Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) User Reviews

Could have been epic

[chinchoonleong · 6/10 · 19 May 2024]

Only giving it a 6. Maybe a repeat watch and it will become a 7.

Whole movie feels rush and by the time the movie ends it doesnt feel satisfying.

Could be better if the movie have a longer running time or probably split to 2 part. Too many fight scenes but unfortunately no memorable ones. There should be some tense buildup prior to a fight scene think of SPL Donnie vs Wu Jing at the rooftop or Winter soldier elevator fight.

Cinematography and colorful character is wonderfully done. Raymond Lam is convincing as the hero and much better than his role in New Kungfu Cult Master.

The movie need a prequel to explain on the flashback in depth.

Produced by Hong Kong's finest and rides on 80s sentimentality

[jermint · 7/10 · 18 May 2024]

"Walled In" is adapted from a comic book, and it shows at times with its larger-than-life characters, setting, and seemingly superhuman feats during battle scenes. The Walled City of Kowloon was a real place, running with little government intervention, which adds an aura of mystique and allows for creative liberties.

Stuck in development hell since the 2000s, the studios saw huge potential in this film and bet big on it. They assembled some of Hong Kong's finest crew and production team, even creating a replica of the Walled City for shooting.

The action sequences are fine but not groundbreaking. There are too many quick cuts intended to show the hectic and intense nature of the fights, but this detracts from clarity, unlike the more appreciable choreography seen in "Ip Man."

Louis Koo and Raymond Lam, both veterans of the trade, successfully helm the film. Koo brings an enigmatic and benevolent image, while Lam offers an effortless everyman appeal. The supporting cast does their part well, with Philip Ng being particularly lauded for his rare villainous turn as the nearly unbeatable big bad.

The film seems to suffer from catering to too many characters and their different motivations, resulting in a predictable storyline. However, for kung fu fanatics like myself who enjoy the action as much as the Hong Kong brand of drama that comes with it, this is a long overdue and very welcome dose of ass-kicking goodness. Hopefully, it starts a new wave in the years to come.

Wangjiu is Cheng Zhan son

[xiaohei-80112 · 7/10 · 22 May 2024]

Strong Art and cast but Poor Script. All going downhill when the veteran actor die .the fight get messy ,unlogic at the end , it's kill the excitement that the lead actor had unlimited lives ,and no explanation why the F4 get stronger after fight. Xingyi portrayer is so handsome and charming in this movie.

I still can't believe that Chan Lok Kwun is Cheng Zhan Son. It's should be Wangjiu.he many angles look like Arron kwok.

It's seems that this movie got a meaning to passing torch to younger actor but the script can't put a good development to the 4 young actor. Worth a watch if u don't care Abt the story line.

Old Hong Kong

[ryanmo-35178 · 9/10 · 14 May 2024]

There is a while no watching a HK movie with so many action stars in a movie! The movie is about a place which are so dark and lawless back in 80s of HK. Although i have never been here, i can feel the scenes and places really reflected the place at that time. The story is about the a young man who accidently went inside and was saved by the boss there. However, another gangsters would like to catch him and there is also family issues for all the men involved! There are a lot of brotherhoods and fighting scenes inside. The final big boss is strong as he learnt how to protect all over his body by using "Qi"! So he can easily defeated 4-5 men! However, after overcoming the boss then it is time to destruct the place as the Hong Kong Governement needed to demolish the whole are. Really hoping there is any other story about how to create this place! Waiting for it...

Ruined by countless silly fight scenes

[andy-57995 · 5/10 · 10 May 2024]

I went to the Walled City in 1990 and this film captured the look and atmosphere very well. The story was interesting; some of the characters were nicely developed, and there was no love interest to distract from the plot; in fact, there were very few female characters.

Unfortunately, a significant part of the film was spent in increasingly silly fight scenes but I have never been a fan of kung fu movies. Seeing people leaping 10 metres in the air, performing impossible feats, characters repeatedly coming back from the near dead and then the villain at the end having special powers, making him virtually impossible to destroy, became laughable, tedious and completely ruined the film for me. I accept that sort of thing may well appeal to others.

Kings can be made, but stars cannot

[kingofdadot · 3/10 · 13 May 2024]

This film is trash!

= Cast = It is no secret that Louis Koo is (and has been) trying to pass the torch to the newer generation but this young cast simply wasn't able to carry the movie. I have absolutely nothing personal against Lau Chun-him, but asking him to play a rough-neck / gangster just doesn't cut it. Perhaps he'd be better suited for a gigolo or pimp (aka Goo Yeh Jai) type of role. Pfff~ At this point I wouldn't be surprised to see Keung B (Keung To) play Big Brother B in the next remake of Young and the Dangerous. :scoffs:

In recent years, many on-screen villains elected to follow (or imitate) a psychotic Joker but imho eccentric portrayals/renditions are extremely hard to imitate. For it to work, you'll need to put your own unique spin to it, and that takes a very high caliber actor to pull it off. I am sorry, but Philip Ng has failed. Like they say: often imitated, but never duplicated".

= Visual Effects = The visual effects are very poor. It looked like something that came out of an early 2000s HK movie. The action and the visual effects aren't in sync, and as such don't look/feel natural; the depiction of superhuman feats performed where characters bounce across the screen and smashing into each other during fight scenes really ruined the film for me. It's just awkward! (For a fuller and better description on this point, please read the review titled "Ruined by countless silly fight scenes" by user andy-57995)

= Action & Choreography = Passable at best. In the "Making Of"s I can see that a lot of effort has been put in, but the crappy visual effects killed it.

= Cinematography = I'll give the cinematography a B because it does a good job at setting the tone.

= Story = As other users have indicated, the story was interesting; *some* of the characters are developed nicely and their relationships were well structured. Though, there were no romantic scenes and there are very few memorable interludes. Also, while I know it may sound a tad weird when i say this, but I can't help to mention that this film is missing a rape scene. If you are a fan of this genre in Hong Kong cinema, a rape (or attempted rape) scene is a signature of this genre tracing back to at least the 1970s. Why do I even mention this, you might ask? It's because I feel that it's a travesty that so many reviewers online are saying that this movie brought back old-flick vibes from the golden era of HK cinema. We will never again find certain elements or portrayals incorporated into a HK triad film, simply because the government won't allow it. This is an irrefutable fact. Anyway, I'll leave it at that.

= Other thoughts = · After the clash between Louis Koo and Sammo near the end, the film lost all steam. The final fight scene is fk'n silly, looks goofy and the whole thing is cringy af to be perfectly honest with you. This brings back to my point about the young cast not being able to carry the movie on their own.

· Sammo Hung's still got it. For someone who is 72 yo and needs a cane to walk, he's pretty impressive. They don't call him Dai Gor Dai (Big Brother Big) for nothing.

3/10 is a fair rating!