Red Pirate

There are definite rough edges all throughout these ninety minutes of which one should be keenly aware - not abject flaws per se, but certainly factors that make for a more uneven viewing experience. Even recognizing that the copy I was able to watch reflected a bad transfer, presumably from a bootleg VHS at that, it seems readily apparent that the production values for this 1997 picture were less than stellar. The editing is curt and overly excitable; there are times when the cinematography feels altogether amateurish. Some of the music composed for the soundtrack is baseline serviceable, but other themes simply raise a skeptical eyebrow for how ill-fitting they are, or meager and undeveloped. This is to say nothing of curiously simplified dialogue (even making allowances for the difficulty of translating Mandarin or Cantonese to English), or scene and narrative writing that are not always very good about establishing who characters are, what the setting is, or even the precise course of events. Worst of all may be direction that's emphatically forced and brusque in every capacity, often demanding the same of the cast in turn. With all this firmly in mind there are already distinct upper limits on 'Red Pirate' before it has scarcely begun, and the issues that present so quickly will not go away.

On the other hand, more than could even be said of many similar titles coming out of eastern and southeastern Asia, this is a movie built with only one thing in mind. All those facets that demonstrate weakness, or less than judicious care, took an obvious, distant backseat to the intent of making this a fast-paced action flick. While troubled in the details, in broad strokes the writing is serviceable, laying out a story of a vast criminal enterprise, abductions that spur the brunt of the plot, and an alliance of forces that set out to bring down the title character and his syndicate. It's just that between the writing and direction, the feature takes every available opportunity to insert another action sequence into the proceedings. Once one recognizes this thrust - and it absolutely does not take long - it becomes a little easier to just sit back and enjoy the ride for what it is. In fairness, let there be no doubt that the many, many stunts and effects are outstanding, benefiting from the lion's share of the budget and the best efforts of the filmmakers. Whether a scene involves martial arts and melee combat or gunfights and explosives, the coordination and choreography of all the violence is superb, ably providing the desired thrills and excitement. 'Red Pirate' may be fairly single-minded, but it pulls out all the stops to meet its goal.

And for what it's worth, despite the rough edges that characterize the viewing experience from top to bottom, overall the film is still more well made than not. The filming locations are splendid, and the production design and art direction are solid. The sets, costume design, hair, and makeup are all marked with detail and a certain measure of finesse, and the production also had a large number and variety of vehicles at its disposal. Some small moments to greet us at one point or another reflect a tinge of cleverness exceeding the general scope of what the picture gives us. And while the cast is constrained by the undeniable coarseness of the direction, through that veneer one can nevertheless see glimmers of the skill the actors possess. None of this is to say that 'Red Pirate' is perfect or essential even at its best; it is plagued with deficiencies and shortcomings that color it as being no more than a second-tier action flick, and even that might be a generous assessment. Just as much to the point, the most substantial selling point, especially in 2023, may be as a bit of a curiosity, and as one of the few movies made by Ke Huy Quan between his brief stardom as a child actor and his astounding comeback in 'Everything everywhere all at once.' Yet provided one is able and willing to abide the faults with which this is so plainly saddled, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't entertaining and duly satisfying.

To some degree I'm taken aback by just how rough the construction is here; had a more delicate hand and mindful approach been applied in all the necessary ways, the end result would unquestionably have come off better, and be recognized and remembered more today. All the same, I can't say that I didn't get exactly what I came for, and it bears repeating that even at their most grandiose (that is to say, the drawn out and bombastic climax), the action scenes are fantastic and invigorating. A lot of care did go into this feature, after all - only, that care was limited to very particular areas, when all others needed it just as much. For whatever problems this carries, it has no illusions about what it is, and it is, ultimately a pretty good time. Even if one is a huge fan of someone involved or comparable titles I don't think this is something one needs to go out of their way to see. Warts and all, however, 'Red Pirate' remains highly enjoyable when all is said and done, and is still a fine credit to those who participated. If you do have the chance to watch and don't mind the far less than pristine presentation, this is worth checking out as far as I'm concerned.