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The Killer (1989)
- 600 statements
- 117 feature instances
- 50 referencing feature instances
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The Killer (Die Xue Shuang Xiong (喋血�雄), or "Bloodshed of Two Heroes") is considered one of John Woo's all time greatest films, drawing from such influences as Jean-Pierre Melville's hitman drama Le Samouraï and Chang Cheh's bloody masterpiece Vengeance! (1970).Chow Yun-fat plays Hitman with a Heart Ah Jong, whose life changes forever when, in the middle of carrying out a hit at a restaurant, he accidentally blinds a beautiful lounge singer by the name of Jennie, played by Sally Yeh, with the muzzle flash of his gun. Several days later, Jong rescues Jennie from muggers who are out to rob her and gets to know the girl a bit better and is all the more wracked with remorse for it. Jong wants to leave the business behind so that he can be with her, but in order to raise the money to have Jennie's eyes fixed, he will need to perform one last job for his triad, which is to kill a guy by the name of Wong Dung-Yu. Unfortunately for Ah Jong, things do not turn out as planned.The boss of the triad, Wong Hoi, who is the nephew of the guy he sent Jong out to kill, would rather kill Jong than hand over the money that Jong's handler Fung Sei promised to him. Meanwhile, a cop by the name of Inspector Li Ying (played by Danny Lee, who is good at playing Cowboy Cops in general) has picked up Ah Jong's case, and as he gets to know both the assassin and the woman that he's going through hell for, the two heroes on opposite sides of the law develop a respect for each other that soon turns into a bond of friendship akin to blood brotherhood. As Fung Sei goes through hell to try to get the money for his friend, Wong Hoi has hired a replacement killer by the name of Paul Yau and a virtual army of assassins to get rid of Jong, and as everything goes straight to hell, Li becomes Jong's only ally against his double-crossing boss in a blazing final showdown that has come to define Heroic Bloodshed.This movie built on the genre that was started with A Better Tomorrow and Heroes Shed No Tears and expanded upon it. In addition to the Heroic Bloodshed favorites of Guns Akimbo, slow-mo and themes of loyalty and betrayal. The Killer also popularized the use of the point-blank Mexican Standoff and introduced the Disturbed Doves, a motif that would show up in John Woo's later movies and made their first appearance during the apocalyptic church shootout that ended the movie. It also has one of the most tragic endings that Woo has ever done, in keeping with the tendency of Hong Kong and Asian cinema in general to end their more dramatic movies on a downer note.Not to be confused with David Fincher's The Killer (and the French comic book that inspired the latter). | |
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The Killer (1989) | isPartOf |
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The Killer (1989) / int_10134c97 | type |
Artistic License – Gun Safety | |
The Killer (1989) / int_10134c97 | comment |
Artistic License – Gun Safety: Ah Jong angrily throws his (presumably loaded; this is John Woo we're talking about here) gun into the back of the Jeep he's stolen after missing his chance to take out Wong Hoi. Fortunately, it doesn't go off. An even worse example when Inspector Li and Sargent Yeh pursue Ah Jong through a hospital. Aggressively flipping through curtains and waving their guns around finger on the trigger. All this around a doctor operating on an injured child. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_10134c97 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_10134c97 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_122e956a | type |
One Bullet Left | |
The Killer (1989) / int_122e956a | comment |
One Bullet Left: Ah Jong lives by these words: "I always save the last bullet, either for myself or for my enemy." The first time he says this, it's when he's demanding of his handler Fung Sei to know who took out the Contract on the Hitman, and after a shootout in his apartment where Ah Jong defends himself and Fung Sei, it's revealed that he indeed had one more bullet. Unfortunately, later on when Fung Sei goes to Wong Hoi's residence to get Ah Jong's money and gets the living shit kicked out of him, he doesn't keep a final bullet, and Ah Jong has to Mercy Kill him when he is gunned down by Wong Hoi. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_1237828f | type |
Anyone Can Die | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1237828f | comment |
Anyone Can Die: The film ends with just about every major character dead except for Jenny (who is blind for good) and Inspector Li Ying (who was arrested by his fellow officers for killing Wong Hoi right in front of them). | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_13992073 | type |
Rasputinian Death | |
The Killer (1989) / int_13992073 | comment |
Rasputinian Death: Wong Hoi at the end. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_13992073 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_13e3985d | type |
Crucified Hero Shot | |
The Killer (1989) / int_13e3985d | comment |
Crucified Hero Shot: Ah Jong at one point during the church shootout. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_13e3985d | |
The Killer (1989) / int_14beeefd | type |
Darker and Edgier | |
The Killer (1989) / int_14beeefd | comment |
Darker and Edgier: Easily one of John Woo's darkest movies, along with Bullet in the Head. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_14beeefd | |
The Killer (1989) / int_14e1f6b2 | type |
Assassins Are Always Betrayed | |
The Killer (1989) / int_14e1f6b2 | comment |
Assassins Are Always Betrayed: Ah Jong is betrayed by his boss upon completing his last job. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_14e1f6b2 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1a3a91dd | type |
Say My Name | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1a3a91dd | comment |
Say My Name: "Ah Jong!"/"Jeffrey!" (English) (Said by Jennie) "Fung Sei!"/"Sidney!" (English) (Said by Ah Jong when his friend, Fung Sei, was shot in the church) "Shrimp head"!/"Dumbo!" (English) (Inspector Li addressing Ah Jong) "Little B"!/"Mickey!" (English) (Ah Jong addressing Inspector Li) | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_1a3a91dd | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1bce3257 | type |
Kid Amid the Chaos | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1bce3257 | comment |
Kid Amid the Chaos: A kid does get shot in the beach shoot-out, forcing Ah Jong to grab her and take her to the hospital in an effort to save her. This is the first clue to Li that this guy is not like other assassins. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_1c4adce1 | type |
The Siege | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1c4adce1 | comment |
The Siege: The church shootout, which has Ah Jong and Inspector Li holding off wave after wave of Wong Hoi's men who are bent on killing everyone. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_1c4adce1 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1daa7fce | type |
In the Back | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1daa7fce | comment |
In the Back: When Inspector Li confronts Ah Jong at the beach house, he demands that he turn around, as he won't shoot people in the back. Ah Jong notes that this is another way that they're the same. Paul Yau during the final shootout gets in a bullet to Ah Jong's back. It doesn't kill him, of course, but it's one of the rare moments that gets the slow-mo treatment. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_1daa7fce | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1f19f198 | type |
