When an ambulatory TV news unit live broadcasts the embarrassing defeat of a police battalion by five bank robbers in a ballistic showdown, the credibility of the police force drops to a ... See full summary »

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(as Chan Hing Kai), (as Ip Tin Shing)
5 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview:
...
Yuen
...
Rebecca Fong
...
Inspector Cheung
...
Eric Yeung (as Cheung Siu Fai)
...
Hoi (as Hui Siu Hung)
...
Yip (as Lam Suet)
Yong You ...
Chun (as You Yong)
Haifeng Ding ...
Long (as Ding Hai Feng)
Haitao Li ...
Chung (as Li Hai Tao)
...
CK Wong
...
Grace Chow (as Maggie Shiu)
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Storyline

When an ambulatory TV news unit live broadcasts the embarrassing defeat of a police battalion by five bank robbers in a ballistic showdown, the credibility of the police force drops to a nadir. While on a separate investigation in a run-down building, detective Cheung discovers the hideout of the robbers. Cheung and his men have also entered the building, getting ready to take their foes out any minute. Meanwhile, in order to beat the media at its own game, Inspector Rebecca decides to turn the stakeout into a breaking news show. Written by Official synopsis

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Details

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Release Date:

10 June 2004 (Hong Kong)  »

Also Known As:

Breaking News  »

Filming Locations:


Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$132,563 (Hong Kong) (18 June 2004)
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

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Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Goofs

During the opening shootout, one of the bad guys is firing out of a window with an AK-47. He then drops down to the street to shoot at a police van which arrives. During this time he clearly runs out of blanks as his gun stops firing, though gunfire sound effects can still be heard. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Chun tian hua hua tong xue hui (2006) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Action and the media make for an odd mix
7 October 2004 | by (Glen Cove, New York) – See all my reviews

After a shoot out goes wrong and the police are made to look like fools the brass resolve to catch the bandits while using the media to fix their busted reputation. However things don't go quite as expected for anyone and what was a simple manhunt becomes a hostage situation with all of Hong Kong watching.

This is an odd film. The plot is a bit too complex for its 90 minute running time, with gunfire exploding often when you least expect it. It starts off with a huge shoot out and then changes feels and tones several times as it goes. And there are a couple of moments where I swear I missed some plot point or other, but found I was simply carried along with the momentum and didn't care for long..

It clearly wants to make a commentary on the use of media by organizations to look good, and it mostly succeeds. (I'm also certain that the parallels to how the US Government is doing a similar thing in Iraq was probably unintentional even if it does make you think.)

This is a very good, and very off beat film that moves to its own beat. Definitely worth seeing, especially if you like action.

8 out of 10


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