Very low-budget, but some fantastic fights!

Two main reasons to see "Close Escape": Dick Wei and Yukari Oshima. If you're a fan of either one, this is a must-see.

Dick Wei, cast in his usual bad guy role, actually brings a considerable amount of charm to his ruthless businessman character; there are a few brief glimpses of the nice guy Wei reportedly was offscreen. Of course, it wouldn't be a Dick Wei performance without some astonishingly great kicks. The makers of "Close Escape" clearly realized this too, and they give Wei ample opportunity to be the badass we all know and love.

Yukari Oshima, meanwhile, very nearly matches Wei kick for kick; I dare say their brutal showdown at the end betters Cynthia Rothrock's fight with Wei in "Yes, Madam!"(Sorry Cynthia!) There's a brief sparring match set in a harbor, between Wei and Oshima, that is simply beautiful to watch. On the acting front, she brings a good amount of charm and even some depth to her role as the film's femme fatale. Watching this film, it is easy to understand why Oshima inspires the fanatical devotion she does.

As for the rest of the film, it is primarily a silly revenge plot involving some stolen diamonds. "Close Escape" won't win any awards for screenplay, but the plot is fairly basic and easy to follow, and serviceably gets us from Fight A to Fight B. Max Mok and Philip Kwok, portraying the two main characters, are better actors than you might expect from such low-budget fare. They too get their share of cool moves during the film's final anarchic showdown.

Having said all this, "Close Escape" was quite visibly made on the cheap; it lacks the polish of a good Corey Yuen or Sammo Hung film. Nevertheless the talent of its performers, both as fighters and actors, does make the film quite enjoyable. Additionally, although "Close Escape" is cheap, I am happy to report that it avoids the sleaze and exploitation that so often accompany low-budget films. 

Bottom line: If you're not into fight scenes, skip this one. But if you're like me and you love a good kickfest - particularly involving Wei or Oshima - "Close Escape" is a forgotten gem.

Cantonese cinema from Hong Kong is globally recognized for its action films, martial arts epics, and romantic melodramas. Its innovation in choreography, editing, and atmosphere continues to set new standards for genre filmmaking.

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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Cops, diamond thieves, and gangsters. Bit appearance by Yukari Oshima, as a hitwoman.

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Mok Siu-Chung and Aaron Kwok in Close Escape (1989)

Close Escape

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