SHANGHAI NOON
A Filmfreak 7/10
Directed by Tom Dey
Screenplay by Miles Millar (written by), Alfred Gough
Cast includes : Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu
Basic plot outline: Set in the days of the Wild West, Chon Wang is an Imperial Warrior, bound by a regimist Chinese Empire. This devout servant goes on a mission to help save the Princess Pei Pei, who has been kidnapped and taken to the States. It becomes your typical 'unlikely partners bound together through circumstances beyond thier control and become best of friends' film, when he ends up teaming with outlaw Roy O'Bannon. This motley duo fumble thier way along, as time starts running out for the Princess.
Review: Well this was disappointing. Jackie Chan rules. Even a commercial Jackie Chan, as in Rush Hour rules. But Jackie Chan, totally 'Hollywoodised', doesn't rule. First time director Tom Dey really didn't do this film justice. It had all the elements of a typical Chan fliq, and was technically perfect. But it sorely missed that Chan Humour Factor. It had cheesy Hollywood humour, flittered with multiple reversals as a comedic technique, blatant, obvious, commercial. Its Chan... we want FIGHT SCENES!!! Lots and lots of cool fight scenes. What is all this nonsense about plot and dialogue... sheeesh! It was still enjoyable, but will be a disappointment to all Chan Fans.
