41. We're Going to Eat You (1980) - Dir: Tsui Hark
Anticipation can be like a double-barreled shotgun, held by a hyperactive child all hopped up on goofballs, pointed straight at your face – a precarious situation to be sure. If you happen to live through the moment, the exhilaration can be euphoric, and nearly orgasmic, but usually, the spastic kid's trigger finger twitches and – BLAMMO – you've got a bloody-nubbin spurtin' gore where your head used to be. Tsui Hark's We're Going To Eat You is a film that I anticipated for many, many years – almost nine to be exact - ever since I was first exposed Once Upon a Time in China, back in 1993. I had heard about, and dreamed of seeing this legendary film, but up until last year (2005), it had been completely unavailable in a subtitled, official, remastered capacity. So, it is with great relief, and honest excitement, that I am able to say this film far surpassed my heightened anticipation – yeah, it is really dang good.
We're Going to Eat You is the finest kung fu-cannibal-comedy you will ever see – perhaps it is the only film in this rarest of sub-genres: the kung-can-com. The film perfectly strikes a balance between the outrageously funny, gory, scary, and action packed sequences with skill and style not often seen. The way Hark and the actors expertly straddle and execute the shifting tones and styles is masterful, and offers a scrumptious treat for the senses. The film stars Norman Chu as Agent 999, a man sent on a mission to investigate some strange occurrences in a remote village deep in the heart of an Asian jungle. Upon arriving at the village, Agent 999 soon discovers an entire gang made up of Leatherface-wannabes, that kidnap unsuspecting victims to be killed, carved, and eaten by the village's bizarre inhabitants.
Tsui Hark and action-choreographer Corey Yuen create some truly memorable set pieces. While the action isn't quite up to snuff, or comparable to best from time period, they make up for the lack of martial-skill with style and frenetic pacing to spare. Norman Chu moves quite well, and keeps his cool, while dispatching cannibal after cannibal in a variety of wacky showdowns. One moment in particualr that will surely leave jaws on the floor, and fans scrambling for a pause-rewind-slow-mo-retake, is when Agent 999 takes a brief break in the middle of a chaotic bout of fisticuffs to roll a cigarette on a goon's face. He then lights it, and continues to fight while smoking his face-rolled ciggy – perhaps the only time this feat has ever been attempted on screen! And oh yeah, make sure you're prepared for some amazing roller skating antics.
There are a ton of little moments like this peppered throughout the film, moments that demand strict attention – blink and you might miss something awesome. There is almost always something cool happening on screen, and Hark captures it all with the grace of a camera-equipped ninja. Whether laughs, gasps, groans, or cheers are elicited, one thing is certain: the pacing never lets up – the film is full of Hark-patented kinetic energy. The entire thing is framed like some kind of live-action comic book, and I mean this as the best of possible compliments. Each shot looks like an expertly laid-out comic book panel, as the utmost attention to detail, lighting, and composition is used in almost every frame. Just as there are moments of physical action, and comedy, that will be remembered far after the film is over, so too are there shots that will continue to haunt the mind's eye after the end credits roll.
We're Going To Eat You just oozes with style. It is a grotesque, bizarre and gonzo journey into the heart and mind of a filmmaker that loves to let it rip. It has the action martial-arts fans demand, the comedy to shake things up, and the gore and scares to quench the horror fan's thirst. However, under Hark's watchful gaze, all of these elements fit together like a well designed puzzle – nothing feels forced or out of place. The quickly-written and balls-out style of the narrative is perfectly complemented by the zig-zagging work of the camera, and it all comes together due to the wonderful cast and crew. It truly is a rare film – a film that is fun, exciting, and nearly perfect, and a film that lives up to its legendary status.
