Poll

Where do you stand on the directing talent of Johnny To?

He's Great.  I'll watch anything he does.
1 (4%)
He certainly makes my list, but I can think of many who are better.
2 (8%)
He's worth mentioning, but not as one of the Greats.
2 (8%)
He is Good.  I don’t think he’ll ever be Great.
2 (8%)
He's usually never more than just okay.
0 (0%)
I've seen some of his work, and I don't care for it.
2 (8%)
I still haven't caught up with his work.
12 (48%)
I've heard of him, but I'm not that interested.
0 (0%)
I've never heard of him before.
4 (16%)

Total Members Voted: 25

Author Topic: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To  (Read 5650 times)

sdedalus

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #20 on: November 12, 2009, 01:28:11 AM »
Would like to catch up with his stuff, as he looks interesting. Is Mad Detective any good?

I really liked it.  MoC has a nice Blu-Ray of it.
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Basil

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #21 on: November 12, 2009, 01:41:50 AM »
Whenever I see this guy's name in print, it makes me want to scream "Tally-Ho!". No reason.
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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #22 on: November 19, 2009, 09:39:08 PM »
Rewatched Election and Exiled.  Good but not great.  Better than most of the Eastern Actioners I've seen, but still doesn't come close to the films I love that these get filed next to.
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edgar00

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #23 on: November 20, 2009, 05:26:01 PM »
I've only seen Sparrow and Election. Enjoyable, but I'm still not understanding the massive love fest for this guy. What movie(s) may convert me?
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¡Keith!

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #24 on: November 21, 2009, 01:50:02 AM »
ya didn't like Sparrow?

Try Exiled - if not then than never.

Verite

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #25 on: November 21, 2009, 11:39:42 AM »
Try Exiled - if not then than never.

I think Running Out of Time is a better candidate.  That film, for me, lacks what I don't like what is present in his other films like Election, Sparrow, Election 2, Triad Election, which is an unconvincing coolness, bad-assery, or harshness/gruffness.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Election and Triad Election.  I think the surgeon's apartment setpiece in Exiled is outstanding, the chase and mirror sequence in The Longest Nite is remarkable (hello, Lady of Shanghai); the mirror shootout in Mad Detective is exceptional; the two ending scenes o violence in Election are the best directed scene he's done; etc.

Also, I'm not saying that Edgar feels the same as me.  But I do think Running Out of Time is a little different than To's most well known films from this decade.
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edgar00

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #26 on: November 23, 2009, 10:30:15 AM »
I'll try those out. I did enjoy Sparrow. It was like a Hong Kong Ocean's 11. 2 films may not be enough to judge a director, I'll admit as much as that.
-Le Chiffre: You changed your shirt, Mr Bond. I hope our little game isn't causing you to perspire.

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Verite

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #27 on: November 23, 2009, 10:51:19 AM »
I'll try those out. I did enjoy Sparrow. It was like a Hong Kong Ocean's 11. 2 films may not be enough to judge a director, I'll admit as much as that.

I was bored when I watched Sparrow.  Didn't like it. 

Despite really digging Election, Triad Election, PTU, Running Out of Time, and Running on Karma, I do think To is overrated.  Definitely a world class director in some ways, but I wouldn't call him such overall.  At the same time, I understand why others think so highly of him.  Just not my thing through and through.  I think what I find unconvincing, they find convincing. 
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sdedalus

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #28 on: January 27, 2011, 08:15:37 PM »
1. PTU
2. Exiled
3. Sparrow
4. Mad Detective
5. The Mission
6. Election
7. Vengeance
8. Lifeline
9. Election 2
10. The Heroic Trio
11. Executioners

I haven't seen the last two in a long time, but I really like all the others.
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roujin

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Johnny To
« Reply #29 on: January 27, 2011, 08:21:33 PM »
1. Sparrow (2008)
2. Exiled (2006)
3. PTU (2003)
4. Mad Detective (2007)
5. Running OUt of Time (1999)
6. Breaking News (2004)
7. Needing You... (2000)
8. Throwdown (2004)
9. Fulltime Killer (2001)
10. Vengeance (2009)
11. Election (2005)
12. Help!!! (2000)