HARDBOILED 2: THE LAST BLOOD isn't actually a sequel to the John Woo movie - it came out two years BEFORE that film. However, it is heavily indebted to the director's THE KILLER, and the hospital set-piece climax may actually have influenced the Woo movie in turn. What is a surprise is that THE LAST BLOOD turns out to be a great addition to the 'heroic bloodshed' genre in itself, featuring fast-paced comedy, lots of snappy dialogue and jokes, and some relentless, high-octane action set-pieces.The villains in the film are simple: a Japanese 'red army' faction, determined to kill a holy man visiting Singapore. The heroes are a mixed bunch, including desperate Triad Andy Lau, whose girlfriend needs a blood transfusion; comic relief Eric Tsang, a blood donor; veteran cop Beardy; plus straight man Alan Tam. The narrative is full of chases, assassination attempts, bloody shoot-outs, and murder, and it never pauses for a second, offering exceptional entertainment value from beginning to end. It might well be Wong Jing's best film...

Watching a Hong-Kong thriller is always a good experience, there's always hope of find a movie that will stick to your memory like did many movies of John Woo or Tsui Hark. The Last Blood is not only a surprising piece of Hong Kong action is also an under seen movie. It is a good time to discover this hidden jewel that could surprise many viewers. Old racks of movie-stores have many unexpected good movies to be found.This movie has a frenetic but clear editing that put it in the same league of classics of John Woo. But anyway, Woo is the master and Wong Jing would be a talented disciple. Jing managed to make The Last Blood is an amazing piece of entertainment with a budget that is far from the standards of Hollywood, something that must be studied by filmmakers who want to shot but don't have the money of a mega-millionaire producer.The level of violence and gore is high, this turn outs to be some of the highlights in the film. The plot is just what one expects from this kind of production. The situations hang between the exaggeration and realism. There's authentic drama (or well focused melodrama), some laughs, interesting characters and enough adrenaline to boost the viewer out of his seat. The relationship between both cops and the common guy who becomes target of the terrorist is handled in a magnificent way. There's space for some reflection in the middle of all the action to focus on important moral matters. All this is quintessential in the good exponents of this genre. Also the characters don't try to be sympathetic to the point of been insufferable. Final notes: Jing tian shi er xiao shi (The Last Blood) was released in the early nineties, a crucial period for HK cinema when it was discovered massively by audiences. This audiences were tired of movies of eighties decadents stars, whose reputations were going down with really lame movies that were mere vehicles for the exploitation of their profiles.

A terrorist group, called The Red Army, want the Daka Lama dead, and they'll do anything to kill him. As he enters the airport in Singapore he is shot down. Also in Singapore is a man and his girlfriend. During the gun battle she is also hit. They are alive but need operations to live. The only problem, they both have a rare blood type. And they need the blood to have the operations, without the operations they will die. To make matters worse only a very few people have this rare blood type in the area. The Police and the woman's boyfriend go looking for the people with the rare blood, hoping to save the Daka Lama and the woman. But the terrorists know this as well and are planning on killing the people with the rare blood type as a way to kill the Daka Lama. The Police must get at least one of the people to the hospital to save the lives of the Lama and the woman. But with the terrorists hell bent on killing the Daka Lama it will be almost impossible to reach the hospital in time. Can they save the day and the lives of two innocent people or will the terrorists get what they want?'Jing Tian Shi er Xiao Shi' is such an action packed movie. It was crazy! But I loved every moment of it. I'm glad I watched it alone because I was constantly screaming at the more tight action parts. If you want an action packed movie, this is it! The stunts are awesome and the movie contains a fantastic car chase. It also throws in some comedy. Though some word of caution for non-regular viewers of Hong Kong action movies: it is rather violent. The film holds a few twists, but most of them you can see coming a mile away. Although this isn't a detractor to the film.I had a great time with this film. The action just kept on coming right up to the crazy finale in a hospital.8/10

This one is no sequel, since it was shot a year before John Woo's breath-taking "tour de force", it just ends in an hospital ; but believe your Phaithful Phrog, it's one of Hong Kong's best, with all the incredible action and beautiful ideas you expect from them - but one or two notches better. The plot's idea - trying to fond a blood donor against a bunch of terrorists - is simple but well-heeded and gives out some brains as well. This ain't got the brains of a Tsui Hark movies or the guts of John Woo, but comes very, very close.