Chow Yun-Fat’s first go at American cinema comes out feeling much like his Korean affairs. Director Antoine Fuqua also was given his first shot at a Hollywood production, and does a fine job for a film loaded with action, combined with a paper-thin story. Shoot-outs and slowly building tension feel familiar, but this only slightly detracts from the overall feel of Replacement Killers.

Mia Sorvino and Chow Yun-Fat have an odd relationship in this action fest, thrust together under rough circumstances and forced to work together. They take on the roles typically reserved for a buddy movie, but with a serious tone. Their characters develop more strongly in this extended cut, digging into their histories and why they became who they are.

Sorvino’s performance is off at times; she delivers some rather awful dialogue without emotion behind the lines. Her sex appeal sells her role more than her acting, which makes for a rare off performance from an otherwise solid actress. Chow Yun-Fat’s English is rough, but understandable. He manages to elicit some emotion when called upon, giving his character a believable side in a movie hardly striving for realism.

The plot is beyond simplistic, and can hardly stick together long enough to carry the movie. Yun-Fat disobeys a Chinese crime lord and is forced to flee or risk his life. The entire movie becomes an extended chase sequence, punctuated only by the many shoot-outs.

Inspiration is obviously taken from the John Woo style of directing. Numerous nods are here from previous works of the famed action director, though Fuqua manages some nice touches of his own. Replacement Killers offers loads of violence and blood, but lacks the edge or intensity of a classic like Hard Boiled. It doesn’t offer the level of style or finesse, but arguably does a better job of building suspense.

For what it is, Replacement Killers handles itself nicely. It starts fast, spends enough time with its characters, and delivers plenty of what the audience came to see. This is a fine, flawed piece of R-rated action.

Columbia releases this 10-year-old feature with an HD transfer that varies more than any other before it. In one scene, each edit can go from pure video brilliance, middle of the road, and less than DVD quality. Grain likewise varies wildly, from barely noticeable to overwhelming depending on the scene.