Bullet In The Head Reviews

Woo woo fun!

Bullet in the head is a typically John Woo film - lots of action, slow motion shots and a relentless pace. Unfortunately it also contains some other Woo trademarks, namely poor acting and lack of plot.

The film starts with three close friends in 1960s Hong Kong looking to make their way in life. Circumstances means they have to leave quickly and they end up in Vietnam during the height of the war trying to make their fortune. They eventually meet the ex-CIA man Lok and plan to rob a wealthy but dodgy businessman of his gold. Things don't go according to plan and they are pursued through the war torn country trying to free themselves from his men. As they escape the greed of one of the three friends becomes apparent and he eventually betrays them in order to keep the gold, leaving them for dead. The film ends with Bee (Tony Leung) confronting Wing and the evitable finale fight scene entails.

Although this isn't the best John Woo film, its thoroughly watchable although it could do with being 30 mins shorter.

Harrowing but Brilliant.

Bullet in the Head is simply one of the greatest war movies ever made. While the likes of Apocalypse Now and Platoon will always be more acclaimed, it's stuff like this and the superb Korean movie 'Taegukgi' that really left me reeling.

While quite a chunk of the movie plays more like an action movie than a war film this is to the films credit.

John Woo is in his element creating brotherhoods of characters that get you caring about them, and creating jaw dropping action backgrounds. Bullet in this sense has much more in common with the Deer Hunter than the aforementioned war flicks as we meet the group of 'brothers' and their lives before, during and after the war as they are unwittingly caught up in the Vietnam conflict, gun running and captured as POW's.

Just like the Deer Hunter, because of this sense of intimacy with the characters when we see their ordeal on screen it makes all the harder to stomach, and the post war fate of the group of friends is heartbreaking.

About the only thing that lets this film down is the dodgy and forumalic ending (there is an extremely rare copy supposedly that ends at the perfect moment - the 'boardroom scene', this Hong Kong Legends release was rumoured to be this cut, but sadly it runs the extra 10 minutes). Don't let this put you off what is an extremely powerfull film.

woo at his finest

THIS IS A MUST SEE MOVIE.THE STORY OF 3 FRIENDS AS THEY STRUGGLE EVERY DAY LIFE IN HONG KONG.THEN WHEN THEY LOOK FOR BETTER THINGS IT ALL GOES EVEN WORSE FOR THE 3 FRIENDS AS THEY TRAVEL TO VIETNAM.CHARACTER DRIVEN STORY VERY VIOLENT ITS FOR ME THE BEST FILM WOO HAS MADE ALONGSIDE THE KILLER IF ONLY JOHN WOO WOULD GO BACK TO HONG KONG.

Guns Guns and more guns!

This is one of John Woo’s better films but it wasn’t as good as I remembered. Basic story 4 hoodlums decide to take advantage of the Vietnam War and get some dodgy deals going on.

Guns Guns and more guns, well it is a John Woo film after all! Some good performances so worth a rent!

WOW!!!

I have waited ages on this film being released on DVD. Its the story of 3 friends growing up and due to circumstances end up in the middle of the Vietnam war and how greed affects the friendship. This was one of John Woos better films before he went to America.

This one is a must see.

Probably Woo's most demanding film

A challenging movie with flashes of the Woo trademarks (slow-mo, bullet ballets, honour, betrayal, explosions). But it seems to drag somewhat, at over two hours, during which the bodycount seems to rise exponentially.

Another unexpected gem

For new fans of John Woo, who has become known to western audiences for his slick high octane thrillers, they should check out this earlier work.

Set in Vietnam at the beginning of the war, it focuses on three friends, who through the course of the movie, come to question their friendship and what it means.

Violent, visually impressive and wonderfully played, especially Tony Leung.

As I said before a real find, and one worth checking out.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Massive Retro Madness

i wasnt impressed with this at all in the firt 30 mins, in nearly turned it off.. it reminded me of.... i dont know, some sort of crazy Teddy boys flick, all scrapping in gangs (was crap) the music did my head right in, all mouth organs sounding a bit like its playing 'Happy birthday' tune.. i really arnt that fussy usually tho, and im well into my Asian flicks, so sould be able to handle the Hammyness.

then all of a sudden it went nuts. vietnam war, VC insurgents blowing stuff up.

Crazy pimps, hooking girls on dope.................. torture at the hands of rebels......

Then a deep down dirty delve into greed, friendship and honor and a mad mission to get home .................. alond with the classic, AAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!!!! 'Im screaming and shooting 2 guns while driving, smoking a fag. and im riddled wi bullet holes and bloodied up to high hell, Action.

Johny Woo did it again. Its crazy, deep, and at some points i felt horrifyed at what i was seeing.

you can see why he ended up doing all that Holywood nonsense too.

and i stand by what i said before..... the Sound track is sh+#.

Hong Kong action all the way.

A psychologically intense, highly recommended Hong Kong action flick about three daring would-be profiteers who head into Vietnam-era Saigon hoping for a quick smuggling score. However, their greed--and the dangerous nature of the documents they transport--soon lands them in a Viet Cong prison and taints their friendship irrevocably.

Hong Kong Deer Hunter

Woo could have saved himself a lot of time here by re-releasing 'The Deer Hunter' with Hong Kong subtitles. Not that I don't like The Deer Hunter but this is a poor copy of it - you may as well watch the original again.