Back-to-Back Badasses | |
The Killer (1989) / int_1f19f198 | comment |
Back-to-Back Badasses: Ah Jong and Inspector Li fight back to back against an army of bad guys during the final shootout at the church. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_1f19f198 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_20a3a758 | type |
Two Shots from Behind the Bar | |
The Killer (1989) / int_20a3a758 | comment |
Two Shots from Behind the Bar: The opening shootout features a bartender with a shotgun. Needless to say, it doesn't end well for him. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_20a3a758 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_22cf536c | type |
Chekhov's Gun | |
The Killer (1989) / int_22cf536c | comment |
Chekhov's Gun: The church which serves as Ah Jong's primary place of peace and sanctuary throughout the movie is the setting of the movie's final shootout. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_22cf536c | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2493b31d | type |
Fire-Forged Friends | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2493b31d | comment |
Fire-Forged Friends: While Ah Jong and Inspector Li do have a great deal of respect for each other despite being on opposite sides of the law, it's not until the beach house shootout, where the two are forced to join forces to protect each other and Jennie, that they truly become allies. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_2493b31d | |
The Killer (1989) / int_25524784 | type |
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown | |
The Killer (1989) / int_25524784 | comment |
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Fung Sei receives a quite tearjerking one of these at the hands of Wong Hoi in his final attempt to get the Killer's money. Ah Jong beats the shit out of the two punks who try to rape Jenny. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_25524784 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_25524784 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_26c22470 | type |
Put Down Your Gun and Step Away | |
The Killer (1989) / int_26c22470 | comment |
Put Down Your Gun and Step Away: Used in the final standoff. Wong Hoi has taken Jenny hostage and orders Ah Jong and Li to lay down their guns. Li takes the wounded Paul Yau hostage in turn and tries to get Wong Hoi to let her go, only for Wong Hoi to cross the Moral Event Horizon and put a bullet through Paul's head with a second gun before reaffirming his threat. Ah Jong and Li lay down their guns, with their plan being Ah Jong pulling the spare gun out of the cop's pants and shooting Wong Hoi. Once the guns are down, Wong Hoi shoots Ah Jong, Ah Jong falls, grabs Li's spare gun and puts a bullet in Wong Hoi's gut, knocking him away from Jenny. Then the two of them have a shootout on the ground, but as Ah Jong only has one gun to Wong Hoi's two, Ah Jong goes down with both of his eyes shot out and dies in a very tragic fashion, and the task of taking Wong Hoi down goes to Li. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_26c22470 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_272abb98 | type |
Shoot the Shaggy Dog | |
The Killer (1989) / int_272abb98 | comment |
Shoot the Shaggy Dog: The protagonists bring down Wong Hoi, but Ah Jong dies before he can reach his goal, to raise enough money for Jenny's eye transplant. Not only that, his Plan B of having her use his eyes falls flat when that's where Wong Hoi shoots him. And in a sense of Pyrrhic Victory, Inspector Li, is arrested by his fellow officers when he finally guns down Wong Hoi to avenge his friend and keep the villain from getting away with it all because he had done so right in front of them in cold blood after the boss had surrendered to them, so he can't use the money to have the singer's eyes fixed either. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_272abb98 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2737c505 | type |
Shoot the Dog | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2737c505 | comment |
Shoot the Dog: Ah Jong has to put a bullet to Fung Sei, his best friend, so that he doesn't die like a dog after getting tortured and then shot by Wong Hoi and his people. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_2737c505 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2e5e04c0 | type |
Must Make Amends | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2e5e04c0 | comment |
Must Make Amends: Ah Jong's attempt to fix a tragic mistake that he made, which resulted in a beautiful singer being blinded by the muzzle-flash of his gun. The last hit that he goes on is an attempt to raise the money to have her eyes fixed, but unfortunately for him, his boss has other ideas. It does not end well for him. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_2e5e04c0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2f187e89 | type |
It Works Better with Bullets | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2f187e89 | comment |
It Works Better with Bullets: Ah Jong does this to Sidney during the confrontation at his apartment. Fung Sei has been persuaded by Wong Hoi to kill him rather than give him the money, and the briefcase that was supposed to hold the money has nothing but worthless paper inside. When he puts his weapon down to open it, Sidney grabs the gun and points it at him, at which point Ah Jong starts laughing. Fung Sei pulls the trigger, only to have it click on an empty chamber, and Ah Jong reveals that he unloaded it when he shows Fung Sei the bullets, just before pulling his other gun on him. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_2f187e89 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_2f187e89 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_324385bb | type |
We Have to Get the Bullet Out! | |
The Killer (1989) / int_324385bb | comment |
We Have to Get the Bullet Out!: After the first shootout, Ah Jong has some bullets taken out of him by Fung Sei at the church. It is painful as hell. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_324385bb | |
The Killer (1989) / int_329a19a0 | type |
Hollywood Healing | |
The Killer (1989) / int_329a19a0 | comment |
Hollywood Healing: Averted. Whenever a character is injured their wounds stay, for instance when Ah Jong ambushes Wong Hoi and shoots him several times, he spends the rest of the film in bandages and his arm in a sling. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_329a19a0 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_329a19a0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_382a6399 | type |
The Hero Dies | |
The Killer (1989) / int_382a6399 | comment |
The Hero Dies: Ah Jong dies without fulfilling his promise to have Jenny's eyes fixed. Wong Hoi, the same triad boss who killed Ah Jong, is finished off by Inspector Li Ying, the other primary hero. But Li is arrested by his fellow officers afterward because he did it in cold blood right in front of them. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_382a6399 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_39684516 | type |
Kill the Ones You Love | |
The Killer (1989) / int_39684516 | comment |
Kill the Ones You Love: Ah Jong has to put a bullet to Fung Sei after he went through serious hell to get the money Ah Jong needs to have Jenny's eyes fixed to him and got shot by the bad guys. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_39684516 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_3cb1d38d | type |
