Once a Thief

Once a Thief


Starring:Jennifer Dale, Howard Dell, Julian Richings, Greg Kramer (II), James Allodi, Victoria Pratt
Director: T.J. Scott, Steve DiMarco, Allan Kroeker, Peter D. Marshall, John Paizs, David Wu
Studio: Unapix / a-Pix Ent.
Product Type: DVD
Once a Thief
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A lighthearted fun caper movie
  • It's pretty good
  • Painfully bad
  • Caper Film Woo Style
  • Another John Woo movie worth owning
 Once a Thief
Starring: Leslie Cheung , Yun-Fat Chow , Kong Chu , Cherie Chung , and Kenneth Tsang
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
Comic ActionComic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Hong Kong Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
Chow Yun-FatChow Yun-Fat | Action Stars | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
ChinaChina | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Hong Kong | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
Buddy FilmsBuddy Films | By Theme | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
Comic CriminalsComic Criminals | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
Cheung, LeslieCheung, Leslie | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Yun-Fat, ChowYun-Fat, Chow | ( Y ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
All Sony Pictures TitlesAll Sony Pictures Titles | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ChinaChina | Asian Cinema | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Hong KongHong Kong | Asian Cinema | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Martial ArtsMartial Arts | By Genre | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Buddy FilmsBuddy Films | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
CrimeCrime | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. A Better Tomorrow/A Better Tomorrow II
  2. City on Fire
  3. Full Contact
  4. Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
  5. The Killer

ASIN: B00008J2EC
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Amazon.com

A romantic art-heist comedy, far lighter in tone than most of director John Woo's work, and in places much sillier. As kids, Chow Yun-fat, Cherie Chung, and Leslie Cheung (A Chinese Ghost Story) were starving street urchins together. They are rescued from the law and trained by a Fagin-like older crook, who transforms them into glossy international cat burglars. The best sections (especially the opening and closing heists) are as masterfully smooth as any action set pieces in the Woo canon. But the tone wavers alarmingly, from the sophisticated (Chow as Cary Grant) to the savage to the sentimental and back again, with a disastrous slapstick coda set in the states, in which the baby food hits the fan. The busy plotting distracts us from a strong theme: the struggle between good and bad father figures (the other is a stalwart cop played by Chu Kong) for the souls of these noble criminals. Not to be confused with the rather limp 1995 remake, produced by Woo for Canadian TV in 1995, with The X-Files' sinister Krycek, Nicholas Lea, surprisingly effective in the Chow part. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A lighthearted fun caper movie.......2007-04-29

This movie is not what I expected at all. Rather than the usual Chow Yun Fat/John Woo Kill everything and then some movie, I was pleasantly surprised to watch this fun and seet movie. The premise is very 70s caper movie, a heist, a plan, a bad guy and the players. However, Woo takes us on a long journey with some unsuspecting turns and twists that I did not expect. The effort was fun and effective. Though some of the humor towards the end has a prediliction for cheesy humor, it's easy to get past and enjoy a very fun and entertaining romp. Recomended.

4 out of 5 stars It's pretty good.......2006-10-26

It is not woo's best work I will say that but it is not bad. It is more comedy than the ulta violent action gun-ho stuff that we are all use to see. But the fact that he took a different aproach for this film was in alot of ways refreshing. The humor at times can be a tad bit corny at times and the action is very restrained. Out of respect for the man that has given us the greatest action movies of our time I will say get this movie. Not everyone will like this movie but some will just don't get your hopes high.

1 out of 5 stars Painfully bad.......2005-12-21

Ok, a John Woo film, starring Chow Yun Fat, about an art heist. It's all good right? Wrong. Oh, was it bad. Slapstick, some terribly contrived stunts and a cringingly bad soundtrack. We did finish it--but we still wonder why.

