caught in time movie review

Powered by JustWatch

Caught in Time (2020)

Based on real crimes committed by a notorious serial killer in the 1990s (pulling off several high-risk, high-reward heists, meticulously planned out and executed over nearly a decade), “Caught in Time” is a gripping, all-action crime thriller starring Asian superstar, Daniel Wu.

“caught in time” is out today, 7 th february 2022, on digital platforms courtesy of signature entertainment .

Wang Qianyuan stars as veteran detective “Zhong Cheng”. The award-winning Chinese film and television actor has appeared in movies such as “The Emperor and the Assassin”, “ Brotherhood of Blades ”, “The Crossing”, “ Shadow ”, and the box office smash “The Eight Hundred”.

Asian-American film star, Daniel Wu stars as the intelligent, ruthless thief “Zhang Sun”. Wu was born and raised in California, and studied wushu from the age of 11.

His breakthrough role came in the Benny Chan -directed “ Gen-X Cops “. He appeared in Teddy Chen ‘s action thriller “Purple Storm”, and the action-packed “ 2000 A.D. ” He received acclaim for his performance in “One Night in Mongkok” and as the villain in Jackie Chan ‘s “ New Police Story “.

Michelle Wai plays rookie cop Chen Qian

Other notable film appearances include “House of Fury”, “Divergence”, “Drink-Drank-Drunk”, “ The Banquet “, “Tai Chi 0”, and “Tomb Raider”. In 2015 Wu took the lead role in the martial arts action television series “ Into the Badlands “.

Chinese actress Jessie Li / Chun Xia stars as “Wen Juan”, a disturbed young girl who becomes involved with Zhang Sun. Hong Kong actress Michelle Wai plays rookie cop, “Chen Qian”.

Set in southern China in the 1990s, the film follows detective Zhong Cheng as he tracks the “Eagle Gang”, a sophisticated, well-trained, and ruthless group of robbers led by gangster Zhang Sun, codename “Falcon”.

A gripping all action crime thriller

Over several years the gang members commit a series of horrendous crimes, with the police constantly being taunted by Zhang Sun.

A deadly cat-and-mouse game ensues as Zhong Cheng works to find the gang and stop them once and for all.

The movie opens with an impressive “one shot” sequence following a robbery. It’s not long before we see the gang in full action and there is little doubt left in the viewer’s mind that they are a ruthless, efficient and deadly outfit.

With barely a second to catch your breath, the next heist demonstrates that not only are they dangerous, but they are smart too. Zhang Sun finds a unique solution to crack four bank vaults at once, adding intelligence to his psychosis.

The cat finally catches the mouse

A couple of intense gun battles in the street evoke memories of Michael Mann’s classic “Heat”.

The music score and cinematography almost feel like director Christopher Nolan (who openly admits “Heat” influenced his opening bank raid in “The Dark Knight”) orchestrated the scene. The second battle is particularly intense and explosive, with tragic consequences.

After a breathless first half of the movie, the pace slows a little. The game of cat and mouse between the cops and robbers stretches out as Zhong Cheng tries to second guess Zheng Sun’s next move.

It leads to a bruising finale set in a bathhouse as the two men finally go toe-to-toe.

Stylishly shot yet palpably tense

Chinese filmmakers and audiences love a good cops and robbers thriller. Over the years they have delivered classics such as “Crime Story”, “Election” and the sublime “Infernal Affairs”.

Some titles like “ Kill Zone: Sha Po Lang “, “ Flash Point “, and recently “ Raging Fire “, have successfully infused martial arts into their thrilling action sequences.

“Caught in Time” mostly eschews any fancy fights or more flamboyant Hong Kong stunts in favour of a more gritty style of action.

It is filmed and edited extremely well. Even with the inevitable “shaky-cam” present, all the action is clearly presented, stylishly shot yet palpably tense.

Daniel Wu stars as the ruthless thief Zhang Sun

There are also plenty of stunts performed in a way that no other film industry quite captures the same, with every hit and fall looking genuinely full contact.

The final showdown leaves no hiding place for padding for the performers. This is some feat as this is no sophisticatedly choreographed martial arts battle, but a brutal, bare-chested, beat down in the name of realism.

In terms of plot and character, both seem a little under-developed, but Wang Qianyuan and Daniel Wu still deliver fine acting performances, with the latter being particularly intense when called for.

Whereas films like “Raging Fire”, or a few of Johnny To’s epics, can feel a little long, “Caught in Time” moves along briskly, so there is barely a dull second in its 95-minute running time.

A Chinese police story

The cinematography and music score are also out of the top drawer, giving this movie a real blockbuster gloss. The ending comes across a little like a piece of Chinese propaganda for law and order, but the fact that this story is loosely based on real events probably negates that slightly for once.

Where martial arts fans will be left wanting, fans of Hong Kong crime thrillers should be entertained by this breathless, fast-paced addition to the genre.

Favourite Quotes

• “ Tell me a joke. If it’s funny, I’ll spare your life ” – Zhang Sun
• “ I guarantee I will solve this case for you. Just give us police a little time ” – Zhong Cheng
• “ I know. We’re not bulletproof ” – Chen Qian

Tension and worries mount in Caught in Time

• The film is based on a real string of robberies and murders committed by Zhang Jun, who was dubbed “China’s number one outlaw” when he was active in the 1990s. Zhang Jun killed or injured around 50 people before being apprehended in September 2000 and executed the next year.
• Reportedly, Wang Qianyuan and Daniel Wu nearly injured themselves trying to make the action as realistic as possible.
• In preparation for the shirtless fight scene at the end of the film, Wang Qianyuan and Daniel Wu spent 40 days on a diet and exercise regimen to tone their muscles.
• The production used a total of 48 guns, 6,243 blank cartridges, and 4,312 explosive cartridges.

