The Replacement Killers

Starring:Yun-Fat Chow, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker, Kenneth Tsang, JÃ¼rgen Prochnow, Til Schweiger, Danny Trejo, Clifton Collins Jr., Carlos GÃ³mez (II), Frank Medrano, Leo Lee, Patrick Kilpatrick, Randall Duk Kim, Andrew J. Marton, Sydney Coberly, Yau-Gene Chan, Carlos Leon, Nicki Micheaux, Max Daniels, James Wing Woo
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

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The director of Chow Yun-fat's first Hollywood outing, music-video veteran Antoine Fuqua, seems to be trying to squeeze the charismatic Asian superstar into a conventional American action-hero mold, and the results are dispiriting. Fuqua never lets this high-spirited actor smile, fetishizing him as a gunslinging clotheshorse in a series of garish, scenery-smashing battle scenes. As a paid assassin whose former employers turn against him, Chow enlists the help of an illegal documents specialist played, with surprising grit, by Mira Sorvino, and then spends most of the time fending off squads of killers in mirror shades. The movie is art-directed and photographed fit to kill (even the most routine incidents are eye-gougingly colorful) and edited to a hip-hop beat. It's garishly superficial. The frequent gunplay duels may keep action fans riveted, but they'll hate themselves in the morning. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

It's a Love Story...........2007-05-05

"The Replacement Killers" pairs up Hong Kong action star Chow Yun-Fat and actress Mira Sorvino in a violent movie with a surprising amount of heart. This special edition features, among other things, some deleted scenes that flesh out the characters from the remarkably lean 88-minute original theater release. Antoine Fuqua, who would go on to make "Training Day", debuts as a big screen director. His previous experience as a director of music videos is on display in the movie's tightly shot, well-scored, and stylishly violent action sequences.

Chow Yun-Fat plays John Lee, a contract killer working for Terence Wei, a ruthless Chinese mafia boss. John baulks at an assignment requiring him to kill the seven-year son of a cop; Wei sends other killers after the cop and his son, and after John to punish him for his disobedience. John seeks a false passport from forger and petty criminal Meg Coburn (played with grit and street-smarts by Sorvino) to return to China to protect his mother and sister from Wei's revenge. John ends up kidnapping Meg while trying to stay one step ahead of Wei's thugs and the police.

It is here that the movie takes a surprising turn that saves it from being just another formula action movie. Prompted by Meg, Lee comes to realize that he must stop Wei's replacement killers from carrying out his original assignment as well as save his family in China. In turn, Meg sees past Lee's occupation to the ultimately honorable man that he is. As John and Meg move toward a final, violent, and dramatic showdown with Wei and his killers, the two develop genuine feelings for each other. Fuqua has the excellent cinematic sense to keep their romance chaste and limited by John's need to return to China to save his family; the result is suprising touching as a plot device.

In addition to Chow and Sorvino, the cast includes Jurgen Prochnow as Wei's assistant and Michael Rooker as the cop pursuing John and Meg.

This movie is highly recommended as a well-done action thriller featuring some surprising subtle and effective acting by two talented stars and a nice supporting cast.

Auspicious Western Debut for Chow Yun Fat.......2005-11-17

Chow Yun Fat does not miss a beat in his American film debut. He has the same cool magnetism here that was on display in his Hong Kong films. "The Replacement Killers" plays like a homage to the Hong Kong action films with the benefit of having it's shining light in the leading role. The film that this most reminded me of was "The Killer" except here the character is nobler and is less ambiguous. It would appear that the makers of this film did not think Western audiences would accept a protagonist with gray areas. That quibble aside the film is slick hard-nosed entertainment. Mira Sorvino aquits herself well as Fat's unwitting sidekick. If this film serves a purpose it may attract interest in Fat's Hong Kong output.

