tapio_hietamaki My friend picked up a John Woo collection DVD box on the cheap and we've been going through the movies and having a blast. They're all Hong Kong movies, none of his later Hollywood productions, and they're all similar in their high profile action, gun and blood effects and tragic character story lines.This one - called 'Bullet in the Head' on the box - was probably the best and the craziest of the bunch so far. It had the elements that I was used to seeing - sideways-held guns, men flying through the air and crying in pain as their guts spilled out, a beautiful and tragic girl who destroys the life of a man, cheesy dialog, a fast-paced plot.But Bullet in the Head was something more. It was political and historical. It tells a story about small-time crooks fleeing the Hong Kong police, trying to make a living in 60's Vietnam and finding that they must be prepared for anything to succeed - or even survive. The latter half of the movie takes place in the jungle, with the Vietcong ambushing the main characters. There's the cruelty of war added on top of the cruelty of gangsters, quite a combination. The depths of human suffering plumbed in this movie were unfathomable. By the end it reminded me of Shakespeare, it was theatrical in its tragedy and symbolical character arcs.Cinematographically, there's a lot of big shots, tons of extras running around, shooting, waving banners. It's a good-looking film. The Americans look and sound really stupid but oh well. All in all a really unexpected viewing experience.

dworldeater Bullet In The Head was originally conceived as a prequel to A Better Tomorrow. With producer Tsui Hark and John Woo fighting over the rights of the francise, Woo reworked his script and Tsui Hark rushed out his version. I have not seen Tsui Hark's film A Better Tomorrow 3 in years, but from what I remember Bullet In The Head is a far superior film and not a movie you will ever forget. The story starts in 1960's Hong Kong with a trio of tight knit, close friends that fight together, hang together and live their lives in poverty. After things go awry in a fight where Ben(Tony Leung) accidentally kills ruffian thug Ringo, our heroes flee to Vietnam to let things cool down and fence goods to try to make their fortune. As the film goes on it gets darker and more violent. Innocence is lost, greed brings betrayal, many people die and those who remain are broken and scarred for life. Influenced by Michael Cimino's Deer Hunter, but with lots of Woo's high octane, bullet ridden, blood splattered action. The three lead actors Tony Leung(Ben), Jacky Cheung(Frank) and Waise Lee(Paul) are all excellent. Simon Yam nearly steals the show as a Eurasian hit-man/mercenary Luke. Without going into every detail, Bullet In The Head is John Woo's darkest, most brutal and most intense film. Strong characters and top notch performances knock this out of the park. The shootouts compliment the melodrama and move the story along to its bleak climax. Bullet In The Head is an underrated masterpiece by my estimation and crucial viewing for fans of the heroic bloodshed genre and of 80's/90's Hong Kong cinema!

gangstahippie I recently watched the John Woo film "Bullet In The Head" on youtube.It's a pity that it does not have a good R1 DVD release because this movie is simply amazing! It was originally meant to be a prequel to "A Better Tomorrow", it even has the forced whiskey and urine drinking scene mentioned by Chow Yun Fat in Better Tomorrow 1.I personally think this is the best Vietnam movie of all time(even though it isn't completely about Vietnam).Yes, even better than Platoon, Dead Presidents and Full Metal Jacket(I didn't see Deer Hunter or Apocalypse Now).The movie has excellent acting, an excellent storyline, great dramatic moments and also a good amount of action/violence which makes this an overall excellent movie.Besides being a Vietnam movie, it's also a movie about friendship and betrayal.The film starts out in the late 1960's when you see three poor friends who are also part of a gang.One gets married and is worried about why his other friend has not shown up.This is because he was beaten by members of a rival gang, but he would not tell his friend until later.Afterwords, they go get revenge on the rival gang leader and accidentally kill him.They then do a job which will send them away while the police forget about them.The three friends need to get some gold in Saigon.While they are there, one of the friends falls in love with a singer who is being abused and kept there.He decides to save her as well and with the help of another man they do.However, they get caught by Vietnamese, the girl gets shot and they are held prisoner.While they, they are forced to witness atrocities.One friend is forced to shoot American prisoners, which he really does not want to do.They end up escaping but the greedy friend saves the gold as opposed to the other friend and the friend gets a bullet lodged in his brain.He is still alive, only now a messed up heroin addict.The friend is saddened to see him like it and kills him mercifully.He goes back and sees his wife and son.He also settles a score with his other friend who betrayed them.The ending is very good.Hopefully this gets a good R1 release, and if it does not, you should find a way to see it anyway, it's an excellent movie.

Alessio Arena Bloody hell...I saw this movie just yesterday,and it still burns in my mind!! This is probably the most emotional and intimate John Woo,if not the best of his career...It's an epic tale of friendship and betrayal,and,God,at the end i almost cried...Speaking about the ending:the DVD that i retrieved is the "car-chase version",and tonight i discovered that Woo filmed another ending,with (if i have understood well)Ben killing Paul in the boardroom,as Paul killed Frank in Vietnam (pulling his jacket over his head and shooting him down)...Well,too bad i haven't seen the so-called "true ending",anyway i also liked very much the over-the-top final duel...It was very moving,showing the end of the brotherhood between the main characters in a so sad and bloody way...9 out of 10,guarantee!