Black Mask (film): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|1996 Hong Kong film by Daniel Lee}}

'''''Black Mask''''' is a [[1996]] [[Hong Kong]] [[action film]] starring [[Jet Li]], [[Karen Mok]] and [[Anthony Wong Chau-Sang]]. It was directed by [[Daniel Lee]] and was produced by [[Tsui Hark]]. It is also known as Hak hap.

{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Black Mask

| image = BlackMaskPoster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes

| t = 黑俠

| s = 黑侠

| p = Hēi Xiá

| j = Hak1 Hap6 }}

| director = [[Daniel Lee (film director)|Daniel Lee]]

| screenplay = {{plainlist|

* [[Teddy Chan]]

* [[Tsui Hark]]

* Koan Hui

* [[Joe Ma (filmmaker)|Joe Ma]]

}}

| story = {{plainlist|

* [[Li Chi-Tak]]

* Pang Chi-ming

}}

| producer = Tsui Hark

| starring = {{plainlist|

* [[Jet Li]]

* [[Sean Lau|Lau Ching-wan]]

* [[Karen Mok]]

* [[Françoise Yip]]

* [[Patrick Lung]]

* [[Anthony Wong (Hong Kong actor)|Anthony Wong]]

}}

| cinematography = Tony Cheung

| editing = [[Cheung Ka-fai (film editor)|Cheung Ka-fai]]

| music = [[Teddy Robin]]

| studio = {{plainlist|

* [[Win's Entertainment]]

* [[Film Workshop]]

}}

| distributor = {{plainlist|

* [[China Star Entertainment Group]]

* Win's Entertainment

}}<!-- per [[WP:FILMDIST]], list only distributors of original theatrical release -->

| released = {{film date|df=yes|1996|11|09}}

| runtime = 99 minutes

| country = Hong Kong

| language = Cantonese

| budget = {{HK$|60 million}}<ref name=mask>{{cite web|url=https://kknews.cc/entertainment/qxejybg.html|title=投資6000萬，北美狂收3.8億，向華強投資眼光真准，李連杰旺票房|date=2020-04-21|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ({{US$|{{To USD|60|HKG|year=1996|round=yes}} million}})

| gross = {{US$|26 million}} ({{HK$|200 million}})<ref name=mask/>

}}

'''''Black Mask''''' ({{zh|t=黑俠}}) is a 1996 [[Hong Kong]] [[superhero film|superhero]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Daniel Lee (film director)|Daniel Lee]], and produced by [[Tsui Hark]], who also wrote with Koan Hui, [[Teddy Chan]], and [[Joe Ma (filmmaker)|Joe Ma]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Movie Review, 'Black Mask'|publisher= Chicago Tribune|date=19 May 1999|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/19/movie-review-black-mask/|access-date=10 September 2010|first=Monica|last=Eng}}</ref> The action director was [[Yuen Woo-ping]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=8222&display_set=eng | title=Black Mask (1996) }}</ref> The film stars [[Jet Li]], [[Sean Lau|Lau Ching-wan]], [[Karen Mok]], [[Françoise Yip]], [[Patrick Lung]], and [[Anthony Wong (Hong Kong actor)|Anthony Wong]]. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 9 November 1996.<ref>{{cite news|title= BLACK MASK – Blu-ray review|publisher= Movie Metropolis|date= 14 September 2008|url= http://moviemet.com/review/black-mask-blu-ray-review|access-date= 21 February 2012|last= hoodaguy|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003054/http://moviemet.com/review/black-mask-blu-ray-review|archive-date= 2 May 2014}}</ref> In 1999, the film was [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] in English and released in the United States by [[Artisan Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Black Mask|publisher= IMDb|url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115693/companycredits|access-date=21 February 2012}}</ref>

The film concerns a man named Michael, who tries to lead a quiet life as a [[librarian]]. However, he is really a former test subject for a highly secretive super soldier project, and when he discovers that other test subjects have begun a violent crime spree that the police are hopeless to stop, he sets out to stop them himself by donning a disguise and using the [[superhero]] [[pseudonym|alias]] of "Black Mask".

The film is an adaptation of the [[List of manhua#1990s|1992]] [[manhua]] ''Black Mask'' by [[Li Chi-Tak]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-06-03|title=THIS WEEK IN COMICS! (6/4/14 – Springtime Languor) {{!}}|url=http://www.tcj.com/this-week-in-comics-6414-springtime-languor/|access-date=2021-03-21|website=[[The Comics Journal]]|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2002, it was followed by a sequel, ''[[Black Mask 2: City of Masks]]'', starring [[Andy On]] and directed by Tsui Hark.

