(Hong Kong 1998) 

Original Title: Sat Sau Ji Wong 杀手之王 (aka) Contract Killer; King Of Killers

 

Directed by Stephen Tung Wei Produced by Gordon Chan Action by Stephen Tung Wei, Dee Dee Ku, Jack Wong Starring: Jet Li, Eric Tsang, Gigi Leung, Simon Yam, Keiji Sato, Paul Rapovski, Kenji Sahara, Kim Yip Kwong Kim, Frankie Ng, John Ching, Jude Poyer, Dion Lam, Hidari Meiken Reviewing: Eureka Video UKBlu-ray Release Genres: Martial-arts / Action / Comedy

​

Rating - 4 / 5

Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: After the massive success of the Once Upon a Time in China series, Jet Li moved away from period settings and started to focus on action films set in the modern-era, a decision that would make him an international icon and of the biggest stars in the history of Hong Kong cinema. In The Enforcer (aka My Father is a Hero) Li is an undercover police officer tracking down a notorious Hong Kong crime lord. Teaming up with his martial-arts prodigy son and a female officer (Anita Mui), together they lay down the law! In Dr Wai in “The Scripture with No Words” a down on his luck pulp fiction author (Li) lives vicariously through one of his characters, an Indiana Jones-esque adventurer searching for a mythical scripture. Then, in Hitman (aka Contract Killer), Li plays Tai Feng, a young assassin with a “sense of justice” who crosses paths with the “King of Killers” — a legendary vigilante with a huge bounty on his head. Eureka Classics is proud to present three of Jet Li’s most beloved action films on Blu-ray for the first time ever in the UK.

 

Hong Kong Legends UK DVD Synopsis: Jet Li stars as Tai Feng, a hitman with a 'sense of justice' and a talent for deliberately missing his intended victims. When his streetwise agent Sam (Eric Tsang) uses Tai's awesome fighting skills to acquire billions of dollars at the expense of heavy-hitting Japanese mobsters, the scene is set for a martial-arts showdown of ground-breaking proportions. An exhilarating, suspenseful action-drama combining elements of black humour and a sense of style, Hitman packs the kind of resounding punch you would expect from the world's most enigmatic action star. Jet Li is more lethal than ever as the Hitman! (100 Mins)

 

Views: Also known as Contract Killer and King Of Killers, I've always felt that Hitman was an odd project for martial arts star Jet Li, creeping in just before his big Hollywood break with Lethal Weapon 4 and Romeo Must Die, and proving to be his last Hong Kong movie of the 20th Century. While it's never been considered as one of Jet Li's greatest titles by Hong Kong film fans, and would be the first and only time they would hear him speak Cantonese in his own voice, the film has enough charm and excitement to help make it an above-average action-comedy that entertains. It tells the tale of two hitmen, one of which is a novice and the other a middle-aged conman riddled with bad luck, who join forces to take on the King Of Killers in order to claim a huge reward. As expected, their antics and inexperienced attempts land them in hot water that sees them face-ff against the Yakuza and a host of highly trained assassins!

 

Co-written by comedy writer/director & actor Vincent Kok – the man behind Hong Kong hits such as Forbidden City Cop, Gorgeous, From Beijing With Love, and Satin Steel – with Chan Hing Kai, and Cheng Kam Fu, Hitman was produced by the prolific Gordon Chan who had directed Jet in the awesome Fist Of Legend as well as writing/directing hits such as the Fight Back To School Trilogy, Thunderbolt, 2000 AD, and The Four Trilogy. The film falls under the Win's Entertainment banner, one of Jet's final films for the company, with popular action-choreographer Stephen Tung Wei directing. Widely known as the young student of Shaolin Temple in Bruce Lee's Enter The Dragon, Tung Wei started life in the industry as a child actor in the late 1960s, quickly going on to become one of the most sought after martial arts performers and actors of his generation starring in kung-fu classics such as Along Comes A Tiger, Executioners From Shaolin, Incredible Kung Fu Master, and many more. The late 70s would see him make his debut as a martial arts director, eventually moving into modern action cinema with hits such as A Better Tomorrow, Magnificent Warriors, Pom Pom & Hot Hot, and The Blade, among many others. In 1990 he would make his directorial debut with the superb Magic Cop starring Lam Ching Ying, followed by Jade Leung's Fox Hunter five years later and Hitman in 1998. Oddly, Tung Wai would direct his fourth and final film just a few years later with the poorly received Extreme Challenge – an interesting martial arts adventure that featured a young Scott Adkins in one of his first roles...

