- English name：Black Mask / 흑협 / Hak hap
- Broadcast time：November 9, 1996
- Starring：李连杰（Jet Li）、莫文蔚（Karen Mok）、刘青云（Sean Andy）
- director：李仁港（Daniel Lee）
Introduction
Black Mask (黑侠hēixiá) was originally released as Hak Hap in 1996. It is a Hong Kong action film starring Jet Li, Lau Ching-Wan(刘青云Liú Qīngyún), Karen Mok(莫文蔚Mò Wénwèi) and Anthony Wong Chau-Sang(黄秋生Huáng Qiūshēng）. It was directed by Daniel Lee and produced by Tsui Hark and his production company Film Workshop(电影工作室diànyǐng gōngzuòshì) . In 1999, the film was English-dubbed and released in the U.S. by Artisan Entertainment.
The film is based an adapted version of the 1992 manhua Black Mask by Li Chi-Tak. The film was later followed by a 2002 sequel, Black Mask 2: City of Masks.
In homage to The Green Hornet(青蜂侠qīngfēng xiá）, Black Mask wears a domino mask and chauffeur’s cap in the same style as Kato from the series. The Black Mask is even compared to Kato in a news reporter scene.
Plot
Tsui Chik (Simon in the US version), tries to lead a quiet life as a librarian. However, he is really a former test subject for a highly secretive supersoldier project and the instructor of a special commando unit dubbed “701.” The 701 squad is used for many government missions, but after one of the agents kills a team of policemen in an uncontrollable rage, the government decides to abort the project and eliminate all the subjects. Tsui Chik helped the surviving 701 agents flee the extermination attempt. Having escaped, Tsui Chik went separate ways from his team Later, he discovers that rest of the team were responsible for a violent crime spree that was beyond the capability of the local police. He sets out to stop them, donning a disguise and using the superhero alias of “Black Mask”. Having lost the ability to feel pain due to the surgery performed on the super-soldiers by the military, Black Mask is highly invulnerable.
Professional evaluation
Black Mask uses urban superheroes as the theme. Although their behavior and strength are exaggerated or even deified, they can undoubtedly satisfy the surreal fantasies of the general public under various pressures and the “spiritual resistance” to social contradictions. In addition to actual combat, Black Mask also adds high-tech weapons such as guns and explosions. The postmodern style of Black Mask’s “hood + black clothes + cape” makes it look very similar to American urban heroes such as Batman. Perhaps Black Mask has not yet properly balanced the tastes of the Hong Kong and overseas markets, but it is better to allow local heroes to retain their essence while putting on an “international” coat. Compared with traditional heroes who only fly and show off their kung fu, at least more Western audiences can accept it.
