Romeo Must Die (2000)
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A former police officer escapes from prison to Oakland to investigate the murder of his brother, only to find himself entangled in a violent gang war between Chinese and African-American crime families.
The story
In contemporary Oakland, the youngest son of a Chinese Triad boss is murdered after a nightclub encounter. His older brother, Han Sing, escapes from a Hong Kong prison to investigate the death. He discovers his father is involved in a joint business venture with a real estate developer and gang leader, Isaak O'Day. As Han navigates the city, he befriends Isaak's daughter, Trish, who is trying to distance herself from her father's illegal activities. Together, they begin to uncover a web of corruption and escalating violence between the local Chinese and African-American gangs.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Po Sing, the youngest son of Chinese Triad boss Ch'u Sing, is murdered in an Oakland nightclub. His older brother, Han Sing, escapes from a Hong Kong prison to investigate. He learns that Ch'u is partnered with Isaak O'Day, a real estate developer, to acquire waterfront deeds for a business magnate. Han befriends Isaak's daughter, Trish, and they discover Po was investigating businesses being threatened by the gangs. After several more murders, including those of Colin O'Day and several Triad bosses, Han and Trish are abducted by Mac, Isaak's lieutenant. Mac reveals that the 'gang war' was a ruse to cover the murder and extortion of businessmen. In a shootout, Isaak is wounded and the deeds are lost. Han eventually confronts Mac and discovers that Kai, Ch'u's lieutenant, personally killed Po. Han kills Kai in a fist fight and berates his father for his greed. Ch'u commits suicide as the police arrive, and Han and Trish walk away together.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 115
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Andrzej Bartkowiak
- Writers
- Eric Bernt · screenplay; John Jarrell · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jet Li · Han Sing; Aaliyah · Trish O'Day; Isaiah Washington · Mac; Russell Wong · Kai; DMX · "Silk"; Delroy Lindo · Isaak O'Day; DB Woodside · Colin O'Day; Henry O · Ch'u Sing
- Genres
- action; martial arts
- Themes
- Revenge; Family Loyalty; Corruption; Interracial Romance
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; Gritty; Dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- Martial Arts; Gang War; Crime; Based on Shakespeare
- Source material / true-story basis
- William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, considered a breakthrough for Jet Li and Aaliyah.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 32% · review count: 94
- Production trivia
- The film features a visual effect technique of X-ray vision for martial arts fighting.; The kissing scene between Han and Trish was removed because it didn't test well with an urban audience.; The film was produced entirely in Vancouver, British Columbia, despite being set in Oakland.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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