Yen has a couple of awesome fights in this movie, and it's a very, very stylish film. All the action is very enjoyable and yet the film tends to drag when people aren't being kicked. The introduction to the characters is far too brief, and the story becomes confusing quickly.

The story is very derivative stuff but Donnie Yen makes Brazilian jiu-jitsu and muay thai look damn good on screen. This film could serve as an action primer for Hollywood choreographers who can't seem to get it right. There's some absolutely great scenes in this..including a suplex through a table and a triangle choke off a building. There are a few ridiculous gun scenes but overall it manages to stay grounded in reality and avoids excessive wire work.

The plot is totally derivative, but this shines in the presentation of Yen's Sgt. Ma as partially monstrous, tearing through society. His is a brutal, animalistic, intensely angry action, made riveting through excellent choreography and cinematography. Yip knows he's on to something uneasy and affecting, focusing on the gathered crowd as Ma beats a man to death, or having him assault and abduct a man in front of a courthouse. Shame he couldn't figure out interesting ways to get to those points.

Donnie Yen kicking ass as usual, but it's your typical 'police officer killed, im gonna get revenge' flick.

Full points for the last half-hour. Zero points for the rest.

I love Donnie Yen. This is even better than the excellent SPL (Killzone). Donnie is probably the best action choreographer in Hong Kong these days.

Donnie Yen is simply a human wrecking machine. Although the screenplay wasn't that great and it slowed things down the first hour of the film, the last half hour is pure raw action that'll make you crave more. For the action fans only!

A very enjoyable prequel to S.P.L. (Kill Zone in the USA). While it's more of a run of the mill cops and robbers story the action is just as intense and brutal as S.P.L.. Without a doubt a must see if you enjoy kung-fu action flicks.