The Big Heat (1988)

Overrated and overhyped

Better Late Then Never

Admirable film.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Hong Kong cop Wai-Pong "John" Wong (Lee) has been having nightmares about his right hand. He's worried it will cramp up and be of no use should he get into a firefight and he won't be able to protect his partners Kam (Kwok), Clumsy Lun (Wong), or Malaysian cop working with them, Ong (Lo). Not to mention his wife Maggie (Mak), who he's been having troubles with lately. But Wong is going to have to put his psychological/physical issues on hold, because Hong Kong is about to be turned upside down by drug-dealing, blackmailing, ruthless gangsters that kill witnesses at the drop of a hat and want to do as much illegal activity as possible before 1997 (when HK becomes independent of British rule). This sets the stage for one of the most blood-drenched battles Hong Kong has ever seen. The heat isn't just big...it's HUGE! It's pretty easy math to do: Stylish police drama + Hong Kong + The 80's + GORE scenes = complete and total winner! We believe this movie's under-the-radar status, coupled with its being credited to not less than THREE directors, one of which is Johnnie To, another being an uncredited Tsui Hark, plus its groundbreaking uses of extreme violence, puts The Big Heat firmly in the category of cult movie. Which is saying a lot because that's one of the most misused terms out there today. Most movies deemed "cult" are not. We're pretty sure The Big Heat is. The title is not to be confused with the also-excellent (but couldn't be more different) film noir from 1953. Quick sidebar: if you look closely in one of the scenes, you can see a poster for Young Warriors (1983) in the background.The Big Heat delivers all the bone-crunching violence you could ever possibly want, and we applaud them for going so far over the top. But the real truth is that this would be a good, solid, interesting movie even without the excessive blood and mayhem. It's stylishly and energetically directed, and would easily hold the viewers' interest sans all the brutality on show. So you can imagine the thrill-ride this movie is WITH all the violence. All the fights and stunts are spectacularly well-staged, and the viewer is never less than totally entertained. Plus there's plenty of slow-motion dramatics so popular at the time to increase the operatic feel of it all.If The Big Heat was an 80's boombox, it would have all the levels cranked to the top. We give this movie a very strong recommendation so make sure you see it!

Bad Stuff. Really bad Stuff. I have read others reviews and stayed curious about the film, but, after i've seen it...This movie is one of the worst movies that i have ever saw. Its not the gore or the violence, but the bad acting and the scenes that look like they are fast forward. John woo and Ringo Lam are the best, but this is mediocre cinema. Bad Stuff. I have laughed so much that this should be a comedy. A bad one... A really bad one... Awful Film. Hong Kong makes a lot of films, but most have zero quality. Guns, Cops, Blood, funny deaths. Bad action with no brains. People should see more well made movies and not waste time with this. Horrible.

The Big Heat (1988) was a violent and brutal police drama that is still shocking and disturbing. A police inspector(Waise Lee) is partially crippled in his quick draw hand. He's haunted by the fact that he'll never be able to use it like he did ever again. Meanwhile a brutal crime lord (Chu Kong) is making all kinds of trouble amongst the Hong Kong Police department. Corruption is at an all time high and no one is innocent. Inspector Lee and his partner (Philip Kwok) are assigned a new partner (Matthew Wong) and a foreign fellow officer, the four of them make a very unlikely group of officers. Their job is to take out and apprehend the crime lord (or is it?). The hot Joey Wong is the love interest of the novice officer.If you like no holds barred action films, then look no further. Violent deaths, brutal fist fights and hardcore action is the rule in this movie. I haven't seen anything like this in a long time and neither will you. Maybe some day a true uncut version of this movie will appear. But don't worry about it because I doubt it'll be any more bloodier than it already is.Highly recommended for the sheer carnage alone.

Gloomy apocalyptic testament of Hong Kong's capitalism. Homosexuality, drug-dealing, and street-showdown between the police and a psychic criminal show that Chinese views of value have been already raped by 100 year-domain of westernization regardless of their UNWANTED retro-annexation to main China.