Caught in Time – AVAILABLE FEB 7, 2022

Film Rating: 7.5/10

“caught in time” is out today, 7 th february 2022, on digital courtesy of signature entertainment , which action screen performance do you consider to be daniel wu’s finest so far which other contemporary asian movies would you like to see released widely to western audiences let us know in the comments below, join in the conversation, share this on facebook , and follow us on twitter & instagram , whether you’re after kung fu, daniel wu, or gun fu, find it in the kingdom of fu , with our top 10 gun fu fight scenes , these additional top 10’s , top 5’s , stimulating interviews , get all lit up in kfk wear and subscribe to get all caught up in more frenetic fight action on youtube .

Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski: Top 5 MMA Finishes

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Tags: action China Daniel Wu Emperor Films Gun Fu Hong Kong martial arts Real crime Signature Entertainment stunts true story Wang Qianyuan

Influenced by the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Glen began training in martial arts and gymnastics in 1995. He made his first of many visits to Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 to learn Chin Woo kung fu under the supervision of Master Teng Wie Yoo. Glen is the author of "The Art of Coaching" and "Fearless The Story of Chin Woo Kung Fu", and runs a kung fu & kickboxing school in Hertfordshire, England.

Fist of Legend (1994) UHD / Blu-ray version

The Miracle Fighters (1982) Blu-ray version

Life After Fighting (2024)

Twilight of The Warriors: Walled In (2024)

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Kung-fu Kingdom (KFK) is a team of dedicated martial arts enthusiasts. We are writers, martial arts practitioners and film-makers consumed by a passion for everything connected to the martial arts, and we love sharing it! So whether it’s about movies, books, training techniques, philosophy, stunts or seminars, we hope to inspire and stimulate your inner warrior!

About Us Contact Us Privacy Cookies Terms of Use

AEW Wrestling BellatorMMA Benny the Jet Bruce Lee Cynthia Rothrock Jackie Chan Jean-Claude Van Damme One Championship Scott Adkins UFC

Privacy Overview

• Movie-Reviews |
• Soundtrack-Reviews |
• TV Series |
• About the site |

Caught in Time

Story: It's the 90s, and Zhang Jun (Daniel Wu) and his team of robbers keeps all of China in suspense. The thieves rob banks and jewelry stores and because they operate extremely ruthlessly, there have already been several deaths. When Captain Zhong Cheng (Wang Qianyuan) happens to just arrive in Chongqing, he has a weird feeling about a shop, and as it turns out the store is in fact just being robbed by the gang. Zhong is kidnapped and shortly afterwards, he is thrown out of the getaway car. Since then, the captain has become deeply absorbed in the case. Because the perpetrators wore masks, he cannot identify any of them, but he has bitten off a piece of Zhang Jun's ear, who is the leader of the gang. Nevertheless, a few years go by before a new lead comes up in this case. The gang has already switched the neighborhoods in which they operate several times, and they even secure the region around the next target by putting one of the robbers on a rooftop to keep an eye on the area. Zhong manages to injure the man who is supposed to organize the escape, and now Zhang Jun does everything he can to kill his accomplice, so that he wouldn't put the rest of the group in danger. This leads to a big public shootout. But once more, Zhang and his men manage to escape. However, the leader of the group has a girlfriend now, and she is also pregnant, so this gives the captain a new leverage point. Still, Zhang is always one step ahead of the police, and with each day the gangster is still at large, more people are in danger of falling victim to him.

Review: The feeling of nostalgia concerning HK cinema classics such as "Hard Boiled" or the not so well-known "Expect the Unexpected" , which "Caught in Time" is a little reminiscent of, has been used often enough to try and create similarly successful movies in present times. Unfortunately, without much success, except perhaps with a few exceptions like "Trivisa" . Once again, we have a movie here that clearly tries to take the same line, which should not come as a surprise, because the events even take place in the 90s. But can a crime thriller produced by mainland China succeed in bringing the same kind of gritty flair to the screen as movies did back then - complete with complex character drawings? The answer to that should be clear: not really. And of course, once again, the reason for that is Chinese censorship, which would never allow gangsters to be heroes or even winners.

First of all, there is the color scheme and the slightly rainy atmosphere, which may seem familiar. Then the gangsters, especially Zhang, act extremely ruthless. For him, a human life is worth nothing. Not even that of a child! But here it becomes apparent that HK cinema would have gone a step further. Later, it's surprising that Zhang suddenly gets a little romantic storyline, in which the originally emotionless villain also reveals a softer side. This plotline is not really elaborated, but it surprises, and thanks to Daniel Wu ( "That Demon Within" ) it actually works quite well. Wu is allowed to act as a very charismatic villain, who also has something disgusting and dirty about him. Even though the script may hint at some other sides he might have, it's thanks to the actor's expertise, you can still see them a little more vividly than you would expect. Which becomes apparent in respect to the relationship with his mother. Nevertheless, you should not expect too much here.

