Running on Karma (2003)

The great Johnnie To (The Mission, Running Out Of Time, The Heroic Trio) directs this intriguing murder mystery with a touch of Zen. Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs, The Duel), in his most daring role to date, is Biggie, a huge, muscular Buddhist monk who knows kung fu and somehow has "Karma"--the ability to see things before they happen. Biggie's unusual characteristics soon arouse the interest of policewoman Yee (Cecilia Cheung), who begins to fall in love with him. But when Biggie's karma foresees Yee's impending death from murder, he has to do everything in his power to stop fate.

Lau Gets Rubbery

No whimsy here. This film makes you want to crawl under your sofa and dig a hole through the floor. This Karma is a chameleon, appearing to be a decent film and then up pops Lau in a rubber muscle suit that's way too big for him. It's more ghastly than a thousand ghouls. His name is "Big," but unlike the Tom Hanks film, no fortune telling machine will cure this disaster. Lau plays a former monk, who happens to be a body builder and kung-fu maestro. Having left the monastery for the life of an illegal alien, he ekes out a living through petty crimes and various odd-jobs. He is also a clairvoyant who continually experiences visions of WWII era Japanese atrocities. Currently, Lau works as a male stripper. No I am NOT making this up. Andy tries to look enthusiastic and gives it the old college try, but it's just embarrasing. His tiny head popping grotesquely through the rubber suit continually reminds the unfortunate viewer that there is no escape. The only saving grace is the comedy that occurs when he tries to ride a moped and chase a police woman. Hilarity ensures when the hapless Lau is completely unable to manage the machine and immediately drives into the side of a wall. I brayed like the proverbial jackass when Lau fell over for no apparent reason, stumbled off the bike and then drove onto the side walk and up an embankment where he fell off and tumbled howling onto the concrete.
Lau has made many a good film but this is NOT one of them. Just Lau-sy. October 9, 2007

Bodybuilding Stripper Monk!

First let me say, this is basically not a terrible story. The ideas portrayed are interesting. To be sure, karma is always interesting. I understood the premise. I understood (I think) the ending. What I didn't understand was the ridiculous foam rubber bodybuilding "suit" Andy Lau was forced to wear. Oh, I cringe at how he must have felt! There were many other viable alternatives that could have been employed to show Andy's transcendental journey. Who is responsible for this unforgiveable lapse in judgment? I had the feeling the person who came up with this silly idea must have been having his own out of body experience. The whole movie is good -- except for the suit. What makes it worse is that the viewer can never forget that it IS a suit! Andy's head is too small to go with the rest of his body, and the foam rubber muscles bend and are not realistic. Andy Lau did a tremendous job of portraying this character (despite this awful suit) and the other actors were good as well. It could have been a 5-star movie all the way -- except for the suit. Still, Andy Lau fans should not pass this one by. It's not Andy's fault. If you're not an Andy fan, I hate to say this, but I can't recommend it. It's just too ridiculous -- the suit, that is! Can you tell the suit really ruined it for me?? October 8, 2007

Karmic Visions Of The Past , Present, And Future!

"Running On Karma," has to be one of the most entertaining films that I have seen in a long time. I truly enjoyed this film, and highly recommend it to everyone. Not only is this film very entertaining, but there are an equal amount of funny scenes in this film as well as tragic. The film stars a character by the name of Biggie (Andy Lau) as an ex-shaolin monk with Karmic visions. Biggie gets his name due to the fact that he is a body building wrestler and strip dancer, with huge muscles. However, there is more to Biggie than meets the eye. Not only does he wrestle for a living and do strip dancing, but as an ex-shaolin monk, he has the ability to see other peoples karma. This ability to see other peoples karma, is one of the reasons he left his life as a monk. Yet, there is more to this than I wish to divulge.

The viewer is introduced to Biggie in the films introduction. As he is doing a strip tease dance in a club, he is arrested by an undercover policewoman (Cecelia Cheung) for violating decency laws. However, this crossing of paths between these to characters will have a profound impact on the both of them. One side note quickly on the character of Andy Lau in the film. One sees a large and heavily muscled body builder, and this was due to the special effects department that incorporated a muscle suit for Biggie to wear. And I believe for the film, they did a good job. Moreover, it was necessary for what will eventually occur toward the end of the film. As one sees a transformation in his character.

Furthermore, Andy Lau sure played the character of Biggie in a very funny, witty, and serious way. His character alone was a true joy to watch. Now, one more thing. 'Suspension of Disbelief' is a necessary ingredient for many films. Look at "Lord of the Rings." For the viewer to appreciate and enjoy this delightful film, put aside any Westernized or preconceived ideas of life in the hereafter. Just for the pure value of entertainment, take the film with a grain of salt. The film's main premise is that past mistakes affect our present state of affairs. If you did harm in your past life, you will suffer the consequences in this life. And when Biggie (Andy Lau) meets up with this policewoman, (Cecelia Cheung) he sees visions of her past life.

But what does Biggie see in this policewoman's past life that bothers him? Is there something in her past that caused others to suffer? And if so, what was it? The films narrative follows Biggie as he tries to reverse this policewoman's Karma, by interfering with her life in order to protect her. And in doing so, something occurs that gives Biggie hope. Or can her Karma be reversed? She is in love with him, but he is also unsure whether or not he can help her. Can he help her? Or is her fate sealed? Maybe his actions will alter her life? Then maybe not? There are some very good action scenes in the film, not only with Biggie (Andy Lau) but with other strange characters in the film as well. Plus, the way the films narrative evolves is very interesting and you find yourself drawn into ALL characters in the film. This film really works. I think you will enjoy this film---I sure did. Give the film a chance and I think you will like it. It truly is a different kind of film than what one is usually used to. Highly recommended. August 14, 2006

Instant Karma's Going To Get You

Note: Cantonese with English subtitles.

'Running On Karma' is a rather strange, off-the-wall film dealing with the harsh reality of karmic debt, or pay-back as understood within Eastern Philosophy.

Starring two of the most popular Chinese actors/actresses in recent years, Andy Lau and Cecilia Cheung, director Ka-Fai Wi and Johnny To weave a somewhat muddled, non-linear tale involving two nice people with the great misfortune of being hampered with bad karma derived from a previous incarnation.

This film is something really different that you'll either love or have absolutely no idea what's going on. Give it a try, you might like it! June 21, 2006

Not at all what you'd expect

Running On Karma is almost Ka-Fei Wai and Johnnie To's take on a superhero movie as former monk turned muscleman and male stripper Andy Lau (almost unrecognisable in a remarkably convincing muscle suit that makes the Hulk look a wimp) finds his ability to see the Karma that leads to people's deaths drawing him into protecting Cecilia Cheung's rookie detective (herself doomed to die for her sins as a Japanese soldier in a former life) and solving some outrageous crimes. Or at least for the first two thirds, before it takes a surprisingly sharp U-turn into philosophical and tragic territory as the two try to reverse their bad karma in different but equally drastic ways. Much of the credit here has to go to Ka-Fei Wei, who also wrote as well as co-directed, but it's certainly a much more impressive collaboration than the disappointing Fulltime Killer. Lau is extremely good, the premise works much better than it should and most importantly, you get to care about the characters. Mostly wonderful. June 16, 2006

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