Chow Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino
This is the movie that is supposed to turn Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-Fat into a Hollywood action hunk. I don't think so. The tale of a brooding hit man (Chow) who is targeted for assassination himself after reneging on an assignment, The Replacement Killers fails to effectively showcase, much less sell, Chow's brand of guns-in-both-hands, dive-while-you-shoot cool. Sorvino, playing a passport forger who helps him, is merely marking time here.
Then again, the two die-hard action fans sitting near me at a crowded Manhattan showing clearly loved it. They loudly named each and every weapon shown onscreen and reveled in the film's many beautifully lensed scenes of slaughter. Finally, a brave audience member (not me) requested that they shut up. No way. "You shut up," one of the guys responded, adding, "We're from Brooklyn." Not that there's anything wrong with that. (R)
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