The fact that there are some coincidences or even mistakes in the script, is not all that bothersome, especially since they even may have been worked in intentionally as a dig at the HK cinema of the 90s. Nevertheless, director Lau Ho-Leung managed to create an overall more coherent and entertaining movie with his earlier work "Two Thumbs Up" . Be that as it may, it is still refreshing to see a crime story in the shape of "Caught in Time," in which surveillance cameras are just starting to become part of public life and cell phones aren't even in the mix yet. And the rough and unpolished look fits in the kind of flick that this movie is trying to imitate. However, the movie doesn't quite manage to strike home when it comes to the rigid tone of an HK thriller. For this, the censorship authorities put too many obstacles in the director's way. And it also gives the flick a dull aftertaste and makes it quite forgettable. This is a pity, because genre fans of that time will immediately feel at home with this movie. However, it should also be noted that the medium of cinema has evolved since the 90s, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

• Latest News
• RECENTLY ADDED
• A-Z Title Review Index
• Shaw Brothers
• Golden Harvest
• Bruceploitation
• Asian Related
• Other Movies
• Documentary
• Popular Pre-orders!
• Asian Titles
• Martial Arts Titles
• Other Notable Titles
• Deal On Fire!
• Tell us what you think

Caught in Time (2020) Review

“Caught in Time” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lau Ho-Leung Cast: Daniel Wu, Wang Qianyuan, Jessie Li, Michelle Wai, Da Li, Yu Xiao, Hu Zi-Cheng, Li Xiao-Chuan, Hung Jun-Jia, Rock Ji Huan-Bo, Dante Pang Yu-Nong  Running Time: 95 min.

By Martin Sandison 

Back a decade or so ago Daniel Wu annoyed me. I had seen him in films such as New Police Story and One Night in Mongkok , very good films, and his presence had made me squirm in my seat. His face simpered and pouted through bad performances, and I wondered why people liked him. Then I saw The Shinjuku Incident , and something had shifted. I really liked that performance. But not enough to keep watching him. Then I noticed he was going to play the lead in the sweet TV show Into the Badlands , and thought I’d give him a chance. I’m glad I did. He has grown into a mature, nuanced actor and left behind the arrogance of his youthful performances. With a few Hollywood roles under his belt, he’s still appearing in Hong Kong/Chinese pictures, and the latest is the crime thriller Caught in Time . It’s a very interesting one considering the current climate, and Wu sports a prize mullet in the first half that sits happily alongside Van Damme’s barnet in its prime.

Caught in Time is unusual in the recent crop of crime films as despite being from Hong Kong, it’s set in mainland China. The story follows one of the most notorious criminals in recent Chinese history Zhang Jun, a serial killer and robber who murdered 50 people in the 90s. Zhang (Wu) is the leader of a gang of robbers who are able to evade the police with ease. There’s one cop who just won’t give up, Zhong Cheng (Wang Qian Yuan, Brotherhood of Blades ), and he pursues Zhang for years. Zhang is a smart cookie, and is able to commit numerous crimes around China, but Zhong is closing in…

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Limbo is a masterpiece. Limbo film feels like a true Hong Kong film, from the extreme violence to the moral ambiguity. Hand-Rolled Cigarette retains that true feel too, and both have got me excited. The thing about Caught in Time is… it very purposely combines Hong Kong and Chinese mainland talent, and its story is set on the mainland. Director Lau Ho-Leung has worked in the HK industry for two decades, first as a screenwriter (he penned Donnie Yen’s triumphant Kung Fu Jungle ). Actor Wang Qian Yuan has appeared in numerous big mainland Chinese films, such as The Eight Hundred . 

What has me a bit worried is that this is the route Hong Kong films will take; combining talents, due to necessity, and bowing to the Chinese government. Caught in Time is cleverly written, so that there is violence and action, and Wu’s character is given depth despite being the baddie. It makes the film a gripping watch, but all of this is in service to the ending, which is flag-waving jingoistic nonsense up there with any recent Chinese blockbuster. It made my stomach turn, and the film came down a little in my estimation. There is Hong Kong style in this movie, but it has to be sanitised and ironic to serve the narrative’s purpose: to communicate how China is now the safest place on the planet. Not if you’re an Uighur.

Rant over. This movie moves at an absolute breakneck pace, and crams in a ridiculous amount of plot points and action sequences in its 95 minute run time. While being constantly entertained, I was aware how the jumps in narrative were so quick that you’re barely given time to breath. When you are, there are some poignant and well-acted moments, such as Zhang meeting his girlfriend at the top of a radio tower, or Zhong taking a quiet moment to reflect on the pursuit with a colleague. Both Wu and Wang are fantastic in their roles, and play them with pathos that outdoes the stitched-together feel of the script. 

One element which at turns had me thinking ‘that’s allright’ and at others ‘that’s shite’ is the CG. We’ve all got used to poor effects in a lot of Asian films, but there are times in this film it looks absurd and takes you out of the experience. The best action movie of last year Raging Fire combines decent effects with real-life pyrotechnics in a jaw-dropping way; director Lau should take a leaf out of that book. However, there are some pretty good action sequences on show here, and a mid-film gunfight hits the right notes in editing, tension and adrenalin release. The end showdown in a bath house between Zhang and Zhong is pleasingly old school with crunching impact, as the two face off hand to hand or whatever weapon comes to hand.

There are elements of Caught in Time that obviously reference the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, none more so than a shot-for-shot recreation of a scene from John Woo’s masterpiece The Killer . It looks cool, but on closer inspection is a bit redundant. Limbo is the real Hong Kong style. Caught in Time aims for it, and achieves something interesting, but the message the ending communicates is a world away from the chaos, vitality and pure energy we all know and love.

Martin Sandison’s Rating: 6.5/10

2 Responses to Caught in Time (2020) Review

I pretty much felt the same way with this film. There was no avoiding the “China is number 1!” message, but there was a lot of good stuff here too.

I thought it was funny how the final fight scene managed to keep the towels on our two leads. They definitely weren’t (and couldn’t) going for an Eastern Promises vibe.