5 out of 5 stars Caper Film Woo Style.......2005-12-06

The film starts out breezy enough. Likable trio of art thiefs mastermind elaborate heists in Paris. Afterwards they toast their laurels and have a jolly good time. You almost forget you're watching a John Woo film. Never fear. Guns start ablazing. Things blow up real good. Bad guys eat lead. It's soon revealed that Joey(Chow Yun-Fat), Jim (Leslie Cheung), and Cherie(Cherie Leung) were raised by an evil father figure who taught them petty thievery at the threat of a caning or starvation. The three grow up to be master criminals employed by evil Daddy's thriving Hong Kong crime syndicate. Heavy stuff but Woo is in top form here juggling thrills and levity along with the film's darker themes. The film also contains enough clever twists and surprises to satisfy the more discerning viewer. Yun-Fat is in top form here as the devil-may-care Joey. Yun-Fat commands the screen as both comedian and action star. This may not be the equivalent of Woo's masterworks, "The Killer" and "Hard Boiled", but it is an impressive entry in the directors canon.

5 out of 5 stars Another John Woo movie worth owning.......2004-10-24

Not as 'heavy' and full of action as many of Woo's other early films such as The Killer, Hardboiled, A Better Tommorrow etc. A bit of a change of pace for Woo and well done. Three street kids pull off a big heist.

Woo remade this film for TV with disastoruous results so make sure you are buying the one starring Chow Yun Fat.
Once a Thief: Family Business
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Big Disappointment
  • Once a Thief DVDs switched!
 Once a Thief: Family Business
Starring: Sandrine Holt , Nicholas Lea , Ivan Sergei , and Vicky Pratt
Director: T.J. Scott , and John Woo
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
John WooJohn Woo | Action Directors | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
CanadaCanada | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Television | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Holt, SandrineHolt, Sandrine | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Lea, NicholasLea, Nicholas | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Sergei, IvanSergei, Ivan | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Scott, TjScott, Tj | ( S ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
Woo, JohnWoo, John | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 Action & Adventure4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 Art House & International4-for-3 Art House & International | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 Drama4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 All DVDs4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
CanadaCanada | By Country | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
CrimeCrime | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
All DealsAll Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Kids & Family | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
  2. Once a Thief
  3. Once a Thief
  4. Once a Thief
  5. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

ASIN: B0000C23HP
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Big Disappointment.......2003-12-08

I received this DVD as a gift. I like John Woo's work, so I thought this would be a good film. The tag line is "they only stop to unload." After 35 minutes with very little action or plot development and listening to wooden characters echo poorly written lines ("I feel like the last living cell in a human body" "If it helps, I'm sorry"/"Well, it doesn't help" / "Well, I'm still sorry.") I turned it off.

4 out of 5 stars Once a Thief DVDs switched!.......2003-10-24

For those of you who will buy John Woo's "Once A Thief" DVD series/TV-movies, please take note: I bought "John Woo's Once a Thief - Brother Against Brother" and "John Woo's Once a Thief - Family Business." The DVDs inside were switched! In other words, the actual DVD DISC, though labeled "Brother Against Brother," contained the movie "Family Business." And vice versa!

So I suggest that you buy "Family Business" and "Brother Against Brother" together, and just switch the DVDs inside. (I just wrote on the DVD itself with a Sharpie to properly label the movie contained.)
Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
  • Once A Thief DVDs switched!
 Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
Starring: Sandrine Holt , Nicholas Lea , and Ivan Sergei
Director: Allan Kroeker , John Woo , and David Wu
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
John WooJohn Woo | Action Directors | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
CanadaCanada | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Television | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Holt, SandrineHolt, Sandrine | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Lea, NicholasLea, Nicholas | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Sergei, IvanSergei, Ivan | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Kroeker, AllanKroeker, Allan | ( K ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
Woo, JohnWoo, John | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
Wu, DavidWu, David | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 Action & Adventure4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 Art House & International4-for-3 Art House & International | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 Drama4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 All DVDs4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
CanadaCanada | By Country | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
CrimeCrime | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $7.49DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
All DealsAll Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Kids & Family | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Once a Thief: Family Business
  2. Once a Thief
  3. Once a Thief
  4. Once a Thief
  5. Once a Thief

