Sunday, 15 June 2025

Hitman (3½ Stars)


"Hitman" is a multilingual film, with dialogue in Japanese, Mandarin and Cantonese. The action is spread across Japan, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

Tsukamoto, a Japanese Yakuza boss, is assassinated by a mysterious assassin known only as the King of Killers. He expected to be assassinated one day, so he's set aside a revenge fund: whoever kills the assassin and the man who hired him will receive $100 million. Tsukamoto's grandson Eiji is determined to get the money himself, but the lawyer insists that it's an open contract.

Fu (played by Jet Li) is an ex-soldier who hears about the contract. He's an outstanding fighter, but his conscience gets in the way. He can't kill anyone unless he's certain that he deserves to die. The other hitmen look down on him, thinking he's weak. In the course of the film the hitmen turn on one another. Everyone wants the money.

Is it supposed to be a comedy or a serious action film? I don't know, and I don't think the director knew. There are long comedic episodes alternating with long serious episodes. This jarred with me. The overall impression is disappointing.

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