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Finally! For the first time in their career, Jet Li and Jackie Chan, two of the world’s most iconic martial artists, share screen time in an event hardcore kung fu fans have been salivating over for many years. You can put that “who would win in a fight?” argument to sleep now, cos this movie answers that with a spectacular fight scene. Well, sorta.
Discarding plot synopsis for a moment, let’s get down to the good stuff: is the fight scene worth it? In short, definitely! Jet Li and Jackie Chan go all out and it’s a lengthy sequence that’ll be sure to impress action-seekers everywhere. Effortlessly transitioning from the Crane style to the Praying Mantis, with Tiger and Drunken Monkey thrown in for good measure, it’s a glorious couple of minutes with many nods to their previous works and various styles they had used throughout the years – you’re not likely to find a better fight scene this year. The fight’s cop-out finish will surely frustrate many but it’s worth mentioning that even when Jet and Jackie fight side-by-side you’ll be punching the air with excitement. Oh, just me then...
..when Jet and Jackie fight side-by-side you’ll be punching the air with excitement. Oh, just me then.. |
After rummaging through an old pawn shop he regularly visits to buy bootlegs of his favourite kung fu DVDs, Jason (Michael Angarano) stumbles upon a golden staff that magically transports him to ancient China where he bumps into drunken fighter, Lu Yan (Chan). Lu informs Jason about the prophecy of a traveller that will come and rightfully restore the staff to its owner – the Monkey King. Beginning their journey they meet an orphaned young woman named Sparrow (played by the beautiful Yifei Liu) and encounter a monk (Jet Li) who has dedicated his life to ensuring the traveller completes his mission. The quartet set off to free the Monkey King from his petrified prison and defeat the Jade Warrior who turned him to stone and killed Sparrow’s family. Jackie, as expected, hams it up in that way only Jackie Chan can; pulling some priceless facial expressions and getting a few funny one-liners that’ll go down well with adults and kids alike. He certainly has a ball with his role, playing a character his long-term fans will no doubt recognise from his earlier work. Most surprisingly, however, is Jet Li. The more refined of the two, his roles typically involve him in more serious situations either as the bad guy or the tragic hero. While his monk character carries shades of the Jet Li we all know and love, he shows he can lighten up and be a bit crazy in the form of the Monkey King. Michael Angarano injects an affable quality into what could have been an increasingly irritable character. His coming of age story is handled well and while it may not work as effectively as say Tristan’s story in Stardust it carries a certain level of believability to it. It’s a pity the film spends a good portion of the story on exposition as more attention on character could have helped this film significantly, with supporting characters falling to wayside. Less filler and more grit would have elevated this film from being a generally good outing into a brilliant movie. Unfortunately, its 12’s rating and the fact it’s a few years too late means you’ll more thank likely leave the cinema feeling that it held out on a few punches (Can you imagine Jackie VS Jet 10 years ago?). Overall, though, a jolly good action-romp! |