Bad Boss | |
The Killer (1989) / int_3cb1d38d | comment |
Bad Boss: Wong Hoi, as Ah Jong and Fung Sei both finds out. Wong Hoi even kills Paul Yau, his own syndicate hitman, when he was used as a hostage by Inspector Li in an attempt to break his own hostage situation with Jennie at the end. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_3cb1d38d | |
The Killer (1989) / int_3dd3951e | type |
Cowboy Cop | |
The Killer (1989) / int_3dd3951e | comment |
Cowboy Cop: Inspector Li. Aside from some disagreement with his superiors he also spends the third act helping Ah Jong take on an army of Mooks. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_3dd3951e | |
The Killer (1989) / int_3ec7c277 | type |
Every Car Is a Pinto | |
The Killer (1989) / int_3ec7c277 | comment |
Every Car Is a Pinto: At one point during the big shootout in the beach house, Ah Jong blasts the hell out of a car to cover the escape of Li and Jenny. Eventually, the gas tank goes up and the car goes kaboom. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_3ec7c277 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_44fc28e8 | type |
Honor Before Reason | |
The Killer (1989) / int_44fc28e8 | comment |
Honor Before Reason: Happens a lot in this movie. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_44fc28e8 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_474e3977 | type |
You Have Failed Me | |
The Killer (1989) / int_474e3977 | comment |
You Have Failed Me: Wong Hoi putting some lead in his own subordinate, Paul in the ending proves how little concern he have over his underlings. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_474e3977 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_4ddd4d1a | type |
Swivel-Chair Antics | |
The Killer (1989) / int_4ddd4d1a | comment |
Swivel-Chair Antics: In the scene at Ah Jong's apartment, Ah Jong uses a swivel chair to good use when the bad guys attack, launching himself backward before blasting the hell out of the first guy to enter the room. It's later reenacted by Inspector Li Ying, who thoroughly spooks out his partner Chang while doing so. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_4ddd4d1a | |
The Killer (1989) / int_4e3d253b | type |
Downer Ending | |
The Killer (1989) / int_4e3d253b | comment |
Downer Ending: The bad guy is dead, but so is the hero and his eyes are now useless, so Jennie is most certainly going blind. Inspector Li is about to be arrested, and his and Ah Jong's best friends are dead, too. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_4e3d253b | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5017da77 | type |
Church of Saint Genericus | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5017da77 | comment |
Church of Saint Genericus: John Woo is a Protestant and the church featured looks like a Protestant one in architecture but it has many Catholic features - lots and lots of candles, a statue of Mary, and a priest who performs the sign of the cross. The doves flying inside the church are completely random though. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_5017da77 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5037b961 | type |
Et Tu, Brute? | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5037b961 | comment |
Et Tu, Brute?: Ah Jong learns from Fung Sei that he was betrayed by Wong Hoi when his boss decides to have Paul Yau as his replacement. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_5037b961 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_50d71a78 | type |
Dual Wielding | |
The Killer (1989) / int_50d71a78 | comment |
Dual Wielding: During the church shoot-out, Ah Jong wields a Heckler and Koch MP5K and a Smith & Wesson 3000 shotgun, while Wong Hoi wields a Heckler and Koch MP5K and an Auto Ordnance M1911A1. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_50d71a78 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5300b1de | type |
Invincible Hero | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5300b1de | comment |
Invincible Hero: Subverted. During the opening shootout, Ah Jong at first appears to be unstoppable. Once he covers Jenny from gunfire he ends up getting shot three times in the back. | |
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-0.3 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5300b1de | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_5300b1de | |
The Killer (1989) / int_53f5119f | type |
The Dragon | |
The Killer (1989) / int_53f5119f | comment |
The Dragon: Paul Yau (the assassin with the shades). He gives both heroes of the movie a fight, especially during the church shootout, before being taken hostage in an attempt to break the Put Down Your Gun and Step Away situation with Wong Hoi and Jenny and getting one put through his skull by Wong Hoi himself. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_53f5119f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_53f5119f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_53f5119f | |
The Killer (1989) / int_548bd053 | type |
Guns Akimbo | |
The Killer (1989) / int_548bd053 | comment |
Guns Akimbo: Crazy Eddie at the beginning. Ah Jong, Inspector Li and Wong Hoi towards the end. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_548bd053 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_548bd053 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_548bd053 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5987e4d1 | type |
Sanctuary of Solitude | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5987e4d1 | comment |
Sanctuary of Solitude: In the very first scene when Fung Sei meets Ah Jong at the church, he asks if he believes in God. Ah Jong replies in the negative but that he "enjoys the tranquility here," making it clear that the church is a place of peace for him. The church gets blown to hell during the course of the final shootout. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5987e4d1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5987e4d1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_5987e4d1 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5ce7dbb9 | type |
Central Theme | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5ce7dbb9 | comment |
Central Theme: Even in a world of criminals, brotherhood and loyalty are still important traits to have. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5ce7dbb9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_5ce7dbb9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_5ce7dbb9 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_602d0357 | type |
Prefer Jail to the Protagonist | |
The Killer (1989) / int_602d0357 | comment |
Prefer Jail to the Protagonist: Wong Hoi doies this at the end of the movie to get away from Inspector Li Ying, who wants him dead for killing Ah Jong. This results in Li gunning him down right in front of his fellow officers and then getting arrested. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_602d0357 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_602d0357 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_602d0357 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_605eab47 | type |
The Villain Must Be Punished | |
The Killer (1989) / int_605eab47 | comment |
The Villain Must Be Punished: Li guns down Wong Hoi as he begs to be arrested. Sadly, by this point everything is already lost, so his death accomplishes nothing (other than getting the Inspector sent to prison). | |
The Killer (1989) / int_605eab47 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_605eab47 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_605eab47 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_61f452ca | type |
