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When speaking of the old guard when it comes to action stars, names like Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Norris, Gibson and Lundgren always come up. One would be hard pressed to find an action icon that embodies all that we love in the genre as Donnie Yen is considered a god in the cathedral of action cinema. Among those that deem the genre a religion, Yen is the master and after decades of proving (not that he needs to) that he’s the elite of the elite guard, Yen is still showing us that he has plenty in the tank when it comes to delivering hard core adrenaline in front of and behind the camera. From his Ip Man franchise to other classics like Flash Point and SPL to just name a few, Donnie rarely misses the mark when he makes a movie and with his latest directorial effort that sees him in front of the camera as well, the action icon has delivered his best work in years.
For The Prosecutor, which is now on DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K from Well Go USA, Donnie has crafted a gripping, brutal and poignant movie that is equal parts Law and Order and Raging Fire. This one is based on true events and the film is a captivating and complex tale of the inner workings of the Chinese judicial system wrapped in a bone crunching action-thriller that showcases Yen’s most ferocious action design ever courtesy of Takahito Ôuchi who serves as the film’s fight choreographer along with Yen’s eclectic stunt team consisting of famed action designer Kenji Tanigaki (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Enter the Fat Dragon), Hua Yan, and Kang Yu. Similar to Jackie Chan’s stunt team, Donnie’s crew are master craftsmen of their domain and know how to choreograph, film and edit the blistering set pieces like works of art for hardcore enthusiasts to sink their teeth into.
What sets The Prosecutor apart from Donnie’s other directorial efforts and action films is his ability here to merge emotional and dramatic gravitas with his signature skills as a leading man in martial arts action. Yen takes it to a whole new level here and if you can take your time with the slower first half of the movie where plot is established and the culmination of the legal system is justified, fans will be treated to some of the best savage science that the icon has ever served up.
In terms of plot. Donnie plays Fok Zi Hou, a former cop who is disillusioned with the laws of the land. After a bust that Fok and his team are on culminates in the suspects going free due to technicalities, Fok quits the force and joins the Department of Justice as a prosecutor to serve as the last line of defense when it comes to hopefully putting criminals away. When his first case sees him going after a young man who seems to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time, Fok sets out on a mission to find the truth which puts him on a head on collision with a ruthless drug operation and the dubious lawyers in their pockets.
It’s best to say that The Prosecutor is not a full-blown action movie like Yen’s many other flicks but that’s more than Ok as the audience is treated to a pretty weighty legal drama as well that highlights some pretty heavy handed drama and harsh realities as Yen takes us deep into the inner workings of what makes the legal system tick, Worts and all. Is it perfect? Not by any stretch of the imagination but Yen plays Fok as a beacon of light trying to break free from the darkness and set the wrong things right. Some may be put off by the pacing of the first hour but if you know what Yen is aiming for than you’ll be in for the ride when the movie erupts into a dazzling display of signature Donnie Yen featuring some of the best close quarters fight design with his trademark MMA flavor ever put to film.
The supporting cast is in top form as well including veteran Chinese actors like Kent Chang, Michael Hui, Francis Ng, Mark Cheng and Ray Lui. All bring their sense of mettle to the proceedings and compliment the film with what they have to offer in terms of supporting players. On villain duties, Cheng and Lui give off the perfect vibe of menacing and charisma that make you want to hate them and hopefully see them get what is coming to them. They are intense and foreboding when onscreen and a hero is only as good as the bad guy and here, the two actors elevate the film to another level and do what is exactly asked of them.
In terms of action, the film opens up with a sensational and engrossing set piece that highlights Fok and his team raiding an abandoned building to take down a crew of hardcore criminals. The sequence gets the film off running from the very first minute and Yen is a one-man war as he almost singlehandedly takes out perpetrators with his blazing fists and feet of fury while capping off with his machine pistol. The scene also has a showstopping POV effect to it that immerses the audience into the action like they’re playing Call of Duty. The gimmick works full throttle, and the scene is punctuated with Yen taking out a slew of baddies with a shield in one hand and a pistol in the other as well. It’s really one of the best action sequences I’ve seen in a while.
The action does take a back seat afterwards but in the final leg of the movie, fans get what they came for with a rousing one on many fight affair that sees Fok taking on an army of security guards with some of the finest choreography ever. It is here that Yen shows us that even though he’s 61 now, he’s still the one to beat when it comes to the savage science of unarmed combat. It’s a master class of how to film a fight sequence where one is taking on many while making it look realistic and brutal all at the same time.
The finale, on a subway, is the real showstopper, and it features a 16 Blocks vibe where Fok is trying to get a key witness to the courtroom on time. Just like the Bruce Willis starring vehicle, Yen employs all his martial arsenal and encompasses some of the most unique and brutal close quarters techniques ever. It’s a truly hard-hitting sequence that sees Yen and his assailants using their environment and more to try to take each other out in the most violent and insane ways possible. This all culminates with a showdown with a henchman that as it turns out has a beef with Fok and the two pummel each other to the point that you expect to see body parts flying from the massive hits and strikes. This is essential Donnie Yen here and the icon demonstrates why he is the master and the best of the best when it comes to onscreen empty-handed warfare. It’s not just the moves that sets him apart, it’s the creativity that abounds which makes each fight something new we haven’t seen before.
I could nitpick and talk about some of the legal jargon taking me out of the film a bit or the pacing where maybe a few minutes could have been trimmed off but at the end of the day, nothing really needed to be taken out as it all serves a purpose and highlights the fact that this is more than just a bone crunching Donnie Yen spectacle. The negatives are virtually non-existent here and the positives overshadow them to the point where I forgot about anything that was a problem.
I could also talk about how the Chinese censorship rules do interfere with some of the proceedings when it comes to the legal and dramatic stuff but at the end of the day it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment factor of the movie. It is what it is and even though it’s there, Yen manages to balance himself on the tightrope and give his fans what they want without sacrificing the action and the design that we have all come to bear witness too.
All in all, The Prosecutor and Donnie himself set out and succeed in delivering what he and the movie promises. It’s tier one action with a meaty and substantial, dramatic story that has its roots set firmly in reality. The movie is amplified by some of Yen’s best directing in years and some of his most breathtaking adrenaline laced set pieces ever. Despite a few minor gripes that are just that, minor, The Prosecutor is pure Donnie Yen petal to the medal adrenaline that is unequaled. Just like 2024 got off to a tremendous start with Statham’s The Beekeeper, Donnie Yen has ushered in 2025 with what will surely be one of the best action movies of the year when the dust settles, and all is said and done. There’s a reason why we worship at the Church of Yen and The Prosecutor is a prime example of that and a prime example of an action icon that is unrivaled.
VERDICT: 4.5 Out of 5 Stars
The Prosecutor is a Master Class of Action Fused with Heartfelt Drama with Donnie Yen Showing Us All that We are Not Worthy!
Donnie Yen delivers no holds barred justice as The Prosecutor is now on Digital, 4K & Blu-Ray from Well Go USA!
