when people start think that the united state be the only country with the director that can make the great action flick and they can think again . john woo be basically the james cameron of china . and woo film making skill be on the same level a cameron since he can make film that have great eye candy action and a film that make u identify and care about it character . after see hard boil and i be completely blow away by the awesome gun fight scene that be among the best my eye ever witness . and there plenty of it . the opening scene with the shoot out at the teahouse be remember for when tequila ( yun fat chow ) do a bunch of insane stunt like fire while jump in mid air and when he slide down the staircase handle and shoot the bad guy without get hit . the warehouse betrayal will be know for the bad guy on the motorcycle shoot at the other bad guy and and then and tony and who be really an informant for the police and betray his gun runner bos . and then that when tequila show up and kick a ton of @ $ $ . there even some shot of him shoot at the motorcycle engine and explode them and which be some of the cool stuff i have ever see . and last but not the least and the climatic action scene at the hospital that last for over a half hour and and it display a long continued shot that last for almost 3 minute . and in that shot tequila and tony shoot every bad guy in sight and while talk some emotional line and i have never see such a masterful shot like that until child of men . this movie have everything and grenade and shotgun and machine pistol and an entire arsenal of weapon that be show in the hospital part . and we also have some suspense and emotional to along with the action since the hospital scene be very tense with all the baby in danger when tequila try to save them all while narrowly dodge bullet . and also and the american audience probably like the action because the setting be very different . we do not see an american background or an american city like l. a and but what we see be hong kong . and in the action sequence we see chinese stuff get blow up and like in the teahouse for instance . we saw a bunch of chinese pasta and tea ( of course ) get smash to bit . and it also work cause it very unique compare to the same old american film that we get here in america . the acting also work and yung fat chow and who be basically the chinese schwarzenegger due to his position a an action superstar be absolutely terrific a tequila . tequila be basically a maverick cop whose partner be kill during the teahouse shootout and seek revenge against the triad gang . however his bos be constantly push him over the edge and he have to deal with while disobey order to get to the triad . and his character also deliver one of the most recognizable quote in film history ( youre full of $ h . t and you know that . there a toilet over there . ) i bet that if it be an american film and every person in the united state would be say that in everyday situation and next to hasta la vista and baby and yippie ki yay and motherfker . and tony leung and another hong kong superstar and totally shine a the undercover cop who be infiltrate the gang of weapon smuggler . and his loyalty be test on whether or not he will be loyal to the triad or to the cop . and also and i will remember his character for his face off with that bad guy with eye patch in the hospital ( forget his name ) and and then one scene and they realize there be a bunch of innocent patient and they both choose to let them go so they could finish their fight . but unfortunately the gang leader show up and decides to kill them all and the eye patch guy basically die while stand up for what he believe be right that only the violent people should die . very touching moment . if youre look for a great foreign action film and if youre tire of watch too many hollywood stuff and then hard boil be the film for you . the action be so insane that you will probably see this over a hundred time before you die .