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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Running on Karma (2003)

Rating: 3 Stars (out of 4)

Kung Fu Muscle

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Running on Karma on DVD

Andy Lau (Fulltime Killer) stars as a monk-turned-bodybuilder called Big who can "see karma" and wears an almost-convincing foam muscle suit. He becomes involved with a murder case involving an Indian man who can twist himself up like a pretzel and a cute lady cop, Yee (Cecilia Cheung). Big sees that Yee is a reincarnated Japanese killer and will eventually die for her "crimes." It's all a little baffling, but -- as directed by Johnny To (The Heroic Trio) -- Running on Karma strikes the right tone between humor and action, and comes up with some truly spectacular scenes, not the least of which has Lau demonstrating his kung-fu skills on a Kleenex.

Starring: Andy Lau, Cecilia Cheung, Eddie Cheung Siu-Fai, Karen Tong Bo-Yu, Chun Wong, Yuen Bun
Written by: Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Hai-Noi, Au Kin-Yee, Yip Tin-Shing
Directed by: Johnny To/Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Language: Cantonese with English subtitles
Running Time: 93 minutes
Date: October 10, 2003