Director Jingle Ma (Silver Hawk) and star Tony Leung (In The Mood For Love, Infernal Affairs) re-unite for a belated but rather disappointing follow-up to Tokyo Raiders…
The original Tokyo Raiders was a likable cloak and dagger romp that ran like a cross between Charade and an 80s Jackie Chan movie. It showed Tony Leung’s versatility in playing comedy roles, garnered an affable performance from co-star Ekin Cheng, and included some great, off-the-wall fight scenes where characters used anything that came to hand - even a keyboard and computer mouse. It was obvious that everyone involved had fun making it. Somehow the mix worked and, honestly, the result was actually a lot better than it should have been.
Four years on, and director Jingle Ma has returned to his leading man Lin (Tony Leung Chiu-wai, In The Mood For Love, Infernal Affairs) and a new tale of subterfuge, this time set in South Korea. Sadly for us, Ma makes the fatal mistake of sequels - replaying all the most memorable elements of the original without its witty script (which this time he co-wrote) or performances!
The slight plot involves Lin nearly being gazumped to the robbery of some US dollar plates by ‘master’ thief JJ (Shu Qi, So Close, The Eye 2). He plans to return them to the United States consulate for the reward. However, he in turn is duped by Owen Lee (Richie Ren, Silver Hawk) who flees to South Korea in search of a new buyer.
Soon the race is on to track down Owen and the plates before the nasty Korean gangster ‘Polar Bear’ gets his hand on them, and Lin enlists the help of his three Korean babes (borrowed from So Close and Charles Angels). But is all as it seems? (What do you think?) Is it bloody obvious? (Hello?) And will the explanation be overplayed? (Hell yes!)
Watching Seoul Raiders, you might find it hard to believe director Jingle Ma originally carved out a name for himself as a cinematographer. His direction plods, it’s okay but rarely imaginative, and sometimes veering towards ham-fisted - could it be he had problems with the largely Korean film crew?
And that’s not the only ham on show; the acting is little better than pantomime. Tony Leung severely underplays his talents - perhaps he felt he should atone for the serious nature of so much of his recent work, like 2046 and Infernal Affairs? Shu Qi is reduced to annoying, squeaky form - disappointing after her outstanding performance in The Eye 2. And often the gags fall the wrong side of juvenile, falling flat rather than emulating Stephen Chow’s silliness.
Not that there aren’t sequences to recommend, particular those involving fight choreography by Ailan Chiu-wai Sit (who worked on the original film). For instance, when Lin faces up against the Korean gangsters outside the club, and grabs a stack of plates to throw at them. On the whole, though, it tries too hard to copy the original film without new inspiration.
It’s fun, but it could have been a whole lot better. And seems like all too lazy an attempt to cash-in on the burgeoning Korean film market, an ironic state of affairs considering it’s only recently that it has usurped Hong Kong. This isn’t going to do it. A disappointment for fans of the original, and for those who haven’t seen Tokyo Raiders, please don’t let it put you off!
DVD details
Distributor: Hong Kong Legends (UK)
Good transfer for sound and picture, and a wealth of extras including an interview with the director, delete scenes, and several features on the 'Seoul Girls' - but is that enough to turn this sow's ear into a silk purse?
