Now, let’s say that BLACK RANSOM is one hell of a Hong Kong police flick. It’s all about the GOOD (cops), the BAD (kidnappers) and the UGLY (triad gangs). When we diligently mix these three elements, we get a story on bloody mayhem.
BLACK RANSOM is one stylish film directed by KEUNG KWOK-MAN with a lot of heart, some soul and plenty of shoot-outs. It focuses on kidnap and ransom, though strangely, the victim is not the heir to some billionaire, but an important triad member. We’ve a good cop played by SIMON YAM.
Now throw in a bad cop (MICHAEL MIU) who’s helming a small bunch of hard-boiled ex-cops who kidnap not just for money, but to act as self-imposed vigilantes to eliminate the baddies – those who manage to escape judicial justice.
Charismatic actor SIMON YAM leads a great cast in the role of a middle-aged cop and doting father, whose life takes on a sense of forlorn loneliness, after his wife was killed in a car accident and that he has now to fend for his teenage daughter.
‘Tis the season of Hong Kong TV land thespians crossing over to the big screen.
Ex-TVB actor SIMON YAM pitches acting skills with current TVB artistes MICHALE MIU and FALA CHAN, proving that there’s life after the TVB banner. fter all, A-listers CHOW YUN FAT and TONY LEUNG rose to fame from acting in TVB dramas, in the long years before.
In BLACK RANSOM, we find a sombre theme about the violent life that brings the cops and robbers together, and the end result that takes a toll on both. The tension is excruciating when the heat comes down on the hoods. he cat-and-mouse challenges between the cops, robbers and triad gangs are fast-paced and clever.
It’s one of the few absorbing Hong Kong police flicks to come out in the flurry of police thrillers in recent years. For pure entertainment value and to let your hair down, go watch BLACK RANSOM. Some scenes may be brutal but you will get this sense of reality that will not seem contrived.
And oh yeah, all the actresses in the film are gorgeously stunning.