Oh Yeah! Chow Yun Fat!.......2005-08-09

I loved this movie...I know, I know, chinese cliche martial art exploitation film BUT...
John Lee is deliberate in every word and movement. He doesn't say much and it works. It makes him all the more serious and sinister. Next, if you notice carefully, he dresses entirely in grays, blacks and dark neutral tones. It makes him stand out against the world of color in the background, especially in the Chinatown scenes which are explosive with color. Best of all, I was sucked in by the killer with a heart, not just an unstoppable murder machine.
Mira Sorvino is great as the tall, beautiful and ALL tough girl, Meg Coburn. She means business and doesn't take any bull*#@% even when there's a gun pointed at her. ..loved her comment about "we'll have this conversation again".
Finally, what greater villain's lair than the exquisite Hollyhock House by Frank Lloyd Wright. I love the few scenes that show it and strain to get a better look.
I'm know I'm glossing over some other great parts of the movie, but these are the things that truly stand out to me.
All said, I LOVE this movie. Something about it is exciting to me. If it's not your thing, so be it, but it is worth seeing.

Cliched But Well-Made.......2005-06-28

"The Replacement Killers" was apparently Chow Yun Fat's debut in western movies, adding to his already formidable career in the Asian movie industry. Chow Yun Fat, Mira Sorvino, Jurgen Prochnow, Michael Rooker and others working with John Woo have created a reasonably slick actioner that is full of some pretty obvious cliches.

John Lee (Fat) is a hitman forced to work for crime boss Terence Wei, (Kenneth Tsang). After Detective Zedkov, (Rooker), kills Wei's son, Lee gets assigned the job of revenge. It is a job Lee can't do. Lee goes on the run to save his family, who are back in China, with Wei's men and the cops after him. Meg Coburn (Sorvino) gets dragged into it, and they both team up for the adventurous ride of violence.

The action, which consists of some very intense gun fights, is done in the typically choreographed John Woo style. Of course, the scenes are totally unrealistic, and they are dramatised to the hilt. However, they have a certain artistic style, and the overall feel is quite fluid. With these scenes, John Woo is really in his element.

Some of the characters are very much the cliched stereotype almost straight from B-grade flicks of the 1970's and early 1980's. Two professional asssassins, (played by Til Schweiger and Danny Trejo), are certainly in this category. Dressed in all black, with loads of leather, and not a facial twitch between them, their roles are over-the-top, stereotypical bad guys. Even the photography and music in their scenes can emphasise this.

Mira Sorvino provides the eye-candy and the female tension as counterpart to John Lee. While not essential to the film's plot, she does add something more to the overall cliched feel of the movie. Not to mention, she is very beautiful, as well. While not Sorvino's greatest moment of acting, she was certainly one of the better actors in this movie.

This movie is quite good as far as it goes. Don't expect too much from it, and you will certainly enjoy it. Just sit back and enjoy the action, and even have a giggle at the bad guys in their cliched toughness.

By the way, you will probably notice that "cliche" gets used a lot in this review. That one word really sums this movie up well.

assassins .......2005-06-19

This movie made Chow Yun Fat a star in America. Was supose to kill a cop cause cop kill a chinese man's son but only in defense. Two deadly assassins were sent to kill Chow Yun Fat's character (John) one of them were shooting bullets out of his suit case how cool is that. John wants to go back to his family in china before they get killed. The action is fast in this movie.

Average customer rating:

Replacement Killers [Blu-ray]
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Mira Sorvino , and Michael Rooker
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000S1KUM4
Release Date: 2007-09-11

The Replacement Killers (Unrated Extended Cut)

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Extended Cut vs. Regular Cut, IS IT WORTH IT?

The Replacement Killers (Unrated Extended Cut)
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Mira Sorvino , Michael Rooker , Kenneth Tsang , and Jürgen Prochnow
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ELL1SA
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Description

International superstar Chow Yun-Fat (John Woo's Hard-Boiled) makes his Hollywood debut with Oscar® winner Mira Sorvino (1995 Best Supporting Actress, Mighty Aphrodite) in THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, a fierce and explosive action thriller from director Antoine Fuqua (Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" video). After he betrays Mr. Wei, the ruthless crime boss who hired him to avenge his son's death, professional killer John Lee (Yun-Fat) goes on the run. Enlisting the aid of beautiful document forger Meg Coburn (Sorvino), Lee attempts to return to his family in China before they are victimized by his betrayal. But Wei's army of "replacement killers" is hot on his trail, and now both he and Meg are targets of their impressive firepower. With both sides fully armed and determined to fight to the death, an ultra-violent shootout breaks out when they finally face off against each other.

