Gatao, Taiwan's series of crime dramas, will be one of the most enduring big-screen franchises in the world. Gatao: The Last Stray (2021) is the third film to date and easily the strongest of the set. Gatao is an old term taken from Portuguese, which literally means 'big cat', but in Taiwan it means the organized crime gangs that operate there - similar to triads, mafiosa and yakuza.
One of Gatao's strengths is that while the three films occupy the same fiction world, each focuses on a different character. While the second film is based on North Fort gang leader Ren (played by Wang Shih-Sian then, but Alex Ko is here), this third time focuses instead on his lieutenant Qing (Cheng Jen -shuo). This approach enables the production team to build a sustainable world but also makes each Gatao release easy to watch on its own. Supporting characters may continue from film to movie, but if you haven't seen Gatao (2015) or Gatao 2 (2018) there's nothing to stop you getting started here.
Qing, an orphan who grew up among his gatao brothers, begins a romance with photographer Chi (Nikki Hsieh). At the same time, the construction agreement between the North Fort group and their southern rivals is under threat from Skai (Chien Sheng), the ambitious south son of the southern chairman. For Qing, this leads to an escalating struggle between fighting with its brothers to defend the North Fort and keeping Chi safe from harm.
The Last Stray presents a very different story from the previous films. Although it repeats the commonly used tropes of territorial gang warfare, in this case that presents more background than focus. Instead, Qing and Chi's romance dominates the film. It's a relatively realistic relationship that is also developing, unlike the kind of hyperbolic melodrama that characterizes North Asian cinema. Hsieh and Cheng are both great in their roles, but Cheng is the particular highlight of the cast. It strikes a balance between being the kind of guy who really cares about his loved ones and the kind of guy who doesn't delay killing if his criminal work demands it. Though obviously very talented, Hsieh never had the opportunity to shine. There is a level where the characters exist to serve the development of the Qing; an opportunity was lost as a result.
The broader gang conflict explores territory that should be familiar to fans of any genre. Seeking to disrupt the peace between rival groups, the so-called Big-Skai are plotting to flood the territory of the North Fort with drugs and benefit when the gangs go to war. Loyalty and honor seem a lot, as does the fashion of the genre. The show is punctuated with choreographed and effective scenes, including incredible suburban frights with baseball bats and tension-laden gun battles inside a drug factory.
Chiang Jui-chih, an experienced director for Taiwanese television, is making his first feature appearance here. He released himself tremendously. The Last Stray did not invent or change anything, and did not move well beyond the expectations of the genre, but it did well, it was emotional, and generally very effective. I could watch a strong crime movie like this all day long.
| Full Name: | Gatao: The Last Stray Movie Review Full Movie Download HD print And Watch Online |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2021 |
| Language: | Korean |
| Quality: | 1080p |
| Genres: | Action, Crime, Drama, Romance |
| Format: | MP4 |
| Budget: | Unknown |
| Rating: | 5.9/10 |
| Country: | Taiwan |
| Time: | 2h 1m |
| Director | Ray Jiang |
| Writers: | Jui-Chih Chiang |
| Starring: | Tsai-Hsing, ChangJen-Shuo, ChengNikki Hsieh |
| Size: | 1.1G |
| Release: | February 5, 2021 (Taiwan) |