1990s action flick aesthetic? Check.
Over-the-top kung fu violence? Check.
Kick-ass ladies fighting demons? Check.
The Heroic Trio ticks all the boxes for lovers of cheesy action movies, myself included.
Directed by Johnnie To, The Heroic Trio (Called The Three Heroines from the East in Hong Kong) is as cheesy as they come. In fact, it is so cheesy that it transcends cheesiness. It really is so bad that it’s good.
The Heroic Trio is the second film in the OzAsia Festival’s film series The Good, The Sometimes Bad and the Never Ugly Action Women of Hong Kong, and unlike Raining in the Mountain, this flick is all about the girls.
Three heroines, Wonder Woman (Anita Mui), Invisible Woman (Michelle Yeoh) and Thief Catcher Chat (Maggie Cheung) must do battle against the forces of evil and each other when babies begin to go missing. Other than that, there’s not much else to say in the way of plot.
This film moves along at break-neck speed. It never lets up the assault on the senses, hitting you time and time again with crazy martial arts, brutal gore and even goofy comedy at some points. As such, it does not run for an awfully long time. I’m not sure anyone could last more than an hour and a half watching this movie. You begin to grow accustomed to the wackiness until nothing shocks you anymore.
But The Heroic Trio is definitely not lacking in wackiness. In this world, motorbikes can defy the laws of gravity and the devil lives in a methane-filled sewer beneath Hong Kong. It is a mash-up of various genres and action tropes, including the superhero, exploitation cinema and supernatural thriller genres. These elements come together really well to create a unique and memorable film.
Being made in the early 90s, the filmmakers had to rely on practical effects rather than computer graphics. I think there’s something special about using animatronics (robotic puppets, basically), stop-motion animation and similar techniques. It makes the movie seem a lot more connected to reality than any other film that relies too much on CGI. Well, “connected to reality” is probably a poor choice of words for this film, but The Heroic Trio would not be the same if it were made today. The sometimes-poorly-produced practical effects and ridiculous stunts make the film an absolute blast to watch, even if it does make it hard to take it seriously.
This movie also features a great soundtrack, great costumes and great characters. Thief Catcher Chat, the shotgun-wielding heroine, is by far my favourite. I also appreciate it for the fact it does not shy away from the gruesome or vulgar, instead exploiting these elements to their full.
The Heroic Trio is not a family film. It’s a ridiculously cheesy action romp for you and your friends to laugh and cheer through. It is a true Hong Kong classic and one that definitely deserved its place in The Action Women of Hong Kong.
Reviewed by James Rudd
Rating out of 10: 8
OzAsia on Screen – The Heroic Trio
When: season ended
Where: Mercury Cinema, Lion Arts Centre, 13 Morphett Street, Adelaide
OzAsia on Screen runs exclusively at the Mercury Cinema from 3-20 September 2014 as part of the broader OzAsia Festival.
More News
