ReaderKenka
Let's be realistic.
Derrick Gibbons
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
Marva
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
Tweekums
I only bought this because it was part of "The John Woo Collection" and having watched it I'm glad that I bought it as it is a good film although it isn't as good as "The Killer" or "Hard Boiled". The action doesn't stop from the beginning to the end. I was expecting it to be a war film as it is mostly set in Vietnam during the war however it is really an action film that happens to be set during a war.Three friends decide to flee from Hong Kong when the police are after them for the killing of a local gang leader. They decide to head to Saigon believing they will be able to make a quick buck selling items they brought with them on the black market. Unfortunately for them their items are destroyed when a bomber blows up the taxi they were in during an attack on a high ranking ARVN officer. After witnessing the summary execution of the bomber they realise what they need to make money in Saigon is a gun. They soon meet up with their contact and acquire guns, with these they steal a crate of gold from a local gangster, in the process they rescue a singer who gets wounded in the escape. Their escape plan does not go as well as planned and they find themselves prisoners of the NVA. I've tried to keep the spoilers to a minimum so as not to spoil the story for those who have yet to see it.As one would expect from a John Woo film there is plenty of action, in fact there is hardly a scene that doesn't involve fighting or shooting. The action looks good if a little unbelievable; our pistol carrying friends seem to be able to beat machine-gun carrying ARVN and NVA soldiers along with a hoard of gangsters. I'd recommend this to anybody who likes action films or is interested in seeing a Vietnam movie that isn't centred on the Americans.
Witchfinder General 666
John Woo's "Die Xue Jie Tou" of 1990 is a great and intense action film that definitely keeps what its international a.k.a. titles "Bullet in the Head"/"Bloodshed In The Streets" promise. This must be one of the most blood-soaked, ultra-violent and tough-minded action flicks of the 90s, and even though I personally liked Woo's earlier films "A Better Tomorrow" and "The Killer" even more, "Bullet In The Head" is also a great film that lovers of violent action and uncompromising cinema can not allow themselves to miss! "The Killer" and "A Better Tomorrow" were not exactly Disney flicks either (more precisely, they are exceptionally violent films too), but "Bullet In The Head" even surpasses them in means of brutality, and is easily the most violent film by John Woo, who wasn't exactly known for his tame films back in his Hong Kong days.After an incident in Hong Kong in which a person is killed, three friends decide to go to Vietnam in order to get rich as quickly as possible. The time is 1967, and the war-torn country is pure hell, but also a promising opportunity for people looking for nothing but a quick fortune...All three leading men, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Jacky Cheung and Waise Lee are great in their roles, especially Leung is outstanding. The supporting performances are also very good, Simon Yam is especially worth mentioning. Both the story itself, and the graphic depiction of violence is uncompromising and exceptionally brutal. But "Bullet in the Head" is not only recommended for its brutality. This is raw, stunning Action cinema in its purest form, and no lover of cinema can afford to miss the brilliance of John Woo's Hong Kong cinema. John Woo truly is an exceptional director of action cinema. None other than Horror genius Sam Raimi has once stated, that Woo is for Action cinema, what Hitchcock was for the Thriller, and, regarding the Hong Kong-produced films I agree. Sadly, John Woo is mostly associated with silly blockbusters of the "MI 2" kind since he went to Hollywood, but the films he made back in Hong Kong, such as "Bullet in the Head" still shine out as true gems of cinematic greatness!
poe426
Despite the inclusion of a cut made famous by "the prefab four," this is John Woo at his best. Sentimental to the point of being sappy? Sure, but that's one of the things that all of Woo's pre-Hollywood films seemed to have in common. There's nothing wrong with that, either- not in this context (nor in subsequent films). Over the top? You bet your hairy butt. BULLET IN THE HEAD boasts some of the smoothest, most fluid super slo-mo shootouts in movie history. Though I would rate it lower on the scale than THE KILLER, A BETTER TOMORROW or (my favorite) HARD-BOILED, BULLET IN THE HEAD is most definitely in the same league. If you're one of those people fortunate enough to live near friends who share your appreciation for spectacular, over the top fare, get together and rent and watch BULLET IN THE HEAD. It's got a little something for everyone (even her).
Alessio Arena
Bloody hell...I saw this movie just yesterday,and it still burns in my mind!! This is probably the most emotional and intimate John Woo,if not the best of his career...It's an epic tale of friendship and betrayal,and,God,at the end i almost cried...Speaking about the ending:the DVD that i retrieved is the "car-chase version",and tonight i discovered that Woo filmed another ending,with (if i have understood well)Ben killing Paul in the boardroom,as Paul killed Frank in Vietnam (pulling his jacket over his head and shooting him down)...Well,too bad i haven't seen the so-called "true ending",anyway i also liked very much the over-the-top final duel...It was very moving,showing the end of the brotherhood between the main characters in a so sad and bloody way...9 out of 10,guarantee!
