Bill Tung – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Stanley Tong

Written By: Edward Tang and Fibe Ma

Cinematography: Jingle Ma

Editor: Peter Cheung

Cast: Jackie Chan, Anita Mui, Francoise Yip, Bill Tung, Marc Akerstream, Garvin Cross, Morgan Lam, Alien Sit

A young man visiting and helping his uncle in New York City finds himself forced to fight a street gang and the mob with his martial arts skills.

This is the first movie I saw Jackie Chan starring in. Though I remember him in the CANNONBALL RUN movies. This was another temp for him to break in Hollywood after the previous film mentioned, and THE PROTECTOR with Danny Aiello.

Only this time he had more momentum as Quentin Tarantino had hyped him up and his films after a lifetime achievement award at the MTV awards when they were at the height of cool. Showing clips of all his films and detailing his injuries from doing all his acrobatic stunts.

Had a younger generation mesmerized and salivating over his work. Having him be a well-known foreign secret this was the first released film after.

The trailer showcased more action scenes than the stunts and didn’t include any of the more comedic elements.

The film is pretty run-of-the-mill only here. Most of his enemies are Caucasian. The film does show him struggling with the English dialogue so still eternally a nice guy and helping out a kid and his older sister, who had first set him up, and provides the film with some eye candy, but not a romantic one.

This has what is typical in his film’s build-up of him being impressive and early scenes, yet being defeated, then the finale and over-the-top action fighting extravaganza, where he is like Hulk Hogan in his prime beaten now feels no pain in his nonstop as now he is truly angry and fed up

The film feels more like something from the 1980s and Chan is a little too old to be quite believable as the character and his circumstances.

Luckily, this is less comedic and family-friendly than his films would eventually become in America, so this film does retain some edge.

Though the pharmacy supposed to take place in the Bronx is obviously filmed in Canada and is not as exciting as the title.

Grade: C+

Directed By: Jackie Chan

Written By: Jackie Chan & Edward Tang, Paul E. Clay

Cinematography: Yiu-Tsou Cheung and Yu-Tang Li

Editor: Peter Cheung

Cast: Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Yuen Chor, Bill Tung, Kwok-Hung Lam, Charlie Cho, Keung-Kuen Lai, John Cheung, Ben Lam, Chi-fai Chan

Despite his success at apprehending criminals, Kevin Chan’s unorthodox approach to his work as a police officer sees him demoted to the traffic branch. Despite this, the man he put behind bars is now out of prison, and has vowed to make his life a misery. While this crime boss is harassing Kevin and his girlfriend, the police are contemplating reinstating Kevin to help them fight a group of bombers attempting to extort $10 million from building owners.

I will admit this film had some big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite rise to the challenge.

The film comes off as bigger, and it takes a little longer to get started, which might be why this is a longer movie. The film feels a bit bloated.

The stunts try to be bigger, heavier, and longer with a bigger budget, but in actuality, they feel like there are fewer of them or not a special, not as deifying, except for the final fight in the third act.

The film begins by bringing the audience up to speed with highlights from the first film. As there will be returning characters.

The action takes a while at the beginning between action scenes, though the fight scenes are bigger, to a degree. The film lives off of a building up to them. Unfortunately, they don’t quite measure up.

Jackie Chan sports a better wardrobe, and this time around gives the returning cast more to do even as his character ultimately feels less comedic and more serious.

Though he still maintains being the center of attention, he lets others do some of the work.

This film at least has more of a story and its crime syndicate tail. Even the more minor moves feel dangerous and impressive at times.

Ultimately, this film feels like a disappointment

Grade: C

Tag: Bill Tung

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