Black Mask 2:

City of Masks

The English Language Sequel to the
Original Black Mask. A Film Workshop Co.,
Ltd. Production, 2001. Story by Tsui Hark,
Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud.
Produced and Directed by Tsui Hark.
Starring Tyler Mane, Traci Elizabeth Lords
and introducing Andy On as "Black Mask."

     By Stephen Pytak 
     I wonder what the Wachowski Brothers 
think when they pop stuff like this into their 
Playstations.
I can't even imagine the level of disgust.
This sci-fi misfire is supposedly the sequel to Jet Li's 1996 masterpiece.
Master filmmaker Tsui Hark, who made the excellent film "Time and Tide (2000), not only wrote and produced this thing, but he directed.
Martial Arts Director Yuen Wo Ping, the man Keanu calls "Master," is also on the credits.
Even though Jet Li did not return for this supposed sequel, the caliber of talent behind the camera alone should have produced some kind of watchable entertainment.
Instead, these so-called masters have produced 101 minutes of spectacular nonsense that makes Joel Schumacher's "Batman and Robin (1997)" look like Bryan Singer's "X-Men (2000)."
The camera work is dizzy. The villains are Ninja-Turtle rip-offs. The CG is whimp ass. The Black Mask is dead.
If you don't believe me, go spend three bucks to rent it.

Copyright 2003 by Stephen Pytak