 

With Hitman, Tung Wei possibly delivers his best work out of the four, aided by a strong cast that includes the wonderful Jet Li as leading man Fu; a naïve and inexperienced hitman-in-training, fresh off the boat from mainland China and highly skilled in martial arts. It's crazy to think that given the length of filmographies from both director and star, that Hitman would be their only full project together. They would later cross paths on the global smash hit Zhang Yimou classic, Hero, when Tung would work with Tony Ching Siu Tung as an action choreographer. The brilliant Eric Tsang stars as Lo; a notorious liar who guides Fu in their hunt for the King Of Killers, an unstoppable hitman and vigilante cop played by the delightful Simon Yam in yet another fantastic role that really should have landed his character a prequel of his own. The lovely Gigi Leung stars as Lo's daughter, Kiki, an intelligent and beautiful lawyer who starts to fall for the innocent Fu, and Japanese actor Keiji Sato makes his Hong Kong feature film debut as one of the main villains of the piece. While he does impress on all accounts, Keiji's acting career would only last a little over a decade that would see him make just 7 films including Hong Kong titles such as Expect The Unexpected, Gen-X Cops, and The Mission. Here, he plays the son of crime boss Tsukamoto; played by prolific Japanese actor Kenji Sahara – the star of many classic Kaiju movies featuring Godzilla, Mothra, and Ultraman for over 6 decades from the mid 1950s. Canadian martial-arts actor Paul Rapovski stars as one of Jet Li's challengers, returning to star alongside him for the second time after playing a Russian thug in My Father Is A Hero, going onto star in Tung Wei's Extreme Challenge soon after that. They are joined by Kim Yip Kwong Kim, Frankie Ng, John Ching, Chun Kwai Bo, Hidari Meiken, the popular Dion Lam, and British stuntman Jude Poyer who gets an impressive action scene as an assassin that faces off against Jet and Eric.

 

Dumbed down with a new English dub, re-scored, and trimmed by around 6 minutes for its North American release as Contract Killer, Hitman proves to have some memorable moments of drama and comedy throughout it, referencing films such as Leon The Professional and A Better Tomorrow before eventually settling on becoming a solid martial arts-actioneer towards its second half. With shades of a John Wick style universe, the film offers plenty of exciting martial arts action and gun-play courtesy of Stephen Tung Wai and his team which includes a mix of Jackie Chan and Yuen Woo Ping Stunt Team members such as Jack Wong, Chan Siu Wah, Dee Dee Ku, and Tony Ling Chi Wah. Between them, the team create a wide range of exciting hand-to-hand battles, stylish shoot-outs, sword fights, and impressive stunt work that helps make Hitman sit proudly alongside Li's other modern Hong Kong hits such as My Father Is A Hero, Black Mask, High Risk, and The Bodyguard From Beijing. From Li's introductory scuffles to his first showdown with Paul Rapovski and his blinding rings of light, and slickly shot assassinations featuring Simon Yam and Jude Poyer in his aforementioned fight, action fans will be on the edge of the seat with the action on offer. Things get even more exciting when the action moves into a working elevator shaft – with some close calls and intricate moves being delivered – but it has to be the final showdown between everyone involved that really takes things to a whole new level. From blistering martial-arts battles, to deadly sword fights and a nod to Li's belt-work from his time on Fist Of Legend, this final battle could possibly offer up some of Jet's finest work without the aid of doubles or wires (for a change). It's a powerful battle that will have you reaching for the rewind button, and another strong reason as to why Hitman is probably Stephen Tung Wei's finest work as a director – enhanced with some exciting camera work from prolific cinematographer Arthur Wong!

 

Back in November 2019, while I was on a trip to Hong Kong, I made sure I paid a visit to the infamous Chungking Mansions – the very place were Jet's character of Fu lives. I can't honestly say I'd recommend it. I was just looking for DVDs (which never happened), but instead felt that I had been transported elsewhere due to the majority of its inhabitants being from Africa or India, with the maze of confusing hallways clogged up with food stalls and boxes. It was quite the experience, but now I can understand more as to why the story here placed Fu as a resident of the place – indicating his economic status as an outsider; although clearly enjoying his lifestyle since he had not yet experienced anything else. I have to admit, remembering back to when I first picked Hitman up in the late 90s on DVD courtesy of Hong Kong Legends, I was never really blown away by it all. I felt it was just okay. But after watching it again many years later, with its new HD restoration from Eureka Video, I have to say that this fight-filled action flick has definitely went up in my books. And while it may not be up there in Jet Li's top ten, it's fair to say that Hitman was still a good farewell to Hong Kong cinema for the star before he left for the fame and fortune of Tinseltown...

 

Overall: Action-packed and fun with some of Jet's best modern fight scenes, Hitman has a lot to offer and is well worth checking out!

 

Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: HD Restoration, Alternate Version with Contract Killer, Audio Commentary with Mike Leeder & Arne Venema, The Smart & The Brave Archival Featurette, Archival Interviews with Jet Li, Simon Yam, and Keiji Sato, Trailers

 

Hong Kong Legends DVD Extras: Interviews with Jet Li, Simon Yam, and Keiji Sato, Jet Li Bio & Filmography, Trailer, Music Promo, Photo Gallery

​

Get your copy HERE

​

Watch my unboxing video for this Eureka Video release HERE

​

Watch my video retrospective of this film HERE