Hong Kong has a strong tradition of excellent action movies, but this one didn’t strike me as particularly good or engaging. I understand many people find it wonderful, and I respect their opinions – everyone's tastes are different – but the film simply didn't connect with me. It felt like a hollow shell of an action movie. John Woo is someone whose work I wasn’t very familiar with. I enjoyed “The Killer” and chose to watch this one because it’s frequently cited as being among his finest efforts. They don’t really have much in common. While there's a shared directorial style, some visual techniques, and certain shooting approaches that appear in both, the film is missing a solid script and a compelling narrative. Around halfway through, it seemed like the director’s penchant for violence and bloodshed went unchecked; we witness what can only be described as an excessive display of gore from our seats (though obviously fake). I'd like to comment on the actors, but I felt they were given little opportunity or substance to develop their characters. They mostly exist to kill or die, fulfilling the wishes of a calculating Woo who overuses visual effects and brutal action – some of the most harsh and impersonal scenes you’ll see in a movie theater. The film is saturated with graphic imagery paired with cinematography reminiscent of an industrial rock video, propelling us from one slaughter to another. Before long, it becomes questionable whether any of the performers are actually alive. To be fair though, the film does have a certain immersive quality, whether due to the effective sound design, its well-chosen soundtrack, or the quick and intense filming style. You feel like you’re right there in the middle of it all, which can make it even more difficult to endure, depending on your tolerance level.

Source on TMDB