JACKIE CHAN'S FIRST STRIKE
A film review by Vince Waldron
Copyright 1997 Vince Waldron
It isn't being billed as such, but this is actually the fourth installment in Jackie's popular Police Story series--and the good news is that it is indeed a worthy successor to those earlier action gems. Actually, it's not surprising that the film's stateside distributors have been downplaying the films lineage to the earlier police story series, since most of the earlier police story adventures have yet to recieve widespread distribution in the united states. Besides, with a spy versus spy plotline that exists largely to drop Jackie into a string of life threatening action sequences spread out across the globe, this film owes as much to the james bond films of the seventies as it does to Jackie earlier police story action comedies. This is also one of the first Jackie vehicles that seems designed to appeal to the western market from its inception--and it is by far the most successful of the jackie movies to gain widespread distribution in this country. Like Rumble in the bronx, this one moves the action from Hong Kong to a vaguely recognizable western location--in this case a pacific resort in an australian metropolis.
But unlike the inferior "rumble," in which Jackie seemed somewhat constrained by the limited action potential of that film's bogus new york locations, the star is let loose in a string of breathtaking set pieces in snow, sea and air. There are a number of superbly choreographed fights scenes, including a splendid set piece in which Jackie employs an aluminum painter's ladder to dazzling effect--I don't think an inanimate object has been as thrilling since Fred Astaire stepped out with that hat rack back in Hollywood's golden age. Best of all, the film's breakneck plot allows Jackie plenty of opportunity to demonstrate his deft sense of physical comedy--which is a quality that's been somewhat lacking in most of the star's previous stateside releases.
Highly recommended to Jackie's fans, I think this would also serve as the perfect introduction to Jackie's magic for those of you wondering what the hub bub is all about.
--
Please reply directly to me at:
ag644@lafn.org
Vince Waldron
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