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No consensus yet.
All Critics (21) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (4)
Cleverly scripted, brilliantly acted and masterfully edited, Mad Detective explores the very human capacity to lose one's moral centre in a crisis. Aug 9, 2008
Cleverly scripted, brilliantly acted and masterfully edited, Mad Detective explores the very human capacity to lose one's moral centre in a crisis.
Anton Bitel
A stylishly funky Hong Kong thriller from cult director Johnnie To and co-writer/codirector Wai Ka Fai. Aug 8, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
A stylishly funky Hong Kong thriller from cult director Johnnie To and co-writer/codirector Wai Ka Fai.
Ty Burr
Mad Detective doesn't always make sense, and you cannot always tell what is real and what is imaginary, but viewers will be having too much zonked-out fun to care. Jul 18, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Mad Detective doesn't always make sense, and you cannot always tell what is real and what is imaginary, but viewers will be having too much zonked-out fun to care.
V.A. Musetto
If the insanely inventive and entertaining Mad Detective weren't so weird -- and in Cantonese -- hordes of action geeks would be lining the block to see it. Jul 18, 2008 | Rating: 4.5/5
If the insanely inventive and entertaining Mad Detective weren't so weird -- and in Cantonese -- hordes of action geeks would be lining the block to see it.
Manohla Dargis
Fleeting confusion and bizarre literalization aside, Mad Detective is an effective mystery story, with an oddball hero -- like TV's Monk, but far crazier -- and some moments of visceral violence that raise the stakes. Jul 17, 2008 | Rating: B
Fleeting confusion and bizarre literalization aside, Mad Detective is an effective mystery story, with an oddball hero -- like TV's Monk, but far crazier -- and some moments of visceral violence that raise the stakes.
Noel Murray
Every moment in Mad Detective seems engineered for maximum oddity; it almost becomes overwhelming...Yet the movie feels adventuresome, too, a new bridge to Asiaâ(TM)s soulful ghost canon. Itâ(TM)s a metaphysical mystery masquerading as a doodle. Jul 16, 2008 | Rating: 4/6
Every moment in Mad Detective seems engineered for maximum oddity; it almost becomes overwhelming...Yet the movie feels adventuresome, too, a new bridge to Asiaâ(TM)s soulful ghost canon. Itâ(TM)s a metaphysical mystery masquerading as a doodle.
Joshua Rothkopf
After so many stoical, staunchly confident films from Johnnie To, it's always refreshing to see one of his collaborations with fellow Milkyway Image director/producer Wai Ka-fai... Nov 17, 2017 | Full Review…
After so many stoical, staunchly confident films from Johnnie To, it's always refreshing to see one of his collaborations with fellow Milkyway Image director/producer Wai Ka-fai...
Daniel Kasman
An inventive oddball pic that's diverting and borders on the ridiculous but never becomes uninteresting or completely loses its way. May 9, 2010 | Rating: B | Full Review…
An inventive oddball pic that's diverting and borders on the ridiculous but never becomes uninteresting or completely loses its way.
Dennis Schwartz
Expect an inferior American remake within five years. Sep 26, 2008 | Full Review…
Expect an inferior American remake within five years.
Stan Hall
More comical than compelling, but what do you expect of a chopsocky revolving around a head case of a hero begging to be buried alive in order to channel his psychic powers? Jul 21, 2008 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
More comical than compelling, but what do you expect of a chopsocky revolving around a head case of a hero begging to be buried alive in order to channel his psychic powers?
Kam Williams
A freewheeling narrative that twists around its central themes with manic intensity. Jul 18, 2008 | Full Review…
A freewheeling narrative that twists around its central themes with manic intensity.
Daniel Eagan
too cluttered to be engrossing or even entertaining Jul 17, 2008 | Rating: 2/5
too cluttered to be engrossing or even entertaining
Chris Cabin
An original and intriguing Hong Kong made thriller about a detective who claims to have the supernatural ability to see the inner personalities of people, something he puts to good use in his line of work. It's an interesting idea but I think it deserved a better story to play out the use of its gimmick. It kept my attention though and I was never really sure if the characters' "gift" was real or just in his imagination until all is revealed after the climactic Mexican stand-off. It's a good film but could have been better.
Super Reviewer
edge of your seat thriller with an insane and/or psychic lead character keeps u guessing about what's real/not real. stylish and a lot of fun with ending straight out of lady from shanghai!
Very original character for a police story. Enjoyed, even if I did get extremely confused in places!
Good direction from To, solid performances from everyone (Andy On is just tolerable, nothing more) but the script doesn't help to make this something better. To works a lot better by himself.
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