Customer Reviews:

Extended Cut vs. Regular Cut, IS IT WORTH IT?.......2006-07-01

The five stars are for the movie itself. As for this Extended Cut and whether or not it is worth getting, read on:

If your a dedicated fan of the movie (as I am) then it is worth it (though I find it pathetic that the studio could not put the director commentary on this Extended Edition, which appears on the Special Edition). You wont find a great deal of difference in the Extended Edition in the sense of a lot of new large segments or anything. There are a few longer segments that are new, mostly things which enhance character background. And there are some very interesting small segments, simple lines, etc., that bring an even darker and rougher edge to the picture, to characters statements, etc. As I have watched the standard release many times, I noticed these things. But others may not if they have seen the picture only once or twice. So, in a sense, the movie is a little more fleshed out when it comes to character development. That seems to be the main point of the Extended Cut, as well as the studios way of trying to get people to stay interested in the film, keep it in circulation, and make more money off it, etc.

Is the movie better or worse for these additions? Well, as it does not seem/indicate that it is a director approved cut, I am leery to say it is better. I'm more interested in the vision of film that the artist who created it has in mind. However, unlike so many films where such additions seem silly or pointless, I found most of these additions to have actual merit to an already great movie. In the long run, I would say, in the spirit of the movie, that the additions make the film no better or worse, they just are. And I think that is the best kind of complement that could probably be paid. If you already own the previous SE edition this probably won't be a worthwhile upgrade to the average fan. If you don't own the movie yet, or are a big fan of the film, I would recommend it.

Video presentation here is in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen, supposedly digitally remastered. Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; this is a fine track, making good use of surround channels for the incredible amount of gunfire and action present throughout the film. While I would have preferred seeing a DTS option for a movie so dependent on action interplay, what we are given does the job very well. To sum up, the video and audio of the original release were already great and I don't see any real improvement here in the Extended Edition.

For the most part, The Replacement Killers succeeds as an early attempt to bring a Hong Kong style action film to American audiences. Chow Yun-Fat and Mira Sorvino give solid performances and actually have good chemistry. The characters and story are developed real well and it has become a cult hit among fans of the genre. It also has managed to find appeal with others outside the genre. The credit for this goes to the director, the story, and the chemistry between Chow Yun-Fat and Mira Sorvino. A loose though relevant comparison would be to call it the sort of Cary Grant & Lauren Bacall mix of our times. The Replacement Killers rocks!

The Replacement Killers (UMD Mini For PSP)

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The Replacement Killers (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Replacement Killers
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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Accessories:

Sony PSP PlayGear Amp
Sony PSP Comfort Grips Black
Sony PSP Psyclone Nodus Sound System
Sony PSP Travel Case

ASIN: B0009U7LNA
Release Date: 2005-08-09

The Replacement Killers (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

It's a Love Story....
Auspicious Western Debut for Chow Yun Fat
Oh Yeah! Chow Yun Fat!
Cliched But Well-Made
assassins

The Replacement Killers (Special Edition)
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Mira Sorvino , Michael Rooker , Kenneth Tsang , and Jürgen Prochnow
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005V1X0
Release Date: 2002-03-05

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Customer Reviews:

It's a Love Story...........2007-05-05

Auspicious Western Debut for Chow Yun Fat.......2005-11-17

Oh Yeah! Chow Yun Fat!.......2005-08-09

Cliched But Well-Made.......2005-06-28

assassins .......2005-06-19

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Headhunter
Starring: Chow Yun Fat
Manufacturer: Digital 1 Stop
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Replacement Killers
Full Contact

ASIN: B0001XGOSI
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Product Description

The jungle warfare in Vietnam created Hong Kong's deadliest hit man. Hong Kong's top action star, Chow Yun Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Replacement Killers), teams with famed action director John Soa Liuto to create a chilling portrayal of a deadly killer going out of control.

