Kidnap

cover

AKA: Chain Game

Year of release: 2007

Genre: thriller

Director: Law Chi-Leung

Action director: Jack Wong

Producers: Cheung Chi-Gwong, Stanley Tong, Yue Xiao-Mei

Writer: Cheung Chi-Gwong

Cinematography: Chan Chi-Ying

Editor: Kwong Chi-Leung

Music: Tommy Wong

Stars: Karena Lam, Rene Liu, Julian Cheung, Eddie Cheung, Gwok To, Ella Koon

Rated IIB for violence and language

DVD available for purchase at www.sensasian.com

Sensasian

Movie Review Index / Main Page

Exodus  Exodus

Exodus  Exodus

In Kidnap, Rene Liu plays Ho, a cop who is the head of the kidnapping division. While trying to save the brother of a famous dancer, Hiu (Karena Lam), the operation goes wrong, and the brother is killed. Three years later, Hiu hatches a plan to kidnap the son of a wealthy businessman so she can pay for her dying husband's operation.

But things once again go awry, and Ho's son is taken instead. Pushed to the limit after being taken off the case by her superiors, Ho takes matters into her own hands to get her son back.

From beginning to end, Kidnap just screams "generic thriller". The film-makers didn't even bother to create a complete musical score for the movie, as much of it is ripped off wholesale from De Palma's The Untouchables.

Matters aren't helped any by the acting. It isn't really bad per se for the most part, but the main actors just seem bored and on auto-pilot. When scenes call for them to actually show some emotion, it comes off as forced, which is really not good at all for a character-driven movie such as this.

And, as unfortunately seems to be par for Hong Kong movies, the child actors are extremely annoying. I really didn't care if Ho's son lived or died, which really kills the whole point of the movie.

There are some attempts to liven things up with a few chase scenes. The effort here was appreciated, but again, it's stuff that most people (especially fans of Hong Kong action cinema) have seen dozens of times before, and done better to boot.

Most damningly, Kidnap really falls apart during its' climax. There's a shot of one of the characters dying that's supposed to shock the audience, but the CGI used is so transparent and awful-looking that it almost turns comedic.

Also, the ending itself is so cheesy and implausible that it leaves a bad taste in the viewer's mouth. Kidnap certainly isn't the worst movie ever made, but there are a lot out there that are much more deserving of your time.

RATING: 4