Total Risk

The tagline used over here: "They took his wife, now he takes revenge" is pretty corny, and doesn't really appeal to anyone. It sounds like just about any ordinary action movie out there. But it isn't. This movie is truly superb! The acting, the directing, the action, the plot all mix together into something you just got to love.

Kit Li, a former commando soldier, who accidently killed his wife and a bunch of school children after cutting the wrong wire on a bomb, now works as a stand in for a shameless Kung-Fu superstar named Frankie Lone. The public believes Frankie Lone does all his own stunt work, when infact Kit Li does it for him, and Frankie Lone has become a real coward, who forgets from where he got his fame... That is, by using Kung-Fu.

One night Frankie Lone and Kit Li goes to look at some russian jewels, displayed in a skyscrapper. Unfortunetly terrorists take over the building, and takes everyone in it as hostage. Frankie Lone and Kit Li, however, escape the clutches of the terrorists and dwell around in the building, Kit Li taking out every terrorist he finds and Frankie Lone, running from every bug he finds. Its very funny at times, really.

In the end they manage to take out the terrorists, of course, and Frankie Lone remembers who he really is and Kit Li gets a new girlfriend. Cute. Well, its a good ending to a good movie. Wait, make that a great movie. If you ever lay eyes on this movie in the store, buy it! its definetly worth it.

To sum it all up: Funny, action-packed, good directing and writing and just loveable in general. Go get it! I give it a 9!

Two HK directors teamed up to make this mockery on Jackie Chan, who was portrayed as a hypocritical coward and a selfish superstar named Frankie Lone in the movie. Note Frankie Lone in his trademark yellow jumpsuit. That was a parody to Jackie Chan's poster for his early film, "Heart of Dragon" (1985). "High Risk" (aka "Melt Down") might seem trashy to film buffs but it's one of a kind. Like what Mank did to William Randolph Hearst in his script for "Citizen Kane," everyone could tell who Frankie Lone stood for back then. It's unclear if the two directors were retaliated, but Jackie Chan did make his double speak out for him in public. It's certainly an entertaining film packed with actions and HK superstars like Jacky Cheung and Jet Li.

After failing to save his wife from the Doctor, Kit Li is working as a bodyguard and secret stunt double for the cowardly martial arts film star Frankie Lane. Frankie attends an exhibition of the crown jewels of Russia at a Hong Kong hotel, and when the Doctor's gang take over the building in attempt to steal them, Kit is the only thing standing in their way.

The film is a parody of some of Hollywood's most influential action films, such as "Die Hard" and "Speed". It also gained controversy for spoofing Jackie Chan, who was, in turn, offended by the satire. From what I can tell, he was offended specifically because he had a falling out with the director. I don't see anything that is offensive here... sure, it might vaguely imply that Chan is a fake, but only vaguely -- satire is what happens when you reach the success of Chan.

Overall, this is a strong action film with a fun plot. Purists can watch it with subtitles, but those who prefer dubbing will especially enjoy the sweet voice of Daran Norris as the Doctor.

This movie heavily throws shade on Jackie Chan and is a violent tornado. It's got some Good fight scenes it has a decent soundtrack and the dubbing is borderline ridiculous but in a good way overall the movie does quite well.

If you are an action fan, and are able to overlook the usual, for Hong Kong movies, schizophrenic tone, which mixes excessive violence with slapstick comedy, it's practically impossible to be disappointed by "Meltdown": first-rate fight scenes, wildly over-the-top stunts, prime explosions and lots of shattered glass. It's hard to believe that so much action can be packed in just one movie. Jet Li moves with amazing speed and agility, Jacky Cheung is pretty funny, and Chingmy Yau is also around, which is always a plus. (***)