Asian Cop: High Voltage (1995)

This movie looked like a collection of violent buddy cop movie clichés sewn on top of a Lethal Weapon template. There were Hong Kongers, Filipinos, Americans, and one of the dubbers had an Australian accent.

Were the bad guys drug dealers, counterfeiters or just bad guys in general?

The music ranged from Lethal Weapon rip-off riffs, to organ music from a 1950’s Dracula movie, to music your brother wrote in the basement on his cheap sound effects keyboard, to literally an Anne Murray country song.

The lighting was awful. If Donnie Yen is in a fight scene, the audience should be able to see him at work. At other times, the director kept using shots either super close-up or shots looking up the actors’ noses.

The only redeeming qualities for me were Donnie Yen (always!) and Roy Cheung. Donnie excels at playing the quiet, brooding good guy. Roy Cheung’s charisma came through even this script. Both were way better than the material they were asked to bring to life.

If you are a fan of bad 1990’s cop flicks or a Donnie Yen completist, this movie may be up your alley. For others, you may want to skip this one.

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