I saw this movie during my high school days when it was first released in the cinema. I enjoyed it thoroughly back then, and having seen countless snnipets on re-runs and re-re-runs on tv, and just watching it in its entirety again most recently, I still find it satisfyingly entertaining.
Compared to the other run on the mill Hong Kong action/ comedy movies, this ranks as one of those with a much larger budget, hence higher production values. Not to say that it is anywhere near the Hollywood meglo-maniacal standards, but it is good enough for something 'Made in Hong Kong'.
However I must say, action aside, the most impressive thing about this movie is still the writing, thanks to the very talented and much maligned Wong Jing. I always considered Wong Jing a wizard of Hong Kong cinema, contributing to almost all of Stephen Chow's earlier works, and still having more spells to unleash from his bag.
The postmodern take on Jacky Cheung doing a Bruce Lee 'Game of Death' yellow outfit, and of course even Jackie Chan's 'I always do my own stunts' is not only refreshingly funny, but also a biting satirical commentary. Top that with very good performances from Cheung himself, and his supporting cast which includes Wu Ma parodying 'Jackie Chan's father' and Charlie Cho as Jackie's manager, and the always beautiful Chingmy Yau and Valerie CHow upping the good/ bad babe factor plus the high doses of slapstick, suspense and mind-blowing action...it doesn't get any more and any better~
'High Risks' (it's original English title) is a Jet Lee vehicle...as well as Jacky Cheung's. I guess many of the american reviewers here, who probably only saw the English dubbed version, would find this to be very unfamiliar Jet Lee territory as compared to his other period pieces. They would no doubt also have missed out on many of the clever in-jokes and sub texts, and view this as another 'Die Hard' spoof. Sad to say, that is the case with many of the transitions of Asian films to American shores, most notably Hong Kong cinema and Japanese anime. So regardless of whether you are a Jet Lee fan or not, go see this movie with and open mind & enjoy the ride. Even if not for anything else, indulge in the escapist entertainment. THat's how it works for me in the first place...
Compared to the other run on the mill Hong Kong action/ comedy movies, this ranks as one of those with a much larger budget, hence higher production values. Not to say that it is anywhere near the Hollywood meglo-maniacal standards, but it is good enough for something 'Made in Hong Kong'.
However I must say, action aside, the most impressive thing about this movie is still the writing, thanks to the very talented and much maligned Wong Jing. I always considered Wong Jing a wizard of Hong Kong cinema, contributing to almost all of Stephen Chow's earlier works, and still having more spells to unleash from his bag.
The postmodern take on Jacky Cheung doing a Bruce Lee 'Game of Death' yellow outfit, and of course even Jackie Chan's 'I always do my own stunts' is not only refreshingly funny, but also a biting satirical commentary. Top that with very good performances from Cheung himself, and his supporting cast which includes Wu Ma parodying 'Jackie Chan's father' and Charlie Cho as Jackie's manager, and the always beautiful Chingmy Yau and Valerie CHow upping the good/ bad babe factor plus the high doses of slapstick, suspense and mind-blowing action...it doesn't get any more and any better~
'High Risks' (it's original English title) is a Jet Lee vehicle...as well as Jacky Cheung's. I guess many of the american reviewers here, who probably only saw the English dubbed version, would find this to be very unfamiliar Jet Lee territory as compared to his other period pieces. They would no doubt also have missed out on many of the clever in-jokes and sub texts, and view this as another 'Die Hard' spoof. Sad to say, that is the case with many of the transitions of Asian films to American shores, most notably Hong Kong cinema and Japanese anime. So regardless of whether you are a Jet Lee fan or not, go see this movie with and open mind & enjoy the ride. Even if not for anything else, indulge in the escapist entertainment. THat's how it works for me in the first place...