Director(s): Jonnie To, Tony Ching Siu-tung

Stars: Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui, Anthony Wong,

Featuring: Lau Ching-wan, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Damian Lau, Eddie Ko, Paul Chun, Kwan Shan, Dion Lam

In a post nuclear blast city, the water supply has been contaminated with radiation, leaving the only safe water being that of the Clean Water Company, owned by disfigured tyrant Mr Kim (Anthony Wong).

The poor cannot afford the inflated prices, instead finding hope following spiritual leader Chong Hon (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who accuses the Government of not trying to find fresh water. Chong’s followers believe every word he says, which create riotous disturbances (against the police) at his public appearances. Fearing Chong is getting too powerful, the corrupt Colonel (Paul Chun) gives Police Inspector Lau (Damian Lau) the unorthodox order to assassinate him!

The President (Kwan Shan) also shares the belief that there’s fresh water to be found beyond the contaminated region, sending his advisor (Eddy Ko) to seek help. He approaches Ching (Michelle Yeoh) to organise a search party, who turns to her friends Chat (Maggie Cheung) and Tung (Anita Mui) to help. Tung however is reluctant, having made a promise to her husband to abandon her dangerous crime-fighting life in favour of being a mother.

After her husband is executed, Tung wants justice, joining forces with Ching to battle Kim and the Colonel’s army, whist Chat scouts for fresh water with water bandit Tak (Lau Ching-wan).

Executioners reunites Yeoh, Cheung, and Mui for another fantasy courtesy of Directors Johnnie To and Ching Siu-tung. As with Heroic Trio, Johnnie To delivers another dark story to the screen; as disfigured Anthony Wong seeks to win the people’s hearts by first letting them die! Let them die? The Directors keep the viewers guessing as a number of the cast are killed off before the end credits roll!

The actresses are joined again by some familiar faces from the first Heroic Trio film, this time with the addition of future box-office stars; versatile actor Lau Ching-wan (Black Mask, Running Out Of Time, Full Alert), and Takeshi Kaneshiro - who’s proven himself in almost every genre, drama (Chungking Express), martial arts (House of Flying Daggers), Sci-fi (Returner) and action epic (The Warlords).

The plot is less fantastical than Heroic Trio (But equally dark), the SFX however are just as unrealistic, though there are some beautifully choreographed rapid 2 on 1 fight sequences to marvel at. Again, if you can overlook the hokey visual effects,

Executioners/Heroic Trio2 is another fun packed flick with enough enjoyable performances from its cast.

Film Review By: Martin Skipper

You can buy this DVD at: www.hongkong-store.com