ASIN: B0000C23HR
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother.......2005-07-19

This was a very good movie.If you want to see plenty of action and some comedy. This is the movie to get

4 out of 5 stars Once A Thief DVDs switched!.......2003-10-24

For those of you who will buy John Woo's "Once A Thief" DVD series/TV-movies, please take note: I bought "John Woo's Once a Thief - Brother Against Brother" and "John Woo's Once a Thief - Family Business." The DVDs inside were switched! In other words, the actual DVD DISC, though labeled "Brother Against Brother," contained the movie "Family Business." And vice versa!

So I suggest that you buy "Family Business" and "Brother Against Brother" together, and just switch the DVDs inside. (I just wrote on the DVD itself with a Sharpie to properly label the movie contained.)
Once a Thief
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Great Title, but find the series
 Once a Thief
Starring: Sandrine Holt
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc Corporation
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $7.49DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
4-for-3 All DVDs4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Once a Thief: Family Business
  2. Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
  3. Once a Thief: Family Business/Brother Against Brother
  4. Once a Thief
  5. She Spies - The Complete First Season

ASIN: B00062IZ0E
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great Title, but find the series.......2007-05-14

The DVD is a powerful story with a great deal of humor, but the TV series produced out of canada is hard to find, but makes a great addition to any cops and robbers/ super spy series lover
Once a Thief
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Once a Thief
    Starring: Once a Thief
    Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
    DVDs Under $14.99DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
    ( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
    ASIN: B0007XG2KW
    Release Date: 2005-04-05
    Once a Thief: Family Business/Brother Against Brother
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Once a Thief: Family Business/Brother Against Brother
      Starring: Sandrine Holt
      Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      DVDs Under $9.99DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
      ( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. Once a Thief
      2. Smallville - The Complete Fifth Season
      3. ACAPULCO H.E.A.T. - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (DVD MOVIE)
      4. Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Second Season
      5. The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)

      ASIN: B0002S64FK
      Release Date: 2004-08-17
      Once a Thief
      Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
      • A laugh a minute...
      • Once A Thief
      • When will they release the whole series on DVD?
      • Warring: this film [is bad]
      • Fun start to an even better series
      		 Once a Thief
      Starring: Jennifer Dale , Howard Dell , Julian Richings , Greg Kramer (II) , and James Allodi
      Director: T.J. Scott , John Paizs , David Wu , Steve DiMarco , and Allan Kroeker
      Manufacturer: Simitar Ent.
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      Crime & CriminalsCrime & Criminals | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      Mystery & ThrillerMystery & Thriller | By Genre | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      MarriageMarriage | Love & Romance | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Family Life | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      Haunted by the PastHaunted by the Past | By Theme | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      CanadaCanada | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
      Dale, JenniferDale, Jennifer | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
      Richings, JulianRichings, Julian | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
      Dimarco, SteveDimarco, Steve | ( D ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
      Kroeker, AllanKroeker, Allan | ( K ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
      Scott, TjScott, Tj | ( S ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
      Wu, DavidWu, David | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
      CanadaCanada | By Country | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      Mystery & SuspenseMystery & Suspense | By Genre | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      CrimeCrime | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      Mystery & SuspenseMystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
      DVDs Under $7.49DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
      All DealsAll Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
      ( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. Once a Thief: Family Business
      2. Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
      3. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

      ASIN: 6304810784
      Release Date: 1998-02-10

      Amazon.com

      John Woo directed this surprisingly lighthearted caper tale for TV as a pilot for a series that never materialized. The forgettable leads--Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Michael Wong--play adoptive siblings who have been trained by their father, a Hong Kong crime lord, to be master thieves. Then circumstances pit Holt and Sergei against Wong; the two of them have been co-opted as undercover cops, tracking his big score. The movie doesn't amount to much, but Woo comes through with a couple of terrific, imaginative (and funny) action sequences, including one particularly inventive one that has them literally hanging from the chandeliers. Even Woo diehards may have a hard time swallowing the smirky, callow Sergei as a romantic action lead. --Marshall Fine

