12-23-2021, 11:30 AM
(seen on Criterion)
My search didn't turn this up, but surely some of you have seen this.
Tony (Aaron Kwok) is a brash young judo up-and-comer who seeks out former champion Sze-To Bo (Louis Koo) to challenge him to a match -- only to find him a drunkard and ever evasive. Thrown into the mix is Mona (Cherrie Ying), an aspiring cocktail singer who refuses to give up despite limited talent (she steals so many scenes). They make a colorful trio as they navigate a maze of drinking bouts, gambling fiascos, gangster debt collectors, and an even more formidable opponent in Lee Kong (an unrecognizable Tony Ka Fai Leung [Big Tony]), head of a major judo dojo famous for beating all opponents with a singular technique.
There's a lot going on in this movie, and it's all expertly interwoven. Vintage Johnnie To, and I'm surprised I missed it back in my Johnnie To phase. A wonderful blend of martial action, comedy, drama, and tragedy that's hard to predict, following its own unique trajectory.
I also watched a 10-minute "Making of Throw Down" where Johnnie To made clear his goal of showing real judo fighting techniques and throws, all done on hard surfaces. And there were so many throws! The behind-the-scenes clips often show the main players hunkered down, pain etched on their faces, awaiting medical attention.
The end credits include a tribute to Kurosawa for inspiring this film.
A treat, if you haven't seen it.
My search didn't turn this up, but surely some of you have seen this.
Tony (Aaron Kwok) is a brash young judo up-and-comer who seeks out former champion Sze-To Bo (Louis Koo) to challenge him to a match -- only to find him a drunkard and ever evasive. Thrown into the mix is Mona (Cherrie Ying), an aspiring cocktail singer who refuses to give up despite limited talent (she steals so many scenes). They make a colorful trio as they navigate a maze of drinking bouts, gambling fiascos, gangster debt collectors, and an even more formidable opponent in Lee Kong (an unrecognizable Tony Ka Fai Leung [Big Tony]), head of a major judo dojo famous for beating all opponents with a singular technique.
There's a lot going on in this movie, and it's all expertly interwoven. Vintage Johnnie To, and I'm surprised I missed it back in my Johnnie To phase. A wonderful blend of martial action, comedy, drama, and tragedy that's hard to predict, following its own unique trajectory.
I also watched a 10-minute "Making of Throw Down" where Johnnie To made clear his goal of showing real judo fighting techniques and throws, all done on hard surfaces. And there were so many throws! The behind-the-scenes clips often show the main players hunkered down, pain etched on their faces, awaiting medical attention.
The end credits include a tribute to Kurosawa for inspiring this film.
A treat, if you haven't seen it.
