Bullet In The Head (DVD)

Most film fans will have heard of John Woo, if only for his Hollywood action films, such as 'Face/Off' and 'Mission Impossible 2'. As good as these are, I feel that his original films, made in his native land, are far superior. For me, probably the best of these is 'Bullet in the Head' (a.k.a. 'Die xue jie tou '). Like most of the director's work, 'Bullet in the Head' is concerned with friendship, trust and betrayal. The plot follows the fortunes of three childhood friends, Ben, Paul and Frank in late 60s Hong Kong, surrounded by political instability. Despite the marriage of Ben, they are forced to flee to Saigon ...

Well, well, well who'd have thunk it. I'd heard that Bullet In The Head was a pretty good film, up there with Woo's late '80s output; but I never expected to be drawn to the film quite so much. John Woo is a master at the action film, of course, with his murderous ballets, storms of gunshots, lines of squibs and armies of extras. But I have to say I'd never have thought that he was capable of making this sort of film -- an epic tale of friendship, crime and war that not only displays some stunning action sequences, but drives right through you like Apocalypse Now, Platoon and The Deerhunter did. The backdrop is the Vietnam war. A ...

This is one of my favourite films of all time. This is the kind of film John Woo should still be making instead of the Hollywood junk he churns out nowadays. The film follows the relationship of three friends and how they cope with the pressure put upon them when money and war come between them. In one film you have a fantastic war story, an indepth study of friendship and, this being a John Woo film, lots of kickass action. Brilliant. I am not usually an emotional kind of guy, but this is one of the few films that has deeply affectefted me. HIGHLY recommended. ...