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars A laugh a minute..........2005-07-09

      Action!
      I don't know if this is meant to be a serious movie, but if you need a good laugh, go for it. It's got action, a botched up love story, and some good old fashioned goof balls. Nick Lea and Ivan Sergei were a blast hanging off a chandelier. The Director (Dale) is a hoot in a S&M suit! (hey that rhymed!) The only bore was Sandrine Holt. I'm just waiting for the TV series to come out on DVD, now that was good television! (And the theme song was pretty good too).

      5 out of 5 stars Once A Thief.......2005-03-03

      Still waiting for the tv series to come out on DVD. The pilot just wets the appetite for the rest.

      5 out of 5 stars When will they release the whole series on DVD?.......2004-05-07

      They SO need to release the whole TV series on DVD. Hurry up John Woo some of us were disappointed that the series got cancelled!

      1 out of 5 stars Warring: this film [is bad].......2002-07-23

      Warring this is not a good film. The screenplay is bad, the acting is bad, and about every thing about this film is bad. John Woo is a good director; this is not a good film. Woo's Hollywood success with BROKEN ARROW and FACE/OFF emboldened FOX TV to remake Woo's Hong Kong action comedy hit ONCE A THIEF (1992) for TV. Wath we got was nothing more then a movie that rips off Woo's (good) Hong Kong films (a little bit of HARD BOILED can be seen in the film) with a no name TV movie stars (like Nicholas Lea) who wood bee better off acting in plays or something like that. This film was also to be a pilot for a TV program it looks like they got the ratings in this film [is bad] (you may know that by now, but I hate this film). The story (if there is one) is set in Hong Kong and then in Vancouver but that is all I wath to put to words, the rest is too dumb (or has been used before in the 92 film). Look for the 1992 film. The video is a "Never before Seen R-rated Director's cut", but there is no blood or nothing in it. A much better Woo U.S.A. made film is HARD TARGET.

      1997. TV Film. ??? MINS.

      Rated R For Violence.

      4 out of 5 stars Fun start to an even better series.......2002-07-02

      While I won't call this movie high art, it was a lot of fun to watch. And ignore the...comment. While the show has not yet aired in the States (but will be on many ABC stations next fall), it was turned into a series that was much better, including episodes that satirized everything from Waiting for Godot and the Maltese Falcon to James Bond and X-Files.
      Once a Thief
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • A lighthearted fun caper movie
      • It's pretty good
      • Painfully bad
      • Caper Film Woo Style
      • Another John Woo movie worth owning
      		 Once a Thief
      Starring: Leslie Cheung , Yun-Fat Chow , Kong Chu , Cherie Chung , and Kenneth Tsang
      Manufacturer: Tail Records
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      Comic ActionComic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Hong Kong Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      Chow Yun-FatChow Yun-Fat | Action Stars | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      ChineseChinese | By Original Language | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      ChinaChina | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      ComedyComedy | Hong Kong | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Hong Kong | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      Buddy FilmsBuddy Films | By Theme | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      Comic CriminalsComic Criminals | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
      Cheung, LeslieCheung, Leslie | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
      Yun-Fat, ChowYun-Fat, Chow | ( Y ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      ChinaChina | Asian Cinema | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      Hong KongHong Kong | Asian Cinema | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      Martial ArtsMartial Arts | By Genre | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      ChineseChinese | By Original Language | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      Buddy FilmsBuddy Films | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      CrimeCrime | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      DVDs Under $7.49DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
      ( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. A Better Tomorrow/A Better Tomorrow II
      2. City on Fire
      3. Full Contact
      4. Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection
      5. The Killer

