What
makes a series a series? In the case of Wilson Yip’s thematic, in-name only martial
arts thriller franchise, it is the consistently superior fight choreography. It
is known as Sha Po Lang (a Chinese
Zodiac reference) in the Asian market, but it goes by SPL or sometimes Kill Zone
in the West, but apparently the latest film has dropped the series prefix
altogether for the international festival circuit. There are no overlapping
characters or story arcs, but Yip returns to the director’s chair after assuming
a producing role on Kill Zone 2 (a.k.a.
SPL 2: A Time for Consequences). No
matter what you call it, the series maintains a well-earned rep for high-octane
action with Yip’s Paradox (trailer here), which screens
during the 2017 San Diego Asian Film Festival.
As
a police negotiator, you maybe would not expect Lee Chung-chi to Liam Neeson’s
very particular set of skills, but when his daughter Wing-chi disappears in
Thailand, all bets are off. Fortunately, one of the few honest coppers in
Bangkok is assigned to the case. Lee and Tsui will follow the trail to an organ
harvesting ring, but eventually Lee goes rogue after receiving a tip implicating
the blatantly corrupt Det. Ban. Tsui’s compromised police chief father-in-law pressures
him to relent, because the intended beneficiary of Wing-chi’s abduction is the
secretly ailing mayor, but obviously that is not going to happen.
Although
there is no narrative continuity, Paradox
continues the tradition of bringing back prior cast members in completely
different roles. Serious martial arts fans will be happy to know this includes
Tony Jaa, now appearing as Tak the devout Buddhist cop, but frustrated to learn
it is a “special appearance.” He will not be around for the third act, but he
definitely makes his limited screen time count.
Perhaps
the biggest surprise is how hardcore Louis Koo (another holdover from 2) gets as Lee. He has made plenty of
cop and gangster movies before, but often the more demanding work has been
assigned to a partner, like Nick Cheung in Line Walker. He earns mucho credit for really upping his game for Paradox.
Likewise,
Yue Wu hangs with both of them, going toe-to-toe with the flamboyantly
villainous Chris Collins as the organ harvesting ring-leader. Gordon Lam
effectively counterbalances him as the icily ruthless political fixer, Cheng
Hon-sau. Unfortunately, Vithaya Pansringarm is under-employed as the
problematic Commish (he is not really evil, just weak), but Ken Lo takes sleazy
repulsiveness to a new level as Ban. This is definitely a testosterone kind of
film, but Jacky Cai manages to make a strong impression as Siu-man, the
prostitute who informs on Ban.
Even
though Master Sammo Hung never appears in Paradox,
he still counts as one of the stars, thanks to his bone-crushing action
direction. This isn’t pretty Crouching
Tiger aerial work. It is hard knees and elbows, in the Muay Thai tradition.
Frankly, the combination of the tough but hugely cinematic fight scenes with
the all-star cast firing on all cylinders is tough to beat. Highly recommended
for action fans, Paradox screens this
Tuesday (11/14) and Thursday (11/16), as part of this year’s San Diego Asian
Film Festival.
