Special ID
| Special ID | |
|---|---|
 China poster | |
| Traditional | 特殊身份 |
| Simplified | 特殊身份 |
| Mandarin | Tè Shū Shēn Fèn |
| Cantonese | Dak6 Syu4 San1 Fan2 |
| Directed by | Clarence Fok |
| Produced by |
Yong Er Donnie Yen |
| Written by | Clarence Fok |
| Starring |
Donnie Yen Jing Tian Andy On Zhang Hanyu Ronald Cheng Collin Chou |
| Cinematography | Peter Pau |
| Editing by | Cheung Ka-fai |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country |
China[1] Hong Kong[1] |
| Language |
Mandarin[1] Cantonese[2] |
| Box office | US$25,040,000[3] |
Special ID, also known as Special Identity, is a Chinese-Hong Kong action film directed by Clarence Fok and starring Donnie Yen.[4]
Plot
Yen takes on the role of Dragon Chan, a Hong Kong undercover police officer deep within the ranks of one of China’s most ruthless underworld gangs. The leader of the gang, Xiong (Collin Chou), has made it his priority to weed out the government infiltrators in his midst. Struggling to keep his family together and his identity concealed, Chan is torn between two worlds.
Upping the stakes, as Chan’s undercover comrades are being dealt with, one by one, Chan fears his days are numbered. Now, he must risk everything to take down the organization and reclaim the life he lost when he took on this perilous assignment. As the action mounts, Chan must do everything he can to protect the SPECIAL IDENTITY he wishes he never had before it’s too late.
Cast
- Donnie Yen as Dragon Chan
- Jing Tian as Fang Jing
- Andy On as Sunny
- Zhang Hanyu as Blade
- Ronald Cheng as Captain Cheung
- Collin Chou as Xiong
- Paw Hee-ching as Sister Amy, Chan's mother
- Yang Zhigang as Captain Lei Peng
- Rain Lau as Mary
- Ken Lo as Mahjong fighter
- Frankie Ng as Mahjong player
- Qi Daji
- Terence Yin as Sunny's assistant
- Evergreen Mak Cheung-ching as Brother Kun
Production
The upcoming Special Identity directed by Clarence Fok (Dragon from Russia), and starring Donnie Yen, Andy On & Colin Chou hasn't had the easiest of shoots, the film which began life as Ultimate Codebreak, with all manner of production problems and creative differences rearing their head between various elements of the cast and crew.
First came issues between the production and the films original lead bad-guy Vincent Zhao (True Legend, Black Sheep Affair )who was to have gone head to head with Donnie in the film, felt that numerous script changes compromised his character and his abilities until he felt forced to step back from the project. To replace him, Andy On (New Police Story) and Colin Chou (Flash Point) were brought in to play respectively the villains number one enforcer, and the main villain. Yen and On face off in a bone crunching down and dirty fight scene while Chou takes on Yen in the finale. Peter Pau was very pleased to have John Salvitti work on the film w/ Donnie Yen as he did in Flash Point creating Mixed Martial Arts scenes that show a deep passion and love for the Arts.
As production continued, Tan Bing the original director and writer of the film when it was called Ultimate Codebreak, claimed that his script and premise had been stolen by Yen and lodged complaints with China's State Administration of Radio, Film & Television and is demanding the films release be held back until he is compensated for what he believes to be breach of contract. The various creative differences have kept the producers from releasing any trailers or promo for the film until now but Impact was lucky enough to get a first look at an incredible car chase for the film staged by Bruce Law, which features On battling Chinese actress Jing Tan as he drives through downtown Shenzhen with Yen in hot pursuit, and the fight rages inside and outside of the car and features some incredible gutsy stuntwork from Jing as she is hangs on the outside of the car as it roars through traffic for real.
Critical response
Andrew Chan of the Film Critics Circle of Australia writes, "The good news is that “Special ID” remains largely entertaining for most of the duration, but in many ways it remains a huge pile of mess."[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "SPECIAL ID". Hong Kong Cinemagic.
- ↑ Special ID at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "Weekly box office 04/11/2013 - 10/11/2013". Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ↑ Watch Donnie Yen Direct The Action In SPECIAL ID
- ↑ Andrew Chan (20 October 2013). "Special ID". [HK Neo Reviews].