High Forces, formerly known as Crisis Route is a 2024 Hong Kong-Chinese action film directed by Oxide Pang, produced by Andy Lau, and starring Lau, Zhang Zifeng, and Qu Chuxiao. Lau plays an international security expert who combats against hijackers on board the Airbus A380. The film was first announced in March 2020 and production officially began on 27 September 2021 and ended on 19 November 2021. High Forces was theatrically released on 10 October 2024.

Plot

Gao Haojun suffers from mania. Once, during a traffic jam, a severe episode led to a car accident that caused his daughter, Gao Xiaojun, to lose her eyesight. Haojun's condition didn't improve, and later, he was even detained for fighting. His family fell apart - his wife, Fu Yuan, left him, taking their daughter with her, leaving Haojun overwhelmed with guilt. Years later, Haojun rebuilt his life as an international security expert with Hangyu Airlines. On the maiden flight of the airline's Airbus A380, he unexpectedly crossed paths with his ex-wife and daughter as he boarded the luxurious aircraft. However, during the flight, 12 hijackers seized control of the plane and its 800 passengers at an altitude of over 10,000 feet. As the hijackers began mercilessly killing passengers, Haojun stepped up, using both his intellect and physical prowess to fight back. His daughter and wife secretly assisted him. Through the concerted efforts of many, the plane made an emergency landing on a ring road using a specialized truck, and all the hijackers were either killed or arrested.

Cast

Andy Lau as Gao Haojun (高皓軍), an international security expert who suffers from mania. Zhang Zifeng as Gao Xiaojun (高小軍), Gao's 18-year-old blind daughter who has great observation skills despite her disability. Qu Chuxiao as Mike, the leader of the hijackers. Liu Tao as Fu Yuan (傅源), Gao's ex-wife and Xiaojun's mother. Guo Xiaodong as Li Hangyu (李航宇), CEO of Hangyu Airlines. Jiang Mengjie Jiang Chao Gao Shuguang Wang Longzheng Eric Chou Zhang Yao Zhang Yang

Production

Universe Entertainment chairman Daneil Lam first announced the film in March 2020, where it was titled A380, and was in talks with Andy Lau to star while production was set to begin in summer of the year. On 9 March 2021, it was announced that Lau would be starring in the film as well as serving as producer, with Alvin Lam as co-producing and Oxide Pang directing. Liu Tao and Zhang Zifeng were also confirmed to be participating in the film, respectively playing the wife and daughter of Lau's character. With the film's title changed to Crisis Route, production was set to begin in early September of the year. Principal photography for the film officially began on 27 September 2021, which was also Lau's 60th birthday, in Qingdao. The film held a production commencement ceremony that day as well as a birthday celebration for Lau. An interactive teaser poster was released which features a QR code when scanned with a cellular phone, an announcement of a plane hijacking can heard spoken by actor Guo Xiaodong, who plays a CEO of an airline company in the film. Being the first Chinese-language film to feature the interior of the Airbus A380, the film reportedly spent HK$300 million to build a 1:1 replica of the aircraft. Production for Crisis Route officially wrapped up on 19 November 2021. The film released new posters at the 2023 Hong Kong Film & TV Market (FILMART) showcasing its new English title, High Forces.

Release

High Forces was theatrically released on 10 October 2024 in Hong Kong.

Reception

= Box office

= In Hong Kong, the film debuted at No. 6 during its opening weekend, grossing HK$1,852,858 (US$188,839) during its first four days of release including previews.In its second weekend, the film grossed HK$1,528,653 (US$196,722), moving up to No. 2, and have grossed a total of HK$3,381,511 (US$435,166) by then. During its third weekend, the film grossed HK$918,124 (US$118,161), coming in at No. 3, while having accumulated a total gross of HK$4,713,676 (US$606,641) so far. In its fourth weekend, the film grossed HK$282,801 (US$36,364), coming in at No. 8, while having accumulated a total gross of HK$4,996,477 (US$642,470) so far. In China, the film grossed US$25.2 million in its opening weekend, debuting at No. 5. In its second weekend, the film group US$8.4 million, moving up to No. 3, while having grossed a total of US$33.6 million by then. The film remained at No. 3 during its third weekend grossing US$5.9 million while having accumulated a total gross of US$39.5 million by the . In its fourth weekend, the film grossed US$2.7 million, coming in at No. 6, and have grossed a total of US$42.3 million so far.

= Critical reception

= Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post gave the film a score of 2/5 stars, calling it "a bizarrely conceived, if also intermittently entertaining action thriller" while criticizing the logic of the screenplay and premise and writes, "as an action icon who often also backs himself in a co-producer capacity, Lau should better realise that the idiotic stories he fronts are eating into his star image."

See also

Andy Lau filmography

References