Raging Fire did a better job of telling a compelling story while not pissing off the government. I wish Caught in Time could have gone a similar route, but maybe it was unavoidable.

“…..China is now the safest place on the planet. Not if you’re an Uighur.”

Uighur extremists massacred hundreds of Han, Muslim and Uighur people in China in the early 2000s. So of course they and aspiring terrorists weren’t safe from the law. The Chinese government should’ve sent them to Guantanamo for waterboarding instead of putting them in de-radicalization camps. At least Chinese citizens have since been safe from terrorist acts.

USA#1 forever!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Search for:

Newest Comments

Disclaimer: cityonfire.com does not own any of the photos contained in the blog. cityonfire.com was made merely to pay homage to these films, directors, talent, etc. and not for any profit or commercial reasons. No copyright infringement intended. The photos are copyrighted and courtesy by their respective owners.

cityonfire.com is a non-profit website for the private use and entertainment and/or parody purposes.

"Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statue that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, education or personal use tops the balance in favor of fair use."

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 73% MaXXXine Link to MaXXXine
• 90% Kill Link to Kill
• 85% Remembering Gene Wilder Link to Remembering Gene Wilder

New TV Tonight

• 80% Kite Man: Hell Yeah!: Season 1
• 50% Emperor of Ocean Park: Season 1
• -- Marvel's Hit-Monkey: Season 2
• -- Cobra Kai: Season 6
• -- Those About to Die: Season 1
• -- Lady in the Lake: Season 1
• -- Mafia Spies: Season 1
• -- The Ark: Season 2
• -- Simone Biles: Rising: Season 1
• -- Unprisoned: Season 2

Most Popular TV on RT

• 81% Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• 100% Supacell: Season 1
• 88% Sunny: Season 1
• 93% The Boys: Season 4
• 76% Presumed Innocent: Season 1
• 89% The Bear: Season 3
• 89% House of the Dragon: Season 2
• 52% Sausage Party: Foodtopia: Season 1
• -- The Mole: Season 2
• 93% My Lady Jane: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• 95% We Are Lady Parts: Season 2 Link to We Are Lady Parts: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

All Harry Potter (and Fantastic Beasts ) Movies Ranked

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Weekend Box Office: Despicable Me 4 Crosses $200 Million to Hold on to Top Spot

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

• Trending on RT
• Twisters First Reviews
• Most Popular Movies
• Most Anticipated Movies 2025

Caught in Time Reviews

No All Critics reviews for Caught in Time.

• WordPress.org
• Documentation
• Learn WordPress

Film Review: Caught in Time

Reviewer: dave cunningham.

Writers: Lau Ho-Leung and Liang Hong

Director: Lau Ho-Leung

Caught in Time, written by director Lau Ho-Leung with Liang Hong, is based upon the real-life story of robber Zhang Jun, who was dubbed “China’s number one outlaw” and said to have killed or injured around 50 people during the 1990s.

Detective Zhong Cheng (Wang Qianyuan) has a poor first day on his new job. He interrupts a robbery by the notorious Eagle Gang but is overpowered and, at the whim of their leader Zhang Sun (Daniel Wu) nick- named The Falcon, dressed as a gang member, and left for his colleagues to arrest. This sets in motion a series of ‘catch-me -if-you-can’ skirmishes between the adversaries.

Director Lau Ho-Leung avoids the obvious clichés associated with the crime/ thriller genre. Rather than a moody noir atmosphere in which crime takes place after dark; the robberies occur in bright daylight which has the associated problem of exposing the maximum number of people to possible violence. Detective Zhong Cheng is far from being a maverick cop who does not follow the rules and is instead something of a boy scout; removing fly posters from official billboards and reminding aggrieved robbery victims of the need to support the police.

The movie is set in the same time period as the real-life events occurred, so the detectives are compelled to rely on more cinematically exciting traditional crime fighting methods than simply watching computer screens. One of the turning points in the plot is the use of radical new technology such as surveillance cameras and pagers.

The film is shamelessly manipulative and not always logical. A character declaring they have a date lined up is a sure sign they are likely to be the next victim of violence. Despite Detective Cheng scolding an officer for an act of bravery undertaken without wearing a bullet-proof vest, none of the police (including Cheng) ever dons protective gear. For a movie full of gunfire and explosions director Lau Ho-Leung opts for an almost low-key showdown with the enemies in an (admittedly extremely violent) fistfight. Yet the lack of nuance shown in the characterisation continues and the determination to avoid any possible interpretation of a homo-erotic relationship between the characters is so intense that despite the highly physical battle taking place in a bath house both manage to retain towels around their waists

Director Lau Ho-Leung acknowledges his influences with both police and criminals jokingly regarding John Woo’s hyper-action movie The Killer as an educational training film. It is, however, hard to avoid making comparisons with Michael Mann’s Heat, also factually based and featuring a cat-and-mouse relationship between police and criminals. The comparison does not serve Caught in Time well; there is no sense of grudging admiration between the characters, and they are less ambiguous.

Daniel Wu is a stylishly grinning villain; psychopathically capable of letting a child play with a live hand grenade. It is credible he might regard a police officer daring to try and foil his schemes as a challenge and be personally affronted when his opponent succeeds. Yet Wang Qianyuan’s detective is driven more by a conventional sense of duty than any personal demons and, as a result, the potential conflict between the characters is never really becomes compelling. For Zhong Cheng it is just business, not personal.

Although Caught in Time has features refreshingly different from traditional action movies, the thin characterisation makes it more conventional than satisfyingly radical.

Signature Entertainment presents Caught in Time on Digital Platforms 7th February.

The Reviews Hub Score:

Conventional not radical.

