The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon

I've been a fan of Asian movies overall since I'm from the same region so I had my instinct saying to watch this as it would tickle my movie buff in me and it sure did.

The main character is a serial killer. It displays the world of crime and it is thrilling to The movie will keep you guessing from the start to the end. This movie is a story within itself. It starts out on a bang and ends on a bang too.

Acting and the cast has been brilliant on the movie. They have been hard at acting and don't let you down for a second. The soundtracks in the movie are so amazing. I love all of them especially the theme song "The New Creation" by Enno Cheng. Huge shoutout to all the people involved in the movie especially the musical department.

The only thing why i didn't rate it a perfect 10 is due to the fact that they dragged the cult religion segment more than needed. Other than that the movie is 10/10.

This extremely entertaining Taiwanese neo-noir works both as a pitch-black comedy and as a slick action thriller.

Lone hitman Chen Kui-lin, the film's protagonist, enters the scene with swaggering charisma, murders a gangster, then proceeds to daringly escape from policemen through buildings and rooftops. All of this shot with plenty of energy and bravado. And that's just the first 15-20 minutes of the film.

Soon he learns he's got stage four lung cancer, news that, understandably, put him in a depressive mood. But then he finds out he's only the third most wanted criminal in Taiwan, so he sets out to eliminate his competition before time runs out.

The premise is promising and lets you know you're in for some premium east Asian fatalism. You know that mix of melancholy and unpredictable, extreme violence that permeated the works of, say, Kim Jee-woon or Park Hoon-jung? Couple that with some twisted humor and you've got a winner.

In fact, I've mentioned those directors because this film has distinct two halves, and the first one resembles A Bittersweet Life or Night in Paradise somewhat. Until the second hour, it's a crime thriller with bursts of solid action, polished to a fault. Then it turns into a contemplative drama that reveals the film's more spiritual, reflective side. But surprises are still in store for the viewer.

I love tonally uneven genre films and this one sure fits the bill. Some might not like how it swerves into so many directions before settling down, but I felt like it only added to its charm. Director Wong Ching-Po isn't new to this type of film (if you've seen Revenge: A Love Story, you'll have some indication about how this one turned out), and his script extracts some great performances from the actors. Ethan Juan, as a homicidal protagonist, and Yi-wen Chen, very memorable as a spiritual leader, are standouts.

In all, this is a technically polished, fantastically shot and scored crime thriller which offers more than just surface-level genre pleasures. It's also got a deeply cynical worldview and an aura of eccentricism that work in its favor. Big recommendation.

A twisted comedy thriller, starring Ethan Ruan as gangster who discovers he is only the 3rd most wanted in Taiwan. Well, that's no legacy, so he quickly plans to eliminate his competitors for the crown. Structurally this film is all over the place, but who cares? I can't remember the last time I had so much fun watching a movie. Played 100% straight, the astonishing comedy comes from the premise itself. No matter how brutally intense the film becomes, it's all hanging off the most ridiculous plot - turning the relentlessly violent proceedings into pure hilarity.

Some terrific performances from Gingle Wang, Yi-wen Chen, Lee-zen Lee and the ever wonderful Peggy Tseng. But this is Ethan's film and he's as compelling as always.

To those suggesting the film is from mainland China, it's important to clarify that, although I am from mainland China myself, this movie was entirely produced in Taiwan. The title may draw inspiration from a Chinese fable, but the creation is Taiwanese. It's crucial not to misattribute achievements or claim recognition undeservedly. Acknowledging our current position without misleading ourselves is vital. I've observed a significant increase in the quality of Taiwanese TV series and films recently, which meet international standards and indicate a thriving industry. In comparison, the market in mainland China faces different challenges. I greatly respect and admire the Taiwanese film industry for its distinct path and the quality it has achieved.

The storyline is absolutely unbelievable and unrealistic, Taiwanese or not. But what makes this movie entertaining is the fast edits and well paced story which has a new turn every few minutes.

The cinematography is excellent and the direction seems to be on point as well but the dialogues and delivery are also not the best. Acting is fine but also nothing out of the ordinary.

Some scenes are exceptionally well executed and some are utterly bogus. Movie is long and sometimes, by the end, it felt like a drag.

Overall though, it was very entertaining and enjoyable. Sunday evening and you're looking for something easy, fun, forgettable, and not to intellectual to watch, this movie won't disappoint you.