Set in Hong Kong and China, High Forces (2024), directed by Oxide Pang with Andy Lau producing and acting, is an action thriller. The plot follows Gao Haojun, an international security specialist who battles hijackers on the very first flight of an Airbus A380.
Synopsis
Gao Haojun (Andy Lau) has a troubled family as he is involved in an accident; caused by his unstable personality which left his daughter, Gao Xiaojun (Zhang Zifeng), blind. A few years pass and while on the first flight of the luxurious Airbus A380, Gao bumps into his former wife Fu Yuan (Liu Tao) with their 18-year-old daughter who is now blind. However, Mai (Qu Chuxiao), along with 11 other hijackers, takes the plane with more than 800 passengers onboard. Gao is to put his skills into action and save the passengers with the help of his daughter and ex-wife who do assist him from the ground.
Cast
- Andy Lau in the role of Gao Haojun
- Zhang Zifeng in the role of Gao Xiaojun
- Qu Chuxiao in the role of Mike
- Liu Tao in the role of Fu Yuan
- Guo Xiaodong in the role of Li Hangyu
Production
In March 2020, the filming began under the preliminary title ‘A380.’ Principal winter shooting began on September 27, 2021, which is also the day Andy reached sixty years old. Filming ended on November 19, 2021. Significantly, there is a 1:1 scale model of an Airbus A380, which is said to have been built at a cost of HK$300 million.
Release
“High Forces” had its first theatrical showing in Hong Kong on October 10, 2024, and is now widely accessible across Hong Kong. For now, there is no information as to when a release of this nature can be expected, nor has anything been said about the online availability of the series.
Critical Reception
The movie has garnered mixed reactions, with some viewing it as an average piece. According to the South China Morning Post, it was described as “a thriller that feels bizarrely conceived” whereas 8days.sg accentuates on Andy Lau, stating that “he really works hard for his money in this big scale pic”.
Personal Insights
One of the interesting features about “High Forces” is that it is not purely an action film; rather, it contains families that help control the oversized adrenaline rush. Father trying to protect his family from Andy Lau’s mistakes makes him human and helps to partly relieve action-packed cliches from the movie.
Cultural Significance
El filme es un notable trabajo conjunto entre la industria de cine Hong Kong y la de China, que exhibe buenas técnicas de producción y considerable elaboracion de escenografías. La misma se suma a la creciente cartera de películas de acción de calidad que provienen de la región.