The Reviews Hub - Film

Related articles.

National Youth Dance Company: Wall – Sadler’s Wells, London

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation – Wilton’s Music Hall, London

& Juliet – Manchester Opera House

Awful Auntie – Darlington Hippodrome

Currently available on 5 streaming services.

Caught in Time (2020)

95min - Chinese

7 Days Free

Then $5.99 / month

Watch similar movies on Apple TV+ for free

Then $9.99 / month

Free with ads

retail price

$5.99 / month

03:00 PM PST / 06:00 PM EST

95min - English

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Let us notify you once it becomes available on more services.

We checked for updates on 250 streaming services on July 14, 2024 at 10:11:48 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

Caught in Time streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "Caught in Time" streaming on Rakuten Viki or for free with ads on Tubi TV, Rakuten Viki. It is also possible to rent "Caught in Time" on Vudu, Apple TV online and to download it on Vudu, Apple TV.

A detective tracks down a gang of criminals ten years after they initially evaded arrest.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Drama movies

Caught in Time (2020) Stream and Watch Online

Watch 'caught in time' online.

Fancy watching ' Caught in Time ' in the comfort of your own home? Searching for a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the Lau Ho-leung-directed movie via subscription can be tricky, so we here at Moviefone want to do the work for you. We've listed a number of streaming and cable services - including rental, purchase, and subscription alternatives - along with the availability of 'Caught in Time' on each platform when they are available. Now, before we get into the nitty-gritty of how you can watch 'Caught in Time' right now, here are some finer points about the Emperor Motion Pictures crime flick. Released December 4th, 2020, 'Caught in Time' stars Wang Qian-Yuan , Daniel Wu , Jessie Li , Michelle Wai The NR movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 35 min, and received a user score of 64 (out of 100) on TMDb, which assembled reviews from 33 experienced users. Curious to know what the movie's about? Here's the plot: "A detective tracks down a gang of criminals ten years after they initially evaded arrest." 'Caught in Time' is currently available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on Apple iTunes, Tubi TV, Vudu, and Rakuten Viki .

'Caught in Time' Release Dates

Similar movies.

Featured News

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.

MIB's Instant Headache

Movie Review – Caught In Time

Caught In Time (Chu bao)

Hong kong/china (2020) dir. lau ho-leung.

“Persistence without respite”

We’re always told that patience is a virtue which must be a vital requirement for anyone joining the police force – after all, who else could handle long fruitless stakeouts or undertake painstaking mission to catch a master criminal. But ten years? That requires some serious dedication and fortitude.

1991 Southern China and police detective Zhong Cheng (Wang Qianyuan) is captured when he interferes in a robbery by the masked Eagle gang who have been terrorising the area. Cheng and the gang leader Zhang Jun (Daniel Wu) fight during which Cheng bites off a part of Zhang’s ear, marking the beginning of a long cat and mouse feud that would last for most of the decade.

As the gang continue their robberies, Zhang is always one step ahead, frustrating Cheng by staging more elaborate heists with violent smokescreens to assist their getaway. The more the body count of police and innocent civilians increases, the more determined Cheng is to bring Zhang down. Whilst Zhang remains ruthless and unrepentant, his softer side shows when he saves a suicidal young girl Wen Juan (Jessie Li) and takes her in, who later falls pregnant.

Caught In Time is a gravid title relating to the opening quote of this review which appears in the film accompanying a poster promoting the mantra Chinese police service. The second film from screenwriter turned director Lau Ho-Leung maybe a throwback-cum- homage to ‘90s Hong Kong action thrillers but its ton and message is very much dictated by mainland China’s propaganda machine.

Rather cheekily and without irony to our eyes, the film closes with a line suggesting China’s clamp down on firearms and crime has made it one of the safest countries in the world today. Insert your own joke here but while you are doing that, note that the catalyst for this, Zhang Jun, was a real criminal who evaded capture for almost a decade and was finally executed in 2001.

The Zhang Jun of this story only runs riot for five years and meets the same fate nine months after his capture, but if his exploits are accurately replicated here then he was one cold hearted puppy. The Eagle gang’s MO was to case out the place and not hit it until the time was right, meaning they might be waiting outside or eating a café in full view of everyone, then don their masks, raid the bank at gunpoint, then split.

However, Cheng knows what Zhang looks like after their first meeting, incurring a new haircut (a tacky mullet no less) for Zhang to throw Cheng off the scent, but an increased arrogance in the taunting of the police. A dichotomy between the two is alluded to in a scene where Zhang watches a cop thriller to see how the police figure of the criminals plans, then later Cheng watches on to see how the criminals make their escape.

By painting both protagonist and antagonist as two sides of the same coin, the idea is presented that we have a taut, sinuous, cerebral game of mental chess to look forward to, but this is sadly only half realised. This is in part due to the 95-minute run time meaning plenty of time skips and expedience in place of in depth machinations, and the script being driven mostly by the action and less about the characters.

Zhang is one of those criminals about who very little is given away, in that we don’t know what motivates him or where his evil streak comes from. The real Zhang grew up in poverty, left school early, and soon turned to crime. By 1993 he was dubbed “China’s number one outlaw” with numerous robberies and murders to his name. He even killed his own partner when he was injured to avoid capture.

In this portrayal Zhang is brash, maybe over confident, cold, calculating, and thorough. His gang are a motley crew of petty criminals clearly happy to be led by Zhang and even die for him – as some of them eventually do – yet his lure as a leader remains a mystery. The only clue we have is Wen Juan, probably no more than a teenager, and in her current state quite vulnerable, so a smooth talking stranger with philosophical empathy is likely to appeal.

