Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, John Sham, Hoi Mang, Hark Tsui, James Tien, Dick Wei, Fat Chung
Two unlucky thieves break into a just murdered man’s hotel room and steal his passport with a hidden microfilm wanted by a triad boss. Two hard-kicking women cops from HK and the UK get the case.
I didn’t know much about this film going in. That only added to the surprises and pleasures that this film offers.
This is an enjoyable action film starring Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock as a kind of buddy comedic film. Though the laughs mainly come from the con-man trio they are chasing throughout and working with on deals to catch bigger villains. The film allows them to be human and a bit more than just types.
There are plenty of action set pieces. As the film is mostly easy though towards theme becomes a bit more dramatic and tragic.
There is plenty of stunt work and scenes that amaze as far as their choreography. Not surprising when you know the the director is master fight choreographer Corey Yeun. Which truthfully is one of the reasons one finally checked this movie out.
The film moves quickly, though some jokes and scenes go on for a bit too long. Overall, it is a joyous affair that never quite runs out of energy.
Cast: Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, Miki Le, Karen McLymont, Vince Poleto, Barry Otto, Sammo Hung, Peter Houghton, David No
A Chinese chef accidentally gets involved with a news reporter who filmed a drug bust that went awry, and is now being chased by gangs who are trying to get the videotape.
Jackie Chan usually defends himself in fights. That leads to death-defying stunts and he seems so acrobat. As he is, the initial attacker is never malicious or aggressive.
Why he comes across so bad when he does. He seems up or had enough of it and he’s not using so much as truly fighting for a reason. Still the reluctant hero.
This is also why usually his films are more noteworthy for their action sequences than the plot as the story is the connective tissue that holds it all together and leads us to these scenes. There isn’t truly any just the cosmetics that help everything else cook.
This film is set up in Australia, and not starring most of his usual costars. Except for Richard Norton playing the villain.
Thankfully, this is not another body-action comedy. This film also isn’t as sanitized as his usual more English language films, which sometimes end up being more for families and kids. There is more action with comedic scenes sprinkled throughout. But still, it’s an action film throwing through one just wishes the film could’ve been better overall.
That piece of work, though not as fun, loving, or inspiring as his non-English language films. The film becomes over-the-top ridiculous especially with it’s at least giving him a challenge. The henchman outfits are definitely 1990’s garb.
Directed by fellow kung fu legend, Sammo Hung. Who is more known for comedy and directing and acting with fight scenes and kung fu sprinkled it.
It gets a little racy, but nothing too offensive. That is an ending that offers pure destruction.
This ends up being a noteworthy film of his overture.
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.
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.
Cast: Jackie Chan, Brigette Lin, Maggie Cheung, Yuen Chor, Bill Tung, Chun-Yip Tong, Kwok-Hung Lam, Chi-Wing Lau, Charlie Cho, Hung-You Ham
Kevin Chan is a Hong Kong cop, who scores his first big hit by virtually single-handedly capturing and arresting a big drug- lord. Of course, the drug lord isn’t too happy about this and frames Kevin with the murder of another cop. Kevin has to clear his name, whilst keeping himself from getting killed or arrested and keeping his girlfriend from leaving him.
One of the joys of watching early Jackie Chan movies is watching him in his element. like classic silent movie, comedians. That is hard to mimic, and all managed to have their own signature style. where his appeal is all about his physicality here he does his own stunts as usual, but also manages to add into that element badass fights.
So he is dangerous, as well as silly instead of as in his leader films, more silly than dangerous. it’s an element missing from his Hollywood American movies, as the action is not as impressive in those it was more about the stunts, as he was still doing them himself, but usually paired with an up star or comedic star for a comedy, and then, even in the fight scenes, not usually working with his team the fights are stuntman looked like in a musical obvious and waiting for their turn in the spotlight and making it look obvious staged, except for THE FOREIGNER that film is totally balls to the wall, it’s not a comedy
The choreography of the fight scenes is so impressive that he even has a moment in this film to work in a moonwalk scene because it was popular at the time
Part of his fandom is the fact of how hard he works, and that he is willing to put his life and body on the line, not only to get the right shot but to entertain his audience. To impress even being a perfectionist on smaller details at times.
What is the reason this film is considered a classic is that it showcases his appeal and comedy and action and a perfect mix. funny, but the sequences and situations are enough to cause worry while being amazed at the stunts and his physical skills, physically. He truly is in control and comes into his own here. (which is why the film has many sequels.)
He has a lot of purely comedic scenes to himself to show off his comedy skills physically will say he is more impressive with a dance partner, so to speak. As when he uses props the film has weapons, but they’re never truly used. Usually, they are only as threats or for use by others by the villains.
The hand-in-hand combat, at least reminds you of classic kung fu movies, only more modern and crime rate and visual comedy.
No, he doesn’t really allow anyone else to shine in this film just join in the festivities as they are needed.
The film doesn’t offer anything new to add story though I love interest is there the film offers no love story, but pretty distractions. There are the usual cops and criminals and double-crosses.
The car chase scene through a shantytown seems to have inspired an action sequence from Director Michael Bay’s BAD BOYS 2.
One scene to show off the impression a stunt near the end has him show it three times at different angles, though then it just ends suddenly after beating up the villain.
Cut To The Chase 