Red Skies (2002)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Such a frustrating disappointment

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Apparently this was the pilot meant to launch a new TV series back in 2002 (biggest tell (SPOILER): they don't even capture - or kill - the main villain!), but the series never came to be. It's a bit of a shame: this is not a great pilot per se, but you can see the potential for an enjoyable weekly series. The characters are fairly stereotypical, but also fairly engaging, and most importantly, they click as a team. It might have been interesting to see Shawn Christian's "dark side" explored more in further episodes. Vivian Wu seems very comfortable in the action genre, but the show is stolen by that blonde bad girl who has a dominatrix thing going on; ironically enough, the actress who plays her, Pauley Perette, joined another TV series the next year - "Navy NCIS" - which had quite a different fate: it's still running! My biggest complaint has to do with the too-loud rock songs that play over some of the action scenes. Otherwise, not a bad way to spend 75 minutes. **1/2 out of 4.

Schwarzenegger had done a film about the Russian police arriving in New York running after some Georgian Mafiosi, under the title of Red Heat. But that is passé now. It was in 1988 before the end of the Cold War. So now we invent something even better. Some police officer from Beijing arrives running after some Mafioso from Shanghai and has to cooperate with the local FBI. Last twist in the game: that Chinese police officer is a woman. Apart from that the film has no depth at all. Corruption in the immigration services. Obsession of the FBI about legality and procedural purity, if not virginity, forgetting that he who is obsessed about his virginity ends up in the can, all his marbles out spilled on the floor and his eyes crushed under a power roller under the disguise of a bulldozer. And one lullaby please for the virgin mind to doze off nicely without any nightmares. If you like corrupt people, good old quick and effective cops, some nice action and kung fu choreography, get it and enjoy. You can be sure you will not get a sprained neuron or two on that highly un-intellectual exercise. At last something simple that both prevent you from sleeping with its action and shouting, and that does not strain or stress you mind in our overworked society.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

I have just watched "Red Skies" and I really liked this pilot. The story of a special FBI squad has all the usual clichés of a martial arts police movie, but it really works. Vivian Wu is excellent in the role of a Shangai Military Police Colonel chasing a criminal in the United States of America, and the screenplay gives great lines to the lead cast. Of course "Red Skies" is not a masterpiece, but it is an excellent entertainment and I really liked it. I am not sure whether this pilot became a TV Series, but it might be a great show with such nice characters. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Céus Vermelhos" ("Red Skies")

I intended to write a full critique of this but found someone had beaten me to the draw. I agree entirely with the long essay describing characterisation, et al. I would just add that the only reason I logged in to comment was the subtle (and not so subtle) humour amongst the characters lifted this above the normal drear cop pilot shows we see from the US.I would enjoy a series based on this: a strong start with a good cast.