Except Wen Juan is barely featured therefore becomes just another pawn in Zhang’s own game of survival, despite her pregnancy. This might be in line with the Chinese film censors not allowing the criminals to have too much shine in outwitting the police, hence the focus is put on Cheng’s dogged pursuit of Zhang, and the losses of his team to the violence as the real story here.

Like Zhang, Cheng isn’t given much depth as character. He is smart, always trying to get into Zhang’s mind to predict his actions – often coming close – although some of his success have come from token female officer Chen Qian (Michelle Wai) but she won’t be given any credit, as this was the ‘90s. Cheng doesn’t seem to have a personal life to offset his dedicated police work, so the stakes for him are purely professional and of course, patriotic.

Fortunately, the two central performances from Daniel Wu and Wang Qianyuan suffice in making Zhang and Cheng eminently watchable as the two foes, creating great chemistry as well as deserving credit for being able to fight all over a bath house and not once lose their towels! Director Lau clearly venerates the era of film he is riffing on here, although the use of CGI over the practical effects of the period is evident, otherwise the shootouts and chase scenes are rather fun.

Niggles aside, Caught In Time is a perfectly serviceable, competent crime thriller with a curious conceit given its reality roots and the notoriety of the real Zhang Jun. It is also oddly refreshing to see police work on the case without today’s handy technology.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

Lobola Man (2024) Movie Review: An Exasperating Rom-Com with Little Spark or Freshness

It’s a pleasing sight to stumble across rom-coms that aren’t of the American crop. Diversity matters even more across all genres, and at first glance, Thabang Moleya’s directorial, “Lobola Man,” is a wonderful prospect. However, it being released in Zulu, it turns out, has had little impact on affecting into place any authenticity and individuality. Soon into the film, it morphs into yet another tiringly generic, barely vivid romcom that struggles to distinguish itself. At best, it’s an inoffensive time-killer, and at worst, its routine dullness and one-dimensional characters moving through unconvincing scenarios will induce sheer annoyance in you.

Problems littering Katleho Ramaphakela’s screenplay are too many. Besides the critical question of credence in the events, so much of it is just plain sluggish and uninteresting you’ll have a tough task investing in any of the characters. All characters popping up have been written with the depth of cardboard. In places, trauma is flung in as if to refine the credentials of the conflicts. It doesn’t help that the central lobola premise is so thinly etched. From what I understood, it’s some sort of a bride price paid by the groom as a gesture of gratitude to the bride’s family. Ace ( Lawrence Maleka) is a lobola negotiator.

In other words, he is a low-time scammer who helps men navigate ways to reduce the lobola price they have to pay. Ace is a terrific charmer, easily sliding into people’s hearts and creating the strongest impression that he has to do his job well. It’s a risky job where the cover can be blown at any time, and the crisis may snowball to unsalvageable heights. The worst consequence is that the entire marriage might get called off. So, the stakes are pretty high. However, Ace is confident in his skills. He has been doing it for a while despite being aware of the complications that can escalate at any moment.

When a new client, Duke ( Vincent Mahlangu), hires him, the assignment quickly reveals itself as an unusually tricky one. He is required to be a hustler of a different sort and employ smarts that hitherto he hadn’t felt the need to. Duke’s bride turns out to be Zandile ( Kwanele Mthethwa), a woman he had met previously under not so favourable circumstances.

Ace schemes to impersonate Duke’s distant cousin and try to bring in a fake family. But things don’t go according to plan. Neither Zandi nor her father are unsuspecting fools, and it’s really questionable why Ace and Duke could even think up the plan they do when it’s just so blatantly silly and prone to being flagged as wholly specious. The emotional trajectory Duke, Ace, and Zandi go through is rife with predictable realizations, including the stalest, uninspired sequence where the characters discover the full degree of their attraction to each other.

Even the idea of conjuring the fake family comes off as just something to peg an unfunny scene that has to pivot on disability to the most unnecessary ends. As broad as the direction of the film is, it is also riven by confusion about how to handle and steer the narrative in a direction where the choices would make sense on a fundamental, emotional level. Of course, you can see right off the bat where the film might be hurtling. Hidden emotions surface and unexpected attractions stem.

There are efforts made to suppress the swell of new liking, but in vain. The impulse is already too mighty. “Lobola Man” especially suffers on account of a blunder of a final stretch that negates so much preceding tension by bunging in a vital father-son conversation on grabbing love unapologetically, no matter the repercussion. It all culminates in the most hackneyed proposal scene that drowns the entire film in a muddle of eye-roll-level atrociousness.

Read More:  Everything Coming to Netflix in July 2024

Lobola man (2024) movie link: imdb, where to watch lobola man, trending right now.

A devotee of gore and the unsavory but is now drifting to the milder. Envious of anyone who gets the lowdown on recent films, and likes late-night street strolls only to get stalked by random strangers.

Similar Posts

Feel Good (Season 1) Netflix Review – A Fairly Complex and Extremely Bingeable Queer Love Story

Ms. Marvel Episode 2: Recap & Ending Explained

Beyond The Universe (2022) Netflix Movie Ending, Explained

Henry Glassie: Field Work [2019]: ‘TIFF’ Review – A Wonderful Visual Diary of the World And Its Inhabitants

Candyman (2021) Review: The Voices Hidden in the Shadows

Criminal Record Episode 6 Recap & Ending Explained: Does Tony Gilfoyle Get Arrested?

Advertisement

Supported by

Critic’s Pick

‘MaXXXine’ Review: Fame Monster

Mia Goth returns to Ti West’s horrorverse as an actress fleeing a mysterious stalker and a traumatic past.

