Stadt der Gewalt

A glimpse into the problems of illegal immigrants in the form of an atmospheric crime saga that, with a squint of both eyes, can bear comparison with the legends of the genre. (01.09.2010)

Despite the solid rating on FilmBooster and numerous enthusiastic comments, I have no reason whatsoever to change my critical distance from the mainstream of Asian cinema. It is simplistic, naive, clichéd, and therefore predictable, with poor acting performances, including the main protagonist. The truth is, unlike most East Asian crime films, this is not just an action film, but there is an ambition to simultaneously create a drama with a socially critical subtext about illegal immigrants and their difficult survival. However, the result is even more ambivalent because the film is as smart as early Seagal movies, from which it mainly differs in the gesture of self-sacrifice at the very end. For me to take it seriously, many things would have to change, starting with the script, through the directorial guidance, to the selection of different actors. Overall impression: 25%. By the way, those dialogues really hurt, and if I were to watch something like that in European cinema, I would seriously consider giving it a Boo!... (20.01.2013)

Quite unusual to see Jackie in a movie like this. You’ll find no jokes nor stunts and not even one-to-one fights. Xin Su shi jian is a thoroughbred drama about a Chinese immigrant in Japan. Similar movies (or games; GTA IV) of the same genre have been made in the US or the UK, but it’s the Asian environment that in places changes the familiar clichés. Moreover, Jackie gives a full-on performance but in a completely different way than usual. Just because of his transformation and the brilliantly escalated ending this movie is worth watching. (11.07.2009)