|
Genre: Drama
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Starring: Andy
Lau, Rene Liu, Ge You,
Li Bingbing, Wang Baoqiang, Lam Ka Tung
RunTime: -
Released By: Shaw
Rating: PG
Release
Date: 16 December 2004
Synopsis
:
A
WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES evolves around China’s Bonnie
and Clyde: Wang Bo (starring Andy Lau) and Wang Li (starring
Rene Liu). Partners in crime and passion, the couple swindle
their way across China, until one fine day they run into Xa
Gen (starring Wang Baoqiang) in a train station, a country
bumpkin who is convinced that he loves in a world without
thieves. Contrary to his conviction, the train Gen boards
is chock-full of thieves, including Uncle Bill (starring Ge
You), a meister of legerdemain from the old school who finds
his match only in Bo. While Bill’s men are prowling
after Gen’s sixty thousand Yuan savings, Li takes it
upon herself to be his protector, and Bo reluctantly drawn
into this ironic battle of good and evil…
Movie
Review:
Named
as one of the "Asian Stars of 2004" by popular American
magazine "Business Week", phenomenal filmmaker and
director, Feng Xiaogang is indisputably one unique species
in the Chinese film industry today. A strong believer that
a movie should be moneymaking and entertaining, Feng's works
had earned him critical success both in box -office and the
media.
After a series of successful "New Year Celebration Movies"
like the 2001 "Big Shot's funeral" and 2003 "Cell
Phone", Feng returned this year with "A World without
Thieves" which will be released in Singapore on 16 Dec
2004.
In this US$3.9 million production, Feng's usual style of black
humor and often with an uncongenial reflection of reality
is still apparent. The movie tells the tale of Xa Gen (Wang
Baoqiang), an honest and hardworking youth, on his long train
ride home, to get married and set up his own family with the
60 000yuan pays in his pocket. Master thief Wang Bo (Andy
Lau), who conveniently reasoned that Xa Gen should be taught
a lesson for been a stubborn believer of a World without thieves,
first wanted to rob him but was deterred by his accomplice,
Wang Li
(Rene Liu), who was moved by Xa Gen's honesty and decided
to escort him home with the 60 000yuan intact.
However, in this real World filled with cheats, crooks and
thieves, their train journey soon became the challenge grounds
between the duo and another gang of thieves, who were equally
on the top of their game. When the fight intensified and Wang
Bo advised to leave Xa Gen, Wang Li
insisted to stay on to help the simpleton. In the ultimate
showdown, Xa Gen's money was saved but with a much higher
price. Andy Lau starred as master thief, Wang Bo reminds us
of another of his similar project this year: "Yesterday
Once More", which also tells the story of two master
thieves cum lover. In spite of the ever popular pairing of
Andy Lau and Sammi Chueng in "Yesterday Once More",
it was "A World without Thieves", which mark the
pioneer pair-up of Andy Lau and Rene Liu that had stolen its
limelight with a more captivating plot and breath-taking cinematography.
Multiple
awards winner for Best Actress, Rene Liu again had shine in
the subtle role as Wang Li, who was in the mental struggle,
worrying about retributions. Retarded
hairdo aside, Andy's performance had proven himself worthy
to be the owner of the Golden Horse Award! Instead of acting
"handsome" as in his previous movies, this time,
he pulls off convincingly as a crook master thief. Though
was a baddies, he is still loveable by the audience as he
reluctantly protect Xa Gen's saving upon Wang Li's request.
Filmed
with a spiritual backdrop, breath-taking landscape, and groundbreaking
pick pocketing stunts and action choreography, audience will
be deeply touched as they watch the return of one's conscience
only to be
met with an unjust end.
If
you are hunting for a movie with substance to finish off 2004,
go for this one!
Movie
Rating: A-
More:
A
World Without Thieves Press Conference on 9 December at Singapore
Conrad Hotel
|