• Share full article

By Jeannette Catsoulis

A psychosexual thriller imagined in blood red and cocaine white, “MaXXXine,” the third installment in Ti West’s nostalgia-soaked slasher saga, is part grungy homage to 1980s Hollywood and part sleazy feminist manifesto. Darker, moodier and altogether nastier than its predecessors — “X” (2022) and, later that same year, “Pearl” — this hyperconfident feature is also funny, occasionally wistful and deeply empathetic toward its damaged, driven heroine.

That would be Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), the sole survivor of the dirty-movie cast massacred in “X.” Now a successful porn star, Maxine, eager to break into mainstream movies, has relocated to a Hollywood of spectacular seediness. It is 1985 and, as in real life, a killer known as the Night Stalker is terrorizing the city, the so-called Moral Majority is hyperventilating on the sidelines and rock musicians are fighting accusations of satanic intent. In one pungent shot of Maxine’s boot grinding her cigarette stub into the silent film sex symbol Theda Bara’s star on the Walk of Fame, West underscores the transience of the celebrity status that Maxine so desperately seeks.

“I will not accept a life I do not deserve,” she declares, repeating the mantra taught by her father, a preacher seen in speckled, black-and-white flashback. Securing a role on a low-grade horror sequel brings her under the wing of its industry-toughened director (a perfect Elizabeth Debicki). Yet Maxine is constantly distracted: Her friends are dying, and two homicide detectives (Bobby Cannavale and Michelle Monaghan) want to question her; a Louisiana gumshoe (Kevin Bacon, a skeevy vision in crumpled suits and gold-capped incisors) keeps randomly accosting her; and a mysterious, black-gloved stalker haunts the film’s shadows. No wonder Maxine is plagued by panicked recollections of her traumatic past.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Trump makes first appearance since shooting - and picks running mate

Donald Trump has arrived at the Republican National Convention and revealed his running mate. Elsewhere, pressure is mounting on the secret service amid criticism of the security at the rally where he was shot.

Tuesday 16 July 2024 06:32, UK

• Donald Trump
• Trump assassination attempt

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Donald Trump to appear at Republican National Convention (RNC) after surviving shooting
• Biden defends decision to stay in presidential race in new interview
• Trump makes appearance at convention after being made Republican nominee
• Former president names running mate | Who is he?
• Analysis:  A cameo after a month of campaign boosts for Trump
• Biden campaign says Vance will promote 'extreme MAGA agenda'
• Live updates by Katie Williams
• Watch: How assassination attempt unfolded - all angles
• Trump is now the 'hot favourite' to win - no matter what Democrats do
• Martha Kelner analysis : Defiant Trump set to kick on at RNC
• Dominic Waghorn analysis: How significant will the clenched fist turn out to be?
• What we know about 'outcast' gunman who was 'bad shooter'

Joe Biden has defended his decision to stay in the presidential race after being plagued by calls to step down following his dismal performance in a TV debate with Donald Trump.

In an interview with our US partner network NBC News , the US president was combative at times and said he would not take himself out of the race despite some calls from within his own party to do so.

"I'm old - but I'm only three years older than Trump, number one, and number two, my mental acuity's been pretty damn good," Mr Biden said, as he faced questions about his age.

"I've gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time in three-and-a-half years. So I'm willing to be judged on that," he said.

The interview with NBC's Lester Holt was scheduled before the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on Saturday.

Mr Biden said millions of Democratic voters had selected him through the primaries and he was listening to them.

But he was visibly defensive when asked if he was eager to "get back on the horse" by taking part in another debate against Mr Trump, even before their next scheduled one in September.

"I'm on the horse. Where have you been?" Mr Biden said.

Asked who he consults when it comes to issues like remaining in the race or dropping out, Mr Biden said: "Me. I've been doing this a long time."

The president mumbled at some points during the interview, and his voice trailed off at others.

"What I'm doing is going out and demonstrating to the American people that I have command of all my faculties, that I don't need notes. I don't need telepro- I can go out and answer any questions at all," he said.

Trump 'bullseye' comment 'a mistake'

Mr Biden called on the news media to hold Mr Trump to a similar degree of scrutiny.

However he said it was a mistake to tell supporters "it's time to put Trump in the bullseye" before the attempt on the former president's life on Saturday.

"I meant focus on him, focus on what he's doing, focus on his policies, focus on the number of lies he told in the debate," he said.

After a short break, we're back with our live updates after Donald Trump made his first public appearance since he was shot by 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks on Saturday night.

Mr Trump appeared to huge applause at the National Republican Convention last night with a white bandage covering his right ear.

As he walked into the packed room, he waved and raised his fist as the crowd chanted, "fight, fight, fight".

He stayed among his supporters for around an hour.

We'll have the latest as the convention continues today.

That's all for now - but we'll be back soon with more updates and analysis as the Republican National Convention continues.

Before we go, here is a quick recap of the key developments on day one.

• Donald Trump was officially nominated as the Republican candidate for president, before making his first appearance since being shot;
• Ohio senator JD Vance - once a fierce critic - was chosen as his running mate and potential vice president;
• Joe Biden called Mr Vance a "Trump clone", while his campaign warned he would enable MAGA extremism;
• Mr Biden also said he wasn't sure whether the attempted assassination of  Trump will change the trajectory of the presidential election or not;
• Republican strategist Amanda Makki told Sky News the shooting will end calls from Democrats for Joe Biden to bow out of the race;
• A search of the suspected gunman's home revealed more than a dozen guns, our US partner network NBC News reported;
• And police were inside the building while the shooter tried to assassinate Trump from its roof, according to CBS.

