Overdue: Hard Boiled

That there is part of the epic "Hospital Shoot Out" scene from Hard Boiled. I haven't seen too many Hong Kong actioners (this makes one) but Jesus Christ this movie. Not content to just make one of the most absurdly violent movies ever, John Woo puts the climactic battle in a hospital.

Too spell it out: Hospitals are where people go when they are sick or injured to get well -- here we have hundreds of people being shot to death. The irony isn't lost, or subtle. Plus the whole maternity ward aspect. Apparently cotton balls completely muffle the sound of gunshots, and the best way to save babies is by lowering them out of windows. It's not like they can fly.

But I digress. The bottom line is I watched this today with subtitles, and I'm going to watch it again tomorrow dubbed, assuming that is an option on the DVD. Hard Boiled belongs in the top 10 all-time pantheon of action flicks, right alongside Predator, Die Hard and whatever else you want to throw in there. Double Impact? No. Maybe Point Break.

The plot doesn't really matter, as it holds up. Chow Yun Fat wields what appears to be an explosive shotgun throughout. Tony Leung is badass with a conscience. Random stuntmen get repeatedly gut shot. If you are like me and crave stylized filmed gunplay, get thee to a DVD supplier immediately. John Woo went on to make some arguably good films in Hollywood, but this blows Face Off out of the water. No doves or John Travolta, always a good thing.