Release Year: 2001

Some of the more eccentric moments do inspire a wry smile, but nothing to fully salvage the end product.

This is a slickly made thriller that achieves most of the objectives it sets out to accomplish.

For the first and last 30 minutes I was truly impressed, and loved every minute although there was a short sag in the middle.

I only recommend ‘Shadow Fury’ to Alpha Stunts completists like me, as although the infrequent fight scenes are fun to watch, the rest of the running time drags along too painfully for most.

As is often the case with Chow’s movies, what really sets it apart from other outings in the genre is the inclusion of a heartfelt story.

Humour, heart and high-level animation all combine to make ‘Spirited Away’ an overwhelmingly rewarding and endlessly magical experience.

Alan Mak’s uninvolving film lacks a real narrative hook and an empathetic romance, but most of all it lacks the needed sentiment that covers a multitude of cinematic sins.

If you want to see simple but effective story telling, characters you could easily bump into in the street and three of Korea’s best young actresses then just ‘Take Care Of My Cat’ for a few hours.

If you are a big Chan fan, then you will undoubtedly want to own this movie, as will anyone who wants more than just action.

If you expect a beautiful style over substance film then it will entertain you, and in my eyes it is an improvement over ‘Storm Riders’.

Unfortunately for the prospective viewer, the film never reaches beyond the interest of the synopsis and ends a somewhat dull piece entertainment.

It has its faults and no-one could call it the greatest movie ever made. Importantly though, this is a fabulous example of how a combination of technology and innovation can still wow the jaded viewer.