4/5 A uniquely Chinese-focused American movie.
  by Andrew C. (State College PA)
This film seems to better represent the Chinese, Chow Yun Fat especially, in American film. Recent efforts by HK film stars have resulted in the terrible stereotyping that always takes place in Hollywood. Rushhour and Lethal Weapon 4 both made objects of their Chinese stars, Chan and Li, respectively. The Corruptor shows the respect neccesary of an actor like Chow Yun Fat, one of the finest and most prolific actors that has ever lived. It deals with the Chinese in a more mature way, almost as if previous knowledge is helpful in fully understanding the movie. The only problem with this movie is that Fat is better than it. No one can expect Foley to provide the action neccesary to impress an American audience that knows Fat, but in American action standards he does fine. The opening to the film is a very intense shoot-out in a Chinese lamp shop and later in the film a Chinese song is actually played as the prominent background music. The film's mood is dark and dramatic. A very well done film.

4/5 Wow!
  by Nichomachus
I was really surprised by how good this movie is. I figured a straight-forward shoot-'em-up and some exotic intrigue was about all it would have going for it. The cover had the usual fatuous nonsense on it: "You can't play by the rules when there aren't any." Why is it 90% of video covers have a reformulation of the same stupid subtitle? Apparently there is some lucky guy out there is employed writing new, yet indistinguishable ways to either deny the existence of Rules/Boundaries/etc. or at least deny their applicability to some beautiful, well-armed people. Good for him.

Anyway, this movie definitely exceeded my expectations. Great direction, but most of all great performances from Chow-Yun Fat and Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg's relationship with his father was fairly cliched, yet it still came across as believable. The various moral predicaments of the two cops were just as interesting and well-done as the fight scenes. There is one major chase scene, which I found silly after a while, since it gave the impression that there were absolutely no other police cars within ten miles of some maniac with an Uzi blowing away civilians.

But that is a nothing criticism. Really, the only sore spot was the FBI goonish guy, who was both tiresome and one-dimensional in comparison with the other characters. But on the main, an excellent action-thriller. Chow-Yun Fat wasn't limited by John Woo's formula this time around, and his chops definitel show as a result.

5/5 Chow Yun Fat's REAL US debut!!!
  by tin2x (Staten Island, NY USA)
"The Replacement Killers" was terrible. It was like a Chow Yun Fat/John Woo movie by numbers and poses. Nothing to speak of in terms of storyline or compelling characters (apart from Chow's) that his best known HK work featured. This movie however features Chow Yun Fat as the sort of conflicted yet ultimately principled man he should play, but with tons of intrigue and a good performane by Mark Wahlberg as a rookie under Chow's wing. It's not very "Hollywood" which is a good thing. It definitely has a feeling closer to a foreign film and that is very welcome. This doesn't have as much action as "The Killer" or "The Replacement Killers" but it had a solid storyline. Hopefully with the success of the phenomenal "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Chow Yun Fat's other movies will get the look they deserve. This man shines whenever he's on the screen. He saved "Anna & The King" as well. I forgot to mention that for once New Line has SOME additional features, and they interesting.

4/5 Gripping Cop Flick
  by David Baldwin (Philadelphia,PA USA)
"The Corruptor" is a tough complex crime thriller set among the vicious power grabs by competing tribes in New York's Chinatown. Out to bring them down is decorated detective Nick Chen(Chow Yun-Fat), head of the Chinatown Gang Unit, and the partner that was foisted on him, the apparently green officer Danny Wallace(Mark Wahlberg). Chen is an effective cop but some of his methods are a little unorthodox and occasionally skirt the law. This does not always go over well with the more idealistic Wallace. Yun-Fat is excellent as the tarnished hero and Wahlberg is solid in a role that is not as stereotypical as it first appears. Ric Young is effectively creepy and villainous as the duplicitous gang leader Henry Lee. The film has many plot strands to it and may appear at some junctures to be overplotted. Never fear because these elements come together in the end for a satisfying experience.

5/5 If all bad cops could be this good!
  by Lorraine D. Buskey (Anchorage, Alaska USA)
I loved the confrantation that Danny Wallace had with his dad about the contemplation of what to do about turning in his partner Nick Chen .. I won't spoil the quote you have to take it in context of the scenario of the movie. What an impact it made in my life that what I do in my life will be what I live with. I don't know if I over looked the goings on with Nick Chen because after all he was Yun-Fat Chow or that his over looking Uncle Benny's activities was some how a kindness to help May a lost drug addict and prostitute unable to escape her fate he tries to be more then a cop in her heart. The entire movie was tastefully done, story line excellant, directed in a way to make you laugh, cry, sit at the edge of you chair during those action scenes. Not to mention the sound track subpurbly done. I have had always found Yun-Fat Chow a believable actor in all rolls he portray; this movie he stole my heart (more then in Anna and the King).. the ending must be seen to appreciate how to me he was a good cop, with admiration to the writer in whatever message he wanted to leave you at the end. If you thought Mark Wahlberg was exceptional in this roll you should see him in The Perfect Storm and never thought he would play such a sicko in Fear but had me convinced. Lady's don't judge all men by what goes on in this movie but be wise to it's message of common sense. It always amazes me when an actor can play his/her complete opposite. I look forward to watching more of both of these great actors movies. Don't wait to buy THE CORRUPTOR should it go out of print you will regret it! Well I think so. Thanks for listening - Bye. Would welcome your comments too.