Jackie Chan is back!!! But what you would see is a marginally slow version of a person who has, over the years given us some of the best martial arts displays on screen ever. But I would challenge any of you to find me a 58 year old gentleman (in the truest sense of the word) who can come remotely close.
Somewhere in the 19th century, a French ship captained by the great great grandfather of a famous French socialite – Katherine (Laura Weissbecker) – makes its trip to the orient. The ship is called The Indestructible. When they reach their destination, they ensure that the Old Summer Palace of the then monarch is pillaged to the hilt.
They obviously make away with all the gold that they can muster and artifacts that are rated worth millions of euros today. One such artifact are the twelve Bronze statues of the Chinese Zodiac. The French went off with just the heads of the statues which have now started surfacing in bits and pieces. Katherine herself is in possession of one statue but is unaware of its worth.
The MP corporation led by Lawrence (Oliver Platt) has through the years built its might in this business. They, however, do not deal with the originals as much as they do in fakes. The fakes itself are worth millions but much lesser millions as compared to the originals. But to make a fake you need the authentic piece and helping him source that is JC (Jackie Chan) aka The Asian Hawk.
Most Chan movies do not have a semblance of production values other than the aspect of the action sequences. The action is usually top notch and the primary contributor is Chan himself. Although, as compared to previous movies, you may not find the end titling gaffes as elaborate. But you will definitely enjoy most of the stunts that this absolute artist has come up with this time.
The opening sequence starts with some high speed luging down a hill somewhere in Europe. There is a treasure hunt on a desolate island and a fight with some pirates and sliding down the island on a humongous log. That pretty much peppers the space upto the final climax that has Chan free falling towards an active volcano. Totally brilliant stuff if you are a Chan fan. As a movie just about 6 on 10 I would guess.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_hXhposGag
Showing posts with label Jackie Chan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jackie Chan. Show all posts
Friday, 4 January 2013
Monday, 15 August 2011
The Spy Next Door
Bob Ho (Jackie Chan) is a plumber by profession and he stays in a quiet suburb somewhere in the US. He is of Chinese origin (of course) and is single. He is an exceptionally sweet guy to say the least and helps the people of his neighbourhood at the drop of a hat. Especially if the person is Gillian (Amber Valletta) who is his next door neighbor. With Gillian he doesn’t have much of a choice honestly. He is well and truly head over heels about her. A fact that Gillian is well aware of and endorses. So much that she has already said yes to his proposal for marriage. Something that hasn’t gone too well with Gillian’s 3 kids – Farren (Madeline Carroll), Ian (Will Shadley) and Nora (Alina Foley). I would be unfair if I said that all 3 hate him. It would seem that Ian and Nora are fine but are under the influence of Farren who is Gillian’s step daughter actually. So as you can see, it is all a very complicated situation that these five people find themselves in.
Complicated? You must be kidding me. Ho is regarded as one of the best spies to ever have existed in the world and is on loan from Chinese Intelligence. In fact, he goes by the pseudonym – Super Spy Man – in most inner circles of spydom. He also has a lovely song that has been written for him like there is one for Spiderman or Fireball XL5 (if you remember). In short, he is a revered person in his circles. And he has already called out to his colleagues Colton James (Billy Ray Cyrus – I thought the only time he acted was in Hannah Montana) and Glaze (George Lopez) that he is on his last assignment which has to do with the capture of renowned world terrorist and most wanted Poldark (Magnús Scheving). After that he will retire for good and settle down with Gillian and her 3 children. He does catch Poldark in the first few minutes of the movie. But then the movie would be finished right? And as expected Poldark manages to escape!!!!
