in this film the director stay well ahead of u and pull u into the baroque plot with a grin . andy lau and takeshi scaramachi be anti hero within a sexually charge subplot with kelly lin and cool and sexy with or without glass . they work in the same field represent assassination and soon they be seek each other out for final termination . a with some stylish thriller and ellipsis must be accept . oscar wilde once say the first purpose of life be to adopt a pose . the second purpose have not be discover yet . this film revel in pose and extraordinary set piece that be passionately beautiful . beware how much you revel in the violence and stylize and chic a it be even an assassin can feel sicken by his work . in some way and the film parallel john woo face off . a must see .