Sinister Shades | |
The Killer (1989) / int_61f452ca | comment |
Sinister Shades: Paul Yau sports a set of these. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_61f452ca | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_61f452ca | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_61f452ca | |
The Killer (1989) / int_64e975cf | type |
Manly Tears | |
The Killer (1989) / int_64e975cf | comment |
Manly Tears: Ah Jong as he is about to Mercy Kill his friend Fung Sei. Li cries Tsang Yeh's death and also Ah Jong's at the end. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_64e975cf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_64e975cf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_64e975cf | |
The Killer (1989) / int_65acf9db | type |
He Knows Too Much | |
The Killer (1989) / int_65acf9db | comment |
He Knows Too Much: The reason why Wong Hoi wants to kill Ah Jong is because he was spotted on the hit. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_65acf9db | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_65acf9db | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_65acf9db | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6779fb0b | type |
Shoot the Hostage Taker | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6779fb0b | comment |
Shoot the Hostage Taker: Subverted. Li chases Mad Dog to a tram where he takes a woman hostage. Li shoots him, but the woman dies of a heart attack. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6779fb0b | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6779fb0b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_6779fb0b | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6a0b03a6 | type |
One Last Job | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6a0b03a6 | comment |
One Last Job: Ah Jong takes on one last hit in order to help Jenny. He has to deal with a Contract on the Hitman due to his boss deciding not to pay him. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6a0b03a6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6a0b03a6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_6a0b03a6 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6ee10e0 | type |
My Greatest Failure | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6ee10e0 | comment |
My Greatest Failure: How Ah Jong felt about nearly shooting Jennie's eyes out at the nightclub and about the child whom he bought to the hospital when she is caught in the middle of the shootout on the beach. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6ee10e0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_6ee10e0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_6ee10e0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_71329e49 | type |
Turn in Your Badge | |
The Killer (1989) / int_71329e49 | comment |
Turn in Your Badge: Li is taken off the case after getting the wrong guy at the airport, since the superintendent thinks the man is siding with the guy he's supposed to take in. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_71329e49 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_71329e49 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_71329e49 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7360806f | type |
In-Series Nickname | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7360806f | comment |
In-Series Nickname: Ah Jong and Inspector Li addresses each other as "Mickey Mouse" and "Dumbo" ("Shrimp Head" and "Runt" in the Cantonese Original) at certain points of the movie. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7360806f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7360806f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_7360806f | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77414bc2 | type |
Action Prologue | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77414bc2 | comment |
Action Prologue: The film begins with Ah Jong performing a hit at a restaurant where Jenny is singing. It also kicks off the plot in earnest, as Jenny receives corneal damage as a result of Ah Jong firing too close to her eyes in order to put down the last mook in the shootout that ensues. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77414bc2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77414bc2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_77414bc2 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77c719f5 | type |
Heroic Bloodshed | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77c719f5 | comment |
Heroic Bloodshed: One of the quintessential examples of the genre. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77c719f5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_77c719f5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_77c719f5 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7be46966 | type |
Heroes' Frontier Step | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7be46966 | comment |
Heroes' Frontier Step: The moment that convinces Inspector Li that Ah Jong is not your ordinary assassin is when he saves a little girl who gets caught in the crossfire at the beach. He not only shields the kid from more gunfire, but he also drives her to the hospital — with the cops in hot pursuit — and has the doctors operate on her in order to save her life while in the middle of a standoff with Li. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7be46966 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7be46966 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_7be46966 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7ef70048 | type |
Big Bad Friend | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7ef70048 | comment |
Big Bad Friend: Wong Hoi towards Ah Jong. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7ef70048 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_7ef70048 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_7ef70048 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_82b9624d | type |
Pistol Pose | |
The Killer (1989) / int_82b9624d | comment |
Pistol Pose: On the poster◊, Chow Yun Fat combines this with Gory Discretion Shot. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_82b9624d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_82b9624d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_82b9624d | |
The Killer (1989) / int_83f0971b | type |
Mexican Standoff | |
The Killer (1989) / int_83f0971b | comment |
Mexican Standoff: Ah Jong and Inspector Li get into these a lot, including a quite iconic point-blank standoff at Jennie's apartment. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_83f0971b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_83f0971b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_83f0971b | |
The Killer (1989) / int_90d2c6d6 | type |
Blood-Stained Glass Windows | |
The Killer (1989) / int_90d2c6d6 | comment |
Bloodstained Glass Windows: The final showdown at the church, with Ah Jong and Li ally holding off a virtual army of assassins, is probably the quintessential example. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_90d2c6d6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_90d2c6d6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_90d2c6d6 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_91cecc1e | type |
Exaggerated Trope | |
The Killer (1989) / int_91cecc1e | comment |
An even worse example when Inspector Li and Sargent Yeh pursue Ah Jong through a hospital. Aggressively flipping through curtains and waving their guns around finger on the trigger. All this around a doctor operating on an injured child. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_91cecc1e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_91cecc1e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_91cecc1e | |
