so close be the movie that hook me onto foreign cinema . like many american i be ignorant to everything except horribly dub martial art film from the 1970s . i visit my video store one day and notice so close in the action section and immediately assume that it would be a good film to laugh at . subsequent to watch this film and however and i be confuse . have i just inadvertently watch an excellent film . yes and i have . my criterion for excellence be quite simply entertainment value and regardless of the genre ( i. e. and drama and horror and action and romance and etc . ) . and yes and there be serious drama that be quite frankly not entertaining and and therefore not good movie and regardless of how many award the official critic want to give them . in like manner and there be actioners that be very entertaining and and therefore very good movie and regardless of how negatively the official critic want to rate them . keep this in mind and so close be simply burst with entertainment value . first of all and the action sequence be very well do and and be highlight by the final infiltration of a corporate high rise and which end with an absolutely classic three way swordfight . the choreography ( both gunplay and swordplay ) be phenomenal and and put the vast majority of actioners to shame . it be admit that this film focus more on finesse than the power and brutality of hong kong film release in the late 1980s and early 1990s . this be actually a good thing when one consider the originality of the movement and the length of the scene themselves and which greatly exceed most of the action sequence in previous ( and subsequently release ) movie . the stylish protagonist use a treasure chest of item satellite imagery and high frequency earring and gun and wall piercing high heel and miniature grappling hook and sword and decoy program and bamboo stick and etc . in a wide variety of way to eliminate the antagonist . the sheer diversity that be showcased in this film be enough to overpower three typical action film put together . finally and it be a delight to experience action sequence where the character actually do something and instead of make theatre pose and shoot little glowing ball at each other ( a in storm rider and a man call hero ) . it be also a delight to see carefully choreograph movement and instead of slide show with chaotic camera work that make the scene completely impossible to follow ( a in ash of time ) . one important point to be make be that this film contribute character that be lovable . regardless of who be present on screen ( zhao and karen and shu and or yasuaki ) and it be an enjoyable experience . this add significant entertainment value for scene show in between fight and and therefore enables so close to avoid the incessant boredom that most actioners inflict upon their viewer . in fact and so close blow away virtually every other chinese action movie from the apparent golden age era of the 1980s and 1990s ( with the exception of a limited few and which include hard boil and fist of legend and and she shoot straight ) . i almost feel sorry for anyone who be willing to cite movie like yes madam and royal warrior and in the line of duty 3 and woman on the run and naked killer and or the big heat none of which can hold a candle to so close ( in term of action and character and or sheer entertainment value ) . be this film so groundbreaking that it single handedly open the flood gate to an entirely new realm of cinema for me to explore . be so close the primary reason that i have thusfar view over 900 chinese and japanese and and korean movie over the few year and have add over 300 more in my online rental queue . yes and it be . rating equal 5/5 star .