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| The prosecutor |
The movie opens with an electrifying action sequence shot in first-person perspective. Donnie Yen plays Jian Wen, a decorated former police officer who left the force after a tragic case where an innocent man was killed due to misinformation. Haunted by guilt, Jian becomes a prosecutor, determined to uncover the truth and fight for justice within the legal system. For the first scene it makes me a little bit dizzy because of the camera angle. They make it as we played a video game.
The central plot revolves around Lin Hao (played by rising star Aaron Kwok), a struggling delivery driver who gets entangled in a drug trafficking case. When a routine stop by the police results in the discovery of drugs in his vehicle, Lin swears he’s been framed. The case seems airtight. Surveillance footage, planted evidence, and a confession extracted under duress paint Lin as guilty.
Jian, who initially takes the case as just another routine prosecution, starts to suspect something is amiss when Lin’s story and body language don’t align with the “facts.” Jian’s investigative instincts kick in, leading him to reexamine the evidence. His former partner, Detective Zhang Wei (played by Nicholas Tse), warns him not to dig too deep, suggesting that Jian’s pursuit of the truth could stir up dangerous forces within the police department.
As Jian delves deeper, he uncovers a conspiracy involving high-ranking officials, including his old police captain. The drug cartel behind the trafficking ring has been paying off corrupt officers to pin their crimes on innocent scapegoats. Jian’s investigation is further complicated by Zhang, who has divided loyalties between his old friendship with Jian and his duty to the department.
The courtroom scenes form the backbone of the movie’s legal drama. Jian, now representing Lin, clashes with the sharp and ruthless prosecutor Mei Ling (played by Kara Wai), who is determined to secure a conviction at any cost. The verbal sparring between Jian and Mei Ling is intense, but Jian’s evidence is initially dismissed as circumstantial.
To prove Lin’s innocence, Jian resorts to unconventional tactics. This leads to several high-stakes action sequences, including a rooftop chase and a warehouse fight where Jian must defend himself from cartel enforcers. The fight choreography highlights Donnie Yen’s signature mix of fluid martial arts and gritty realism.
The climax takes place in both the courtroom and a simultaneous operation to bust the cartel. Jian presents a surprise witness an undercover officer who exposes the corruption within the police force. Meanwhile, Zhang makes a pivotal decision to side with Jian and takes part in the takedown of the cartel, redeeming himself in the process.
The movie ends with Lin Hao being exonerated, but Jian’s victory comes at a cost. His relentless pursuit of justice alienates him from his former colleagues, and he decides to step away from the legal system altogether. In a poignant final scene, Jian visits the family of the man who died in the earlier case that haunted him, seeking closure and forgiveness.
The Prosecutor closes on a bittersweet note, with Jian walking away from both the police force and the prosecutor’s office, symbolizing his realization that justice sometimes requires operating outside the system.
⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
