The Detective (2007)

An Exercise In Nonsense

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

There is that quality of "What's going on?" which keeps one engrossed in this story. As one thing leads to another, we are challenged to make sense of what is happening and how all the people, places, and incidents are tied to each other. We know instinctively that the conclusions of the detective are wrong. Yet, it's a struggle to do him one better.There are no "red herrings" and there is no deliberate attempt to lead one astray - so why is it so hard to figure it out? Of course it's because something is missing - but what? Well, trying to guess that "something" is fun. Also, watching a "detective" bumble his way through this case is fun - a lot of fun.For the more technically oriented: Production values are high, acting is good, location shots are full of atmosphere, the music fits the tempo and is not jarring, the "feel" of the picture is that everything is real. I consider it dripping with authenticity.

Aaron Kwok is the reason to see this movie. He is the detective on the case. Soon it becomes clear that he isn't like any other private eyes in the movies. His motives for becoming one are personal. (I am not going to reveal what that fact is because it is important to the plot.) When he is hired by this man to find a woman who he claims is stalking him, things start to happen. He realizes that this is a serious case and really is on to something. Kwok does get some help from a friend in the police department (Kai Chi Liu). The interaction between him and Aaron provide most of the funny scenes. Still it is a one man show where it is fun to see Kwok investigating. Some elements of the mystery that has to be solved are pretty obvious. But I think that this is done on purpose since the focus is not the mystery it self but Kwok solving it and becoming a true private eye. The conclusion therefore is pretty decent and satisfying. There is a set up for a possible sequel. Well,if the Pang Brothers continue in this manner than they have my blessing!

This is a very decent movie from Hong Kong movie producers. The location of shooting (Thailand) also gives a good and fresh atmosphere for the story. As a local from Hong Kong, I find myself absorb in the movie since my mind was not annoyed when scenes jumps around which doesn't make geographical sense (irrelevant to Foreign viewer, but it really turns the local down.)Compare to other suspense Hong Kong movies, the plot is complicate enough to keep audience guessing. The tone and setting also provides a constant suspense most of the way.However, it turned me down that when supernatural (a.k.a.ghost) was involved at the end. The addition of supernatural voided all the suspenses since it doesn't fit in the movie. Especially it was reveal so late in the movie.

This was really good. Though I'd been losing hope that Los Bros Pang could deliver a truly satisfying movie experience (considering their recent efforts), I'm always compelled to watch them. I have a lot of faith in these guys. My faith in their abilities has been restored with this flick. A lot of the credit goes to Aaron Kwok. He did an amazing job and I can't imagine how any other actor would've pulled it off. A brilliant, memorable performance. It's visually stunning -- and gritty as hell -- and has the feel of a solid independent (ala "Memento" or "Blood Simple.") It's a bit "over-told" when all's said and done, but ultimately quite satisfying.The Pang Brothers are back!