The Killer (1989) / int_92c0c4a7 | type |
Karmic Injury | |
The Killer (1989) / int_92c0c4a7 | comment |
Karmic Injury: The events that led to Ah Jong going on his last job and Wong Hoi turning against him began when Ah Jong accidentally blinded Jenny with the muzzle flash of his gun during the opening shootout. In the finale, Wong Hoi shoots Ah Jong in the eyes. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_92c0c4a7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_92c0c4a7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_92c0c4a7 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_970c790a | type |
Big Bad | |
The Killer (1989) / int_970c790a | comment |
Big Bad: Wong Hoi/Johnny Weng. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_970c790a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_970c790a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_970c790a | |
The Killer (1989) / int_97e1ca8c | type |
Almost Lethal Weapons | |
The Killer (1989) / int_97e1ca8c | comment |
Almost Lethal Weapons: Both heroes and villains in Heroic Bloodshed movies in general can take a lot of punishment, and this film is no exception. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_97e1ca8c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_97e1ca8c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_97e1ca8c | |
The Killer (1989) / int_99298c71 | type |
Better to Die than Be Killed | |
The Killer (1989) / int_99298c71 | comment |
Better to Die than Be Killed: Ah Jong is an assassin that always saves the last bullet in his gun, either for himself or for his enemy. This is a code all assassins in this film stick to, including his handler Fung Sei (who unfortunately didn't keep the last bullet for himself and ultimately has to have the title character end his life for him). | |
The Killer (1989) / int_99298c71 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_99298c71 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_99298c71 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9d12bbc1 | type |
Foreshadowing | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9d12bbc1 | comment |
Foreshadowing: A cat appears when Ah Jong first meets Jennie on her visit home, and secondarily when Li's partner Tsang tries to catch Ah Jong in Jennie's apartment. In Chinese culture, a cat coming into a home is an omen of ruin and poverty for its inhabitants. Both Tsang and Jennie meet negative outcomes in the film. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9d12bbc1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9d12bbc1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_9d12bbc1 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9ec60b8b | type |
White Shirt of Death | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9ec60b8b | comment |
White Shirt of Death: After the boat assassination, Ah Jong encounters a little girl in a white dress. She proceeds to get caught in the crossfire and seriously wounded, with the dress covered in blood, and she is only saved by Ah Jong driving the kid to the hospital and having the doctors operate on her. Ah Jong and Inspector Li themselves both wear white at the end, and both get shot copiously, though Li survives the shootout. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9ec60b8b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9ec60b8b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_9ec60b8b | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9f7769a2 | type |
The Gunslinger | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9f7769a2 | comment |
The Gunslinger: Most of the major characters are this in spades. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9f7769a2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_9f7769a2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_9f7769a2 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a1a1491e | type |
Homage | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a1a1491e | comment |
Homage: The slow motion shots of Ah Jong and Jennie seeing each other for the first time was inspired by West Side Story, one of John Woo's favorite films. Jennie's hospital visit shows a vision of Ah firing his gun while blood fills the screen, which was inspired by the blood pouring from the elevator in The Shining. The shoot-out in Ah Jong's apartment was inspired by the climax of Taxi Driver. The scene and subsequent car action where Li's partner is killed was partly inspired by The Driver. The scene where Ah Jong loses his eyes was inspired by the death of Guan Yu-lou from the Chang Cheh movie Vengeance! (1970). | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a1a1491e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a1a1491e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a1a1491e | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2022cc9 | type |
Killed Mid-Sentence | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2022cc9 | comment |
Killed Mid-Sentence: Crazy Eddie, who was shot by Inspector Li, died mid-sentence during his Dying Curse. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2022cc9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2022cc9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2022cc9 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2b38d3b | type |
Eye Scream | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2b38d3b | comment |
Eye Scream: The opening scene of Jennie's eyes being burned by Ah Jong's muzzle flash. And Chow Yun-Fat's eye was injured for real during filming, which can be seen during the climax. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2b38d3b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2b38d3b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a2b38d3b | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a3eea2ea | type |
Cop Killer | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a3eea2ea | comment |
Cop Killer: Mad Dog murders a motorcycle cop who interrupts the arms deal. Paul Yau fatally shoots Tsang Yeh, who was following Fung Sei. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a3eea2ea | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a3eea2ea | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a3eea2ea | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a4ecfcbf | type |
Dead Partner | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a4ecfcbf | comment |
Dead Partner: Sgt. Tsang Yeh, Inspector Li's partner, was fatally shot in the car lot by Paul Yau and dies after he was admitted in a hospital. But not before chasing down Fung Sei, finding the location where Ah Jong was hiding. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a4ecfcbf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a4ecfcbf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a4ecfcbf | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6049c20 | type |
Disturbed Doves | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6049c20 | comment |
Disturbed Doves: This was the first John Woo movie to have them. He's used them ever since. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6049c20 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6049c20 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6049c20 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6bd0685 | type |
Died in Your Arms Tonight | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6bd0685 | comment |
