Martial arts and culture clashes are at the forefront in this made-for-cable actioner. The FBI wants to get its mitts on Triad Gangster boss Zhao Lo (Roger Yuan), the mastermind behind a large-scale scheme to kidnap Chinese immigrants to work in sweatshops and houses of prosititution. To this end, the Feds recruit Chinese policewoman Wen Li (Vivien Wu), who has a personal stake in the case -- her partner was killed on Zhao Lo's orders. Arriving in San Diego, Wen Li immediately finds herself at odds with her G-Man contact Malcolm Cross (Shawn Christian). Though both operatives are regarded as mavericks, they differ sharply (and often loudly) over such details as "due process" and "unnecessary force." Easily describable as Lethal Weapon meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Red Skies was coproduced by martial arts flick specialist John Woo. The film first aired over the USA cable network on August 7, 2002.
by Hal Erickson
synopsis
