I had the opportunity to sit down to watch the 2017 Hong Kong movie "Paradox" (aka "Saat po long: Taam long") here in 2021. Needless to say that with my fascination and love of the Hong Kong cinema, then I needed no persuasion to do so.

And I must admit that I am glad that I did, because "Paradox" turned out to be a very enjoyable and entertaining movie. The storyline written by Nick Cheuk and Lai-Yin Leung was really good and interesting. The story had be spellbound from the very beginning, and I never lost interest in the movie, nor did it feel like the movie ever lost its speed and momentum. So thumbs up to director Wilson Yip on that account.

The storyline told in "Paradox" is a little bit rough, so it might not be overly suitable for everyone, so viewer discretion should be considered. But trust me, this is a very compelling story, and an entertaining one too. Without giving away anything of the storyline, I can say that it is a movie that deals with kidnapping and organ trafficking.

Now, the storyline is a good combination of genres, that included drama, crime, thriller, action and martial arts. And director Wilson Yip was good at managing to incorporate all the different genres and elements into the blend, making a greatly entertaining movie in the process.

"Paradox" has a rather impressive cast ensemble, with the likes of Louis Koo, Yue Wu, Ka Tung Lam, Tony Jaa and Ken Lo. So if you are familiar with the Hong Kong cinema, then you know you are in for some stellar performances here. And I must say that this 2017 movie has the most amazing performance by Louis Koo that I have ever witnessed; he was nothing short of phenomenal in this movie. Tony Jaa was also in the movie, but as a minor support role only, a shame really, because he is always great in his movies. Now, this movie was the first time I saw Hanna Chan act, and she is definitely an actress worth taking notice of.

Visually then this movie is nice to watch. The action scenes and sequences are vivid and filled with adrenaline, making it feel like you are right there in the chaos. And the dramatic scenes are very nicely set up and executed, making the movie feel very realistic and makes you care about the characters and events.

I found "Paradox" to be a huge surprise of an entertaining movie, and I can warmly recommend that you take the time to sit down to watch this movie if you have the chance. It is really well-worth the time, money and effort.

My rating of the 2017 movie "Paradox" lands on a very well-deserved eight out of ten stars.

Another SPL, even if the english title does not suggest it. Now you may not be too involved when it comes to the story, but the action of the movie is amazing. There are quite some amazing stunts this can boost. It may be mostly predictable with at least one thing/twist most will not expect at all, which is able to break the movie or rather your perception of it - so there is that.

Tony Jaa may be referred as Guest appearance or something along those lines, but he has quite an extended role in the movie. And quite a few stunts to go with that screen time. If you like action movies and don't mind certain flaws the genre generally brings with it, you'll be thoroughly entertained

PARADOX is the third in the series of unconnected 'SPL' movies which began with Donnie Yen's KILL ZONE all those years ago. That remains the best, but there's still plenty of interest to be found here, despite the disjointed nature of the production and the routine storyline. The setting is Thailand, where Hong Kong cop Louis Koo is on the hunt for his kidnapped teenage daughter. A local cop, played by Wu Yue, helps him out. The story is slightly drawn out in the first half but picks up in the second with some strong action scenes courtesy of IP MAN director Wilson Yip and action choreographer Sammo Hung. Tony Jaa plays in support and kicks major backside as usual, although the highlight's an extended knife fight in a factory at the climax, which is both fluid and impressive. PARADOX is no classic, but it's good enough to deliver what's required for action movie lovers and the film's dark heart makes it an intriguing beast.