Died in Your Arms Tonight: Subverted when the title character dies. He and Jenny miss each other as they grope for each other on the ground near the burning church due to both of them being blind at this moment, Jenny due to the tragic mistake that kicked off the whole thing, and Ah Jong due to getting shot in the eyes by Wong Hoi. The reason the scene came out like it did was because Chow Yun-Fat and Sally Yeh could only be scheduled to shoot on different days. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6bd0685 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6bd0685 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a6bd0685 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a796d2a6 | type |
Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a796d2a6 | comment |
Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Mostly downplayed, in that the mooks can still occasionally score a hit if they're lucky enough, but played absolutely straight at one point in the beach house shootout; a mook holding a machine-gun steps into a short, straight corridor with Ah Jong and Jenny roughly ten feet in front of him, and despite the perfect conditions the mook completely misses his targets while putting a dozen holes in the corridor's walls (is he firing horizontally?). Ah Jong then returns fire, easily killing the mook before grabbing the machine-gun to kill a few other enemies. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a796d2a6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_a796d2a6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_a796d2a6 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_abad35b4 | type |
Soundtrack Dissonance | |
The Killer (1989) / int_abad35b4 | comment |
Soundtrack Dissonance: Handel's "Messiah" overture plays at one point during the big Church Shootout. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_abad35b4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_abad35b4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_abad35b4 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_acb01a17 | type |
Nothing Up My Sleeve | |
The Killer (1989) / int_acb01a17 | comment |
Nothing Up My Sleeve: During the shoot-out in the apartment, Ah Jong uses a Walther PPK concealed in his jacket sleeve to fend off assassins. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_acb01a17 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_acb01a17 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_acb01a17 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_ad9fbc1e | type |
Pyrrhic Victory | |
The Killer (1989) / int_ad9fbc1e | comment |
Pyrrhic Victory: Inspector Li kills Wong Hoi at the end in retaliation for killing Ah Jong. But as a consequence, he was arrested after gunning down the mob boss in front of the entire police force. He also can't use the money to have Jenny's eyes fixed either. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_ad9fbc1e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_ad9fbc1e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_ad9fbc1e | |
The Killer (1989) / int_aed65980 | type |
All for Nothing | |
The Killer (1989) / int_aed65980 | comment |
All for Nothing: Wong Hoi betrayed everyone and had his uncle murdered to take over his empire. He had Ah Jong killed in order to tie up loose ends that way no one will tell the police his involvement. However, due to his cowardinace, paranoid, and trying to get the police to take him into custody to protect him. Inspector Li saw how horrible Wong Hoi and wants revenge on Wong for murdering Ah Jong and destroying everything, Inspector Li shoots Wong Hoi. The first shot Wong got, Li wanted to let Wong Hoi know that he's going to die. Wong Hoi can't believe he's going to die and finds this unfair since he thought was supposed to win. He will never have his uncle's empire. Inspector Li shoots him again and this time Wong Hoi dies, ending the coward for good. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_aed65980 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_aed65980 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_aed65980 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_b2cdd776 | type |
Bottomless Magazines | |
The Killer (1989) / int_b2cdd776 | comment |
Bottomless Magazines: PlayedWith. Characters are shown reloading but only when the plot says so. Woo has stated in interviews that showing a reload detracts from the action of a gunfight and he wonders why American film audiences are so obsessed with it. Correlates with the MST3K Mantra. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_b2cdd776 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_b2cdd776 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_b2cdd776 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_b731fa6e | type |
I Cannot Self-Terminate | |
The Killer (1989) / int_b731fa6e | comment |
I Cannot Self-Terminate: Fung Sei, after delivering the money he needs to have Jenny's eyes fixed and being shot by Wong Hoi, asks for a last bullet from his friend so that he doesn't die like a dog, because he didn't save his own last bullet for himself. Ah Jong tearfully complies.. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_b731fa6e | |
The Killer (1989) / int_be85ff22 | type |
Contract on the Hitman | |
The Killer (1989) / int_be85ff22 | comment |
Contract on the Hitman: Ah Jong has to deal with his syndicate trying to kill him after pulling off the hit that he hoped would earn him the money to have a singer he accidentally blinded be able to see again, due to Wong Hoi wanting to keep the money for himself and clear the table for his ambitions. He doesn't survive, though to his credit, it takes the mob boss himself to finally end him. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_be85ff22 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c1901748 | type |
Healthcare Motivation | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c1901748 | comment |
Healthcare Motivation: Ah Jong takes on a final assassination job in order to pay Jenny's corneal surgery. The plot ensues when his handler's boss, Wong Hoi, decides to take out a Contract on the Hitman rather than pay him. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c1901748 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c31adf6a | type |
Gun Fu | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c31adf6a | comment |
Gun Fu: A John Woo trademark, most prominently seen in the beach shootout, the beach house shootout and the church shootout. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c31adf6a | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_c31adf6a | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c32201f6 | type |
Good Colors, Evil Colors | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c32201f6 | comment |
Good Colors, Evil Colors: The only time that John Woo avoids his usual "white villain, black hero" color scheme is in the final church shootout, which has Ah Jong in a white suit and Wong Hoi and many of his men in black suits. But then again, Ah Jong is the one who ultimately dies, and Wong Hoi was finished off by Inspector Li Ying, who in turn was arrested by the entire police force for shooting Weng in front of them. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c32201f6 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c3ae004a | type |
Re-Cut | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c3ae004a | comment |
Re-Cut: A longer version exists, as detailed here. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c3ae004a | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c3ae004a | featureConfidence |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c3ae004a | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c48b3d8c | type |
