
I really was surprised abouit this movie. I didn't expect that it would keep me on the edge of my seat. I love Jet Li, and after the movie FEARLESS I was afraid I would never see him again because it was said to be that it was his last martial arts film.
Well..surprise..surprise...
The movie revolves on Japans notorious gangsters the Triads and the Yakuza's. In the middle of it are two FBI agent, Jack Crawford ( Jason Statham) and Tom Lone (Terry Chen). After they have encountered the mysterious Rogue Assasin and actually believing that they killed him, Tom Lone and his family was killed brutally by Rogue, their home was set on fire. Jack, becomes obsessed in killing Rogue to avenge his partner and get even.
After three years of complete disapppearance, Jack discovers that Rogue was back because of his trademark bullets that was made of titanium. Rogue (Jet Li), incites a war between the Triads and Yakuza's for no apparent reasons.Rogue, made it appear that he was working for the Triad, and kills the son-like man in the Triad, through it all, Rogue convinced that it was done by the Yakuza's. So in a tea house the two gangsters battle it out.
Rogue, killed the leader of the Triad, Chang (John Lone), following the orders of the Yakuza's. But Chang had a wife and a daughter, who Rogue didn't kill, which was surprising because he was known to be a merciless killer. By not killing the wife and daughter of Chang, Rogue didn't follow the complete orders of the Yakuza.
Jack, found out that Rogue had a plastic surgery to change his face, by a help of the doctor who performed the surgery. Jack, fortunately got pictures of Rogue killing the Yakuza's assasin and assisting the wife and daughter of Chang to escape. He handed this pictures to Shiro, who was the Yakuza's Leader. Rougue, delivered the golden horses to Shiro, Shiro orders his men to torture Rogue and to let him tell where the wife and daughter of Chang were hiding, little that he know that the golden horses was fake and one of them was actually a bomb. Rogue killed Shiro's men and sets off the bomb. Shiro and Rogue was finally face to face with each other.
Here's the twist...
Shiro, was surprised that Rogue would betray him after all this years, and so he asked why he did this. Rogue said that it was because of a killing Shiro ordered. Shiro wondered and asked which of the many orders was Rogue talking about. It turned out that it was the killing of Tom Lone and his family. Rogue, said that Shiro should have left the wife and daughter of Tom live. Shiro, was confused and surprised on why Rogue would care about Tom Lone and his family. Rogue revealed that he was Tom Lone and the man that the police found in the burned house was actually the true Rogue. And that day when Rogue went to his house and killed his wife and daughter, he fought Rogue and shot it in the face, and burned their house. So that he could avenge his wife and daughter, and by taking the identity of Rogue.
Another twist...
Shiro also confessed that Jack ( Jason Statham) was working for the Yakuza and that he was the one who betrayed him.after learning this Rogue killed Shiro by beheading him and sending his head in a suitcase to his daughter in Japan. Meanwhile, the true Golden horses was sent to the wife and daughter of Chang, enclosed is a letter coming from Rogue that says "Start a new life"
Rogue then called Jack to set up a meeting with him once and for all. Jack brought a sniper man and went to the place Rogue said. There the two battles it out, and at one end when they were face to face with each other. Rogue revealed the truth to Jack. He said that he was his partner Tom Lone and that he survived and killed the real Rogue asssasin. He undergone a facial surgery so that he could fully take the real Rogue's identity and also avenge his wife and daughter. Jack apologizes to him and asks if he could forgive him , he said that he only knew that the Yakuza would teach Tom a lesson but not kill his wife and daughter. Lone then says that Tom Lone is dead and that he is now Rogue. The Sniper man attempted to shoot Rogue but Jack jumps in the way, and Rogue shots him in the back killing him.
I was really happy with the story. I really like stories with a twist. And I love Jet Li. Jet Li rules, I love the way he likes to experiment his character in every movie. He doen't like being typecasted as only the Good Guy. Which is really what makes a great actor.