Well, the DVD came out here in the UK, without any announcement, and I hadn't heard of it, so having enjoyed Tony Leung in titles like "Bullet In The Head" and "Hard-Boiled" (both John Woo films), I thought I'd give this a try. All I can say, is that it's bizarre, to say the least!

Part James Bond, part Mission Impossible, and part modern-day action/comedy ala "Indiana Jones", it's essentially a crime-caper story about one man's attempt to blackmail a Mob Boss. It will not be to everyones fancy, that's for sure, but those who stick with it, will have an enjoyable little HK action movie.

It's not what you'd expect, but it is an interesting title to watch, although some viewers may well give-up on it, before watching the entire movie. Considering that only the 97 minute edit was released here, it would be interesting to see the longer 2-hour cut, as seen in Australia, et al.

The best-bit, without a doubt, is the motorised-skateboard/BMX bike chase! Very wacky, and very funny, and very, very cool!

Tokyo Raiders is, in short, very much a standard contemporary Hong Kong action movie. It seems to have somewhat higher production values than most Hong Kong movies, but like so many movies out of Hong Kong these last few years it simply tries to imitate Hollywood. And like so many others, it only succeeds in proving that Hong Kong can't make American movies. It just doesn't work, and it never will. Hollywoodization is not the way to save the Hong Kong movie industry. Korea is king of "Asian Hollywood" (and the way things are going, Korea may be king of Asian cinema in a few years), and even a great cast like this can't change that.

And let me just state for the record that the cast is pretty good. Obviously, there are a lot of "pretty faces", but most of the actors do a good job acting as well, and you simply can't go wrong with Tony Leung. Tôru Nakamura is also one of my personal favourites, but unfortunately his role in Tokyo Raiders is very small.

That said, however, just about everything else is sub-par. For starters, the plot makes little sense. Why would the CIA want to devalue the Japanese yen? Well, the movie certainly offers no answer, it only asks you to accept that they do, for one reason or another. And why would any newspaper write about the love affair of a yakuza oyabun's girlfriend? Relax, I'm not giving away much here. In fact, part of the problem is that there's actually very little to give away. Nothing really happens, except for a broken heart and a few not too spectacular fights...

The music is another story. I won't get into too much detail, but I find the soundtrack choices a bit odd. The on-screen action and the music just don't fit each other. Basically, Tokyo Raiders is a fairly mediocre affair. While I wouldn't say it's a total waste, there are certainly better movies you could see.

This is a modern-day Hong Kong actioner, set in a variety of locations (but mostly Tokyo, as the title so nimbly puts it) and with a cast of fresh, young, attractive faces going through their varied motions. Unfortunately the plot is this film's weakest point, a rather dull tale of CIA espionage, counterfeit money, and lots of twists and double-crossings. There are numerous characters (most of whom hide their identity until the conclusion), far too many in fact, making it hard to care what happens to any of them. The emphasis is also on overbearing comedy, something I'm not a particular fan of.

What this film does have to recommend it is a wealth of action, from destructive car chases to speed boat battles, skateboards, and of course a ton of martial arts showdowns. The kung fu here is sleek and stylised with slow-motion moves and impeccable choreography; unfortunately, as this is a film with a young cast and is likely aimed at teenagers, it isn't very violent. The characters are also invariably annoying; newcomer Ekin Cheng is praised in the accompanying documentary for his martial arts skills, but they aren't really apparent here. Old pro Tony Leung steals his scenes as the slick PI with a ton of hidden devices (especially in the 'Inspector Gadget' style opening battle) whilst Kelly Chan just looks very attractive, as do the rest of the young female cast members. The music is memorably offbeat (not to mention annoying). Not a great movie but perhaps a solid offering for fans who know what to expect from this kind of style-over-substance showcase.