Is Operation Child Hunt Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1967)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Operation Child Hunt (1967), audiences are invited back into the world of War, Drama. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "A hidden gem produced at the height of the Hong Kong left-wing cinema. The Japanese army wants to force resistance leader Cheung (Bow Fong) to appear by capturing his family. Cheung's wife dies and, despite the protection by the nurse Yeung (Chu Hung) and other villagers, Cheung's daughter is captured. In the end Cheung's subordinate Lee Fu (Jiang Han) regroups with the resistance and saves the day, defeating the enemy and rescuing everyone. This film clearly references wartime productions in the mainland of China, with elements such as the Japanese taking hostages, resistance guerilla fighters, and the contrast between ‘heroes' and ‘villains' made obvious through camerawork and make-up designs. Street scenes shot in Macau merge seamlessly with studio scenes to recreate northern Chinese towns. War epics were not a strong suit of Hong Kong cinema. This film takes inspirations from Euro-American spy films and pays attention to character development and the mise-en-scène."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Operation Child Hunt, even the presence of Han Jiang struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good War. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Operation Child Hunt worth your time? If you appreciate War, Drama films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Operation Child Hunt misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 97 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.