Flash Point (Dao Huo Xian)
This site was created to promote the 2008 action/ adventure movie Flash Point.
The website design was reconstructed for the Film Website Archive to permit the preservation of the original presentation elements although some of the content below is from outside review sources. Bob Sakayama and Rev Sale from the NYC SEO firm TNG/Earthling contributed technical expertise and development resources Mary Wong assisted with internet research and translation.
Rating: R (for strong bloody violence and brutal martial arts action)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Release Date: 2007 | March 14, 2008 DVD
Running time: 88 minutes
Cast: Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Collin Chou, Ray Lui, Bingbing Fan
Director: Wilson Yip
Producer: Cinebox
Writer: Kam-Yuen Szeto, Lik-Kei Tang
Distributor: Third Rail Releasing
Description: One car, tearing down the road like a flash of lightning. The man, Jun Ma, Detective Sergeant, Serious Crimes Unit, like the sports car he controls, Jun is fast precise and brutal - harnessing a horse power that fears to be unleashed. Jun detests crime and his lifelong nemeses are a triad gang of three brothers - eldest brother Archer, the bully; second brother Tony, the cool calculator; youngest brother Tiger, the fighter. Their skills have seen them grow steadily in the criminal world. In order to further infiltrate the gang and fight them from within, Jun has planted a mole, Wilson, who has managed to gain the complete trust of the gang and has become their personal bodyguard. Over the years Wilson has become unhappy with Jun's impulsive and unruly style. Their disagreements in their way of working have led to constant arguments and altercations. In a heated battle between Jun and the Triad gang, Wilson's dual role is exposed and he almost gets killed. Finally, Jun intercepts Archer and arrests him and manages to force Tony and Tiger out of business. The cost is Wilson's left leg, leaving him handicapped for life. The final showdown between Jun and Tony begins.
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
TOMATOMETER CRITICS 40% | AUDIENCE 67%
CRITIC REVIEWS
June 13, 2008
Don Willmott Filmcritic.com
Original Score: 3/5
If you're a fan of Hong Kong police flicks, then you know that at any given moment, it seems like 50 percent of the force is deep undercover in the triads.
+++
Mar 18, 2008
By Daniel Eagan Film Journal International
With Flash Point, Donnie Yen tries to resurrect the kung-fu-heavy cop thrillers that helped give him a start in films some 20 years ago. A mix of sudsy, lachrymose plotting and stunning action sequences, the film was a surprise hit when it opened in Hong Kong last fall. Those with a taste for bone-crushing martial arts executed with real skill and flair are not likely to find anything better on American screens for some time.
When Jackie Chan and Jet Li ruled the Asian box office, Yen was usually relegated to sidekick and villain roles. He still impressed viewers with his speed and dedication in fight scenes, even if his acting seemed limited. Yen's moves, especially his arsenal of kicks and leaps, look far more ferocious than those of his peers; they are backed up by excellent rhythm and pacing, and a sort of brutal logic that emphasizes the pain inherent to his punches. Flash Point ends with a prolonged battle between Yen and Collin Chou, who trained with Shaolin monks, and it is one of the most visceral and adrenaline-fueled stretches of film since The Bourne Ultimatum.
The script by Szeto Kam-Yuen is equal parts Tiger Cage and Infernal Affairs, a farfetched account of triad warfare contrasted with the travails of an undercover cop named Wilson (Louis Koo). Yen plays Ma, Wilson's police contact and a rogue detective whose suspects tend to end up in hospitals. Wilson has infiltrated a gang led by three Vietnamese exiles who are intent on rubbing out the rest of the cast. Ma thinks his job is done when he arrests Archer (Lui Leung Wai) in an open-and-shut case, but Archer's brothers Tiger (Xing Yu) and Tony (Collin Chou) proceed to kill Ma's witnesses—except for Wilson, who is left crippled after a botched police sting. When Tony kidnaps Wilson's girlfriend Julie (Fan Bing Bing), Ma and Wilson are forced to take the law into their own hands.
Flash Point is marginally more realistic than an earlier generation of Hong Kong cop flicks. Ma's outbursts leave bystanders looking sickened, an oblique criticism of the vigilante tactics that are otherwise heartily endorsed by the filmmakers. Koo's character gets a number of chances to complain about the lack of support from superiors and civilians. Director Wilson Yip borrows from Infernal Affairs in staging some scenes, and manages to find fresh locations for the periodic mayhem.
