Caught in Time
{{Short description|2020 Hong Kong-Chinese film by Lau Ho-leung}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Caught in Time
| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none
| l = eliminate the violent criminals
| s = 除暴
| p = chúbào}}
| image = Caught in Time poster.jpg
| caption = Original promotional poster
| director = Lau Ho-Leung (劉浩良)
| producer = Han Sanping
| screenplay = Lau Ho-Leung
Liang Hong (洪亮)
| starring = {{ubl|Wang Qianyuan|Daniel Wu|Jessie Li|Michelle Wai}}
| studio = Emperor Motion Pictures
Lian Ray Pictures
正夫影业
| runtime = 95 minutes
| country = Hong Kong
China
| language = Mandarin
| released = {{film date|2020|11|20|df=yes}}
| distributor = Emperor Motion Pictures
| gross = RMB 538 million,{{cite web|title=除暴|url=https://maoyan.com/films/1240838|work=貓眼電影|access-date=2021-01-16|archive-date=2021-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108232533/https://maoyan.com/films/1240838|url-status=live}} US$80,620,075{{cite news |title=The biggest movies of 2020 by box-office |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a34144484/biggest-movies-2020-box-office-highest-grossing/ |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=Digital Spy |date=15 December 2020 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210004040/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a34144484/biggest-movies-2020-box-office-highest-grossing/ |url-status=live }}
}}
Caught in Time ({{zh|c=除暴}}) is a 2020 crime action film based on the robber and serial killer Zhang Jun. It is the second film from director Lau Ho-Leung, after Two Thumbs Up. It stars Wang Qianyuan, Daniel Wu, Jessie Li, and Michelle Wai.{{cite news |author1=沈洛嘉 |title=【除暴】吳彥祖繼《旺角黑夜》再演內地犯 大賊造型夠兇狠 |url=https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/283204/%E9%99%90%E6%9C%9F%E7%A0%B4%E6%A1%88-%E5%90%B3%E5%BD%A5%E7%A5%96%E7%B9%BC-%E6%97%BA%E8%A7%92%E9%BB%91%E5%A4%9C-%E5%86%8D%E6%BC%94%E5%85%A7%E5%9C%B0%E7%8A%AF-%E5%A4%A7%E8%B3%8A%E9%80%A0%E5%9E%8B%E5%A4%A0%E5%85%87%E7%8B%A0 |access-date=2020-11-08 |work=香港01 |date=2019-01-15 |archive-date=2021-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719080145/https://www.hk01.com/%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1/283204/%E9%99%90%E6%9C%9F%E7%A0%B4%E6%A1%88-%E5%90%B3%E5%BD%A5%E7%A5%96%E7%B9%BC-%E6%97%BA%E8%A7%92%E9%BB%91%E5%A4%9C-%E5%86%8D%E6%BC%94%E5%85%A7%E5%9C%B0%E7%8A%AF-%E5%A4%A7%E8%B3%8A%E9%80%A0%E5%9E%8B%E5%A4%A0%E5%85%87%E7%8B%A0 |url-status=live }}
Plot
Set in southern China in the 1990s, the film follows detective Zhong Cheng as he tracks the "Eagle Gang", a sophisticated, well-trained, and ruthless group of robbers led by gangster Zhang Sun (codename "Falcon"), over the course of years.{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Richard |title=Review: Caught In Time |url=https://thereelbits.com/2020/12/09/review-caught-in-time/ |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=The Reel Bits |date=9 December 2020 |language=en-AU |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213074825/https://thereelbits.com/2020/12/09/review-caught-in-time/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Trailer [2]: 'Caught in Time' |url=https://www.fareastfilms.com/?news_post_type=trailer-2-caught-in-time |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=Far East Films |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213080009/https://www.fareastfilms.com/?news_post_type=trailer-2-caught-in-time |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Caught in Time tops China's box office |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202011/23/WS5fbb46e9a31024ad0ba95d81.html |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=www.chinadaily.com.cn |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226164340/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202011/23/WS5fbb46e9a31024ad0ba95d81.html |url-status=live }} The gang members commit a series of horrendous crimes, and Zhang Sun taunts the detective by pulling down his mask to show his face. A cat-and-mouse game ensues as Zhong Cheng works to find the gang.{{cite news |title=王千源&吴彦祖新片《除暴》定档 |url=http://content.mtime.com/news/1604304 |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=Mtime |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213201325/http://content.mtime.com/news/1604304 |url-status=live }} The chase ends with a shirtless battle between Zhong Cheng and Zhang Sun in a bathhouse.{{cite news |title=电影《除暴》首周末票房破2亿 - 粉丝网星闻 |url=http://news.ifensi.com/article-14-4430779-1.html |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=news.ifensi.com |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214095951/http://news.ifensi.com/article-14-4430779-1.html |url-status=live }}
The film is based on a real string of robberies and murders committed by Zhang Jun, who was dubbed "China's number one outlaw" when he was active in the 1990s. Zhang Jun killed or injured around 50 people before being apprehended in September 2000 and executed the next year.