The Spy Next Door is one of the four movies of Jackie Chan that released last year. And for those who do not know, he turned 57 this April. 57!!!! And I am struggling to get to work @ 36. He does 4 movies that involved all of his antics and more in the same year???? He is indeed Super Spy Man. I have always loved Jackie Chan for his absolutely humility on and off screen that makes him an actor who is so sought after no matter what genre of movies you like. I have yet to meet anyone who really hates Jackie Chan movies. If there are any, I say – get a life guys. The man has enthralled us for nearly 50 years now. And with stunts that most people cannot even imagine. I liked The Spy Next Door since it is vintage Jackie Chan again. The rest of the cast pales in comparison. They do their jobs for certain but it is the Jackie Chan Show all the way. You will not get bored for the 90 odd minutes that the movie runs for. Director Brian Levant ensures that there are enough and more action sequences with the little master and lots of slapstick comedy also thrown in. I may not a give it a great score at 6 on 10 but I do believe that it is extremely enjoyable for both Jackie Chan fans or otherwise alike.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3031631129/
Complicated? You must be kidding me. Ho is regarded as one of the best spies to ever have existed in the world and is on loan from Chinese Intelligence. In fact, he goes by the pseudonym – Super Spy Man – in most inner circles of spydom. He also has a lovely song that has been written for him like there is one for Spiderman or Fireball XL5 (if you remember). In short, he is a revered person in his circles. And he has already called out to his colleagues Colton James (Billy Ray Cyrus – I thought the only time he acted was in Hannah Montana) and Glaze (George Lopez) that he is on his last assignment which has to do with the capture of renowned world terrorist and most wanted Poldark (Magnús Scheving). After that he will retire for good and settle down with Gillian and her 3 children. He does catch Poldark in the first few minutes of the movie. But then the movie would be finished right? And as expected Poldark manages to escape!!!!
The Spy Next Door is one of the four movies of Jackie Chan that released last year. And for those who do not know, he turned 57 this April. 57!!!! And I am struggling to get to work @ 36. He does 4 movies that involved all of his antics and more in the same year???? He is indeed Super Spy Man. I have always loved Jackie Chan for his absolutely humility on and off screen that makes him an actor who is so sought after no matter what genre of movies you like. I have yet to meet anyone who really hates Jackie Chan movies. If there are any, I say – get a life guys. The man has enthralled us for nearly 50 years now. And with stunts that most people cannot even imagine. I liked The Spy Next Door since it is vintage Jackie Chan again. The rest of the cast pales in comparison. They do their jobs for certain but it is the Jackie Chan Show all the way. You will not get bored for the 90 odd minutes that the movie runs for. Director Brian Levant ensures that there are enough and more action sequences with the little master and lots of slapstick comedy also thrown in. I may not a give it a great score at 6 on 10 but I do believe that it is extremely enjoyable for both Jackie Chan fans or otherwise alike.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3031631129/
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Kung Fu Panda 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
While there are enough and many more than enough movies that make you cringe and make you kind of border on regret the option of being a minor movie critic, there are many and more that make you eagerly wait for what they term as AWESOMENESS. And you are watching the trailers that build up to the actual movie and really find it difficult to wait any longer because you are so close to the real thing that the excitement is killing you. The saving grace though is the trailer of Cars 2 that plays in between giving you that respite. But then again you are waiting for only Awesomeness to begin. And then it does. And how!!!!!
Long long ago in China (of course) – somewhere to the south east – in a place called Gongmen City, there lived the Peacock King and the Peacock Queen. They lived a completely peaceful existence and had a son Shen (Gary Oldman). Shen was a pyromaniac of sorts and started dabbling with fireworks and over a period of time had built a love for them that bordered on insanity. Like all courts in China, this one too had a Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) who foretold that the passion for fireworks would lead Shen to nothing but disaster at the hands of “a warrior of black and white” – rings a bell somewhere doesn’t it. And it did ring a bell in Shen’s head as well. What no one anticipated is the rampage that Shen would go on to prove the prophecy wrong. He coloured the misty white and green and blue landscape of the hills of the south in a colour that no one had imagined. He coloured it RED – The red blood of the Pandas – every single panda that he could get his hands on. He retuned with the feeling of being victorious but his parents had other ideas. Displeased and disappointed with Shen’s reaction – shell shocked was more like it – they banished Shen from Gongmen City. Shen leaves but returns 30 years later – this time with a weapon that threatens the very existence of Kung Fu in China. He takes the lives of the most prolific Kung Fu artist in China and the master of the gaurds of Gongmen City – Master Rhino (Victor Garber). He spares the lives of Master Croc (Jean Claude Van Damme) and Master Ox (Dennis Haysbert). Now, the only people who can stand in his way are the Furious Five – Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross). And of course there is Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who gives his discourse on Inner Peace to the ever puzzled Dragon Warrior – Po (Jack Black).