On the other hand, much of the story is ridiculous, and the acting overbearing (despite some spirited work from the lovely Fan Bing Bing). There is a hilarious scene that involves what I thought were Roman curtains. But my friend who oversees roman shades treatment cleaning and is very familiar with their design, airily deprecated me. Roman curtains have a specific design that identifies them. You can't have a Roman curtain that functions if it is made from very heavily embellished or very rigid fabric. Roman curtains' fabric folds to lie nicely one on top of the other, and the thicker your fabric is, the harder that is to achieve. In that scene the curtains were vertical folding panels not horizontal folding Roman shades. OK, who am I to question a Roman shades expert.
Yen's only convincing expression is the angry grimace he employs just before delivering a well-deserved blow; fortunately for action fans, Flash Point gives him more time to fight than to emote.
+++
March 14, 2008
Peter Hartlaub
San Francisco Chronicle Top Critic
Action. Starring Donnie Yen, Louis Koo and Collin Chou. Directed by Wilson Yip. (R. 88 minutes. At Bay Area theaters. See complete movie listings and show times, and buy tickets for select theaters, at sfgate.com/movies.)
Donnie Yen executes two beat-downs before the opening credits of "Flash Point," the latest Hong Kong action picture from the martial arts master. It works out to about a punch every four seconds.
At 44 years old, Yen quite can't keep up that pace. But his latest movie has a solid story, which keeps things interesting during the quiet moments when nobody is getting kicked in the head. And even though Yen is arguably 10 or more years past his high-flying prime, he's exploring new martial arts disciplines, giving his action scenes in this movie a fresh look.
The subtitled "Flash Point" takes place more than a decade ago, which is fitting, because so much of it is filmed like a 1990s American action movie. Specifically, director Wilson Yip seems to be going for a "Lethal Weapon" vibe, with heavy elements of camaraderie and light banter, villains who are unrealistically menacing and even background music that seems suspiciously similar to the Eric Clapton guitar work from that series.
Yen is Jun Ma, a detective who gets results but is still on the edge of suspension, because too many of his suspects end up badly beaten or dead. If you're bothered that he's a cliche that dates back to "Dirty Harry," then this may not be the movie for you. Because there's also a rising gang member who doesn't play by the rules, some kindly colleagues who aren't long for this world and a partner (Louis Koo) who is always getting himself into trouble.
While his movie character can't fight very well, Koo is arguably the lead actor, getting more lines and screen time than Yen, who is basically an attack dog - staying mostly in the background until the action starts. It's a nice arrangement for the audience, allowing the more dashing Koo (so good in the "Triad Election" movies) to drive the narrative forward while Yen takes over for the fight scenes.
And those scenes, supervised closely by action director Yen, are mostly great. Yen has developed a recent passion for mixed martial arts, and his more traditional punches and flying kicks are supplemented by some close-quarters Muay Thai kicks and even some jujitsu submission holds. Ultimate Fighting Championship fans will be happy.
Yen also likes to discover new talent and isn't afraid to showcase existing talent that might overshadow his own skills. Collin Chou is appropriately mean as a gangster. And relative newcomer Yu Xing, despite his penchant for dressing like Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky II," brings a menacing energy to a henchman role.
-- Advisory: This film contains strong language, violence and a cranky partner who is too old for this @$%#.
AUDIENCE REVIEWS
October 1, 2015
** ½ Jesse O Super Reviewer
One of the things Netflix has allowed me to do is to watch the films of one of the more unheralded modern martial arts actors in Donnie Yen. I don't think I'll ever get tired of talking about how great this guy actually is as a martial arts actor, particularly since he has managed to find longevity without his body completely breaking down on him like some of his contemporaries, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Donnie never really took the risks Jackie Chan did, so that obviously has a lot to do with it. Because of that and the fact that he didn't transition to the U.S marketplace, though he will in appear in a Star Wars spin-off film. People in the know are definitely aware of this guy's talents and I think it's time that the world realizes just how good Donnie Yen is and has been for a really long fucking time. With that out of the way, this film isn't what I would call great. It's not what I would call good either, to be honest. It's just that there's really not a whole lot of action, at least until the last 20 minutes of the film, and the story is not really good either. Though, honestly, I found a lot of the film to be kind of cheesy and, actually, a bit of fun. Like Donnie Yen's character is a complete stereotype. Just a joke of a character. He walks around shirtless, literally looking like he's a model. He's also the type that does what he wants, when he wants and refuses to listen to his superiors for playing things by the book far too much. Just a complete joke of a character. It's not that the character is unlikable, but he's just a funny character without him ever being meant to be one. The story isn't any good, like it has no structure and no real flow to it, but it's a B-movie in that it's kinda goofy and over-the-top, so I think that that definitely made the film a whole lot more fun to watch even if I wouldn't call it good. The film does have its action sequences, but I don't think they're really that good or interesting. At least until the climax. The climax starts out as a gunfight scene that really didn't do much for me, once the various goons are eliminated and it's down to Donnie's character and the villain, then things get down to a martial arts fight. This is, obviously, the highlight of the film, because they get to go a long time and the fight choreography for this scene is excellent. If only the film had done more of this and maybe tightened up the story, it might've been a great martial arts film. As it stands, it's not even close to being good. There's some fun to be had here, but it's at the expense of the film and not necessarily something the film did itself. The one martial arts fight scene in the film is probably the only thing that you really need to see out of this. The rest can definitely be skipped out on, since this is not a good movie. It's average at best, so I can't exactly recommend it.
