So Close êêê1/2

( Not Rated but roughly equivalent to an R)

Reviewed By Vittorio J. Carli

Director: Corey Yuen

"So Close" is a far-fetched but engaging martial arts thriller about a police officer on the trail of two sympathetic assassins. The film is chock full of exhilarating martial arts duels and trick camera angles. It's been compared to "Charlie's Angels" because of the female martial arts scenes, but this film has much more style, brains and rip-roaring action.

Lynn (Shu Qi) is a beautiful, tech savvy female assassin who has quickly risen in the Hong Kong underworld. She uses her first class martial art skills and the latest technology (such as cutting edge cameras and computer software) to elude the dim-witted police. She is fond of dispatching her targets in creative and unconventional ways. In one scene, Lynn tricks a man into wearing glasses that spray cyanide. Her loyal sister, Sue (Zhao Wei), helps her out but she is slightly less skillful, resourceful and clever.

But Lynn meets her match in the gutsy police officer, Kong Yat Hong (Karen Mok). Assisted by her merely competent partner, Mark, Kong occasionally flirts with him but he is a bit too passive and down to earth to attract her.

Kong has several exciting kung fu battles with Lynn, and she comes to respect her rival's resolve and skill. It becomes increasingly clear that there is a physical attraction between the two women (their passion for each other is expressed in battles rather than love making scenes). Lynn even sends gifts to Karen at the police station as if she were a suitor. As the bond between them grows, Lynn begins to question the morality of her profession. After a great tragedy, Kong must join forces with one of her enemies against a common foe.

The director, Corey Yuen, was the fight co-coordinator/ choreographer on "Romeo Must Die," "Kiss of the Dragon," and "Cradle 2 the Grave." But none of those uneven films can match this in terms of style and overall quality.

Shu Qi co-starred with Jackie Chan in "Gorgeous," and Karen Mok starred in the exquisitely photographed, Wong Kar-Wai film, "Fallen Angels." Most of the other cast members will probably be unfamiliar to American audiences.

The story line gets a bit muddled and convoluted, but the action scenes are so breathtakingly convincing that the viewer will probably not care.

The film is not profound or poetic like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," but the action scenes compare favorably with the ones in the Oscar winner.

Shu Qi	Karen Mok
Zhao Wei	Seoung-Heon Song