Lancer vs. Dragon | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c48b3d8c | comment |
Lancer vs. Dragon: A brief one occurs near the end of the church shootout; as Ah Jong chases after Wong Hoi who had abducted Jenny, Jong's lancer, Li took on Hoi's dragon, Paul. After a brief shootout, Li emerged victorious and drags Paul behind, demanding Wong to release Jenny while holding Paul at gunpoint. Unfortunately for Paul, Wong's responds via You Have Failed Me. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c48b3d8c | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c547cd6d | type |
Bulletproof Vest | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c547cd6d | comment |
Bulletproof Vest: Following Ah Jong's attempt on his life, Wong Hoi wears one of these. It saves him when Sidney tries to kill him. Li manages to damage it by blowing up a belt of shotgun shells beneath him. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c547cd6d | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c547cd6d | featureConfidence |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c547cd6d | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c5fddeb2 | type |
Delusions of Doghood | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c5fddeb2 | comment |
Delusions of Doghood: A dying Fung Sei tells Ah Jong that he doesn't know whether he's a human or a dog anymore, which may be a sign that he's close to (or has already crossed) the Despair Event Horizon as a result of the monstrously cruel No-Holds-Barred Beatdown he received at the hands of Wong Hoi, who repeatedly likened poor Sei to a dog during the beating. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c5fddeb2 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c84e56a2 | type |
Sean Connery Is About to Shoot You | |
The Killer (1989) / int_c84e56a2 | comment |
Sean Connery Is About to Shoot You: Most famously the scene where Ah Jong takes out his target at the restaurant during the first major shootout of the movie. Not to mention the vision that Jenny has of Ah Jong firing directly at the camera, with a sea of blood behind him. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_c84e56a2 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_cf35af47 | type |
Gunpoint Banter | |
The Killer (1989) / int_cf35af47 | comment |
Gunpoint Banter: Occurs throughout the film. Notably, the first time Li and Ah Jong meet in person, they quickly end up with guns pointed at each other. Jenny, who is partially blind and can't see the guns, walks in, and they have to pretend to carry an innocuous conversation while still with guns pointed at each other. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_cf35af47 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d2d09c16 | type |
After-Action Patch-Up | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d2d09c16 | comment |
After Action Patch Up: After the beach house shootout, Ah Jong and Inspector Li Ying spend a scene tending one of the former's wounds, a gunshot to the arm, leading to Li using a bit of gunpowder from a shotgun shell and a match in order to cauterize the wound. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_d2d09c16 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d2fb51b5 | type |
Blind and the Beast | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d2fb51b5 | comment |
Blind and the Beast: Jennie and Ah Jong. Played with in that it's not Jong's appearance that could be considered unpleasant (indeed, being played by Chow Yun-fat, he's quite easy on the eyes), rather his profession and the fact that it was him who blinded her, which she's initially unaware of. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_d2fb51b5 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d397657d | type |
Hoist by His Own Petard | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d397657d | comment |
Hoist by His Own Petard: In a truly tragic example of this happening to a hero, Ah Jong loses both of his eyes as he is fatally gunned down by Wong Hoi, paying horribly for his accidental blinding of Jenny via muzzle-flash at the beginning of the movie. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_d397657d | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d3a4af1e | type |
Sympathy for the Devil | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d3a4af1e | comment |
Sympathy For The Anti-hero: Ah Jong and Inspector Li Ying, who end up teaming up against Wong Hoi in order to get the money needed for Jenny's eye operation. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d3a4af1e | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_d3a4af1e | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d3e3e878 | type |
Love at First Note | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d3e3e878 | comment |
Love at First Note: Ah Jong falls in love with Jennie upon hearing her sing at the nightclub where he is to kill his first target. Then the plot happens. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_d3e3e878 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d60d12e4 | type |
Harbinger of Impending Doom | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d60d12e4 | comment |
Harbinger of Impending Doom: Fung Sei returns to the church with Ah Jong's money, and he's all bloody because he got the living shit kicked out of him by Wong Hoi and his men, who followed Fung Sei to the church following his escape, and when he gets shot, he has to ask Ah Jong to finish him because he didn't save his last bullet for himself and doesn't want to die like a dog. Then all hell breaks loose. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_d60d12e4 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d63af362 | type |
Dramatic Ammo Depletion | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d63af362 | comment |
Dramatic Ammo Depletion: Ah Jong attempts to kill Wong Hoi in his car. He manages to wound him in the shoulder, but he runs out of bullets before he can finish him off and is forced to flee. Following his beatdown, Sidney Fung grabs a revolver, kills some henchmen and manages to take Wong Hoi hostage so he can escape with the money. He's about to kill Wong Hoi, but unfortunately, his gun is empty. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_d63af362 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d88faed2 | type |
Scarf of Asskicking | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d88faed2 | comment |
Scarf of Asskicking: Ah Jong during the first shootout. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_d88faed2 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_d88faed2 | featureConfidence |
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The Killer (1989) / int_d88faed2 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_da7ede9c | type |
Firing One-Handed | |
The Killer (1989) / int_da7ede9c | comment |
Firing One-Handed: Ah Jong fires his Taurus handgun one-handed for most of the movie except when he picks up two guns. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_da7ede9c | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_da7ede9c | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e0dbaf11 | type |
Death by Flashback | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e0dbaf11 | comment |
Death by Flashback: Prior to the death of Sgt. Tsang in the hospital, there is a flashback of him telling Inspector Li that he can't win forever...but he can't lose forever either. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e0dbaf11 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_e0dbaf11 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e1c796e9 | type |
