Lifeline | 1997, Hong Kong | Shaw Bros. | Johnnie To, Lau Ching Wan

[Futurhythm]

Lifeline
1997
Director: Johnnie To
Starring: Lau Ching Wan, Alex Fong (not the big-nosed guy who used to be a swimmer)

Release: 18 August 2015
IVL

Yesasia


The next batch of Shaw Bros. Hong Kong Blu-rays are coming. This time it looks like they're targeting the local market with the Stephen Chow classic, Justice, My Foot!, and the firemen drama, Lifeline, both directed by Johnnie To. Of course, they could also be cashing in on To's upcoming movie, Office, which is out next month.

I assume the Hong Kong firemen drama boom in 2013 with Out of Inferno and As the Light Goes Out owes its existence to this movie. I honestly thought As the Light Goes Out was gonna be a remake when it was first announced. Anyway, for anybody thinking this is Hong Kong's answer to Backdraft, think again, because you're only kind of right. It's a very perculiar movie in my opinion, and doesn't really have an overarching plot. It's more like a series of episodes in the life of a group of firemen.

More Johnnie To, Shaw Bros., and Hong Kong classics on Blu-ray can only be a good thing in my opinion. Keep 'em comin'!