HONG KONG 97 Anne Bialecki (AKA RPcrazy) Starring: Robert Patrick, Ming-Na Wen, Brion James, Tim Thomerson, Andrew Divoff I've died and gone to heaven - Robert Patrick is truly an angelic assassin in this movie. ** Warning - Excessive drooling could short out your VCR ** RATINGS RP droolabilty 10 a definite 10 - maybe a 100 The shirt off factor, 10 Get me an ambulance Spine-tingling looks, 10 I can just bathe in those looks! Presence in movie 10 Top billing Gravely voice factor 10 The way he talks to Katie - ahhhhhhhh, have to get medication quickly! Swear-o-meter 3 Only 3 cuss words by RP - * pats him on the back * SYNOPSIS The cover says, "99 years of British rule are about to come to an end... Hong Kong will never be the same." Reginald Cameron (Robert Patrick) is an assassin who receives orders to kill a high ranking mainland Chinese General on the eve of Hong Kong reverting to Chinese rule. After the shooting he finds out that his boss hadn't sanctioned the order. He had been set up. With a $10m bounty on his head he must try to escape Hong Kong before midnight. However, this is no easy feat. There are obstacles in his way such as Triad gunmen, the Chinese Red Army and his own corporate bosses. He seeks escape assistance from his friends Simon Alexander (Brion James), Jack McGraw (Tim Thomerson) and his ex-girlfriend (fiancé)* Katie (Ming-Na Wen). MY THOUGHTS My first time encounter with this movie was the trailer. I remember thinking to myself that I didn't want to see this movie - too much shooting and violence. I'd bled the local Blockbuster dry with its RP movies and HK '97 was still there burning a hole on the shelf. I relented. I watched and thought the script and story were awful and the characters wooden. Our beloved definitely shone out with his acting. I watched it again the next day and enjoyed it more. It's definitely a movie that improves with repeated watching. Meanwhile about 10 times later I need an ambulance to be on hand just in case I keel over from high blood pressure. RP's involvement - You got all day? THERE IS A GOD!!! Robert Patrick is extremely gorgeous in this movie. I hear you saying, 'He's an assassin - what's so wonderful about that?' Oh, but he's such a strong, sexy, sweet, luscious, charming, gentle, intoxicating, lovable... (Someone stop me quickly before I explode of an adjective overdose), drop-dead- handsome-beyond-belief killer. We see RP in practically every scene in this movie and my jaw is permanently open watching him - the drool bucket has to be primed and ready before each viewing. His clothes - what can I say. He wears a tuxedo as he goes across to the Jumbo Restaurant to assassinate the General. He wears a suit and a very flattering long overcoat for many scenes. After all, the story is set in a day. Yes, ladies there's a white T-shirt scene. His hair - is adorable even when he's involved in all that gun fighting. I want to just 'touch' it and run my fingers through it. His facial expressions are so sweet especially the way he looks at Katie. I want him to look like that at me. Reg and Katie both obviously still love each other but she's kicked him out of her life because of his profession. Those eyes - so many melting scenes - The body - Within the first 10 minutes there is a to- die-for love scene and a gunfight where we actually get see RP naked. What a great body, and that butt! This is too much - I'm about to keel over. Doctor? MEMORABLE RP LINES Katie's Grandpa directed to Reg , "How's the business?" Reg,, "Knocking them dead." ________________________ Looking at Reg's bank account. Simon, "Christ Reg, is that all? Reg, "I've had a few good years." ________________________ Jack, "You're a fu**ing assassin!" Reg, " I do my job just like you and I'm very good at it." Reg, "It's not my decision who lives or dies. I take pride in my work." Jack, " I can't believe you didn't tell me what you do." Reg, " What did you expect me to say, "Hey, Jack, we're going on a trip to Kuala Lumpur. On Sunday I have to kill an ambassador but I'll leave Saturday open so we can see some temples." MEMORABLE SCENES * The TUX - woah! * The Chinese bath scene * Reg being pummelled by Katie * RP ducking down in the phone booth * Katie watching the passionate kiss between Reg and Li. * The way Katie gently touches Reg's face in one scene * The ending - no spoilers! NOTES My brother actually lives in HK. He was there at the '97 changeover - no problems. I was in HK last December and took a photo of an exact scene from the movie - a view from Victoria Peak. I bought the HK video online. When it looked as though it was lost in the post I ordered another. They both arrived on the same day - spooky. I'm wondering whether Reg had actually been engaged to Katie. Grandpa says in one scene, "How's my ex- future son-in-law." On the cover it says 'girlfriend'. In my copy the original love scene has been cut by about half. I really would love the DVD but haven't seen it anywhere. END THOUGHTS Hey all you RP fans - if you hear anyone say this movie is cr** I give you permission to kick their a**. This movie gets better with each viewing and RP is hotter and hotter each time. I'm about to burn up with excessive HK '97 watching. Still looking for the DVD version.