Cast
- Wang Qianyuan as Zhong Cheng{{cite news |title=《除暴》近期最爽！吴彦祖演中国第一悍匪，原型5个情妇，极凶残_张君 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/433415795_358710 |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=www.sohu.com |language=zh |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214104252/https://www.sohu.com/a/433415795_358710 |url-status=live }}
- Daniel Wu as Zhang Sun
- Jessie Li as Wen Juan
- Michelle Wai as Chen Qian{{cite news |title=专访《除暴》主演卫诗雅：演戏是我生命中的能量 |url=https://movie.douban.com/review/12997972/ |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=豆瓣 |language=zh-CN}}
- Nina Paw as Zhang Sun's mother{{cite web |title=王千源吳彥祖《除暴》破3億鮑起靜神演技一個眼神詮釋悍匪母親 |url=http://ent.ynet.com/2020/11/27/3012510t1254.html |website=ent.ynet.com 北青網 |access-date=1 March 2021 |language=zh-CN |date=27 November 2020 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221033339/http://ent.ynet.com/2020/11/27/3012510t1254.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=《除暴》破3億，鮑起靜出鏡2分鍾展教科書級演技 |url=https://k.sina.com.cn/article_1653603955_628ffe7302000zq8b.html |website=k.sina.cn 新浪網 揚子晚報 |publisher=Sina Corp |access-date=1 March 2021 |language=zh-CN |date=28 November 2020 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221033418/https://k.sina.com.cn/article_1653603955_628ffe7302000zq8b.html |url-status=live }}
Production
Production officially started on 13 November 2018 in Jiangmen, Guangdong,{{cite news |title=吴彦祖王千源警匪片《限期破案》开机 |url=http://content.mtime.com/news/1586115 |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=content.mtime.com |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213072950/http://content.mtime.com/news/1586115 |url-status=live }} and principal photography was finished in January 2019.{{cite news |title=王千源吴彦祖主演《限期破案》杀青 |url=http://content.mtime.com/news/1588127 |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=Mtime时光网 |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213220443/http://content.mtime.com/news/1588127 |url-status=live }} Filming locations included Heshan,{{Cite web|url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/91HtofSnGf-TUOMa6KfDlg|title=火了！热播大片《除暴》在鹤山取景，你看过了吗？|work=鹤山发布|date=2020-11-27|lang=zh|access-date=2021-02-13|archive-date=2022-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221033419/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/91HtofSnGf-TUOMa6KfDlg|url-status=live}} Jiangmen,{{Cite web|url=http://www.jiangmen.gov.cn/bmpd/jmswhgdlytyj/zwgk/gzdt/content/post_2194922.html|title=电影《除暴》热映，江门取景地走红朋友圈！跟着影片游五邑"天然影棚"|work=江门市广电文化旅游局|date=2020-11-27|lang=zh|access-date=2021-02-13|archive-date=2020-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211050045/http://www.jiangmen.gov.cn/bmpd/jmswhgdlytyj/zwgk/gzdt/content/post_2194922.html|url-status=live}} and Zhongshan, Guangdong. Reportedly, Wang Qianyuan and Daniel Wu nearly injured themselves trying to make the action as realistic as possible. Wang also said in an interview that in preparation for the shirtless fight scene at the end of the film, he and Wu spent 40 days on a diet and exercise regimen to tone their muscles.{{cite news |title=文艺星开讲丨王千源：别丢掉，对表演的执着与热爱 |url=http://culture.people.com.cn/n1/2020/1124/c1013-31942688.html |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=culture.people.com.cn |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227141653/http://culture.people.com.cn/n1/2020/1124/c1013-31942688.html |url-status=live }} Michelle Wai started getting tanned and gaining weight about six months before shooting began in preparation for her role as a 1990s police officer.{{cite news |title=韩三平：90年代犯罪猖獗，电影反映真实情况 - Mtime时光网 文章详情 |url=http://content.mtime.com/article/10257834 |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=content.mtime.com |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224102428/http://content.mtime.com/article/10257834 |url-status=live }} The production used a total of 48 guns, 6,243 blank cartridges, and 4,312 explosive cartridges.
