david-sarkies I am really annoyed as the Advertiser, our local newspaper, didn't give a review of the Corrupter this week it was released. They usually review all of the films released during the week and it seems that the Corrupter missed out, which is really annoying. Anyway, knowing that my tastes generally diverge greatly from those of reviewers, they would probably have given it a one star and labelled it as a pointless movie with lots of violence. This I would object to because Chow Yun Fat is an absolutely brilliant actor and most of the movies that I have seen that he has been in I really enjoy. Okay, Hard Boiled was little more than a huge gunfight through a hospital, but it was still a great movie.Chow Yun Fat is a highly decorated cop in New York's Chinatown. One day a white cop joins up, much to the annoyance of the other cops in the Asian vice squad as they are Asian and a white man does not know how Chinatown runs. It seems that this new cop is an eager and naïve boy who wants to change Chinatown, but as Fat says, "you don't change Chinatown, Chinatown changes you." The new cop is portrayed through the movie as being the epitome of innocence caught in the middle of a dangerous a violent world that is Chinatown. The movie opens with a shop exploding and then the members of the Fookanese Dragons, a gang trying to take over from the ruling Tong gang, kill the owner of the store. This violence is contrasted with the almost innocent life of the white cop, who we then learn has a father who is in a lot of trouble with the mafia due to gambling debts.There are two themes that run through this movie, that of shattered hope and that of corruption: even the most honoured and respected people have a corrupt side, while even the most corrupt can be capable of huge amounts of good. This is in contrast with Divorcing Jack where the corrupt are trying to create peace, only to have their corruption exposed and the peace being shattered. In the Corrupter, the corrupted are sought after, but even with the evidence to expose the corrupted, it is put aside for they are very much capable of performing great deeds.I thought that this movie was going to be predictable. It is not. As soon as you learn that the white cop is in internal affairs working to expose Fat's corruption, we expect then to turn on each other and begin to fight. The movie is not that shallow. As we remember from the quote made: you don't change Chinatown, Chinatown changes you. The internal affairs officer has a purpose but the corruption then seeps into even his most resolute honour. The FBI are portrayed as rather nasty individuals, though they are simply obsessed with their job, and they hide themselves away behind desks, coming out only to claim fame for somebody else's bust.Internal affairs isn't much liked here, but we do sympathise for the white cop because he has experienced what it is like on the street and he is as affected by it as everybody else. He is there to collect evidence against Fat, but in reality he finds himself becoming more closer and loyal to him, when in the end Fat chooses not to shoot but to move to save his life. One cannot expect to move into Chinatown and change everything - rather they need to become a part of it, accepted by it so that the evil may be rooted out and destroyed.The main crime here is slavery. This is where the shattered hope theme comes in. Asians are illegally imported into New York for a price, and then the price is jacked up forcing them to work as prostitutes. Those who refuse are simply killed and dumped into trash cans. It makes one think about the whole idea of America being a better place. They come out to America (and Australia) expecting a better life but find themselves trapped on the streets with no money and having to degrade themselves by selling their bodies to people who simply want to abuse them. This is not the better life that they hoped for.We may all snarl and growl at criminals, but what many of us forget is that this is a harsh and uncaring world, and some people are thrown into situations which they do not know what they are doing and once they are there, they can never get out again. Drug use is the most common example, for they can find themselves without money and jobs and desperate for the drug and thus they must resort to violence to get it. In a way we should not be hating them and calling for them to be locked up in gaol. The true villains are really very few. Many of the criminals are foolish or simply caught up in something that they never expected to land up in. As such we should be helping them not causing them to be cast out.I have digressed from the movie, but we do see are very dark and miserable world here. A world where idealistic youths can't change. This is a real world with real problems that simply cannot be solved by locking people up or even by shooting them.

wes-connors Muscular policeman Mark Wahlberg (as Daniel "Danny" Wallace) teams up with English language learner Chow Yun-Fat (as Nicholas "Nick" Chen) to fight crime in New York City's gang-infested Chinatown. The mixed ethnic (Caucasian-Asian) duo hits it off when Mr. Yun-Fat saves Mr. Wahlberg's life. They bust a prostitution ring, and enjoy the company of prostitutes. Their women are willing; they probably started as reluctant and underage, but why cares? "The Corrupter" is embodied in local "Godfather" Ric Young (as Henry Lee). Wahlberg and Yun-Fat find their partnership, integrity, and lives threatened by associating with the smarmy Mr. Young.The blood-splattering shoot-outs, fistfights, and chase scenes are fairly typical. The special bond formed between the officers grows into acceptable. Yun-Fat is convincing, if sometimes inarticulate (fortunately, he can act without speech). Wahlberg could have had a better "Zen" moment leading up to his almost sudden adoration for his partner; but, a gambling father (Brian Cox) provides him with very good characterization. Overall, the film isn't outstanding or original, but director James Foley and photographer Juan Ruiz-Anchía make stylish use of light and color. And, forlorn young informant Jon Kit Lee (as Jack) makes a good supporting impression.***** The Corrupter (2/11/99) James Foley ~ Mark Wahlberg, Chow Yun-Fat, Ric Young

lopcar1993 The Corrupter is an amazing crime thriller that combines intense action and shocking twist that will have your jaw on the floor. The Corrupter stars Mark Wahlberg as Danny Wallace a rookie cop who works in the Asian Gang Unit, he works under and with Detective Lieutenant Nicholas Chen the head of the A.G.U. Wallace first case with Chen is to solve a bunch of brutal murders that are happening all over Chinatown, but as Wallace get's deeper and deeper into the case Wallace finds out something that bust the whole thing wide open. The Corrupter is one of those rare crime thrillers it keeps you guessing and thinking right up to the jaw dropping climax that will leave you breathe less. I highly recommended this amazing crime film. I hope my review helps~ C.R. Lopez.

kai ringler i was very impressed with this one. i dind't know what too expect from chow yun fat: i was most pleasantly surprised. i loved the opening sequence of the car getting blown up very effective, i loved the plot in this movie, chow's character Nick, gotta love him,, i didn't really know if Marky Mark could act,, too my amazement he can,, conggrats i might like you better as an actor than an 80's singer. this movie has a great plot too, Chineese Triads trying to bribe the cops,, lot's of shooting,, hookers getting killed, bad cops, good cops,, and of course you have to have an Uncle Benny, much like Lethal Weapon 4 , which this movie kinda reminds me of. look at all of those illegals in the boat during the movie. i have personally been in Chinatown in N.Y.C. before, about 3 years before this movie was filmed there, and it looks even better than when i was there, i remember going to eat at a Chinese restaurant and smelling all the garbage in the alley, because the city was on a trash strike,, gotta love New York, all in all i think that this was a great movie, with a lot too offer. It's a thrill ride for the action fan, and that is me.