Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
PoleOfJustice tackled this one already today, but here’s another reaction in case you’re still curious...
Long time reader, etc., etc.
Tonight, I had the dubious honor of seeing an advance screening of Shanghai Knights, the long-awaited (yeah right) sequel to Shanghai Noon starring Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan. This time, the dynamic duo square off against the maniacal Lord Rathbone, who has killed Jackie’s father and stolen the Imperial Seal of China in a cockamamie attempt to become king of England. I will try to make this as brief and painless as possible.
The good:
1) Jackie Chan still has a few tricks up his sleeve. There are a couple of inspired fight sequences including one in a revolving door, and another in which Jackie does his Singing in the Rain homage with an umbrella and a bunch of wooden crates.
2) The actress who plays Jackie’s sister is a babe, and very believable as a kung fu master. She also has a memorable scene in which she dispatches one of the main antagonists with aerial fireworks.
3) Lord Rathbone, despite his Alec-Baldwin-having-a-bad-hair-day appearance, is pretty effective as the villain in a Republic Serial sort of way. His swordsmanship is also a joy to behold.
4) The blooper reel, which is pretty typical for Jackie Chan’s movies but entertaining nonetheless.
The bad:
1) The bizarre classic rock soundtrack, which was quite out of place with the period visuals.
2) The constant (and unfunny) way the characters keep running into historical figures and places (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charlie Chaplin, Jack the Ripper, and Stonehenge, for example).
3) The film overstays its welcome with a running time that was about twenty minutes too long.
The bottom line:
This film is better than the first one (though that’s not saying much), and it’s a damn sight better than the Tuxedo and I Spy. If you are desperate to see something new this weekend, try to catch this as a matinee, or better yet, sneak in after your umpteenth viewing of the Two Towers.
If you use this, I am Rhavokk.
Well, thanks, Rhavokk. I appreciate it.
"Moriarty" out.
