The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I'm sorry but the movie is not that good just download it or stream it! Don't waste your precious wages on this poor film...The film is based off of a Japanese Manga of the same name. There's too much material to be putting it in movie form. But, I'm sad to say there's not much to the material to speak of! I feel like the only redeeming value is if you enjoy over the top violence and don't care about character or story development. Just a bunch of flashy brawling and poor stiff acting.You can keep hearing the words " For No REASON!!! " ringing in your head in a faux thuggish gangster voice as you see the main character constantly getting into all sorts of trouble just because he wants to be the strongest a Gangstah and well....just because he feels like it...I only watched this junk all the way through because I'm lying down sick around the house and this garbage was shown for "free" on an Asian channel. You have been warned.

I saw it a over 2 year ago. I liked the film. I think the story was good and interesting. Good realistic and brutal fights in my opinion. I think they made it like Shawn Yue actually knew martial arts. What was rare in this was that they didn't use much wires in the fights.I noticed 1 or 2 wires in the film. I think Shawn did a good job in the fight scenes, and acting. It had enough action scenes for me. I for hope a sequel to this film. It think it deserves a sequel. If you like a action film with a good enough story, and a film with well made fight choreography and realistic, brutal fights, then i can for sure recommend this film to you.

Pou-soi cheang caught my attention after watching Dog Bite Dog. Shamo is his newest entry and has Cheang revisiting the darkest corners of the human soul, hidden below a layer of macho action. If anything, his latest is another confirmation of Cheang's enormous talent and will hopefully help him build up a solid reputation.Shamo is an adaptation of a popular manga, following the life of Ryo, a ruthless and rash boy who has murdered both his parents and is sent to juvenile. There he becomes even more of an outcast and only manages to hold on through the karate lessons he gets inside from a fellow inmate. By the time he is released from juvenile Ryo is a wild animal ready to ravage everyone crossing his path.Cheang's setting up a pretty bleak vision and only at the very end is Ryo's character given some humanity. This makes for a rather strange viewing, where the main protagonist is really a plain asshole not worthy of much sympathy. Luckily Shawn Yue put in a stellar performance as Ryo, drawing his character on screen with so much charisma that it's hardly a bother.Cheang already proved himself as an audiovisual wonder, and he kindly continues his reputation in Shamo. The camera work is tense when it needs to be (mostly during the fights), lightning is exquisite and there's even time for some visual trickery (mostly when Ryo gets pounded into the ground).Even more interesting is the way Cheang makes use of sounds and distortion to increase the tension in his films. This really improved the atmosphere in Dog Bite Dog and Shamo benefits from his experiences there. Crunchy distortions and split-second editing make for some really intense moments. The choice of music is sometimes a little questionable, but never feels out of place.Shamo is a pretty rough film made from a pretty typical story outline, following films like Rocky and the likes. At least, at its very core, because the way Shamo plays is totally different, with a main character that's hardly one to cheer for and a lack of real stage battles and victories. The film only features two stage fights and both include some serious trashing for Ryo. This is not your typical came and conquer film.Visually beautiful, strong use of sound and an unconventionally ruthless story. Cheang is a real talent and proves himself again after fabulous films like New Blood and Dog Bite Dog. Add to this the superb performance of Yue and some good supporting actors like Francis Ng and Ryo Ishibashi and you have a film that will please the fans of merciless action and general ass-kicking, but with a darker twist.4.5*/5.0*

simply because its THAT awful. This is one of those movies where you wonder "why" did they even bother writing it, and "why" did they even put money on it! In summary, there's just a guy who killed his parents, gone to prison, learn karate in prison (say what???), and after that tries to find his sister, but ended up somehow just trying to be the best on fights.Did i mentioned the scenario twist? It makes you suffer 2 whole hours for a twist that's so pointless, and by the time they serve you this, you have no interest about the movie. His sister has killed their parents, now she works as a ho-re & sees his brother fighting.No, i haven't read the original manga, but after this movie, i don't even have the curiosity to do so.Overall, stay away from this movie as hell. 2 stars only for some semi-good fights, but even those are not special or something...