Film Name: 幻影特攻 / Hot War
This is an old movie I watched ages ago, but every few years I find myself wanting to revisit it. I won’t dwell on its flaws—instead, I’ll share why it’s stuck with me.
I originally watched it purely because of the dynamic duo of Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan. After seeing Young and Dangerous, I naturally wanted to see them together. Back then, I was young and knew little about life’s sorrows—things like losing someone you love, or the accidental killing of a friend. Back then, I couldn’t grasp what it felt like to lose everything like Sammi did—his lover, his friend, his brother—especially since they were orphans to begin with. Another thing that struck me was how impressive the simulated soldiers were. Six hours a day equaled two years for others? If only studying worked that way! Of course, watching it now, I realize those kids were already geniuses, especially when the experiment succeeded—their minds were razor sharp. Honestly, my first viewing left little lasting impression.
But subsequent viewings felt entirely different—my emotional understanding of the film deepened. Imagine facing your father’s killer: that’s the core. Chen Xiaochun’s performance truly shines, especially that bloodshot-eyed intensity. His exchanges with Ekin Cheng grow more nuanced with each watch. He’s genuinely suited for roles where he conveys everything through expressionless eyes. Re-watching Initial D, I also found his portrayal of Keiichi—sparing with words yet utterly cool—spot-on. As an action film, the choreography and combat sequences are quite impressive, though after getting used to 1280p resolution, this feels a bit grainy.
Looking back, two scenes stand out most vividly. First, when Squirrel chases the Alien—he wasn’t trying to kill it, just desperate to die together. That frantic scramble for the switch, then leaping off the building with the Alien strapped to his back… Every time I watch it, my scalp tingles. He clearly didn’t want to live, yet the only reason he survived was to drag you down with him. How do you even deal with someone like that? The other is when Spring Brother falls at the end—didn’t he pull off two little poses? It struck me as incredibly cool back then. Even now, I think if I had to commit suicide, I’d definitely choose jumping off a building. You get to feel the flight (free fall) and strike a few poses—pretty sweet.
Just now, I noticed when Squirrel tells Degao he doesn’t envy him at all—because he escaped by losing his past memories. It made me wonder: if it were me, would I choose to erase those memories or just keep living like this? Sure, he says losing memories is pitiful, but Degao doesn’t have any memories of not having them either. Naturally, he wouldn’t feel like anything in his life is missing or incomplete. I honestly couldn’t decide which path I’d choose right now.
Anyway, I think this movie is pretty good. From the perspective of an ordinary young person, I’d be happy to watch it again.
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » Hot War 1998 Film Review: As an ordinary young person, I really enjoy watching it.