Incannerax
What a waste of my time!!!
WillSushyMedia
This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Voxitype
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Leofwine_draca
TIGER CAGE is an ensemble Hong Kong cop film with much in common with the same era's IN THE LINE OF DUTY flicks. This one features Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Jacky Cheung, Carol Cheng and others as a team of crack detectives who take down a drug syndicate at the film's outset. The only problem is that some of the bad guys survive, swearing revenge on the cops who destroyed their operation.What follows is a roller-coaster ride of a film filled with breakneck action and all of the wonderful martial arts choreography that you'd hope from the genre. This one's directed by Yuen Woo-ping and boy, does he know how to direct a proper thriller: there are barely any slow spots, just tons of action and action that drives the plot forward at that. It's one of the most purely entertaining Hong Kong thrillers that I've seen.Cast-wise, I have to say that most of the leading members give more than impressive performances, not least an incredibly youthful Donnie Yen in what I think might have been only his second leading part. Simon Yam seems experienced and reliable even at this early stage of his career. Jacky Cheung acquits himself well in a role that Jackie himself could have played, and it's always a pleasure to see American bodybuilder Michael Woods on top form as a hulking henchman. TIGER CAGE is a film filled with twists, betrayals, stunts and incredible one-on-one fights, and Hong Kong film fans will be in movie heaven.
david-sarkies
Sometimes, when you are fortunate, a very cool Hong Kong action movie will appear on SBS outside of the Cult Movie program (9:00 pm Saturday). Tiger Cage was one of them. What is it that makes a Hong Kong action movie any different from your typical American action movie? The answer from my friend is that in Hong Kong cinema, the movies tend to be more violent than those in America. It is not just violence that Hong Kong cinema pushes the boundaries, it is also sex. In the movie Erotic Ghost Story, there is more flesh than in your average American movie. American movies generally only show one or two bare breasts in selected (non-pornographic) movies, where as Hong Kong cinema will not worry about such restrictions. Even then, with most of the action movies that I have seen, nudity is mostly non-existence.Tiger Cage is about a group of cops in the drug unit of the Hong Kong police department. It opens with the bust of a major crime ring but the leader escapes. He then returns to kill one of the police officers only to be later arrested himself. The dead officer was engaged to marry another officer on the team so she is out for vengeance. What is slowly unravelled though is that a number of the officers on the team are a part of a drug ring. They are not being paid to turn their heads, but rather they are actively involved in dealing with drugs.Tiger Cage is not typical of an action movie as the plot focuses more around the characters rather than the antagonists. In a normal movie there might be an explosive opening and then the team will chase one particular bad guy. The criminals in Tiger Cage play a minor part as it is the team that the police are fighting. The focus of this movie is corruption within the police force than crime outside of it.As with most Hong Kong action movies, Tiger Cage is an explosive action movie. It pulls no punches and protects nobody. Both men and women are subject to the violence in the movie, and they are willing to go places that the Americans do not (such as a guy's head being skewered on a coat hook). Tiger Cage is typical of Hong Kong action and is a good movie to see for those who enjoy that genre.
peter07
I saw this at the Pucheon Fantastic Film Festival in Korea this year, and well, the only reason I did was because no other film had a ticket remaining. And true to form, I WAS disappointed.The movie did have a sense of suspense in keeping the audience guessing who was the bad guy, but a lot of clichés and ridiculous fight sequences held it back.The female cop showed little emotion and wasn't that likable as were most of the other characters. I did like the action scenes with a young Donnie Yen, though.If you're into formulaic Hong Kong action flicks that are as predictable as they are silly and boring, this film is for you. But definitely not for me.
iaido
In the 70's Hong Kong gave birth to the period (classic) kung fu film. The 90's saw the rise of the `flying' kung fu film. And, the 80's saw the surge of cops and crooks films with titles like Long Arm of the Law, the In the Line of Duty series, and Tiger Cage.Jacky Cheung plays the title role of a cop out to bust some dope dealers, and eventually the very interior of his corrupt department. Carol Do Do Cheng, Donnie Yen, and Simon Yam also star as fellow cops- Carols husband, a fellow cop, being killed by the dope gang, Donnie as a young rookie who finds out his mentor is dirty, and Simon as the two faced, nothing but evil, corrupt supervisor. Its a dark, double crossing tale offset by moments of kung fu and comedy amongst the standard police drama plotline. From the opening shootout that begins the film, you know that you are in for some rough and tumble action, as hundreds of bullets are shot, bodies fall and are hit by cars, the fighting is gritty, and so on. Donnie gets one fight scene (really the only martial arts sequence) with two drug dealing gwailos. Simon Yam is just plain bad with a capitol B. Jacky over-grimaces his way though the drama, and poor Carol gets the stuffing beat out of her a couple of times. The story is well paced, by the great Yuen Woo Ping, and is a competent addition to the Hong Kong cop film library.There are more than the usual subtitle language errors like- "My gun has no eyes.", "I want you to be limply in jail all your life.", "I am ready for discinplinary and investify.", "They're now fugitive with arms."