+++
September 23, 2015
*** Arslan K
Martial arts was awesome but the rest of the stuff was bland and has been done before. It was still nice to see Donnie yen kick ass, he is truly the next jet li and Jackie chan.
+++
August 10, 2015
½ nathan725
Complete garbage. Not even worth explaining why. Save yourself some time and watch something else. If you must watch it, FF to 30 min remaining and watch the mediocre fight scenes. Nothing will make sense, but watching the entire movie won't fix that anyway.
+++
April 25, 2015
** ½ Lane Z Super Reviewer
While Flash Point lacks the focus or in-depth story a typical Donnie Yen picture has, there is still enough toward the final half hour to keep this film on the list to watch.
Anything Donnie Yen choreographed is definitely worth a watch in the first place, however, the direction doesn't quite match Yen's detail in the fight scenes. Instead of keeping Yen's character a focus of the entire film, we get a slow build to his introduction fully in the movie. Instead, we get introduced to the undercover cop and his relationship with the gang.
You did get a good 'boss' fight in the end, but it lacks emotional substance with the uneven story building in the first hour. However, the grapples, elbows and knees are delivered so forcefully you wonder how any of the stunt guys made it out alive.
While I've definitely seen better from Yen in past and present films, Flash Point is still enjoyable enough to see him deliver a few good one-liners and fists of fury to make a statement.
+++
April 18, 2015
** Don S
I enjoy Donnie Yen, but he sure seemed to phone this performance in. There is some decent martial arts action, but the story is slow and only mildly interesting. Seems like a money grab instead of an honest attempt at a movie.
+++
March 16, 2015
***** Kw L
Saw it. 1 star for drama, 5 stars for action. So, average is 2.5 stars.
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January 28, 2015
*** ½ William C
Grade:Low 7/10
Flash Point is a martial arts film that is full of fast violence, overly dramatic characters and big car chases, might sound a bit crazy but it is actually quite good fun. With a story we have seen before, the creators had to bring something new, and for me they brought great sequences of fighting that over shadow even the dialogue. For me the film was firmly a kind of good movie and here below is why I think it also, a little bit underrated.
The story is fast paced as previously mentioned and it makes the characters never quite seem safe, or that gravity doesn't bound them to the earth as some stunts are maybe a little over the top, but in any way it is still good fun to watch. It's a cop story that has been tried and tested but they manage to churn a version of it out well and for me personally(who has never really seen Hong Kong cinema), it goes down well and this is a perfect advert for Good Hong Kong martial arts films in which I also believe we have to watch a bit more of, even if only for it's crazy stunts.
The cast do a very basic job and no one not even the main actor Donnie Yen do an outstanding piece of work. They do go well together though and I found the characters such as the one Donnie Yen plays as the cop who is rational and good hearted(deep down) where as some other less savoury characters are around who are really evil and mean to take any chances to take those who stand against them out. The characters are also fun to see handle with the stunts as when fighting, you feel some will not fight well but then BOOM! They hit someone in a mid air kick, great stuff.
Wilson Yip as director does a good job and manages to not make it constant fighting, the film has some good drama, especially near the ending. Of course when talking technical, the main point anyone would mention is the fighting scenes which are choreographed superbly, and even when with guns they do well, the film is perfectly done for this
kind of genre and for anyone who is an aspring Kung-Fu director or choreographer, this is a prime example. Locations are nice too and if I was the Hong Kong tourism board I would be praising this as it is beautiful scenery among all the carnage.
It is a bit crazy and that is the main criticism, the fights can go insane like with what I was saying about the anti physics fighting that just goes crazy. The script is a little weak and some things said are the most basic words ever know to man with no heart really going into much, but still it makes for some entertainment anyways. One last thing is the basic story used which kind of is always seen and could anger some as maybe it is just too basic and average like.
