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Movies / On DVD / The Killer
The Killer

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The Killer (1989)

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Reviews Counted:30

Fresh:30

Rotten:0

Average Rating:8.7/10

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Synopsis: When Jeffrey, a hit man, accidentally blinds a young nightclub chanteuse, his guilt makes him leave the racket to take care of her. Falling in love with the vulnerable singer, he eventually agrees... When Jeffrey, a hit man, accidentally blinds a young nightclub chanteuse, his guilt makes him leave the racket to take care of her. Falling in love with the vulnerable singer, he eventually agrees to do one last hit to raise the money needed for a cornea transplant that might restore her vision. His assignment is to assassinate mob leader Tony Weng during the crowded Dragon Boat Festival. The hit is successful, despite all the police protection, and he almost gets away. But a child is injured during his escape, and Jeffrey nearly gets caught while taking the time to drive her to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Because his identity was revealed while saving the child, the new crime boss now wants him killed. Refusing to pay him for the successful hit, he puts a contract out on his life instead. [More]

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Chu Kong

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Chu Kong, Kenneth Tsang, Fui-on Shing, Barry Wong, Parkman Wong

Director: John Woo

Director: John Woo
Producer: Tsui Hark

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Killer

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

It's as much a doomed romance as a shoot-'em-up.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
03/01/07
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The most dementedly elegiac thriller you've ever seen.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
11/28/08
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail

A lot of claims have been made for this campy bloodbath concerto by Hong Kong director John Woo, and I must admit that he's even better than Brian De Palma at delivering emotional and visceral excess with staccato relentlessness.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
03/01/07
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

Woo has cited Sam Peckinpah and Martin Scorsese as two of his influences, but he has established a touch all his own.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
10/23/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

The director repeatedly places the viewer at the center of the crossfire and turns the gyrating camera into the next best thing to a lethal weapon.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
02/11/06
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[It] makes The Wild Bunch climax look lethargic by comparison.

Full Review Source: Nitrate Online | comment Comment
02/03/06
KJ Doughton
KJ Doughton
Nitrate Online

No review available.

comment Comment
09/20/05
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

An explosive, highly-entertaining actioner

comment Comment
06/11/05
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

No review available.

comment Comment
06/06/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
02/13/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

The best marriage of intense, exciting, bloody action with a strong, affecting story I have ever seen.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/13/04
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

No review available.

comment Comment
11/19/03
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Las Vegas CityLife

A masterful, beautiful and deeply-felt action movie that reinvents the genre.

comment Comment
10/20/03
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
San Francisco Examiner

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

In the world of John Woo's over-the-top action movies, it seems there's no problem that can't be solved by a hail of bullets. Don't be fooled; The Killer is far more than the sum of its plot elements.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
07/30/03
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Good John Woo movie. Over the top action scenes, and a heartfelt story about remorse.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/12/03
Rob Blackwelder
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

No review available.

comment Comment
04/10/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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