This review may contain spoilers
I gave this a 6 because of the wonderful series of "greatest hits" of JC stunts during the ending credits. However, the film itself rates closer to a 4 or even a 3. I'm so sorry to have to write that, as a lifelong JC fan, it's disappointing and not the kind of Final Performance that would have done his career the justice it deserves.
As others have written, long-time JC fans will be left nonplussed. This film is more of an extended chase scene - with comedy that would be appropriate for an American sit-com (think: Married with Children) (yes, it is that lame, but in addition to sexism (one Chinese woman spends a lengthy amount of time moaning about her injured foot and the French woman is inept with weapons and generally silly), ethnic stereotypes/denigrations of French (men), and Americans.
The great stunts of yore are gone, but we can't fault a 58 year old for not being able/willing to slide from skyscraper roofs or jump from bridges (see also: ending credits scenes: it is clearly getting harder for JC to take the falls and injuries as he once did). This film confirms that there is no Heir Apparent to his astonishing legacy, which is a pity.
However, there is a nice extended scene at about the 2/3 point in which we see the JC we've loved for all these years, which includes several charming nods to previous films. The skydive (see below) and roll through the volcano seemed pointlessly dangerous and didn't really carry the plot forward in any way that I could see.
The combat between the two women (Qi Shu & Caitlin Dechelle) was impressive (although quite brief)- and there was a nice touch at the conclusion of their fight. It helped to redeem some of the earlier oh-I'm-a-helpless-girl moments.
The plot is as fragmented as this review. It is equal parts moral diatribe and prototype for a Disneyland ride, with small moments of humor. The dialogue is stilted and slides into alarmingly preachy soliloquies at odd times.
I'm not sure where Mr. Chan spent the film budget, but certainly not on dubbing for the US release. The soundtrack is occasionally muffled and the voices often fail to align with the movement of the actors' mouths (when they are speaking English). I'm not sure if the rather disappointing CGA during the "pirates" scene was meant to be as laughable as it appeared. I'd like to give JC the benefit of the doubt and hope so.
A couple of the characters dress like they wandered off from a children's theater performance of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I'm not sure what that is all about.
As another reviewer remarked, the laws of gravity were apparently set aside (or the drop was made from 30,000+) as there was so much time for the characters to mess around before the parachutists reached the ground.
Die-hard Jackie Chan fans will watch this - we can't help ourselves, I suspect. And for those who don't know why we're such fans, either watch through to the conclusion or fast forward to the ending credits. This fellow has spent his adult life entertaining us - and literally risking life and limb to do so - and for that we are grateful.
I gave this a 6 because of the wonderful series of "greatest hits" of JC stunts during the ending credits. However, the film itself rates closer to a 4 or even a 3. I'm so sorry to have to write that, as a lifelong JC fan, it's disappointing and not the kind of Final Performance that would have done his career the justice it deserves.
As others have written, long-time JC fans will be left nonplussed. This film is more of an extended chase scene - with comedy that would be appropriate for an American sit-com (think: Married with Children) (yes, it is that lame, but in addition to sexism (one Chinese woman spends a lengthy amount of time moaning about her injured foot and the French woman is inept with weapons and generally silly), ethnic stereotypes/denigrations of French (men), and Americans.
The great stunts of yore are gone, but we can't fault a 58 year old for not being able/willing to slide from skyscraper roofs or jump from bridges (see also: ending credits scenes: it is clearly getting harder for JC to take the falls and injuries as he once did). This film confirms that there is no Heir Apparent to his astonishing legacy, which is a pity.
However, there is a nice extended scene at about the 2/3 point in which we see the JC we've loved for all these years, which includes several charming nods to previous films. The skydive (see below) and roll through the volcano seemed pointlessly dangerous and didn't really carry the plot forward in any way that I could see.
The combat between the two women (Qi Shu & Caitlin Dechelle) was impressive (although quite brief)- and there was a nice touch at the conclusion of their fight. It helped to redeem some of the earlier oh-I'm-a-helpless-girl moments.
The plot is as fragmented as this review. It is equal parts moral diatribe and prototype for a Disneyland ride, with small moments of humor. The dialogue is stilted and slides into alarmingly preachy soliloquies at odd times.
I'm not sure where Mr. Chan spent the film budget, but certainly not on dubbing for the US release. The soundtrack is occasionally muffled and the voices often fail to align with the movement of the actors' mouths (when they are speaking English). I'm not sure if the rather disappointing CGA during the "pirates" scene was meant to be as laughable as it appeared. I'd like to give JC the benefit of the doubt and hope so.
A couple of the characters dress like they wandered off from a children's theater performance of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I'm not sure what that is all about.
As another reviewer remarked, the laws of gravity were apparently set aside (or the drop was made from 30,000+) as there was so much time for the characters to mess around before the parachutists reached the ground.
Die-hard Jackie Chan fans will watch this - we can't help ourselves, I suspect. And for those who don't know why we're such fans, either watch through to the conclusion or fast forward to the ending credits. This fellow has spent his adult life entertaining us - and literally risking life and limb to do so - and for that we are grateful.