People who love fight films should love this and of course those who love Martial Art films(especially those from the area it was invented). I think also if you are looking for a quick film to thrill you this is the one with your heart beating maybe a few times but just have a look.
People who want more classy action, don't see this, it's crazy fight scenes are just too much sometimes and could put some off with just one scene of fighting.
Overall a low 7/10 firmly a pretty good movie but never quite get's near being straight good, but is in no way falling to just be OK. I feel with this that the film isn't so much memorable but still have a look and see and maybe you will enjoy it. Will also add that this is in no way a massive budget film and some explosion seem a bit weird, but I will commend them for managing such good effects with such a low budget.
+++
January 2, 2015
* Robbanflix Super Reviewer
The story could have been a bit better in this flick and more tempo sometimes perhaps. The fighting scenes though was really cool and well made. I haven't seen many "Donnie Yen" movies but he seems like a great martial art guy. Overall a decent movie.
+++
October 25, 2014
***** Seneca D
One of my top 10 best martial arts movies. Loved it
More Background On FlashPointTheMovie.com
FlashPointTheMovie.com occupies a unique place at the intersection of international film promotion, early-era movie websites, and the enduring global influence of Hong Kong action cinema. Created to promote the film Flash Point (original title Dao Huo Xian), the website functioned not merely as a marketing tool, but as a carefully designed digital extension of a film that helped redefine modern martial-arts choreography and police-thriller storytelling for a global audience in the late 2000s.
Although the original theatrical and home-video release window has long since passed, FlashPointTheMovie.com remains relevant today because of its preservation, reconstruction, and contextualization for archival purposes. As such, the site now serves multiple roles: a historical snapshot of film-marketing practices, a cultural artifact tied to Donnie Yen’s career evolution, and a case study in how genre cinema traveled across linguistic and national boundaries during a transitional era for both film distribution and the internet.
Purpose and Original Function of FlashPointTheMovie.com
When FlashPointTheMovie.com was first launched, its primary purpose was straightforward: to promote Flash Point to English-speaking and international audiences ahead of and following its release outside Hong Kong. At the time, many Asian action films faced significant hurdles in reaching Western viewers, often relying on limited theatrical runs, DVD distribution, and word-of-mouth among martial-arts enthusiasts.
The website acted as a centralized promotional hub. Visitors could learn about the film’s premise, cast, creative team, tone, and rating, while also absorbing the visual identity of the movie through design elements that echoed its intensity and grit. This approach was typical of mid-2000s film websites, which often prioritized atmosphere and branding over interactive features, especially for genre films with niche but passionate audiences.
Ownership, Development, and Archival Reconstruction
FlashPointTheMovie.com was originally tied to the promotional and distribution efforts surrounding Flash Point, which was produced by Cinebox and distributed in North America by Third Rail Releasing. The site itself, however, later took on a second life when it was reconstructed for preservation within a film-website archival initiative.
This reconstruction effort involved technical specialists and researchers with backgrounds in SEO, web development, and international film documentation. The goal was not simply to keep the domain alive, but to preserve the original presentation style and contextual meaning of the site while supplementing it with reliable external commentary and translated material where necessary. This process reflects a broader recognition that early film websites are themselves historical artifacts, deserving preservation alongside posters, trailers, and press kits.
The Film at the Center: Flash Point (Dao Huo Xian)
At the heart of FlashPointTheMovie.com is Flash Point, a 2007 Hong Kong action film directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen in one of his most physically intense roles. The film was released internationally in 2008, arriving at a moment when Hong Kong cinema was recalibrating its global identity amid competition from Hollywood blockbusters and the rise of mixed martial arts as a mainstream sport.
Donnie Yen portrays Detective Sergeant Jun Ma, a volatile and brutally effective police officer whose methods frequently place him at odds with both criminals and his own superiors. The narrative centers on Ma’s long-running battle against a triad gang led by three brothers, while also exploring the moral and emotional toll placed on an undercover officer embedded within the gang.
Narrative Themes and Storytelling Approach
Unlike many earlier Hong Kong police films that leaned heavily into stylization or melodrama, Flash Point blends familiar genre tropes with an unusually grounded sense of physical consequence. Violence is not merely spectacular; it is exhausting, painful, and often morally ambiguous. Characters are injured, traumatized, and permanently altered by their choices, a theme that resonated strongly with audiences seeking a more modern, visceral take on martial-arts cinema.