The film's working title was {{zh|s=限期破案|hp=Xiànqī Pò'àn|labels=no}}, literally "Solving the case in time", but in September 2020 the title was changed to {{zh|s=除暴|hp=Chúbào|labels=no}}, literally "Getting rid of outlaws", in support of the ongoing law enforcement campaign to crack down on underworld crimes.{{cite news |title=王千源吴彦祖新片《限期破案》更名《除暴》 |url=https://3g.163.com/ent/article/FN9L4JR9000380D0.html |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=3g.163.com |date=24 September 2020 |lang=zh |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213192326/https://3g.163.com/ent/article/FN9L4JR9000380D0.html |url-status=live }}
Release and reception
Though originally planned for a 2019 release, the film was released in China on 20 November 2020, after screenings on 14 and 15 November. Screening audiences rated it 8.8 out of 10 on Taopiaopiao and Maoyan. Among their reactions were sentiments like "Now I understand why China is one of the safest countries in the world nowadays" and "Being a police officer back then was really tough".{{cite news |title=导演刘浩良为《除暴》主题曲MV作词 |url=http://ent.ynet.com/2020/11/18/2992623t1254.html |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=ent.ynet.com |lang=zh |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213195331/http://ent.ynet.com/2020/11/18/2992623t1254.html |url-status=live }} It was also released in Australia on 10 December 2020.{{cite web |title=Caught in Time - Financial Information Australia |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Chu-bao-(2020-China)/Australia |website=The Numbers |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214073803/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Chu-bao-(2020-China)/Australia |url-status=live }}
The weekend of its release, Caught in Time was the top-grossing film internationally.{{cite news |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |title='Demon Slayer' Overtakes 'Frozen' In Japan, Now Market's 3rd Biggest Film Ever – International Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/demon-slayer-japan-greenland-china-global-international-box-office-1234620261/ |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=Deadline |date=24 November 2020 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218155717/https://deadline.com/2020/11/demon-slayer-japan-greenland-china-global-international-box-office-1234620261/ |url-status=live }} It was the box office number-one film in China for weeks 47–48 of 2020.
It received mixed reviews.{{cite news |title=Box office hopes to finish strong |url=https://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/151461 |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=China Daily |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213222918/https://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/151461 |url-status=live }} Jiemian News wrote that the film was bold and innovative for adapting the style of classic Hong Kong crime films to the context of mainland China, but noted that not all viewers were pleased with this choice.{{cite news |title=《除暴》与"香港悍匪电影宇宙" |url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/5314532.html |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=界面 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214091604/https://www.jiemian.com/article/5314532.html |url-status=live }} Critic Dong Jing said that after an exciting first half, the second half of the film was disappointing and Zhong Cheng's character was not developed enough, but she still felt the film was worth watching.{{cite news |title=《除暴》： 吴彦祖、王千源、韩三平"三王牌"打了一个遗憾 |url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/5309289.html |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=界面 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214101157/https://www.jiemian.com/article/5309289.html |url-status=live }} The film was praised for its detailed recreation of 1990s China.
Viewers enjoyed the final fight scene in the bathhouse. While commentators praised the realistic punches, they also joked that the men kept their towels on improbably well. "Daniel Wu's towel never falls off even when he fights" became one of the top searches on Weibo.
Sequel
On 3 December 2020, a sequel was announced. Caught in Time 2 will feature the same cast, and director Lau Ho-Leung is writing the screenplay.{{cite web |title=《除暴》大卖，《除暴2》官宣启动 |url=http://content.mtime.com/article/10259188 |website=时光网 |access-date=2021-02-16 |date=2020-12-03 |lang=zh |archive-date=2021-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224101427/http://content.mtime.com/article/10259188 |url-status=live }}{{needs update|date=November 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Hkmdb title|20854}}
- {{douban|30373723}}
- {{Mtime|261863}}
- {{imdb title|tt9877138}}
Category:2020 crime action films
Category:Chinese crime action films
Category:Chinese mystery films
Category:Films based on actual events
Category:Films set in the 1990s
Category:Films shot in Guangdong
Category:Hong Kong crime drama films
Category:Hong Kong heist films