Hong Kong action film “The Siege of Kowloon Walled City” stars veterans like Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Francis Ng, Liu Junqian, and Raymond Lam. The 72-year-old legend Sammo Hung proves he still has what it takes, especially in a hand-to-hand combat scene with Louis Koo that showcases his true martial arts skills.
During filming, when the director called cut, Louis Koo quickly asked, “Are you okay?” Sammo Hung replied, “I’m fine, just a little pain,” displaying his enduring bravery and spirit.
Directed by Derek Kwok, known for “Gallants,” and produced by Alan Mak, the producer of “Infernal Affairs,” and Wilson Yip, the director of “Ip Man,” the movie is an adaptation of the popular Hong Kong comic “Kowloon Walled City.” The announcement that the film has been selected for the Midnight Screening section at the Cannes Film Festival has already brought early success even before its release.
Sammo Hung’s solid martial arts skills have dominated the industry for decades. This time, he plays the role of a villainous boss and still personally engages in fights, including wielding a traditional long staff like demonstrating Shaolin staff techniques. His close combat moves are equally captivating, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Louis Koo, known for his dedication, gives his all in the showdown, delivering powerful blows to Hung’s arm and neck. Whenever the director called cut, Louis Koo immediately showed concern, asking, “Are you okay?” and of course, Sammo Hung was unscathed.
Seeing another big-budget Hong Kong action film in production has Sammo Hung excited. He expressed, “Let’s make a few more, a few more, one is not enough.” He hopes for more opportunities to nurture new action actors.
Among the younger actors collaborating in this project, Sammo Hung specifically mentioned Louis Koo. Koo’s first action film “SPL: Sha Po Lang” was directed by Hung as the action director. Hung admitted, “I was quite worried when we shot ‘SPL’ because we hadn’t worked together before, but after that, no more worries.”
The storyline follows the adventures of Chen Luojun, played by Raymond Lam, a troubled young man chased by a powerful crime boss, portrayed by Sammo Hung. To escape danger, he mistakenly enters the walled city and befriends characters like Xinyi, played by Liu Junqian, forming a bond of brotherhood. With Dragon Twister, played by Louis Koo, as their leader, they unite to resist the invasion of the evil boss, leading to an intense battle where they swear to defend their sanctuary at all costs.