Before I even say anything, this video almost hits the 20 minute mark. Yeah, it’s really long, so sorry in advance. Oh, and think I messed up my hair, it’s supposed to look different. I’ll get the hang of it though. Enjoy!
Dante Lam is known for creating powerful stories with strong characters that leave a lasting impact on audiences. The Viral Factor focuses on the story of 2 brothers that are on opposite sides of the law. Would Lam be able to bring something new to the tired genre while getting the most out of Tse and Chou, or would this movie fall short of its mark?
The Viral Factor’s story is basic enough. While some setpieces are a little too coincidental, I felt like a lot of care went into making sure things didn’t happen just because certain characters needed to meet. The film doesn’t do anything to break any molds, which is a shame since Lam has created some truly gripping stories before. When compared to his other films, the story in the Viral Factor is lacking, but still gets the job done for an explosive action film.
What makes the story so great is how believable the characters are. Things don’t always wrap up nicely when it comes to family affairs, and the reason why the brothers are separated is grounded in reality enough to seem logical. However, this seems to only extend to Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse’s characters. There are several other characters whose motives are simply ignored. For example, there are some characters that are not “good” and the film tells you as much, but never why they can’t be trusted. It feels like a missed opportunity for even deeper characters for a richer story.
Action/Choreography
I was looking forward to the action sequences in the Viral Factor, and I’m happy with the result that I got. While I personally would have wanted more fight choreography, the pacing of the fights along with the shootouts and explosions are sure to satisfy those that want a solid action film. Andy On plays a great villain once again, though he didn’t get much time to showcase his talents as a fighter.
Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou exchange blows from time to time, and it’s very apparent that they both know what they are doing. Chou’s action in the Viral Factor far surpasses what he did in the Green Hornet, and I’m glad that I don’t have such a negative image of him anymore. I would like to point out that I’m a little tired of seeing people get suplexed through things though. It was cool in Flash Point, but now everybody does it.
Own it, Watch it, Skip it?
The Viral Factor suffers because there was so much more that could have been done with the story. Chou and Tse played their roles well and the action is solid, but deeper characters and less linear plot would have made this film superb. This isn’t Dante Lam’s best film, but it isn’t a waste of time either. If you want to see a good action film or see what Jay Chou can do with a good character, you should definitely check out the Viral Factor.
Well, it’s a new week and time for more info on the Viral Factor. To be honest, I’m writing about this because it gives me some hope for other movies to come to the states.
The Viral Factor was a limited release for the US, yet it managed to snag the 4th spot for profit on on-studio box office charts for the region. In fact, Variety states that the Viral Factor was the only Chinese-language movie to be included in the top 5 films for box office revenue by a non-studio for that week.
While it’s not the most impressive news, I do feel like this might catch the attention of other companies looking to localize Chinese (or foreign) films in the US. Maybe I’m being too hopeful, but with movies like this and The Raid coming soon, maybe we’ll see these films cross the ocean much faster.
What do you guys think? Do you think the Viral Factor has helped make it easier for other films to get a limited release?
Just because the Viral Factor is out now doesn’t mean that the marketing has stopped for the film. In fact, an even more intense trailer has hit the net. While most of the footage is the same, we get to see some hand-to-hand combat in this one, which is a welcome addition.
I’ve kept myself from reading too many reviews, but they are coming out now for those that are interested. From what I’ve heard, the story isn’t as strong, but the action is still very satisfying. I wish I could see this one in theaters, but I’ll have to wait for it to come out on DVD or Blu-Ray before I can give my official response on it. If you’ve seen the movie, I’d love to hear what you thought of it.
So I actually waited to post some stuff on the Viral Factor, but a lot of media has come out to promote the film. Linked below is a new video clip that has been released, showing some of the more explosive elements of the movie. I wish there was some fighting, but I guess you can’t always get what you want.
Twitch also found a few short US TV Spots, which don’t show anything new but remind us that it is indeed coming to the states.
Now, I am slightly curious as to why it says it will be playing in AMC theaters, as I heard it was just select cities. I still think this is the case, which sucks because it’s not showing anywhere near me. Still, I’m really eager to get my hands on this movie and see if it lives up to the hype.
Also, it was 36 degrees when I filmed, so sorry for the shaky cam and reddening of my face.That being said, I just really wanted to wear that Karate Kid shirt cause it’s awesome!
So, in a relatively strange turn of luck, it seems that those that live in the states will be able to see the Viral Factor on the same day it released in China. Yup, there is a limited screening for the movie that is set for January 20th. Director Dante Lam spoke about his excitement to see his film make it to US screens:
“I am very happy because usually it would only be released on video. This time it is an official theatrical release!”
The Viral Factor appears to only be playing at 100 theaters, and I’ve got the official list here:
Yup, I’m out of luck. Let me know if any of you guy are lucky enough to see it and what you think of it. And, for those of you that haven’t seen it yet, here is the US trailer for the Viral Factor:
