This was the first Hong Kong action movie I’d ever seen, and also my first exposure to Yun-Fat Chow. It blew me away. Ultra-violent and stylish, The Killer made violence a beautiful thing, and was an influence on many modern Hollywood action movies, for good or ill. I was particularly struck by the relationship between the cop and the hitman, each finding something to admire in the other and relying on each other to fight their common enemy, and I fell in love with the nightclub singer myself. But the thing that struck me most, more than the amazing fight sequences, was the power of Yun-Fat Chow’s performance. He’s like a hurricane in this movie; no mere hitman, but an unstoppable force. I like the action, sure, especially the scene in the church, but the best part of this movie are the subtleties of Yun-Fat Chow’s performance. He’s awe-inspiring.

My favorite of the John Woo movies that I have seen; though I have not yet seen them all. Chow Yun Fat plays a hitman with a soul. Not unlike the Professional which was another of my favorite movies.