This movie is absolutely gripping from beginning to end. Chow Yun Fat is magnificent as always, Cecilia Yip is appropriately dramatic without being annoying, and the storyline is engaging. The fight scenes are more stylistic than the ultra-violent bloodfests in his Woo films, but they don't lose any impact for the stylism. There are certain images and scenes in this movie that will really stand out when you watch it, and Chow Yun Fat's amazing ability to convey a character's entire past with one silent glare is on full display. The splice scenes at the end, which reference the beginning, are masterfully done and heighten the climax of the movie, keeping a sense of tension throughout the last half hour that does not let you go before the credits roll. I wish the climactic fight scene had not been so blurred and hyper-distorted, but that's because I'm a huge fan of Chow Yun Fat's gun-fu acrobatics and this just wasn't the movie for that. In general, Peace Hotel had more drama and better acting (plus a better script) than I expected, and in many ways is more brutal than one of his Woo films even though Woo's buckets of blood aren't on display here. The brutality is more up-close and personal, and thus it seems to hit harder and stay with you longer. This is definitely one to own if you're a Chow Yun Fat fan.
Review of Peace Hotel
