Casino Raiders

Jing Wong and Corey Yuen team up together for Casino Raiders. That raises expectations of course, sadly the film doesn't really deliver. The first part in particular is too straight-faced, not something Hong Kong cinema is particularly good at. The second half is when both directors come into their own.

Sam and Crab, two Macau gamblers/friends, get into serious trouble with the Yakuza. They try to weasel their way out of it, but the Yakuza isn't willing to just let this one slide. A high-stake cards game is going to decide about their future, but that's no surprise with Jing Wong hanging around.

The first hour is a little tough, after that the fun starts. Lau, Kwan and Tam are perfect for this kind of work and with some decent gambling scene and a couple of fun action moments Casino Raiders redeems itself. Its excessive runtime does keep the film from being an easy recommend, but if you've got some time to spare, the second half is worth it.