as Ma Kwan
- Sammo Hung as Wong Po
- Simon Yam as Detective Chan
- Jacky Wu as Jack
- Liu Kai Chi as Lok
- Danny Summer as Kwok
- Ken Chang as Lee
[edit] Reception
Hailed as a return to the classics of Hong Kong action cinema, SPL opened in Hong Kong on 18 November 2005. However, it premiered in the "Midnight Madness" program of the Toronto International Film Festival in September that same year, at the Ryerson University Theater.
North American rights to the film were purchased by The Weinstein Company, which is releasing the movie as Kill Zone in a special DVD package that includes many deleted scenes, commentary tracks and interviews with the stars.
[edit] Box Office
SPL opened in Hong Kong on November 18, 2005. In its first three days it grossed $2,166,088 HKD. It stayed in the number one position at the Hong Kong box office until December 6[1], and eventually grossed $7,425,473 HKD in its entire run[2]. The figure was generally regarded as mildly successful given the overall state of the Hong Kong film industry and the Category III rating given to SPL, and the film would probably turn a modest profit once foreign sales and revenues were taken into account.
[edit] Production
The fight scenes were choreographed by Donnie Yen, who aimed for authenticity, which was possible with the presence of such martial arts veterans and actors Sammo Hung and Jing Wu. Most of the fight scenes are as close to real as can be in a martial arts movie. The knife and batton fight between Donnie Yen and Jing Wu was made up of the two actually sparring with eachother. Although, as shown in the behind the scenes featurette in the American released version, and interviews with Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung kicking the tanto in mid-air was one of the only cg shots in the entire movie. As throwing a real tanto at the actor is extremely dangerous and risky. Still, the cg work is near-perfect gives it a very real feel.
[edit] Sequel plans
A prequel to SPL is planned that will star Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Sammo Hung and Jing Wu reprising their roles from the original. Meanwhile, director Wilson Yip has started filming a similarly themed martial arts film, to star Donnie Yen and Louis Koo. The title of this new movie has been confirmed Po Jun, or City With Out Mercy.
[edit] References
- ^ Pollard, Mark. Review: SPL, KungFuCinema.org