      ASIN: 6305120366
      Release Date: 1998-09-29

      Amazon.com

      A romantic art-heist comedy, far lighter in tone than most of director John Woo's work, and in places much sillier. As kids, Chow Yun-fat, Cherie Chung, and Leslie Cheung (A Chinese Ghost Story) were starving street urchins together. They are rescued from the law and trained by a Fagin-like older crook, who transforms them into glossy international cat burglars. The best sections (especially the opening and closing heists) are as masterfully smooth as any action set pieces in the Woo canon. But the tone wavers alarmingly, from the sophisticated (Chow as Cary Grant) to the savage to the sentimental and back again, with a disastrous slapstick coda set in the states, in which the baby food hits the fan. The busy plotting distracts us from a strong theme: the struggle between good and bad father figures (the other is a stalwart cop played by Chu Kong) for the souls of these noble criminals. Not to be confused with the rather limp 1995 remake, produced by Woo for Canadian TV in 1995, with The X-Files' sinister Krycek, Nicholas Lea, surprisingly effective in the Chow part. --David Chute

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars A lighthearted fun caper movie.......2007-04-29

      This movie is not what I expected at all. Rather than the usual Chow Yun Fat/John Woo Kill everything and then some movie, I was pleasantly surprised to watch this fun and seet movie. The premise is very 70s caper movie, a heist, a plan, a bad guy and the players. However, Woo takes us on a long journey with some unsuspecting turns and twists that I did not expect. The effort was fun and effective. Though some of the humor towards the end has a prediliction for cheesy humor, it's easy to get past and enjoy a very fun and entertaining romp. Recomended.

      4 out of 5 stars It's pretty good.......2006-10-26

      It is not woo's best work I will say that but it is not bad. It is more comedy than the ulta violent action gun-ho stuff that we are all use to see. But the fact that he took a different aproach for this film was in alot of ways refreshing. The humor at times can be a tad bit corny at times and the action is very restrained. Out of respect for the man that has given us the greatest action movies of our time I will say get this movie. Not everyone will like this movie but some will just don't get your hopes high.

      1 out of 5 stars Painfully bad.......2005-12-21

      Ok, a John Woo film, starring Chow Yun Fat, about an art heist. It's all good right? Wrong. Oh, was it bad. Slapstick, some terribly contrived stunts and a cringingly bad soundtrack. We did finish it--but we still wonder why.

      5 out of 5 stars Caper Film Woo Style.......2005-12-06

      The film starts out breezy enough. Likable trio of art thiefs mastermind elaborate heists in Paris. Afterwards they toast their laurels and have a jolly good time. You almost forget you're watching a John Woo film. Never fear. Guns start ablazing. Things blow up real good. Bad guys eat lead. It's soon revealed that Joey(Chow Yun-Fat), Jim (Leslie Cheung), and Cherie(Cherie Leung) were raised by an evil father figure who taught them petty thievery at the threat of a caning or starvation. The three grow up to be master criminals employed by evil Daddy's thriving Hong Kong crime syndicate. Heavy stuff but Woo is in top form here juggling thrills and levity along with the film's darker themes. The film also contains enough clever twists and surprises to satisfy the more discerning viewer. Yun-Fat is in top form here as the devil-may-care Joey. Yun-Fat commands the screen as both comedian and action star. This may not be the equivalent of Woo's masterworks, "The Killer" and "Hard Boiled", but it is an impressive entry in the directors canon.

      5 out of 5 stars Another John Woo movie worth owning.......2004-10-24

      Not as 'heavy' and full of action as many of Woo's other early films such as The Killer, Hardboiled, A Better Tommorrow etc. A bit of a change of pace for Woo and well done. Three street kids pull off a big heist.

