''Black Cat'' () is a 1991 Hong Kong action film directed and produced by Stephen Shin. The film stars

Jade Leung Jade Leung (), born 23 November 1969 in Hong Kong as Leung Yuk-yin () is a Hong Kong actress known for starring in kung fu and action films. She received the 1992 Best New Performer Award at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in the 199 ...

as Catherine who accidentally kills a truck driver. After escaping trial, she is captured by medics who insert a "Black Cat" chip into her brain putting her under the complete control of the American CIA. The CIA makes her into a new CIA agent known as Erica. Director Stephen Shin originally wanted the film to be a straight remake of

Luc Besson Luc Paul Maurice Besson (; born 18 March 1959) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed or produced the films '' Subway'' (1985), ''The Big Blue'' (1988), and '' La Femme Nikita'' (1990). Besson is associated with the ' ...

's film '' La Femme Nikita'' but couldn't after

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

purchased the rights for an American remake. Critics compared the film unfavorably to ''La Femme Nikita''. Jade Leung won the award for Best Newcomer at the 11th

Hong Kong Film Awards The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonies are typically in April. The awards recognise achievement in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, screenwriting, ac ...

for her role in the film. A sequel titled ''Black Cat 2: The Assassination of President Yeltsin'' was released in 1992.

Production

Director Stephen Shin originally wanted to make the film a straight remake of

's film '' La Femme Nikita'' but stopped after rights to a remake in the United States were purchased by Disney. For the role of Catherine, unknown model

was cast. ''Black Cat'' was filmed on locations in Hong Kong, Japan and Canada.Logan, 1996. p.169

Release

The film was released in Hong Kong on 17 August 1991. The film grossed a total of HK$11,088,210. The film received a sequel in 1992 titled ''Black Cat 2: The Assassination of President Yeltsin''.

Reception

won the award for best newcomer for her role in ''Black Cat'' at the 11th

. Stephen Holden of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' praised an action scene in the film involving Jade Leung going down a tall building crane to arrange for some steel bars to fall onto a speeding car. Holden went on to critique the love story in the film referring to it as "the movie's weakest element" as Thomas Lam's character "is simply too bland and passive to make a scintillating partner for a dynamo like Catherine." Derek Elley in ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' referred to the film as a "thinly scripted" film and that Leung is "excellent in the bruising opening reels." The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' gave a mixed review referring to the film as "essentially routine, an all-too-obvious kickoff to a series that already has its third installment in production."

Allrovi RhythmOne , previously known as Blinkx, and also known as RhythmOne Group, is an American digital advertising technology company that owns and operates the web properties AllMusic, AllMovie, and SideReel. Blinkx was founded in 2004, went publi ...

gave the film two stars out of five referring to the film as a "knock off of

's '' La Femme Nikita''"

Notes

References

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External links