First time director Jennifer Yuh retains the essence left by Mark Osborne & John Stevenson and gives you a wholesome entertainer. I need not say anything about the star cast coz in the spirit of KFP they are just TRULY AWESOME!!! For fans and non fans alike, KFP2 proves once again that if it is touched by SKG DreamWorks then Pixar better watch out. This one is definitely up there in the nominations for the Oscars next year. Kung Fu Panda 2 relives the magic that was created by the first edition and also leaves enough scope for its loyal fans to be excited – yes my dear Kung Fu Panda friends… there will be, soon enough a Kung Fu Panda 3!!!! This time with Po’s biological dad. As my close friend Dhammo would have said, “The excitement is KILLING me”!!!! 8 on 10 without doubt.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1639488793/
While there are enough and many more than enough movies that make you cringe and make you kind of border on regret the option of being a minor movie critic, there are many and more that make you eagerly wait for what they term as AWESOMENESS. And you are watching the trailers that build up to the actual movie and really find it difficult to wait any longer because you are so close to the real thing that the excitement is killing you. The saving grace though is the trailer of Cars 2 that plays in between giving you that respite. But then again you are waiting for only Awesomeness to begin. And then it does. And how!!!!!
Long long ago in China (of course) – somewhere to the south east – in a place called Gongmen City, there lived the Peacock King and the Peacock Queen. They lived a completely peaceful existence and had a son Shen (Gary Oldman). Shen was a pyromaniac of sorts and started dabbling with fireworks and over a period of time had built a love for them that bordered on insanity. Like all courts in China, this one too had a Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) who foretold that the passion for fireworks would lead Shen to nothing but disaster at the hands of “a warrior of black and white” – rings a bell somewhere doesn’t it. And it did ring a bell in Shen’s head as well. What no one anticipated is the rampage that Shen would go on to prove the prophecy wrong. He coloured the misty white and green and blue landscape of the hills of the south in a colour that no one had imagined. He coloured it RED – The red blood of the Pandas – every single panda that he could get his hands on. He retuned with the feeling of being victorious but his parents had other ideas. Displeased and disappointed with Shen’s reaction – shell shocked was more like it – they banished Shen from Gongmen City. Shen leaves but returns 30 years later – this time with a weapon that threatens the very existence of Kung Fu in China. He takes the lives of the most prolific Kung Fu artist in China and the master of the gaurds of Gongmen City – Master Rhino (Victor Garber). He spares the lives of Master Croc (Jean Claude Van Damme) and Master Ox (Dennis Haysbert). Now, the only people who can stand in his way are the Furious Five – Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross). And of course there is Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who gives his discourse on Inner Peace to the ever puzzled Dragon Warrior – Po (Jack Black).
First time director Jennifer Yuh retains the essence left by Mark Osborne & John Stevenson and gives you a wholesome entertainer. I need not say anything about the star cast coz in the spirit of KFP they are just TRULY AWESOME!!! For fans and non fans alike, KFP2 proves once again that if it is touched by SKG DreamWorks then Pixar better watch out. This one is definitely up there in the nominations for the Oscars next year. Kung Fu Panda 2 relives the magic that was created by the first edition and also leaves enough scope for its loyal fans to be excited – yes my dear Kung Fu Panda friends… there will be, soon enough a Kung Fu Panda 3!!!! This time with Po’s biological dad. As my close friend Dhammo would have said, “The excitement is KILLING me”!!!! 8 on 10 without doubt.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1639488793/
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