So Close (2002)

In this fun, action packed feature, Shu Qi portrays Lynn, the older, more experienced sister of Sue (Zhao Wei). Since the death of their parents, both sisters have devoted their lives to becoming experts in their chosen careers: professional assassins, with unrivaled computer hacking proficiency. While Sue, who feels vastly under-appreciated, and is desperate to prove her worth, operates the computers and jams enemy systems, Lynn works in the field, dispatching their endeavored targets.After assassinating the head of a major Hong Kong company, the sisters are pursued by brilliant police inspector Kong Yat-hung (Karen Mok) and her associate. At the same time however, those who instigated the job the sisters undertook want them permanently silenced, to ensure no one can trace the assassination back to them. With so many forces converging around them, the sisters have never needed each other like they do now.But when Lynn meets Yen (Song Seung Hun), a man she has loved for many years, she is provided the opportunity to escape the life she is trapped in. Will she take it? Will her sister join her, or will Sue continue pursuing a life of assassination to prove, once and for all, she is as equally adept as her sister? A story of love, family, friendship and revenge, despite a couple of issues with the plot that can be easily overlooked, So Close is a fantastic action film that proves women are not only as equally heroic as their male counterparts on screen, but are often more graceful and intriguing to watch.The fight scenes are fluidly captivating, and are often very appealing, the superb camera work used during these instances really capturing the moment, heightened still by the score that beneficially suits the mood. Although it is obvious that wires are often employed, and though a couple of scenes look very digital, audiences will not be disappointed.Furthermore, occasionally an exchange of dialogue is awkwardly centered around a sexual theme. Although the film could have been executed without this inclusion, these moments were obviously promulgated to make the audience laugh, and despite retaining their unnecessary feel, they actually work. The fights, the scenes, and the aforementioned dialogue are included to present the viewer with a sexy atmosphere, which is marvelously conveyed, without risk of damaging the plot or characters.The sisterly love between Lynn and Sue is brilliantly realistic, and the banter that transpires between them and Kong is equally satisfying, the employment of emotional depth and character development providing additional flavors to an already engrossing feature. By the film's conclusion, it is clearly obvious that So Close is aptly named, for it is so close to being exceptionally perfect, it simply cannot be missed.

Two sisters, Lynn (Shu Qi) and Sue (Vicki Zhao). are on a crusade to eliminate corruption at the highest level. Only they do it by killing the evildoers. Naturally these kinds of activities attract the police and one inspector in particular named Hong Yat Hong (Karen Mok) who is determined to catch them. A large part of So Close is about the sisters, Hong and how they interact with each other. Essentially the three are equal to each other on many levels and would have made a great team together. If not for the fact that they are each others adversaries. Despite this Sue and Hong have a mutual attraction to each other which results in a playful cat and mouse play between the two. The two sisters are tight but younger sister Sue is a little fed up being treated as such and rebels causing some friction between them although we do learn that these sisters have each others back all the way. Normally in action films like this I hardly pay attention to the story. However in this film it's essential because it does add to the dynamics between the three main characters and helps make the action scenes more exciting. Even when the story itself is as average as in most action flicks of this type I do commend Corey Yuen hinting lesbian love and keeping it tasteful. I wonder if that truly was his own idea or that it was the actresses who came up with it. But it certainly made the characters more compelling. So good job nonetheless. Director Corey Yuen also choreographed the action and then you simply know that good action is guaranteed. However it is obvious that actresses Shu Qi, Vicky Zhao and Karen Mok aren't trained in martial arts and therefore their fights and stunts are enhanced with the use of slow motion and CGI. Surprisingly the way it's done is very effective so I wasn't bothered by it at all. Besides the sword fight in the finale is CGI free and is very well choreographed. One legitimate complaint one could have is that it takes a while for the action to really kick off. Almost a full hour and seven minutes to be exact. But then you can be certain you will be served some good and exciting action so it's very much worth the wait.Overall So Close is a very enjoyable and effective action flick mostly because of Corey Yuen's choreography and the likability of the three main characters. Both the action and the attractive women provide some scrumptious eye candy and who can resist that.

I thought this movie would be just a Hong Kong version of Charlie's Angels, but it is not. The movie was about two sisters who became professional killers because of their traumatic childhood of witnessing the murder of their father. Their father has developed a high-tech GPS technology just before his death. The sisters used this technology to aid them in their profession. The effect used on this movie is a lot like Matrix'. I thought the movie used the effect properly and therefore, the movie itself is a lot of fun to watch. The storyline is rather predictable, so also is the drama. However the fighting scene is cutting edge. Any scene that can make Vicky Zhao (Zhao Wei) looks like a vicious fighter is worth seeing :)

Review: So Close(2002) Current mood: human I guess. Good action movies can be far and few inbetween...never more so than now a days. That's why I really liked this film...it looked modern but had a old school feel. I was first introduced to this film because of the director's film "The Transporter" which I thought was bad a$$. Don't let the front of the DVD fool you...Yes, there are 3 girls...with guns, kung fu,lots of flashy directing and wire works but trust me...this film is everything that Charlie's Angels wishes it was. Unlike the horrid Charlie's Angels So Close actually has a story to it and the action plays to the story rather than the story being fill in. The movie has really sweet moments that don't have action in it and the story is carried by the leads. The problem with female fronted action movies and comic films is that they try to be all things to all people. In a lot of these films the sexuality is used to get the guys in, then they use cheesy love story to get the girls and the PG-13 action to get the teenage boys. So what is it missing? Guts. That's what. The sexuality isn't over used in the movie, the romance is believable(and don't make them seem like sluts or tacked on like in Electra) and the action is wonderfully shot and violent. But with saying that there are hardly any killings on screen but the violence is balls to the walls. When 2 of the characters take on a sword carrying bad ass they hold up their own in this violent fight. It's no wire work dance ala Charlie's Angels...it's down to the ground dirty fighting that makes you cheer for the girls to beat the guy up badly. So if your in the mood for a fun popcorn flick with hot girls, guns and "ACTION" then this flick is for you. So instead of seeing another one of those PG-13 action films where they belong...gathering dust on a shelf and try this one out...you'll like it.