The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell explained

The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell
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T:掃毒3人在天涯
S:扫毒3人在天涯
P:Sǎo Dú Sān Rén Zài Tiān Yá
J:Sou3 Deok6 Saam1 Jan4 Zoi6 Tin1 Ngaai4
Director:Herman Yau
Starring:Aaron Kwok
Louis Koo
Sean Lau
Music:Mak Chun Hung
Cinematography:Mandy Ngai
Editing:Azrael Chung
Studio:Universe Entertainment
AMTD Digital
Hero Films
Lian Ray Pictures
Sun Entertainment Culture
Distributor:Universe Films Distribution
Runtime:125 minutes
Country:Hong Kong
Language:Cantonese
Budget:HK$300 million[1]
Gross:HK$10,503,821

The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell is a 2023 Hong Kong action film directed by Herman Yau and starring Aaron Kwok, Louis Koo and Sean Lau. The film is a thematic sequel to the 2019 film , featuring a new storyline and characters.

The film was announced in March 2020, with production slated to begin in July the same year. After going through several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production for the film began in June 2021 and ended in October 2021.[2] It was released on 27 July 2023.[3]

Plot

Undercover police officer Cheung Kin-hang (Aaron Kwok) has been infiltrating drug lord Hong So-chai's (Sean Lau) cartel. One time during an accident, another undercover officer Au Chi-yuen also earns the trust of both Cheung and Hong and the three of them form a brotherly bond. When Hong's narcotics businesses in Hong Kong were busted by the police, Hong So-chai flees to the Golden Triangle with a wounded Cheung from friendly fire. Hong So-chai attempts to get his foot into the Golden Triangle's drug business with Cheung, isolated from the outside world. Au races against time to get Cheung out of Thailand before Cheung's cover is blown.

Cast

Production

In March 2020, Universe Entertainment chairman Daneil Lam announced a sequel to the 2019 film, was being written and was slated to begin production in July of the year, with Herman Yau set to return as director, and will star returning cast members Louis Koo and Sean Lau, the latter making his return since the first film, joined by new cast member Aaron Kwok. Lam stated that Andy Lau, star and producer of The White Storm 2, will not return in the sequel as he will be starring in an aerial disaster action film titled Crisis Route (formerly titled A380), another production by Universe that was in development.[4] Production was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, it was announced that production for The White Storm 3 will begin the following month in Hong Kong, and will move to Thailand in 2021.[5]

Principal photography for The White Storm 3 began in June 2021. On 29 June, photos and videos from the set were released on Sina Weibo featuring Kwok, Koo and Lau on location in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, which was used to double as Thailand because of travel restrictions to the country due to COVID-19.[6] The following day (30 June), Kwok posted photos showing his character's look on set on his Instagram account.[2] [7]

On 1 August 2021, it was reported that filming has moved to Hong Kong, where the production crew has constructed a Thai village set in the New Territories. It was also reported that the film suffered a loss of HK$10 million as a result of being unable to film in Thailand, where a set was being constructed there during pre-production stage of the film and had to change to construct a new set in Hong Kong instead as the COVID-19 pandemic was worsening in Southeast Asia.[8] [9]

On 13 August 2021, the film held its production commencement ceremony and press conference at Cyberport where it was attended by the cast and crew.[10]

Production for The White Storm 3 wrapped up on 26 October 2021.[11]

Accidents on set

On 5 September 2021, during the filming of a car chase sequence at the Hongkong United Dockyards involving four prop cars, stunt coordinator Peter Chan was crushed by one of the prop cars which suddenly flipped sideways and was sent to the Princess Margaret Hospital where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit.[12] On 25 September 2021, it was reported that nine days later, another accident occurred during the filming of a plane crash scene involving a blown up scaffolding where three stuntmen were injured when the entire scaffolding collapsed instead of half of it collapsing like it was planned. Universe Entertainment released a statement that the injuries suffered by the crew members were not serious and they were recovering well.[13]

Release

The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell had its North American premiere at the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong panorama on 20 July 2023, consequently its China release has been advanced to 6 July.[14]

It was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 27 July 2023.[3]

Reception

Box office

The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell debuted at No. 4 during its opening weekend in Hong Kong, grossing HK$5,496,830 (US$705,011) after its first four days of release and bringing in a total of HK$5,521,910 (US$708,227) including preview screenings.[15] The film remained at No. 4 during its second weekend grossing HK$4,981,446 (US$637,714), while having grossed a total of HK$10,503,821 (US$1,344,678) so far.[16] [17]

Critical response

Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post gave the film a score of 3/5 stars praising the film's action sequences and major set pieces while also noting its shortcomings in the narrative and writes, The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell certainly doesn’t have the narrative deftness to make sense of these moral paradoxes. But as a mega-budget genre offering that goes to considerable lengths to transport its audience to a menacing foreign land, it does leave an impression.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 電影《掃毒3:人在天涯》暑期檔上映 劉青雲古天樂郭富城首次同台飆戲. March 2023 .
  2. Web site: Aaron Kwok shares photos of his latest movie role in The White Storm 3. Lim Ruey Yan. The Straits Times. 2021-07-01. 2022-10-24.
  3. 掃毒3人在天涯電影7.27上映!3大影帝正面交鋒 劇情預告率先睇. 9 June 2023 .
  4. Web site: Universe Films announces 'The White Storm 3' and Andy Lau-starrer 'A380'. Chambers. Isaac. 2020-04-02. 2022-10-24.
  5. Web site: 《掃毒3》下月開機劉德華唔歸隊? 古天樂搭檔另一位天王巨星. HK01. zh. 2020-11-25. 2022-10-24.
  6. Web site: 掃毒3 劉青雲古天樂雲南開工 流出片段誤爆郭富城係臥底?. HK01. zh. 2021-06-29. 2022-10-24.
  7. Web site: 掃毒3 郭富城公開型佬造型 「辛苦都值得,不忘初心做到最好」. HK01. zh. 2021-06-30. 2022-10-24.
  8. Web site: "The White Storm 3" loses millions due to location change. Hsia. Heidi. Yahoo! News. 2021-08-02. 2022-10-24.
  9. Web site: 新片撤離泰國慘失千萬!郭富城返港即變「暖男天王」. zh. 2021-08-01. 2022-10-24.
  10. Web site: 掃毒3 移師香港開鏡 古天樂郭富城再聚:打戲似《柔道龍虎榜》. HK01. zh. 2021-08-13. 2022-10-24.
  11. News: 《掃毒3》煞科 郭富城欣賞邱禮濤冷靜 劉青雲終可剃鬚 (16:35). Ming Pao. zh. 2021-10-26. 2022-10-24.
  12. Web site: 青衣船塢拍電影 《掃毒3》飛車指導遭道具車壓傷命危. zh. 2021-09-05. 2022-10-24.
  13. 4 Crew Members Injured In The Span Of 9 Days On The Set Of Louis Koo & Aaron Kwok's New Movie The White Storm 3. Lee Wei Lin. 8 Days. 2021-09-27.
  14. Web site: Hong Kong Action Film 'White Storm 3' Sets North American Premiere, Revised China Release. Patrick. Frater. 21 June 2023. 9 July 2023. Variety.
  15. Web site: Hong Kong 2023 Weekend 30 July 27-30, 2023.
  16. Web site: Hong Kong 2023 Weekend 31 August 3-6, 2023.
  17. Web site: Weekly Box Office - Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) 2023.
  18. News: The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell movie review – Aaron Kwok, Lau Ching-wan and Louis Koo in Herman Yau's latest explosive thriller about a drugs cartel. South China Morning Post. Edmund. Lee. 20 July 2023. 8 August 2024.