I always understood that The Heroic Trio (1993) was one to see, ever since seeing clips of it in Olivier Assayas’ Irma Vep (it’s featured as one of the films that convinces the director character played by Jean-Pierre Leaud to cast Maggie Cheung in his remake of Les Vampires). A Hong Kong action adventure thriller, The Heroic Trio would be a classic with its powerhouse trio of stars sharing the screen – Maggie Cheung (as bounty hunter, Thief Catcher), Michelle Yeoh (as crafty thief, Invisible Girl), and Anita Mui (as vigilante superhero, Wonder Woman – no, not the DC Comics character) – and directed by Johnnie To, though quite different to the action movies his name would be internationally known for. Watching it with Sally, she noted that it “looked like Tim Burton’s Batman“, and there’s a comic-book vibe to the action, characters and sets, and it’s fascinating to see the circuit of influence; it takes inspiration from American action flicks like Batman 1989, The Evil Dead and The Terminator, but then its high style and martial arts choreography, would also be a big influence on the next wave of American action cinema with The Matrix and Charlie’s Angels. A mysterious undead sorcerer, Evil Master, who lives underground is kidnapping babies in the search for a future ruler, and in the mayhem overtaking the city, our three heroines are originally at cross-purposes: Wonder Woman is out to save the babies in the name of justice while Thief Catcher is a gun for hire, hoping to get paid, and Invisible Girl is working for Evil Master because a scientist she loves is imprisoned to work on the secret to invisibility (I think). This thing careens wildly, so there’s a bit of plot I didn’t quite get, but it’s no matter, as it is over-the-top and wacky entertainment, though unexpectedly quite dark and grisly at points as well (I didn’t expect to see one or more kids get murked in this, but there you are). Once the trio form like Voltron, it really transcends, particularly with their sense of fashion (as Sally said of Cheung’s make-up: “Smokey eye for days!”) and just plain fun (it’s a blast to see Cheung as the comic relief wise-ass). You will believe that an oil drum can be used as a rocket with enough dynamite, and that a motorcycle can fly through the air sideways! Also stars Anthony Wong as a henchman with a basket on a string that can lop people’s heads off. Colourful costumes, foggy sets and dutch angles galore. Streamed on the Criterion Collection as part of their ‘Michelle Yeoh Kicks Ass’ section. Keen to see the sequel, Executioners. Recommended.
VHS Tracking 