Film review: Throw Down (12)
A Still from Throw Down by Ken To - Credit: Archant
What sounds like the title of an 80s Sylvester Stallone film a beautifully shot, carefree Hong Kong action comedy that’s like a joy filled Fight Club
A Still from Throw Down by Ken To - Credit: Archant
Directed by Johnnie To. 2004.
Starring Aaron Kwok, Louis Koo, Cherrie Ying, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Cheung Siu-fai and Lo Hoi-pang.
Released on Blu-ray/ DVD by Eureka as part of their Masters Of Cinema series.
Running time: 95 mins.
You may also want to watch:
Throw Down sounds like the title of an 80s Sylvester Stallone film; he’s a cop on the edge chasing a serial killer; an arm-wrestling truck driver trying to win back the affections of a 12-year-old daughter.
It’s not the name you’d expect for a tribute to Akira Kurosawa.
Most Read
- 1 Falling stonework narrowly misses outdoor diners at Crouch End cafe
- 2 Lane closure scrapped after high pollution readings double
- 3 Haringey Council leader ousted by rival in Labour group vote
- 4 Hampstead man jailed for pub 'revenge attack' on Jewish Tory barrister
- 5 Obituary: 'Striking and beautiful' north London mother Mary Collins
- 6 'I want to make a difference': new leader for Haringey Council
- 7 Hundreds oppose Hampstead Heath dog walker licence scheme
- 8 Anorexia was nurtured and nourished by lockdown – and the media
- 9 Revealed: The five most polluted places in Camden
- 10 Crouch End join cricketing and cultural exchange programme
But then you wouldn’t expect such a homage to be a beautifully shot, carefree Hong Kong action comedy set in the Judo underground.
Throw Down is like a joy-filled, childlike Fight Club. Judo champion Tony (Kwok) bounds around Hong Kong asking people for fights. There’s not an ounce of malice in him; he just loves doing judo.
While westerners have fixated on Wong Kar wai (In the Mood for Love,) and John Woo (Face/Off), two directors who are never knowingly underwrought, Johnnie To (pronounced Toe) has perfected a style that is superficial and throw away, yet has enormous humanity and depth.
There are plenty of fights, and not once are we asked to care who wins. In the Stallone Throw Down, our emotions would be crudely manoeuvred, ready for release at the climactic triumph. Here everything is part of life and there are no heroes or villains. Such a style is hard to achieve but To nails it.
5/5 stars