''Black Mask'' was followed by a [[2002]] [[sequel]], '''''Black Mask 2: City of Masks'''''. Apart from the character, the film had nothing to do with the original film. It was directed by Tsui Hark and starred [[Jon Polito]], [[Tyler Mane]], [[Rob Van Dam]] and [[Traci Lords]]. [[Andy On]] played Black Mask when Jet Li opted not to return.

In homage to ''[[The Green Hornet]]'', Black Mask wears a [[domino mask]] and chauffeur's cap in the same style as [[Kato (The Green Hornet)|Kato]] (played by [[Bruce Lee]]) from [[The Green Hornet (TV series)|the television series]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burrows|first=Laura|date=2008-10-01|title=Black Mask Blu-Ray Review|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/01/black-mask-blu-ray-review|access-date=2022-02-09|website=IGN|language=en}}</ref> The Black Mask is even compared to Kato in a news reporter scene.

==Trivia==

*In a homage to ''[[The Green Hornet]]'', Black Mask wears a domino mask and chauffeur's cap in the same style as [[Kato (The Green Hornet)|Kato]] from the series. Jet Li is often mentioned as a leading candidate to play Kato in a future big budget ''Green Hornet'' film.

*''Black Mask'' was released in the [[United States]] in [[1999]] to cash in on Jet Li's recent appearance in the Hollywood film ''[[Lethal Weapon 4]]''. This version dubbed the original Cantonese dialogue into in English and re-edited the film, swapping scenes around and excising 10 minutes of footage.

==External linksPlot ==

Tsui Chik (or Simon in the US version) tries to lead a quiet life as a librarian. However, he is really a former test subject for a highly secretive [[supersoldier]] project and the instructor of a special commando unit dubbed "701". The 701 squad is used for many government missions, but after one of the agents kills a team of policemen in an uncontrollable rage, the government decides to abort the project and eliminate all the subjects. Tsui Chik helped the surviving 701 agents flee the extermination attempt. Having escaped, Tsui Chik went separate ways from his team and lived in Hong Kong. Later at night he discovers that the rest of the team were responsible for a violent crime spree that was beyond the capability of the local police. He sets out to get rid of them, donning a mask and hat using the [[superhero]] alias of The Black Mask. Having lost the ability to feel pain due to the surgery performed on the super-soldiers by the military, Black Mask and his former team are almost invulnerable.

* {{imdb title|id=0115693|title=Black Mask}}

* {{imdb title|id=0264429|title=Black Mask 2: City of Masks}}

== Cast ==

[[Category:1996 films]]

* [[Jet Li]] as Tsui Chik / Black Mask

[[Category:Action films]]

* [[Sean Lau|Lau Ching-wan]] as Inspector Shek Wai-Ho

[[Category:Hong Kong films]]

* [[Karen Mok]] as Tracy Lee

[[Category:Martial arts films]]

* [[Françoise Yip]] as Yeuk-Lan

* [[Patrick Lung]] as Commander Hung Kuk

* [[Anthony Wong (Hong Kong actor)|Anthony Wong]] as King Kau

* [[Hung Yan-yan|Xiong Xin-xin]] as Jimmy

* [[Moses Chan]] as 701 Squad Member

* Henry Fong Ping as Ricky Tai

* Shut Mei-yee as Chief of Library

* Szeto Wai-cheuk as Szeto

* [[Chung King-fai]] as Commissioner of Police

* Ken Lok as Sergeant Crap

* [[Lawrence Ah Mon]] as Operating Room Doctor

* [[Dion Lam]] as Sour

* Mike Ian Lambert as 701 Squad Member

* Nunzio Caponio as 701 Squad Member

== Release ==

[[dn:Black Mask]]

''Black Mask'' grossed over {{US$|26 million}} ({{HK$|200 million}}) at the worldwide box office, including {{US$|10 million}} in Asia.<ref name=mask/> Released on 9 November 1996, ''Black Mask'' grossed a moderate HK$13,286,788 ({{US$|{{To USD|13286788|HKG|year=1996|round=yes}}|long=yes}}) during its Hong Kong box office run.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Mask |url=https://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=8222 |website=[[Hong Kong Movie Database]] |access-date=1 April 2022}}</ref>

