Bullet in the Head (Die xue jie tou) (1990)
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Critic Reviews for Bullet in the Head (Die xue jie tou)
All Critics (6) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (0) | DVD (3)
Eschewing the glamorous contract killers of Woo's previous films, Bullet has its carefree and idealistic characters repeatedly in untenable situations, bound to corrupt them. Shooting their way out is a temporary solution which only digs them in deeper.
Left me silent and wide-eyed.
Audience Reviews for Bullet in the Head (Die xue jie tou)
A year after John Woo made his action classic, The Killer, he brought us Bullet In the Head. A film that he personally funded himself, but went largely unnoticed at the time of it release due to the release of the very popular and lackluster sequel, A Better Tomorrow 3. Bullet In the Head is not only one of John Woo best movie, but it's the most emotional work he ever done. Bullet In the Head follows three close friends escape from Hong Kong to war-time Saigon to start a criminal's life. They all go through a harrowing experience which totally shatters their lives and their friendship forever. The plot is one of the finest John Woo has ever written with a deep examination of true friendship. The plot itself is fast pace to the point where it hurts the film. It moves to frequently that it doesn't allow you to absorb what you just witness. The characters themselves are written with depth and seeing their journey is a thrill ride all on its own. We see them fight gangs together, escape to a war torn Vietnam, and seeing it all crumble in magnificent fashion. The film itself does historical and political context with some references to the Vietnam Saigon Execution and the Vietnam War itself. As with almost every John Woo film directed by John Woo, the action is over the top with character magically missing a hail storm of bullets without a scratch on them. The action might be over the top, but it works in it favor as these character do have go through their rough journey together. The acting here is good, but nothing noteworthy. The cast do their own moments to shine, but once again aren't anything special. It's filmed superbly with an amazing score that helps it add emotional weight of the drama. Bullet In the Head might not be as well know as some of John Woo other films, but it retains the high standards as some of his best work. If you're looking for a film that test the value of friendship Bullet In the Head is as emotional as it is action packed.
Super Reviewer
The first five minutes of John Woo's masterpiece on the nature of brotherhood has more cinematic potency than many entire movies. This is all a perfect setup for the following sucker punch of the most brutally and entertainingly violent and horrifying series of events ever put on film. People are shot in their head, people explode, demonstrators are shot, exploding Cuban cigars, etc. The thing is that this mix of melodrama, action, and violence comes together into a cohesive whole and works amazingly well. And this has been compared, not inaptly, to The Deer Hunter, particularly for its harrowing scenes in a Vietcong internment camp. Jacky Cheung make a bold, brave performance as the 'title character,' Tony Leung's ability to communicate tragedy, and Waise Lee's wonderful way with the line, 'All I want is this box of gold. Is that so much to ask?'
Super Reviewer
...I don't know dave
Super Reviewer
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