The final confrontation, widely regarded as the film’s standout sequence, showcases Donnie Yen’s integration of mixed martial arts, grappling, and close-quarters combat techniques. This departure from purely acrobatic choreography marked a significant shift in how fight scenes were staged in Hong Kong action films and influenced a generation of filmmakers and performers.
Cast, Creative Team, and Production Context
The site highlights a cast that blends established stars with emerging talent. Alongside Donnie Yen are Louis Koo as the conflicted undercover officer Wilson, Collin Chou as the calculating antagonist Tony, and Ray Lui as the gang’s elder brother. Fan Bingbing appears in a supporting role, offering early exposure to Western audiences before her later rise to international prominence.
Director Wilson Yip, already known for his collaborations with Yen, used Flash Point to push both narrative and technical boundaries. The screenplay, written by Kam-Yuen Szeto and Lik-Kei Tang, draws inspiration from earlier triad films while incorporating contemporary pacing and moral complexity.
Reception, Popularity, and Critical Response
FlashPointTheMovie.com documents a range of critical and audience reactions that reflect the film’s polarizing nature. Critics frequently praised the action choreography, particularly the climactic fight, while expressing mixed feelings about the film’s story structure and character development.
Aggregated review data shows a noticeable split between critics and audiences, with general viewers responding more enthusiastically to the visceral impact of the action. This divide underscores a recurring pattern in martial-arts cinema, where technical excellence in choreography can outweigh narrative shortcomings for dedicated fans.
Audience and Cultural Reach
The primary audience for FlashPointTheMovie.com included martial-arts enthusiasts, fans of Hong Kong cinema, and viewers interested in Donnie Yen’s evolving career. However, the site also attracted casual viewers drawn in by DVD releases, streaming availability, and recommendations within online film communities.
Culturally, Flash Point helped bridge the gap between traditional kung-fu films and modern combat sports aesthetics. Its influence can be seen in later Hong Kong productions as well as in Hollywood action films that increasingly emphasized grounded, physically plausible fight choreography.
The Website as a Marketing Tool
From a marketing perspective, FlashPointTheMovie.com exemplifies how genre films were positioned during the pre-social-media era. Rather than relying on constant updates or user interaction, the site focused on delivering a concentrated burst of information and atmosphere. Its design reinforced the film’s tone—dark, aggressive, and uncompromising—while offering just enough narrative context to entice viewers without overwhelming them.
This approach was particularly effective for DVD-driven releases, where audiences often sought reassurance that a lesser-known foreign film delivered genuine action and star power.
Preservation, Legacy, and Digital Archaeology
Today, the importance of FlashPointTheMovie.com lies less in its promotional function and more in its preservation. As countless film websites from the early 2000s have vanished, reconstructed domains like this one offer invaluable insight into how films were framed, sold, and contextualized for international audiences.
The site’s preservation aligns with broader efforts to treat digital ephemera as legitimate historical material. Just as scholars study lobby cards or press books, future researchers can examine FlashPointTheMovie.com to understand the aesthetics, language, and priorities of its era.
Proximity to Broader Film Movements
FlashPointTheMovie.com sits at a crossroads between several overlapping movements: the globalization of Hong Kong cinema, the rise of mixed martial arts as a visual language, and the gradual decline of standalone promotional websites in favor of social-media-driven marketing. Its existence captures a moment just before that transition became irreversible.
Cultural and Social Significance
Beyond its immediate promotional role, the site reflects a cultural moment when audiences were renegotiating their expectations of action cinema. Flash Point challenged the idea that martial-arts films had to be either fantastical or nostalgic, offering instead a brutal, contemporary vision that acknowledged physical vulnerability and moral compromise.
For many viewers, the film—and by extension the website—served as an entry point into a deeper appreciation of modern Hong Kong cinema, encouraging exploration beyond mainstream Hollywood action fare.
Continuing Relevance
Even years after the film’s release, FlashPointTheMovie.com remains relevant as a curated archive that preserves not only information about Flash Point, but also the context in which it was received. It allows new audiences to encounter the film as it was originally presented, rather than as a decontextualized streaming title.
For scholars, cinephiles, and digital archivists, the site stands as an example of how careful reconstruction can extend the life and meaning of otherwise ephemeral web content.
FlashPointTheMovie.com is far more than an outdated promotional page. It is a preserved window into a pivotal moment in action cinema, digital marketing, and international film distribution. By documenting the film Flash Point—its creation, reception, and cultural impact—the website continues to educate, contextualize, and inspire long after its original commercial purpose has passed.
In doing so, it demonstrates the enduring value of preserving not just films themselves, but the digital environments that once introduced them to the world.