      Woo remade this film for TV with disastoruous results so make sure you are buying the one starring Chow Yun Fat.
      Once a Thief [Region 2]
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Once a Thief [Region 2]
        Starring: Jennifer Dale , Howard Dell , Julian Richings , Greg Kramer (II) , and James Allodi
        Director: T.J. Scott , John Paizs , David Wu , Steve DiMarco , and Allan Kroeker
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GermanGerman | By Original Language | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
        ThrillersThrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
        Dale, JenniferDale, Jennifer | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Richings, JulianRichings, Julian | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Dimarco, SteveDimarco, Steve | ( D ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Kroeker, AllanKroeker, Allan | ( K ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Scott, TjScott, Tj | ( S ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Wu, DavidWu, David | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        GermanGerman | By Original Language | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
        ( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
        ASIN: B00004RYAD
        Once a Thief
        Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
        • Ugh, Michael Wong!
        • Witty and Fun
        • Bad Movie
        • Great!!!
        • 3 stars movie
        		 Once a Thief
        Starring: Jennifer Dale , Howard Dell , Julian Richings , Greg Kramer (II) , and James Allodi
        Director: T.J. Scott , John Paizs , David Wu , Steve DiMarco , and Allan Kroeker
        Manufacturer: Unapix / a-Pix Ent.
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
        GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
        GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        Crime & CriminalsCrime & Criminals | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        Mystery & ThrillerMystery & Thriller | By Genre | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        MarriageMarriage | Love & Romance | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        GeneralGeneral | Family Life | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        Haunted by the PastHaunted by the Past | By Theme | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        CanadaCanada | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
        GeneralGeneral | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
        Dale, JenniferDale, Jennifer | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Richings, JulianRichings, Julian | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Dimarco, SteveDimarco, Steve | ( D ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Kroeker, AllanKroeker, Allan | ( K ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Scott, TjScott, Tj | ( S ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Wu, DavidWu, David | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        4-for-3 Action & Adventure4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
        4-for-3 Art House & International4-for-3 Art House & International | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
        4-for-3 Drama4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
        4-for-3 All DVDs4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
        CanadaCanada | By Country | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
        Mystery & SuspenseMystery & Suspense | By Genre | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
        CrimeCrime | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
        Mystery & SuspenseMystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
        DVDs Under $7.49DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
        GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
        All DealsAll Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
        ( O )( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
        Similar Items:
        1. Once a Thief: Family Business
        2. Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
        3. Once a Thief

        ASIN: B00004ZBHB
        Release Date: 2000-10-17

        Customer Reviews:

        3 out of 5 stars Ugh, Michael Wong!.......2005-01-24

        Re-made for Canadian television, this movie did have potential. It's got a lot of creativity, and some action-flick humor...but the chemistry between actors felt unnatural--too forced. And worst of all, Michael Wong was cast into a leading role. This dude CANNOT act. He should change his name to Monotone Wong (or Wong Daan-Diu in Cantonese).

        5 out of 5 stars Witty and Fun.......2002-03-18

        Once a thief are great entertainment the screen play and all the exagerations are so funny. If you love great action then it is a must own

        1 out of 5 stars Bad Movie.......2002-01-29

        The worst movie ever. If you want to see a real good Woo film, go watch "Face/Off". Now thats a good movie.

        5 out of 5 stars Great!!!.......2001-12-27

        it's just... so canadian... brilliant, really... funny, full of action, suspense... it has it all.

        3 out of 5 stars 3 stars movie.......2001-05-02

        Not bad film. Quite stylish action. Me recommend to buy it only if u saw a same TV series! Problem with the soundtrack: crackling noise during many scenes. Sound in Dolby Prologic only. :(

        DVD:

        1. JUDO by Hayward Nishioka Part 2
        2. JUDO by Hayward Nishioka Part 3
        3. JUDO by Hayward Nishioka Part 1
        4. Winning Judo 1 Best Shoulder Throws -D
        5. Red Blood
        6. Leaving Scars
        7. Sparks - The Price of Passion
        8. Amazons & Gladiators
        9. Dilemma
        10. Captain Kidd

        DVD List

        DVD

        DVD

        Morgan Heritage: Live in Europe 2003

        Paul McCartney: Live at the Cavern Club!

        Possession (REGION 1) (NTSC)

        DVD: The Cartier Affair

        Hysterical Blindness