Watches
March 20, 2024
Danny Pang is the next big Hong Kong director who finds himself caught in the iQiyi tap. While I generally don't mind Chinese streamer filler, established directors (especially those with a history in Hong Kong) seem to struggle more than their younger Chinese counterparts. And Break War is another fitting example.
The Hong Kong police are called in to protect a wealthy businessman. At first, it seems like there's no real case, but then they get wind of a man who considers himself the savior of the common folk. Even though his intentions seem genuine, he is still committing crimes and the police can't let him continue.
Some very familiar faces and a plotline that's pretty popular these days, that's what you're getting. The problem is that Danny Pang's films used to have plenty of flair, and that's exactly what's missing here. Break War plays like a mediocre Hong Kong flick from 15 years ago, which isn't all that terrible, but I expect more from him.