PEACE HOTEL

(A.k.a. WOH PING FAAN DIM; HEPING FANDIAN)

A black-and-white flashback shows us the final throes of a massacre in a saloon. The perpetrator is a character known only as The Killer (Chow Yun Fat, HARD BOILED; CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON). He chases the sole survivor of the bloodbath up the bar's stairs and onto a landing, prepares to kill him with his sword ... and stops. The image of a dove somehow resonates with The Killer and he grants his final victim mercy.

A voiceover tells us that legend has it The Killer wiped out an entire gang of bandits single-handedly, because it was said they killed his woman. The narration continues to tell us that since then, legend has it The Killer opened up a haven designed especially for people with nowhere else to turn to. A place where whoever made it there was guaranteed of safety and peace. It's name: The Peace Hotel.

The voice tells us all had peaceful at the Peace Hotel for a good 10 years. Until, that is, the arrival of one particular woman ...

Shau Siu-man (Cecilia Yip, MILES APART; MAY AND AUGUST) turns up at the Peace Hotel and instantly starts causing waves by demanding the best room and a hot meal. Her abrupt manner is laughed off by the other guests - fugitives one and all - as she has no money. But she shows them a gold ring in her possession, and tells them she is their Boss' (The Killer) long lost wife. Immediately she is treated with respect.

However, when The Killer returns from a shopping spree he is baffled to learn that his wife has turned up. Sneaking into her room and watching her bathe, he keeps his identity hidden as she reveals she is not his wife - she is the daughter of an Emperor. A destitute one at that, as she begs for money to rent the room for the night, offering to sleep with The Killer in return. He declines the offer, but leaves some money on the side for her.

The next day, as she discovers his identity, he learns Shau has been stealing from him so tells her she can stay for one more night then she must leave to visit her family.

Circumstances change later that day when a gang of bandits arrive at the gates of the Peace Hotel, demanding that Shau be given to them. It transpires that she has attacked one of their crew and stolen gold from them - and they want revenge. The Killer, against the wishes of his guests, advises that he will not turn the girl over to them, and that if they want her they'll have to storm the hotel to get her ...

And that's when the action begins.

PEACE HOTEL is an odd film. It starts as an Oriental Western with comic moments, then diverts into sword-swashing action territory, and even throws in an unexpected song from Shau at one point. There's also one scene where Shau takes a beating that felt totally out of synch with the comparatively 'light' tone of the rest of the film. All of which leads the viewer to an ending not too dissimilar to that of MAD MAX 2.

Stylishly shot with a lot of golden-hued colouring and nicely framed exterior scenes, PEACE HOTEL is frequently nice to look at. The lead characters are likeable (even Shau, despite being a compulsive liar) and the flirtatious nature of the growing relationship between them is believable.

The action is choreographed and filmed reasonably well, although there's nothing here that will drop jaws or challenge the likes of the film's producer, John Woo. Director Kai-Fai Wai (LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS) is competent at his job, but that's all.

PEACE HOTEL simply lacks any real purpose. It doesn't have the epic feel that has become a prerequisite of modern-day Westerns. It also doesn't jar enough in the action stakes (there are only two or three set-pieces, and they're forgettable). It doesn't excel at anything, in fact. It's merely okay.

If you're a fan of Fat then it's possible you won't be disappointed. He does his job with little energy but plenty of the usual charisma, but he's the only noteworthy ingredient in an otherwise so-so, nondescript film.

Optimum's disc presents the film uncut in it's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, 16x9 enhanced. The image quality is generally sharp and bright, with only a few washed-out scenes showing signs of the film's age.

The Cantonese 2.0 audio is perfectly acceptable (pretty loud actually, but nice and clear, well-balanced). English subtitles are burnt-in.

The film can be accessed via 12 chapters.

As for extras, there are none. From what I recall there's none on Tai Seng's R1 disc either - although that does offer a couple of soundtrack options and removable subtitles.

A buy for the terminally curious and die-hard Fat completist. A possible rent for anyone else.

Review by Stu Willis