Wong Shu-tong directed this somewhat overwrought look at Hong Kong action filmmaking centering on the men who perform the intricately choreographed stunts for which the industry is best known. The focus here, however, is more on family melodrama than backstage revelations. International breakthrough star Chow Yun-fat toplines (under the pseudonym "Aman Chow") as Bullet, the standout member of a stunt team run by his father and brother. The team has suffered one mishap after another, prompting Bullet to pursue other options, including a lucrative contract from a studio in Taiwan. In his absence, Bullet's father and brother struggle to make ends meet, and the aging father agrees to perform a very dangerous stunt against his better judgement to raise money to keep his family afloat. Naturally, he is badly injured, and his other son is unable to either contact Bullet for money or raise the cash to pay for his father's operation himself. Desperate to save his father's life, he turns to armed robbery and ends up taking hostages in the hospital in order to force the doctors to operate. As might be expected, it is up to the prodigal son Bullet to return from Taiwan and save the day. Chan Man-ngai co-stars with Lam Chiao and Chu Tien-ho.
by Robert Firsching
synopsis
