So Close (2002)

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Based on the several people who have commented on this film, a following summary can be made:Admittedly terrible story + Beautiful women + Good fight scenes = Entertainment value around 6/10To me, this formula couldn't be more wrong. If you can suspend all and every part of yourself that might be prone to criticism perhaps you can get a 6/10-experience. Most people who want to see quality movies, I believe, cannot accomplish such a feat.Let me to recap on my terms.Awful, terrible, horrendous plot that clashes with reality on every possible level - Beautiful women, this is true - Moderate fight scenes that do not really have you holding your breath - Constant urge to stop watching and do something better with your time = Crappy movie 1/10

Excellent action and fight scenes plus the women are all ultra hot. What more could you ask for?!! I saw a dubbed version. I am in search of a copy with subtitles but can't seem to find one. I prefer to hear the original Chinese spoken. Anyway, I loved the movie. It makes me want to find other titles featuring the three lead performers. I loved the kiss at the end. It was touching yet erotic at the same time. The plot was a little confusing at first but I finally caught on. All in all I would say the movie pleasantly surprised me. I would definitely recommend it. If you like hot babes kicking some serious ass you should see this movie.

There was a vague suggestion of a plot here somewhere, but I'll be damned if I can remember enough to do a summary.Shu Qi and Zhao Wei play assassin sisters who have to screw over some important people for some reason. As this is the 21st century computers figure largely. Zhao has an impressive if rather daft office full of computers that enable her to see just about anything, anywhere, which is really helpful for her telling Shu when she has to get ready to plant her stiletto boot in some guy's face. Oh and there's some other woman played by Karen Mok, who is a policewomen trying to stop them. Ooh, the tension! The gaps in between the OTT but pretty decent fight scenes are taken up either by Karen Mok jibing at her partner, otherwise known as Goofy Girl Power Fodder Police Sidekick Model 101 Who Wears Glasses Because He's Goofy, or Shu and Zhao arguing with each other ("Waaa, waaa, I want to shoot the important people!") or occasionally fighting which at one point leads to a scene involving a full bath tub, soap, Zhao getting very wet, a naked Shu Qi and a carefully placed white towel that's as soft core as you can get without actually being soft core.So far you probably think I hated this film, but I did find it enjoyable. Action-wise, it's standard fare for anyone familiar with HK action, so that means it's much superior to anything Hollywood churns out in a similar vein. Unfortunately there's some lame CGI pasting things together now and then but there's enough neat martial arts and gun play to justify giving it a look. US actresses can try to be Shu Qi, but few come close in terms of charisma or looks. Along with the action she's the only significant factor holding the whole thing together.The major stumbling block is when the film goes dramatic into the third act. What started out as a fun, light hearted shampoo commercial come shoot em up almost regresses into an overly melodramatic vengeance piece that I felt didn't fit in with its initial attitude. Luckily vast hordes of people start getting shot soon afterwards which prevents the film from killing itself with its shoelaces.Don't feel you have to rush out and rent this. It's fun, but Infernal Affairs signalled the end of the post-John Woo HK crime recession which suggested they can do a lot better than this. But I don't want my money back because So Close achieved what it set out to be; brainless action with attractive women. Certainly choose this over Charlie's Angels.

Review: So Close(2002) Current mood: human I guess. Good action movies can be far and few inbetween...never more so than now a days. That's why I really liked this film...it looked modern but had a old school feel. I was first introduced to this film because of the director's film "The Transporter" which I thought was bad a$$. Don't let the front of the DVD fool you...Yes, there are 3 girls...with guns, kung fu,lots of flashy directing and wire works but trust me...this film is everything that Charlie's Angels wishes it was. Unlike the horrid Charlie's Angels So Close actually has a story to it and the action plays to the story rather than the story being fill in. The movie has really sweet moments that don't have action in it and the story is carried by the leads. The problem with female fronted action movies and comic films is that they try to be all things to all people. In a lot of these films the sexuality is used to get the guys in, then they use cheesy love story to get the girls and the PG-13 action to get the teenage boys. So what is it missing? Guts. That's what. The sexuality isn't over used in the movie, the romance is believable(and don't make them seem like sluts or tacked on like in Electra) and the action is wonderfully shot and violent. But with saying that there are hardly any killings on screen but the violence is balls to the walls. When 2 of the characters take on a sword carrying bad ass they hold up their own in this violent fight. It's no wire work dance ala Charlie's Angels...it's down to the ground dirty fighting that makes you cheer for the girls to beat the guy up badly. So if your in the mood for a fun popcorn flick with hot girls, guns and "ACTION" then this flick is for you. So instead of seeing another one of those PG-13 action films where they belong...gathering dust on a shelf and try this one out...you'll like it.