neumu [ cinematronic ]




	So Close
	Corey Yuen Shu Qi, Vicki Zhao, Karen Mok, Seung-heon Song, Michael Wei 2002		It's not quite "Martial-Arts Pin-Ups Gone Wild," but "So Close" is close enough. In this high-on-flash/low-on-substance escapade, two beautiful sisters — a pair of avenging, computer-hacking assassins-for-hire — face off against a noble (and attractive!) female cop, who swears to catch the deadly dolls in the act and lock 'em away. "So Close" is the latest compendium of quick-cut, combustible action, unnaturally buoyant, wire-assisted combat, and caricatured emotions from Hong Kong director and fight choreographer Corey Yuen. There's no old-school martial-arts superstar here. Instead of Jackie Chan or Jet Li at their peak, "So Close" goes for a fairer brand of bad-ass. It's a decent trade-off: The attractive, athletic duo of Shu Qi and Vicki Zhao, as the killer siblings Lynn and Sue, and Karen Mok, as the policewoman, are easy on the eyes in a film that's all about visual flair. There's some nobility implied in the sisters' pursuit of their targets of choice, corporate criminals. But "So Close" is a dispensable divertissement, nothing more. With Seung-heon Song and Michael Wei. Note: Chinese supermodel/actress Shu Qi co-starred with British actor Jason Statham in Yuen's 2002 release "The Transporter."