Director: Jonnie To

Stars: Michelle Yeoh, Magie Cheung, Anita Mui, Damian Lau

Featuring: Anthony Wong, James Pak, Paul Chun, Yen Shi-kwan, Yam Sai-kun, Lee Siu-kei (cameo), Wong Yut-feu (cameo)

The Heroic Trio unites the three biggest Hong Kong actresses of 1993; pop
star/acress Anita Mui (Miracles. Drunken Master 2, A Better Tomorrow 3), frequent Jackie Chan co-star Maggie Cheung (Police Story 1-3, Twin Dragons, Hero, In The Mood For Love), and former Miss Malaysia/turned action star Michelle Yeoh (Yes Madam, Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) who at the time was riding high thanks to her action packed ‘comeback’ co-starring performance (opposite Jackie Chan) in the Stanley Tong directed Police Story 3 - Supercop.

In the last few months, several babies have been abducted, held captive by an evil subterranean dwelling demon (Yam Sai-kun). It believes them to be of royal destiny, one of which shall become the next Emperor of China. Abducting the babies is human thief Ching/San (Michelle Yeoh), who avoids detection by wearing an invisible robe invented by her boyfriend (James Pak).

Ching’s activities attract unwanted attention from masked heroine Wonder Woman; who is in fact Tung (Anita Mui), the housewife of Police Inspector Lau (Damian Lau). Tung also encounters Chat (Maggie Cheung), a good hearted mercenary who hires out her services to rescue the baby of the Chief Of Police (Paul Chun).

Sharing the same goal (saving the missing babies), Tung and Chat combine their efforts, but Ching is left with the tough decision of remaining loyal to her evil master or abandoning him in favour of saving the life of her boyfriend.

The three stars play their roles adequately, with Ching coming off perhaps least effective (not her fault, it’s probably due to the fun-loving comic relief nature of her character). Everyone looks skilled in martial arts, courtesy of choreographer./director Ching Siu-tung (A Chinese Ghost Story, Naked Weapon, Hero, House Of Flying Daggers), who incorporates a lot of wirework and gravity defiance into the imaginative, movie - some look great, some look awful (e.g. Maggie Cheung’s entrance to the chemical factory!?)

What will probably surprise many, is that Heroic Trio’s director is none other than Johnnie To, who in recent years has earned a solid reputation for his (often violent) dark triad dramas an crime thrillers (such as The Mission, P.T.U, Running Out Of Time, Election, and its sequel). On the surface, Heroic Trio appears fluffy and light, but scratch a little deeper and its plot is equally bleak.

Set in a city of an undetermined time period, Heroic Trio features action, martial arts, comedy, romance and camaraderie these mesh together well. Like many other Hong Kong productions however, the special effects are less than perfect (especially the skeletal finale), in places actually raising a “so bad it’s good” grin. If the viewer can overlook this minor quibble and wants a fun fantasy femme fatale flick, enjoy.

*special mention should be given to prolific actor Anthony Wong, who steals every scene he’s in, as the masochistic, digit chomping (!) martial artist evil henchman - he even gets to play with the flying guillotine!

Film Review By: Martin Skipper

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