Protege (2007)

Every Chinese new year, there will be a torrent of movies cashing in on the festive season. With stars like Andy Lau, Daniel Wu and Louis Koo at its helm, its no surprise that Protege is a leading picture for the coveted red packet.

The theme of the movie, however, clashes with the joyous mood of the new year. Protege is about drugs; something you will not associate with the new year. The story evolves around an undercover, Nick, (Daniel Wu), who was sent to infiltrate Kwan (Andy Lau), the kingpin of the drugs industry in Hong Kong. It sounds familiar isn't it? It is easy to mistake Protege as another Infernal Affairs, but the focus of this film is not on the undercover but on drugs.

The effort director (Yee Tung Shing) puts in is for all to see. Through this film, we can understand the process of manufacturing the drugs and their different names.Be prepared to be amaze by the lingo used in the picture. It gets a bit documented at times, especially the part when Kwan and Nick visit the Golden Triangle. Surprisingly the rating for this movie is only NC16 and not M18, it might be due to the fact that it is here to educate not corrupt.

Not only do we know more about the drugs industry, the ill effects of drugs are shown in a straightforward and strange way. The demented performance by drug addict, Jane (Zhang Jing Chu), puts a touch of horror into the show. Not as queasy as Requiem for a Dream, definitely, but Protege still succeeded in injecting the fear in you. Safe performances by the other actors, nothing stellar and out of this world.

The last scene, though i thought was a tad disturbing, epitomizes the entire show. Because in times of adversity and misdirection, hope still prevails.

3.5
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The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Me Oscar, no?

There was a movement in the shadows. I could not make out what it is. I began to make full use of my under used imagination. A bear? It must be. Those big arms, black fur and the imposing figure. As i inched closer, with my already small eyes in Sandy Lam mode, i gasped at what i had just seen. The figure was Forest Whitaker?

No offence to Mr. Whitaker. That was a reference to his character in his new movie, The Last King of Scotland. Whitaker stars as Idi Amin, a real figure back in war torn Uganda back in the 70s. Amin was a tyrant, a cannibal, but albeit all these, he was a passionate and an amazingly good speaker. Think among the lines of a certain German warlord. Amin could command you to dig out the last bit of popcorn you have just eaten if he wanted to. And you will be too hypnotized to think twice before plunging your fingers into your throat.

Whitaker is like an exact carbon copy of Amin. If there was email back in Uganda then, you might want to send an email to Amin and cc it to Whitaker, or vice versa. Just in case, you see. You don’t want to be at the receiving end of their bear hugs.

The ferocity of Whitaker made me nearly peed in my pants when I saw it last week. Why the late entry then? Well, as a matter of fact, I’m worried that what I write will provoke Amin. I don’t want to be balanced by 2 hooks pierce across my chest you know? Oh no, is it Amin or Whitaker?

With the Golden Globes already in his captive, I can easily see the golden little statue joining Golden Globes inside the cell. Give that man the Oscar, you don’t want to be in the bad book of the last king of Scotland.

4
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