Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Cast: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam, Efren Ramirez, Clifton Collins Jr., Bai Ling
RunTime: 1 hr 35 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: R21 (Violence and sexual scenes)
Official Website:

READ OUR REVIEW OF HIGH VOLTAGE OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK

Opening Day: 16 July 2009

Synopsis:

Hitman Chev Chelios is kidnapped by a mysterious Chinese mobster. Three months later, he wakes up to discover his nearly indestructible heart has been surgically removed and replaced with a battery-operated ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity in order to work. After a dangerous escape from his captors, Chev is on the run again, this time from the charismatic Mexican gang boss El Huron and the Chinese Triads, headed by the dangerous 100 year-old elder Poon Dong. Once again turning to Doc Miles for medical advice, receiving help from his friend Kaylo¡'s twin brother Venus, and re-connecting with his girlfriend Eve, who is no longer in the dark about what he does for a living, Chev is determined to get his real heart back and wreak vengeance on whoever stole it, embarking on an electrifying chase through Los Angeles where anything goes to stay alive.

Movie Review:

For the record, this reviewer has not seen the first installment of Crank, which was made some three years ago. Since it starred Jason Statham, he figured that it was probably one of those disposable movies, especially when the English action star has appeared in, err, other disposable movies like Transporter 3 (2008), Death Race (2008) and Rogue Assassin (2007). The first thing that caught this reviewer’s eye was its R21 rating (consumer advice: violence and sexual scenes) – does it mean that it will be graphically enticing? The second thing that caught his eye was the movie poster – how sick is the designer to have Statham clipping his own tongue with a painful looking device?

These factors have it going for the movie – and at the end of the 95 minutes, this reviewer (of the male species, nonetheless) walked out of the theatre, fully satisfied with what he has just watched.

There is no need to have watched the first movie to enjoy this one: It simply tells the story of a hitman (played by Statham, of course) pursuing a Chinese mobster who stole his imperishable heart and replaces it with a, prepare to be awed by this – battery powered ticker that functions only if it gets regular jolts of electricity. Simply put it – until the day he retrieves his heart, Statham’s character would have to constantly pump himself with electricity to stay alive – how insane is that?

You know the movie does not take itself seriously when you hear a crazy storyline like this. The fun and stylistic approach to making this movie is out of this world too: The picture begins with a classic video game sequence to show how Statham’s character fell from a helicopter, which this reviewer presumes was the climatic last scene of the first movie. From there, the hectic pace does not stop for you to take a breather. Enter a prostitute (Dim Sum Funeral’s Bai Ling in a role that’s a hoot to watch) who thinks that Statham is Kevin Costner to her Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard, get it?), an old girlfriend (Starsky & Hutch’s Amy Smart) who is working in a striptease bar, and a whole motley crew of gangsters and mobsters to keep your eyes glued to the screen for the movie’s entire runtime.

While there will be a group of viewers who will loathe this loud and flashy movie, there will be another group which will adore it for its uncouth, coarse and foul mouthed approach. The filmmaking style is visually enticing and attention grabbing, and credit goes to writers cum directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (the duo conceptualized the original Crank too!) for envisioning this lunatic psychosis, and bringing it to life on screen.

Throughout the movie, you’d be brought onto a fast paced thrill ride that promises to be exhilarating and invigorating. See Statham run like a mad dog, see Bai Ling run after him, see Statham’s car speed through busy streets, see Bai Ling run after him – you get the idea.

Sure, this movie may not be getting any Academy Award nominations anytime soon, but if you are looking for an ecstasy ride – this one will provide you with all the kicks and excitement several jolts of high voltage can provide.

Movie Rating:



(Trashy good fun that will leave you ecstatic and wanting more, more, more)

Review by John Li