Motorway (Soi Cheang, 2012): Hong Kong

Reviewed by Sasha Miljkovic. Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival 2013.

All over the US people are spending considerable amounts of money on their cars. Tuning them up for fast acceleration, and long drifts. These people sometimes race on highways, or even in suburbs. Some people can drive very fast. So what happens when one of the fastest, most talented drivers rob a bank and is in hot pursuit with the police? Motorway (2012) directed by Soi Cheang, starring  tells the story of just that, but more from the cop’s perspective an in Hong Kong, rather then the US.

The movie starts with Shawn Yue, as a young cop, drving his older partner, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, quickly through the city and onto the highway, in a high speed chase. They are chasing some hulligans that were speeding. Shawn is able to catchup to them, but out of the two cars they caught, one flees. Shawn jumps into his car and chases after them, leaving his partner with the stopped perpetrators. Shawn is a fast driver, but is no match for these legendary challengers. The perpetrators quickly escape past a blind corner, tricking Shawn into driving the wrong way. Motorway is the story of Shawn Yue, practicing and becoming an amazing racer, and drifter!

If you love cars, and drifts, then this movie is for you! The money (camera) shots, are insane. Sometimes they slow down the camera as they pan across the screen, making each turn and skid even more dramatic and awesome. Shawn’s life is threatened multiple times causing him to become dark and angry. Most of the car chases happen at night to help the robbers escape the police. Guns are used in this film. People will be shot, killed, and brutally wounded. Dont expect to only see drift in this film.

Lots of tricks and stunts keep the movie entertaining, but overall the story is very predictable. If you are looking for a good story, then Motorway isnt for you. But if your looking for intense action, crazy drift, and high speed chases.. then this film is Godly.