Film Name: 杀手之王 / The Contract Killer / The Hitman / 殺手之王
When I was young, it seemed like every household had a DVD player, and all kinds of movies found their way into our little village. I watched this film along with everyone else.
The scene that stuck with me was Jet Li’s character, Ah Fu, eating a banana gun. Back then, I thought Jet Li was dashing and honorable, and I became obsessed with him for a while.
“The Contract Killer” is a 1998 Hong Kong action film. Its plot is straightforward, with characters largely defined as either utterly good or utterly evil—classic cops versus robbers, making everything crystal clear.
Revisiting it now, I find Eric Tsang’s portrayal of the small-time character deeply relatable and utterly charming. Almost all the comedy and plot progression in the film are driven by Eric Tsang’s character, Crocodile (Yue Lu)—the only fully developed character in the movie.
He’s insincere yet deeply loyal. Initially, he pretends to care about Ah Fu (Jet Li) for money, treating him as a tool for profit. Later, when real danger strikes, he stops Ah Fu from risking his life for him, simply asking him to look after his daughter and giving him his own counterfeit watch.
He laughs and jokes in public, but feels helpless behind closed doors. Life is tough for everyone. He knows he’s just an ordinary man—powerless, without influence, and with limited abilities. In his twilight years, when trouble found him and his daughter’s boyfriend taught him a lesson in decency, he likely felt resentful yet powerless. The white suit draped over his shoulder appeared dashing, but concealed profound loneliness.
Though greedy, his conscience remained uncorrupted. In today’s society, few would resemble Strickland from “The Moon and Sixpence.” He tried to swindle Uncle Liang out of his money but couldn’t bear to see the old man suffer, so he ultimately gave up the chance. Yet through a twist of fate, he ended up with the money anyway, only to bring about his own demise.
He clung desperately to his pride, yet in the end, he chose to be true to himself. He told his future in-laws he was a thief, thus severing that connection. He was a kind father, but not a good one.
He bullied the weak and feared the strong. During the final 3v3 fight, he intended to pick an easy target but ended up nearly beaten to death by a woman. Still, seeking gain and avoiding harm is human instinct—this much is understandable. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
I love these flesh-and-blood ordinary characters. One side radiates sunshine; the other lurks in shadow.
Final thought: When profit clashes with conscience, which would you choose?
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