Diegetic Switch | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e1c796e9 | comment |
Diegetic Switch: Jenny's song from near the beginning of the movie is played on the soundtrack in instrumental several scenes later when Ah Jong saves the blinded Jenny from the muggers and he's telling her about how not everyone is untrustworthy. It plays again for Inspector Li after he is taken off the case, signifying that he's come to care about Jenny as well. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_e1c796e9 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e2c4b927 | type |
Dub Name Change | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e2c4b927 | comment |
Dub Name Change: Most of the characters names are changed in the English dub and some subtitled versions: Ah Jong "Shrimp Head" becomes Jeff "Mickey Mouse". Li "Small B" Ying becomes Li "Dumbo" Ying. Tsang Yeh becomes Randy Chang. Fung Sei becomes Sidney Fung. Wong Hoi becomes Johnny Weng. Wong Hung becomes Teddy Wong. Paul Yau becomes Frank Chen. Wong Dong-Yu becomes Tony Wong. | |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_e2c4b927 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e2f7ab99 | type |
Assassin Outclassin' | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e2f7ab99 | comment |
Assassin Outclassin': Being a Professional Killer, Ah Jong manages ambushes and surprise attacks. Later, Fung Sei tries to kill Wong Hoi, but fails due to a Bulletproof Vest and unknowingly violating the "always leave one bullet rule". | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_e2f7ab99 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e303d198 | type |
Whole-Plot Reference | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e303d198 | comment |
Whole-Plot Reference: Woo has previously acknowledged that the film was inspired by Le Samouraï, which was in turn inspired by a novel titled The Ronin by Joan McLeod. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_e303d198 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e3d06d0c | type |
Bash Brothers | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e3d06d0c | comment |
Bash Brothers: Ah Jong and Inspector Li from the beach house shootout onwards. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_e3d06d0c | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e4ce314 | type |
The Triads and the Tongs | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e4ce314 | comment |
The Triads and the Tongs: Feature a lot in Heroic Bloodshed movies in general, and this movie is no exception. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e4ce314 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_e4ce314 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7b73414 | type |
Sniper Rifle | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7b73414 | comment |
Sniper Rifle: Ah Jong uses a Dragunov to carry out the hit at the dragon boat festival. In reality it's a mock-up built from a Chinese Norinco Type 56 assault rifle. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7b73414 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7b73414 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7d7e394 | type |
Heal It With Fire | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7d7e394 | comment |
Heal It With Fire: Li does this with gunpowder from a shotgun shell. Being as neither of the heroes has anesthesia, Li gives Ah Jong a big stick to bite down on before igniting the powder. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7d7e394 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_e7d7e394 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e81f5639 | type |
Moe Greene Special | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e81f5639 | comment |
Moe Greene Special: Ah Jong dies after being shot in both eyes in the climatic fight at the church. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_e81f5639 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_e81f5639 | featureConfidence |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_e81f5639 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac | type |
Groin Attack | |
The Killer (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac | comment |
Groin Attack: Ah Jong's first kill has him putting three bullets into a mook's groin at point blank range from the side of a doorway that the mook was coming through. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_eaf5a1ac | |
The Killer (1989) / int_eba6a077 | type |
Cain and Abel | |
The Killer (1989) / int_eba6a077 | comment |
Cain and Abel: Wong Hoi and Wong Dung-Yu. Though they were never shown fighting with each other on-screen. As it turns out, Wong Hoi is the one who ordered Ah Jong to kill his uncle. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_eba6a077 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) | hasFeature |
The Killer (1989) / int_eba6a077 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f0e48274 | type |
Taken Off the Case | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f0e48274 | comment |
Taken Off the Case: Inspector Li Ying is taken off the case after getting the wrong guy at the airport since the superintendent thinks the man is siding with the guy he's supposed to take in. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f0e48274 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_f0e48274 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3108472 | type |
Bit-Part Bad Guys | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3108472 | comment |
Bit-Part Bad Guys: The two muggers that try to rob the blinded Jenny soon after the first shootout, only to get beaten up by Ah Jong. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_f3108472 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3626b09 | type |
Mercy Kill | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3626b09 | comment |
Ah Jong as he is about to Mercy Kill his friend Fung Sei. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3626b09 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_f3626b09 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3e87937 | type |
Tears of Blood | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3e87937 | comment |
Tears of Blood: Flavor two is used for two major scenes: one being the blinding-by-muzzle-flash of Jenny during the restaurant shootout that kicks off the plot, and the other being the death of Ah Jong when he gets shot in the eyes by Wong Hoi. | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f3e87937 | featureApplicability |
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The Killer (1989) / int_f3e87937 | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f4fd424c | type |
All Your Base Are Belong to Us | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f4fd424c | comment |
All Your Base Are Belong to Us: The final showdown has the bad guys launching an assault upon the church that served as Ah Jong's primary place of refuge and peace. And just to drive home the point that the church is no longer a sanctuary for him or Jenny, at one point during the shootout, Paul Yau uses a shotgun to blow the church's centerpiece, the statue of Mary, to smithereens. | |
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The Killer (1989) / int_f4fd424c | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f786350a | type |
Dying Curse | |
The Killer (1989) / int_f786350a | comment |
Dying Curse: Crazy Eddie calls Inspector Li an "asshole", moments before dying of his gunshot wounds in the tram after taking a woman hostage. | |
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The Killer (1989) |
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