By J ames Matthews , US correspondent

On a day he wasn't meant to see, he wasn't going to miss it.

Donald Trump took a bow on day one of the Republican Convention, a cameo role on the occasion he was crowned nominee.

His speaking part is scheduled for Thursday, when he delivers a set-piece address, but the party wasn't going to be spared its protagonist as the convention kicked off.

Trump felt the love and more amongst the faithful inside the venue. He carries a cachet he didn't have before he took a bullet.

The question is how the emotional response of people generally, shocked and distressed by the spectacle, translates into support beyond Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum. 

Chances are it won't lose him votes.

News happens fast around the "Teflon Don". On the work trip in Wisconsin, he received a bulletin from home that a Florida judge had dismissed the criminal case around classified material.

Of the various charges against him, they were probably the easiest to prove, with a prosecution case hardened by the exhibits at its heart - the documents in question. 

The indictment reflects a recklessness, at least, around national security. Laid out in a court case, it would damage any candidate running for the White House.

It's a boost for Trump, unquestionably, and it's not the only one in the past few weeks. There was the TV debate with Joe Biden, the Supreme Court ruling on immunity and a delayed sentencing in New York. A look at the last month has the look of a man who can't lose.  

 While his speech is billed for Thursday, Donald Tump has made an appearance on day one of Republican National Convention.

It is his first public event since being shot on Saturday, and his ear can be seen in a small bandage.

Just a few hours ago he was made the official Republican presidential nominee.

"We love Trump" is chanted by the crowd, as he stands next to his newly nominated running mate JD Vance.

Earlier we reported how Donald Trump called for secret service protection for independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr (see our 5.04pm post).

Mr Kennedy is the nephew of assassinated former president John F Kennedy.

Homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has now confirmed the agency will provide protection to Mr Kennedy.

Agents mostly protects the president, former presidents, vice-president and their families.

However, it is also authorised to provide for major presidential and vice presidential candidates and their spouses.

Police were inside the building while a shooter tried to  assassinate Donald Trump from its roof, according to reports.

Secret service director Kimberly Cheatle told ABC News that local authorities were tasked with securing the building.

"We sought assistance from our local counterparts for the outer perimeter. There was local police in that building - there was local police in the area that were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building."

Meanwhile, CBS reports the shooter bought 50 rounds of ammunition from a gun store before arriving at the rally.

Two senior officials have told our NBC colleagues that investigators found a Home Depot receipt on Thomas Matthew Crooks' body indicating the purchase of a ladder.

Officials are now looking to see if it was brought to the site to access the roof.

Joe Biden has revealed details of his phone call with Trump, commented on the secret service's role around Saturday's shooting, and attacked an "out of touch" Supreme Court in an interview with our US partner network, NBC News.

Trump - Biden call

Mr Biden said he had a "very cordial" conversation with Donald Trump following the shooting, telling him he was in his prayers.

"I told him how concerned I was, and want to make sure I knew how he was actually doing. He sounded good."

Campaign language

Asked about his language during the campaign, Mr Biden asked: "How do you talk about the threat to democracy?

"Do you just not say anything 'cause it may incite somebody?"

It is in fact Trump who has engaged in inflammatory rhetoric, Mr Biden said, pointing to the former president's remarks that there would be a "bloodbath" if he lost, and his intention to suspend the sentences of 6 January Capitol rioters.

Mr Biden said his focus has been on criticising Trump's policy proposals that are "dividing the country" and relate to democracy.

Secret service

Asked if he has confidence in the secret service after the assassination attempt, the president said: "I feel safe with the secret service.

"They were ready to give their lives for the president. The question is should they have anticipated what happened."

He said a "major piece" of what happened related to "domestic and local law enforcement".

'Terrible' Supreme Court decision

Turning to the dismissal of the documents case against Trump, Mr Biden said the Supreme Court's decision on the legitimacy of independent prosecutors appointed by the attorney general was a "terrible" one.

He accused its justices of being the "most conservative" and seeming "out of touch with what the founders intended".

Future of the election

The race was now a "toss-up" between himself and Trump, he said, with "no wide gap" between them in the polls.

Reminded of his performance in the last debate, Mr Biden pushed back, asking Lester Holt why he wasn't interested in the dozens of lies told by Trump.

"I had a bad, bad night. I wasn't feeling well at all. And... I screwed up," said Mr Biden.

"But I'm only three years older than Trump, number one. And number two, my mental acuity's been pretty damn good. I've gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time."

Trump's running mate

Questions turn now to Trump's running mate, JD Vance, who was announced earlier.

"It's not unusual. He's gonna surround himself with people who agree completely with him."

He criticises Mr Vance for offering "no exceptions on abortion", supporting a $5trn tax cut and for saying "there's no climate change".

Donald Trump had a rare kind word to say of his rival following a phone call in the aftermath of Saturday's shooting.

The pair spoke on the phone in what Mr Biden described as a "very cordial" conversation.

Trump agreed with the president's assessment of the chat, saying it had been "very nice".

"He couldn't have been nicer," added Mr Trump, in an interview with ABC News.

Mr Biden said he told Trump he was in his family's prayers.

The US justice department has said it will appeal against the ruling today dismissing the criminal case accusing former president Donald Trump of illegally keeping classified documents after leaving office. 

As we reported earlier, Florida-based district judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated by Trump, ruled special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution, was unlawfully appointed to his role and did not have the authority to bring the case (see our 3.01pm post).

The order represents another huge legal victory for Trump, following the 1 July Supreme Court ruling that, as a former president, he enjoyed immunity from prosecution for many of his actions in office.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free