Imagine CSI crossed with premium martial arts accompanied by mind bogglingly kinetic camerawork and you’re halfway to reviewing this yourself.

The story is a colour by numbers affair but the narrative’s relentless forwards propulsion endears even the most detached fan. Donnie Yen’s unflappable convict provides a strong base for the action to gravitate to, but it’s his choreography that astonishes.

Acting as a Greatest Hits compilation for Hong Kong’s martial arts roots, the action is endlessly enjoyable. However, the stop gaps of dialogue and ‘acting’ leave you longing for the action to simply begin again.

Riotous in the extreme, with a final blockbuster showdown that will impress. Its flaws derive from comparisons to its contemporaries that are now able to deliver much more than simple brawls and zooms.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Donnie Yen, Baoqiang Wang, Charlie Yeung, Siu-Wong Fan

DIRECTOR: Teddy Chan

WRITERS: Teddy Chan, Ho Leung Lau

SYNOPSIS: A martial arts instructor from the police force gets imprisoned after killing a man by accident. But when a vicious killer starts targeting martial arts masters, the instructor offers to help the police in return for his freedom.