This is considered as the top 3 movies of all time in HK
I'm surprised there isn't much discussion about this movie.
I am very curious about this film. Haven't been able to locate it on VHS, and am reluctant to buy it on DVD in case I don't actually end up liking it ...
Is it comparable to any other HK flicks? Is it overtly stylish? Violent? Convoluted? Can anyone enlighten me?
Well, if you've ever seen another Johnnie To movie you'll know what this one is like. ("The Mission" for example) So, no, it's not violent or convoluted. He has a certain style but it's not that John Woo "slow-mo bullets falling in a church, doves in the background while guys in white suits shoot each other with two guns each" kind of style. Johnnie To likes to let the pictures and the story speak for themself, not just let the actors do the talking.
So, I'd really recommend this one to you. And concerning buying it: In Europe it's really easy to get your hands on Mei Ah DVDs and though they used to be crap, the Running out of Time re-release is alright. Picture and sound are great and the subtitles are legible. Price was around 12 euros, if I remember correctly. And the movie is definitely worth that.
(BTW: I'd really like to know what the other 2 of the 3 best HK movies are, if this is one of them. ;) I mean: it really is great, but best 3, come on.. )
http://taiseng.co.uk/ are releasing this soon, I got a preview copy to review and it's a great edition, well worth geting.
Its a good film, but I really can't see it being in the top 3 movies from Hong Kong, even the top 10 for that matter
To place it in any top list I guess you'd have to go with single genres. And in this action/thriller/gangster whatever genre "Running out of Time" is pretty far at the top, along with some other Johnnie To movies (who, in my opinion, is a LOT better than Woo or Lam). But if you go with a complete HK top list, I guess there's at least a lot of Wong Kar Wai and Tsui Hark stuff to beat. Not to mention all the smaller gems.
shareRunning out of time is a great example of any HK gangster film but anyhow i'd rather choose Woo's Hard Boiled and Hark's Time And Tide anyday over these Johnny To's little flicks, sorry.