Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Template:Zh), previously known as Kowloon Walled City, is a 2024 Hong Kong neo-noir martial arts crime action film directed by Soi Cheang,[4] and starring Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Richie Jen, Raymond Lam, Terrance Lau, Kenny Wong, Philip Ng, Tony Wu and German Cheung. The film was based on the novel City of Darkness by Yuyi and the manhua of the same name by Andy Seto.[5]
Having been in development since the 2000s, production for the film officially began in November 2021[6] and wrapped in April 2022. The film was released in Hong Kong and China on 1 May 2024, and was selected to be in the Official Selection (Midnight Screening) of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, as part of screened out of competition.[7] The film received critical acclaim from critics.
The film became the second-highest-grossing domestic film of all time in Hong Kong.[8]
Plot[]
The film is set in 1980s Hong Kong. It follows the story of Chan Lok-kwun, a troubled youth who accidentally enters the notorious Kowloon Walled City. Lok-kwun, a refugee from the mainland, is trying to survive by participating in underground fighting rings. He seeks to buy a fake ID to improve his life but is betrayed by Mr. Big, a local crime syndicate boss. In a desperate move, Lok-kwun steals drugs from Mr. Big and flees to the Walled City, where he encounters Cyclone, the local crime lord who rules the area with a mix of authority and compassion.
In the Walled City, Lok-kwun learns about the order and chaos within the community and forms bonds with Cyclone and his gang. In other hand, Mr. Big and his gang try to take over the Walled City, leading to intense battles.
Also Chan Lok-kwun's father is revealed to be Jim, the notorious 'King of Killers' who murdered Chau's family. Now, Lok-kwun must pay for that.
Cast[]
- Louis Koo as Cyclone (龍捲風): a martial arts master who strives to protect the safety and stability of the residents in the Kowloon Walled City.[9][10]
- Sammo Hung as Mr. Big (大老闆): a crime lord who is solely focused on maximizing his wealth and personal interests.[9][10]
- Richie Jen as Dik Chau (狄秋): a high-ranking member of the triad in the walled city.[11]
- Raymond Lam as Chan Lok-kwan (陳洛軍): a refugee who settled in the walled city but became entangled in the chaos within and faced the imminent demolition of the city.[9][12]
- Terrance Lau as Shin (信一): the loyal second-in-command of Cyclone's outlaw gang who later becomes a companion to Chan.[13][9]
- Philip Ng as King (王九): Mr. Big's right-hand man.[10]
- Tony Wu as Twelfth Master (十二少): a katana-wielding member of Cyclone's outlaw gang who later becomes a companion to Chan.[9][14]
- Template:Ill as AV (四仔): a kickboxer in Cyclone's outlaw gang who later becomes a companion to Chan.[9][14]
Release[]
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In was theatrically released in Hong Kong and China on 1 May 2024. The film achieved great financial success in Hong Kong, surpassing the record for the most-viewed local film by July 2024 with 1.59 million viewers.[17] It also became the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong that year, earning $105 million HKD.[18]
The film was also selected to be in the Official Selection (Midnight Screening) of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it was screened on 16 May 2024.[19] It also released in the UK on 24 May 2024. The film was also showcased at the 23rd New York Asian Film Festival on 28 July 2024, as the closing film of the festival.[20]
The film had its Canadian premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on August 1, 2024.[21]
Reception[]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 16 reviews gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.1/10, earning it a "Fresh" score.[22]
External links[]
- Template:Facebook
- Template:Instagram
- Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In at the Internet Movie Database
- Template:Douban
References[]
- ↑ Archived copy.
- ↑ "鄭保瑞重塑寨城日常 三不管以外老香港故事", Ming Pao, 2024-04-19.
- ↑ Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. The Numbers.
- ↑ Les films de la Sélection officielle 2024 (11 April 2024).
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ 九龍城寨·圍城 - 大家好耐無見啦,有無掛住我哋?😉 俾幾日時間你哋估下有咩演員 🤫.
- ↑ Les films de la Sélection officielle 2024 (11 April 2024).
- ↑ "《九龍城寨之圍城》 票房突破8251萬 榮登香港電影史上華語電影總票房第2位", Yahoo News, 28 May 2024. (in zh-Hant-HK)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 John Chong on Making 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' an Authentic Dive into Notorious Kowloon Walled City and Yet Emblematic of Hong Kong's New Wave (EXCLUSIVE). Variety (March 14, 2023).
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 九龍城寨之圍城丨動作篇製作特輯揭演員訓練過程 古天樂與洪金寶首拍對打戲獲讚賞 (in zh). TOPick (April 9, 2024).
- ↑ 莫匡堯 (March 30, 2024). 九龍城寨之圍城︱龍卷風古天樂型到炸裂 電影VS港漫造型終極對比 (in zh). HK01.
- ↑ 鄭保瑞重塑寨城日常 三不管以外老香港故事 (in zh). Ming Pao (April 19, 2024).
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 【九龍城寨】古天樂+林峯演經典港漫角色 監製莊澄:100%還原城寨面貌 (in zh). TOPick (March 16, 2023).
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 《九龍城寨之圍城》5月1日上映 重現城寨舊貌 瘋狂打鬥活現漫畫角色 (in zh). Ming Pao (March 29, 2024).
- ↑ 九龍城寨之圍城丨首條宣傳片發布 古天樂演龍捲風造型曝光 (in zh). TOPick (March 29, 2024).
- ↑ 三個必看九龍城寨電影的原因? (in zh). Comicbook.hk (April 17, 2024).
- ↑ Li, Ambrose. "Twilight of the Warriors delivers knockout blow to become the most-watched local film ever", South China Morning Post, 2024-07-02.
- ↑ Wong, Sylvia (2024-07-03). "Hong Kong box office down 17% in first half of 2024 despite local hit". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ↑ The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes (8 May 2024).
- ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (13 June 2024). New York Asian Film Festival 2024 Hosts ‘Twilight of the Warriors’ and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ Premieres. IndieWire.
- ↑ Fantasia's 28th Edition Awards Filmmaker Mike Flanagan, Closes with the World Premiere of André Forcier's Ababouiné.
- ↑ Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. Fandango Media.