Tiger Cage (1988) Review

“Tiger Cage” Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Yuen Woo Ping
Cast: Jacky Cheung, Carol Cheng, Simon Yam, Donnie Yen, Ng Man Tat, Leung Kar Yan, Irene Wan, Vincent Lyn, Johnny Wang, Stephan Berwick, Michael Woods, Chang Seng Kwong, Chen Jing, Fung Hak On, Lam Wa Fan
Running Time: 89 min.

By Raging Gaijin

This vintage 80’s HK action flick is rather atypical for director Yuen Woo-Ping. It has plenty of martial arts action but it’s set during modern times, not ancient China; and while Woo-Ping has tackled the cops and robbers genre before with the “In the Line of Duty” series, none of those films relied on shoot-outs as much as “Tiger Cage” or were as pressingly dark. This film is violent, brutal, and unforgiving. I dare say that even some of the director’s most ardent fans may not enjoy “Tiger Cage”. It has plenty of phenomenal action sequences and solid acting talent but the story is so nihilistic and bleak that you can’t help but feel like crap after watching it.

The movie opens with a drug-bust that includes one of the best HK-style shoot-outs I’ve ever seen. Yuen Woo-Ping obviously takes a page from John Woo but clearly departs from Woo’s style by not using slow motion and allowing the characters to leave the confines of the warehouse the bust starts in. The shoot-out gets taken to the bustling streets of Hong Kong where cops and Triad members alike climb across neon signs, run through traffic, and dive off of freeway over-passes. It’s incredibly intense and brilliantly directed by Yuen Woo-Ping. We all know he can choreograph martial arts like no one else on the planet but I had no idea he was so adept at gunplay. This scene was easily the highlight of the film for me.

From there, the plot becomes the standard fare of good cop vs. dirty cops. There is no shortage of betrayal, double crosses, or gweilo villains. Jacky Cheung and Donnie Yen play two young officers who become aware of a vast conspiracy within their police unit. In their pursuit of justice, they risk their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Much like “In the Line of Duty IV”, these cops don’t give a crap about Miranda rights or police procedure. If they need to interrogate a suspect, they beat the shit out of him until he talks. Humanitarians may not want to watch this movie, or at the very least cover their eyes during these moments.

I have to admit that in today’s times when everyone seems to think that morality and ethics are all relative and can be manipulated to fit any situation, it’s nice to watch these 80’s cop flicks where right is always right and wrong is always wrong. There was a kid in my sociology class last semester who tried to justify the fact that he had sold drugs in the past because it had been his means of getting the things he wanted in life: new shoes, clothes, a car, etc. Most people in the class seemed to feel sorry for him. Jacky Cheung and Donnie Yen wouldn’t have stood for that shit: when Donnie Yen finds out that his father-like mentor on the force is corrupt, he doesn’t hesitate for a moment to arrest his ass. This kind of righteousness is a rarity nowadays; in this film, it’s a refreshing change of pace. (Okay, sorry for that political tangent)

Unfortunately, so much blood is shed and so many lives are lost that even when the villains are defeated, neither the cops in this film nor the viewer can walk away feeling triumphant. It’s a revenge movie where so much tragedy strikes throughout the length of the story that there’s not any catharsis when vengeance is finally wrought. I love dark and gritty cop films but there is such a thing as being *too* dark: when you rob the movie of any meaning or sentiment. “Full Alert” had a downer ending but it was still satisfying; you felt like there was real growth in Lau Ching Wan’s character and it was an honest expression of emotion. “Tiger Cage” just kind of leaves you feeling empty as it fizzles to its inevitable and bloody conclusion. Add to that a few plot holes (as soon as Jacky Cheung finds out his superior officer is corrupt, he decides to take a day off with his girlfriend and leave his phone off the hook. Huh?!) and I have to deduct some points.

That said, if you’re a fan of Yuen Woo-Ping and you’re in the mood to see something different from this skilled director, then be sure to track down “Tiger Cage”. It has a lot of great action and shoot-outs, as well as likeable characters and solid performances. It’s just not as much fun to watch as “In the Line of Duty IV”.

Raging Gaijin’s Rating: 7/10

By Reefer

Yuen Woo Ping directs this thriller without an ounce of fat on it. From the opening credits to the brutal finale, this movie rolls. The characters, at first, seem under-developed. Yuen uses types: the courageous leader, the impulsive one, the loyal girlfriend, the prankster and the corrupt cop. He takes these character types, turns their world upside down, and then reveals, a little bit at a time, what makes them tick.

Obviously set up the demonstrate the team mentality they share, the movie starts out with a well-staged shootout involving the team and a drug dealer. After narrowly escaping the police, the dealer plots his revenge against the unit’s leader and viscously guns him down in cold blood the night before his wedding. It is during a police-brutality-filled search for the killer that corruption is discovered.

Here is where, as a critic, I am not sure where to tread. You see there is a major twist here early on that I don’t want to give out. Some viewers might see it coming. Some might not. Anyway, it is the acceptance of the major character’s performance, as the movie switches gears, that really drew me into the film. The character I speak of turns out to be the main villain and I gleefully booed him as he continued to set the remainder of this likable cast up for a major fall.

All secrecy aside, Yen has a supporting role in this one and has an another nifty fight scene with Michael Woods. This might even be his best acting performance in a movie next to Iron Monkey. And Jacky Cheung appears to have a lot more kung fu skills than I originally thought.

This is a dark crime thriller with quality acting as it’s strength and is something of a surprise coming from Yuen Woo Ping.

Reefer’s Rating: 7/10