In May 1999, home video distributor [[Artisan Entertainment]] released a re-edited version in the United States theatrically. It grossed a reasonable US$4,449,692 ($4,545 per screen) in its opening weekend, and grossed a total of US$12,504,289.<ref>{{cite news|title= The Action's Everything in 'Black Mask'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=17 May 1999|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-17-ca-38011-story.html|access-date=11 September 2010|first=Eric|last=Harrison}}</ref>

[[de:Black Mask]]

[[fr:Black Mask]]

DVD sales for ''Black Mask'' totalled {{US$|48.57 million}} ({{HK$|380 million}}) in North America and more than {{US$|50 million}} worldwide.<ref name=mask/> [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment]] (successor to Artisan when it acquired in 2003) released a Blu-ray version in the United States on 2 September 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34400/black-mask/|title=Black Mask (Blu-ray)|last=Tyner|first=Adam|work=[[DVD Talk]]|date=23 August 2008|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref>

== Alternate versions ==

The film is recognised for having multiple versions: Hong Kong (Cantonese), [[Taiwanese Minnan|Taiwanese]] ([[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]), English (export), United Kingdom (distributed by [[Sony BMG|BMG]]) and United States (distributed by [[Artisan Entertainment]]).

=== Hong Kong/Taiwanese versions ===

For the Cantonese version, the original Mei Ah DVD is cut for gore, but the remastered DVD restores a scene of blood-spurting. The French DVD features the Hong Kong version in the correct form, but contains no English [[subtitles]].

Both Hong Kong and Taiwanese releases maintain the green-tinting of the film.

=== English versions ===

An English version similar to the Hong Kong version was produced for export (featured on the Spanish DVD), but BMG and Artisan decided to make their own. Whilst only occasionally replacing music on the UK release, Artisan commissioned a brand-new English [[Hip Hop]] soundtrack – therefore, removing any reference to the original (despite using excerpts from it in their trailers). Despite a tendency of trimming non-action scenes, the Artisan and BMG versions not only contain all gory content, but also some non-violent scenes not found in any other version:

# Tsui Chik looking for Inspector Shek.

# A few shots of Black Mask's hide-out.

# Inspector Shek advising Yeuk Lan to seek Tsui Chik.

== Reception ==

[[Lawrence Van Gelder]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called it "long on flying bodies, bullets and blood and short on credibility".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/library/film/051599mask-film-review.html|title='Black Mask': Nonstop Action, Ridiculous Plot|last=Van Gelder|first=Lawrence|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=15 May 1999|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> Marc Savlov of ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' rated it 3/5 stars and called it "a bloodily exhilarating piece of hyper-kinetic filmmaking".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1999-05-21/black-mask/|title=Black Mask|last=Savlov|first=Marc|work=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|date=21 May 1999|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> [[Nathan Rabin]] of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote: "While never reaching the manic highs of Chan's best work, ''Black Mask'' is an exciting, lightning-fast introduction to one of Hong Kong's biggest and most charismatic stars."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/black-mask-18622|title=Black Mask|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=10 April 2002|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb title|0115693}}

* {{Mojo title|blackmask}}

* {{Rotten Tomatoes|black_mask}}

{{Daniel Lee}}

{{Tsui Hark}}

[[Category:1996 films]]

[[Category:1996 action comedy films]]

[[Category:1996 martial arts films]]

[[Category:1996 science fiction films]]

[[Category:1990s Cantonese-language films]]

[[Category:1990s Hong Kong films]]

[[Category:1990s martial arts comedy films]]

[[Category:1996 science fiction action films]]

[[Category:1990s science fiction comedy films]]

[[Category:1990s superhero comedy films]]

[[Category:China Star Entertainment Group films]]

[[Category:Films about drugs]]

[[Category:Films about the People's Liberation Army]]

[[Category:Films about violence]]

[[Category:Films directed by Daniel Lee]]

[[Category:Films based on Hong Kong comics]]

[[Category:Films scored by Teddy Robin]]

[[Category:Films set in Hong Kong]]

[[Category:Gun fu films]]

[[Category:Hong Kong action comedy films]]

[[Category:Hong Kong martial arts comedy films]]

[[Category:Hong Kong science fiction action films]]

[[Category:Hong Kong superhero films]]

[[Category:Kung fu films]]

[[Category:Live-action films based on comics]]

[[Category:Martial arts science fiction films]]