Blog Archives

Crime Story (1993)

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Posted on January 8, 2006 by Justin

Crime Story is one of the very few films from Jackie Chan’s back catalogue that’s bereft of comedy, along with Thunderbolt and (to some degree, anyway) New Police Story. Apparently, more dramatic acting is the direction Jackie wants to take his career, now that he’s getting older. All well and good, and I think he’s capable of doing a decent job, but the removal of the comedy really focuses your attention on the characters and the story… which I … (read more)

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Blade Of The Rose (2004)

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Posted on January 8, 2006 by Alison

Of all sequels, this is the one that should never have been made. The original Twins publicity vehicle, The Twins Effect, was not a strong enough film to warrant a sequel, which is probably why the film-makers decided to use a completely different story. Bad move. Exceedingly bad move.

The story is complicated, but not well-thought out. It doesn’t hang together, and helps to make the whole film look rather like an undergraduate effort: full of grand ideas rendered … (read more)

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Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Justin

The Police Story series is one of Jackie Chan’s best-loved series of films. The first one, made in 1985, is lauded by many as one of the best action films ever made. As well as showing off Jackie’s talents, they made stars of actresses Maggie Cheung (Jackie’s long-suffering girlfriend in the first three films) and Michelle Yeoh, who almost out-stunts Jackie in Police Story III.

It’s a slower film than the first two Police Stories, this one. Made … (read more)

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Police Story (1985)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Alison

Police Story has been called the greatest action film of all time. That’s making a big claim, and I’m not certain it’s true, but I am certain that this film is a fine example of Jackie doing what Jackie does best: taking a beating from bad guys, good guys, cars, furniture, and assorted household items.

The film opens with a stakeout leading to a spectacular chase down the side of a mountain, smashing through a shanty town on the slope. … (read more)

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Fist of Fury (1972)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Justin

Fist of Fury was Bruce Lee’s second film in Hong Kong, after The Big Boss made him a superstar across Asia. It’s a much bigger film, shot with a larger budget and higher production values by the same director, Lo Wei. It follows the story of fictional character Chen Zhen, a junior student at the Jing Mo school run by real-life martial arts master Fok Yun Gap (Ho Yuan-chia in Mandarin). It’s been remade and referenced many, many times since … (read more)

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The Golden Lotus (1974)

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Posted on October 29, 2005 by Justin

Well, this is a different kind of film for me to review; The Golden Lotus is a Shaw Brothers film that features no kung fu, no roving swordsmen, no cultists, no priests, and no battling for honour or control of the martial world at all. It does (as the synopsis above says) have murders, corruptions and sexual exploits. Mostly sexual exploits, actually — the corruption and murders are generally side-effects in this story. So, consider yourself warned: most definitely not … (read more)

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Twin Dragons (1992)

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Posted on June 18, 2005 by Alison

Fun action romp featuring a cameo from virtually everyone in the HK film industry. This was made in support of a film industry move to get corruption out of the industry. Don’t know how well it worked, but it’s typical Jackie action, and you’ll have fun spotting famous faces.… (read more)

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Armour Of God (1987)

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Posted on March 10, 2005 by James

Famous not only as a box-office smash, but also for containing a misfired stunt that smashed open Jackie Chan’s skull, Armour of God is a bare bones action-adventure yarn that displays oodles of JC’s superb athleticism and wily comic talents. This is a movie that barely makes sense, is often borderline politically incorrect, and is firmly rooted in childish entertainment — in short, it’s an energetic and accomplished plot-driven B-movie that aficionados of finer martial action or breakneck comedy may … (read more)

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