The Professional/The Replacement Killers

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The Professional/The Replacement Killers
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Mira Sorvino , Michael Rooker , Kenneth Tsang , and Jürgen Prochnow
Director: Antoine Fuqua , and Luc Besson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008G7MO
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Amazon.com

The Professional
Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) made his American directorial debut with this stylized thriller about a French hit man (Jean Reno) who takes in an American girl (Natalie Portman) being pursued by a corrupt killer cop (Gary Oldman). Oldman is a little more unhinged than he should be, but there is something genuinely irresistible about the story line and the relationship between Reno and Portman. Rather than cave in to the cookie-cutter look and feel of American action pictures, Besson brings a bit of his glossy style from French hits La Femme Nikita and Subway to the production, and the results are refreshing even if the bullets and explosions are awfully familiar. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.com

Who Am I?
Shot in English and budgeted higher than any of his previous Asian features, Jackie Chan's last film under his Hong Kong contract is an action-packed globe-trotting adventure shot with the American audience in mind. The spies and secret agent-laden plot is packed with car chases, explosions, gunfire aplenty, and of course Jackie's own brand of gymnastic martial arts. But the flood of his older films between his hits Rumble in the Bronx and Rush Hour had sated American viewers and Who Am I? wound up being sold directly to cable. It's our loss, for this mix of goofy slapstick and jaw-dropping action is his most impressive film since Drunken Master II. Playing a special forces agent (named, naturally, Jackie) struck with amnesia and adopted by an African bush tribe following a failed assassination attempt, he embarks on a quest to discover his true identity while armies of killers pour after him. After an explosive opening, the story gets momentarily bogged down in the kind of mugging humor that leaves most American audiences scratching their heads, but once Jackie kicks into gear the film is a high-speed action flurry that culminates in a furious battle atop a Rotterdam skyscraper. Jackie is at his most charmingly naive (he berates the villains, pleading "Why do you want to destroy when you can make things better?") and athletically impressive: the marvelous stunts--including a flight down the side of the skyscraper--and fight choreography make Rush Hour look like a Sunday drive. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Not awesome, but still worthwhile...........2001-05-09

While I rarely agree with Maltin, I will say that I was SOMEWHAT disappointed with Replacement Killers. The Corrupter was SOOO much better and would have been a more appropriate introduction for Chow Yun-Fat to Hollywood. That being said -- I LOVE Mira Sorvino so it was still a GREAT movie with some GREAT action. Just not as a good as The Corruptor, IMO.

'Who Am I?' roolz! Nuff said. You won't be disappointed with this DVD.

Maltin should not be allowed to rate films!!.......2000-09-23

These are two excellent movies if you enjoy Hong Kong action movies. Being a big Jackie Chan fan, I thought Who Am I? is perhaps Jackie's best movie to date. Ditto for the Replacement Killers. Was reading the review for Titan AE and noticed that Maltin hated that movie also, BUT I remember Roger Ebert saying he really liked Titan AE because of its great graphics. If like me you hate Maltin's reviews so much that you use him as a contra-critic (you like what he hates)--these two movies are for you. Both have terrific action sequences with more action than in 5 American action movies each. And if you like Jackie Chan's playful comedic style of movies you will love both of these great action movies. Replacement Killers will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next. A super combination of two movies, rare when so many companies are packaging movies like this with one bad movie put with one good one--I assure you this is not the case here.

One thousand beautiful images blended into motion.......1999-10-22

A perfectly executed painting, set in motion, and wrapped around a simple story. This is a piece of art. A series of beautiful images and motion. Colors and movement flow from scene to scene taking the viewer into a deep realm of perfect design. If your the kind of viewer who involves themselves in a visual experience, you can't go wrong. If your looking for a story to blow your circuits and change you forever.... don't be lazy, go buy a book.

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The Replacement Killers [Region 2]
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Mira Sorvino , Michael Rooker , Kenneth Tsang , and Jürgen Prochnow
Director: Antoine Fuqua
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00004VXYZ

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