“Running on Karma” Japanese Theatrical Poster
Director: Johnnie To
Co-director: Wai Ka Fai
Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Cecilia Cheung, Cheung Siu Fai, Karen Tong Bo Yue, Chun Wong
Running Time: 93 min.
By Equinox21
Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai’s Running on Karma is one of the strangest yet ultimately fulfilling Hong Kong movies I’ve ever seen. It’s a difficult movie to explain as so much happens in a 90 minute package. The direction the movie seems to be going in comes to a conclusion about half way through, with the remaining time dealing with the TRUE story, which is one man’s struggle with who he is and what he’s become.
After his best friend, Jade, was killed by Sun Ko five years ago, Buddhist monk Big (Andy Lau in a muscle suit) flew into a rage, swinging his staff at the leaves on a tree and inadvertently killing a sparrow. He immediately sat down in front of the dead sparrow and meditated for 7 days. When he finally got up, he stripped off his clothes and gave up his life as a monk. He had developed a new gift, that of seeing people’s karma; the way they lived in a previous life, which, in turn, determines how they will die in this life. When the movie picks up, Big is in Hong Kong working as a stripper where he becomes involved with a cop, Yee (Cecilia Cheung). He decides to help her in order to prevent a police officer on her force from dying, because he’s seen the karma and realizes that the person is in danger. From here it progresses through Big and Yee’s relationship, and through Big’s struggle between doing what’s right vs. the inability to change the inevitable.
Running on Karma is, simply put, strange. If you can buy the fact that a muscle bound former monk can see people’s past lives, then you can buy the fact that his martial arts abilities (and those of some of the criminals in the movie) are supernatural; similar to those seen in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, where people are running on air and climbing up walls. All this set against modern Hong Kong makes for very strange bed fellows.
The acting is fine from all the players. Especially noteworthy is Andy during the scene in which he tries to ride Yee’s scooter (quite a funny scene, actually, aided by Andy’s acting completely useless on the bike). Cecilia Cheung wasn’t bad, and was thankfully wearing long sleeves through most of the movie to cover her emaciated look.
The whole of this movie wasn’t as dark and serious as I thought it might be, nor was it as light hearted as it could have been; however, there were scenes that were at both ends of the spectrum (both light hearted/funny and dark/disturbing). I’m almost afraid to give this a rating, because it simply can’t be compared to any other movie I’ve ever seen. It was good, but how do I think of a score when I can’t judge it against other films? Regardless, I recommend this movie. Even though it’s quite strange, it’s a good watch… especially if you like seeing Andy Lau’s bare muscle suited ass constantly on display.
Equinox21’s Rating: 7.5/10 (but I have to watch it again, maybe that will change my score)
