Hey folks, Harry here... Well, this review is quite exciting, especially for all the disappointed Jackie Chan fans that suffered through TUXEDO. The American Jackie Chan films have been fairly lacking in terms of classic fights. They've been films of moments, but not sequences or wholes. If what is being described below is accurate. If we really do see extended combat.... And the Donnie Yen vs Jackie Chan thing has drool seeping from the purple and pink striped feline grin upon my face. Only time will tell for certain, but for now... sounds exciting. BEWARE OF SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
Here is a review of SHANGHAI KNIGHTS....
Last night I went to the first test screening for SHANGHAI KNIGHTS, the sequel to SHANGHAI NOON, starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson. It is directed by David Dobkin (Clay Pigeons). Let me start out by saying I am a huge fan of Jackie. I own over thirty of his movies and I consider myself to be very knowledgeable of his career. Adding to that, I have recently become more and more disillusioned because his American movies either suck or aren't as good as they should be.
TUXEDO was a disaster!!! RUSH HOUR 1 & 2 and SHANGHAI NOON are all about as good as each other. They are directed okay, they are funny, they have some interesting fights (that are too short). His American films also don't have ENOUGH fights. They often try too hard to have a good story, which is hopeless because the plots of these films are not what people go to see. The story is only meant to allow for innovative fights in interesting settings and silly humor. That being said, I was really excited to see this film but at the same time very nervous. After TUXEDO, I was beginning to think that maybe Jackie had lost it....
I don't want to divulge too many plot details but the story involves the "Shanghai Kid" Chon Wang (Chan) going to London to avenge his father's death and to recover the Imperial Seal that was stolen from the Forbidden City. On the way, Wang stops in New York City to get his gold from Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) that they earned at the end of the first movie. Well, as you can see from the previews, O'Bannon joins Wang in his quest to London, where Wang's sister is already there trying to track down the killer. Donnie Yen plays one villain and an unknown (at least to me) named Aidan Gillen plays the British villain. They are both good, but not incredible.
THE FIGHTS...
As I said before, I was beginning to think that maybe Jackie had lost it...
Let me assure you that Jackie has NOT lost it. This is easily his best American movie. EASILY. From the opening scene, the way the fight was done I knew it was going to be more like his Hong Kong films (this fight doesn't even have Jackie in it either). In all of Jackie's American movies, there are only three or four fights. They are always too short and there really is only one great memorable one. In SHANGHAI NOON, the only memorable fight was Jackie with the rope & horseshoe versus the cowboys with guns.
In this film, however, there is fighting all over the place and the fights are LONG. The fight in the marketplace in London is probably the best. It lasts probably ten minutes (or maybe more) and that is exactly what his American films have always needed. My jaw kept dropping at Chan's fight and stunt work in this scene, and my jaw hasn't dropped like that since I saw DRUNKEN MASTER II or the rooftop fight at the end of WHO AM I. Yes, this is Chan's best stuff since DRUNKEN MASTER II.
The fight in New York City in the revolving door between Jackie and the keystone cops is phenomenol. It is so clever and awesome, I couldn't believe it. Thank you David Dobkin and Disney for making this more like one of Jackie's Hong Kong films.
There are two other great memorable fights as well that don't quit early like in the RUSH HOURs or SHANGHAI NOON... The only problem I had was I wish the final fights were a little longer and had Jackie a little stronger. But the problem of the climactic fight not being as good as the earlier fights in the film" happens a lot in Jackie's earlier pictures, so it doesn't really bother me much.
As for THE COMEDY...
For those of you who are Owen Wilson fans (as I am), you will be happy to know that this is Owen at his absolute funniest. I don't know how much of it is the script (because Wilson said before shooting that unlike the original, this one has a really funny script) and how much is his improvising, but he is hilarious. The whole theater was laughing non-stop. Every single thing he says is hysterical. I wish I wrote down all his lines when I was watching because he is more quotable in this than ever. The pillow fight scene = brilliant. Jackie Chan's comedy in this one, however, is entirely physical. All the comedy from Chan occurs in his top notch fights. In the first one, he was funny in the things he said, but here he just creates some of his most memorable goofy fights. That's why the movie works so well, because Wilson and Chan are each in their own element doing what they do best.
The film does have some interesting supporting characters and some annoying supporting characters. The script is really clever a lot of the time and then overdoes some of the jokes every once in a while. It's a little convoluted, but that doesn't matter because the whole point of the story is just to allow great comedy and great fights. I think by the time this film is done, the overdone jokes and few annoying characters will be fixed (this was the very first test screening of the film). The music was a little strange at certain times but that is only because it was a temp track. One of the best parts of the original SHANGHAI NOON was the score by Randy Edelman, and I read online that he is on board to do the music again. I must also praise the cinematography, costumes, hair styling, and set design in the film. This was one of the original's strong points and it is even better in this one.
For all of you kung fu fans out there who know the significance of Donnie Yen and Jackie Chan finally being in a movie together, don't get too excited about a huge showdown between the two of them. For all who don't know, this is probably second best to seeing Jet Li and Chan square off. Yen does not fight at all until the end of the film, where he does fight Jackie. The fight is really good, and it doesn't try to make Jackie a better fighter (which is realistic because if they fought in real life, Yen would definitely win). Jackie is the best filmmaker and is the most talented in terms of acting and comedy and innovative fight choreography, but just in terms of fighting, Yen would beat him. And in this fight you can see that Yen is better, but Jackie is fighting harder than ever. The fight is great, but too short for those who were hoping for an extended battle. I also wish that Yen was the final fight, but of course Jackie had to fight the white guy swordfighter last.
Overall, as I said before, this is Jackie Chan's best American movie easily. It his is best movie (HK or American) since DRUNKEN MASTER II. It has Owen Wilson at his comedic best, Chan at his comedic fighting best, and the setting & story for it all are the best Chan has had in a while. If you liked the first one, you'll love this one. If you are an Owen Wilson fan, you'll find him funnier than ever. If you're a Jackie Chan fan, go see this film and be reassured of his brilliant ability to entertain audiences again and again. This is just a great action comedy.... I recommend seeing it next February.
by "In Charge"
