Le Marin des mers de Chine 2

Well, this is a Jackie Chan movie, so you know what you are getting here - heaps of action and impressive stunts. So it all boils down to the storyline, doesn't it?

I will say that "Project A 2" (aka "'A' gai wak 2") wasn't the best of Jackie Chan's movies. But don't get me wrong, because I am not implying that it is a bad or poor movie; far from it. This movie was entertaining for sure, and yeah there were good action and impressive stunt feats here as well, but the storyline was just a bit on the trivial side, wasn't it?

The movie boasts a rather impressive cast ensemble with the likes of Jackie Chan, Carina Lau, Bill Tung and Rosamund Kwan. Which leaves me to mention the gorgeous Maggie Cheung, one of my all-time favorite actresses in the Hong Kong cinema.

Entertainment-wise then "Project A 2" was adequate, but it wasn't an outstanding notch in Jackie Chan's formidable career.

Needless to say that I was impressed with the fighting, stunts and choreography, because it is always top notch and fabulous when you watch a Jackie Chan movie. And I was especially impressed with the fact that he actually chowed down on real chilies for that scene - as it was shown in the clips during the end credits. Now that was definitely commitment to the movie.

I am rating "Project A 2" a six out of ten stars. It was watchable and entertaining enough, just doesn't rank among the best of Jackie Chan's movies.

Many films claim to be like riding a roller coaster, but this more or less typical adventure from Asian sensation Jackie Chan is the genuine article: a fast, furious, and totally physical wide-screen action comedy. The convoluted screenplay, picking up right where Part I presumably ended, follows an incorruptible turn-of-the-century Hong Kong cop forced to contend with powerful mobsters, dangerous revolutionaries, crooked policemen, and a scruffy crew of pirates, separately and often all at once. But what passes for a plot is only an excuse for several hair-raising (and nicely choreographed) combat and chase scenes set (almost literally) at a breakneck pace, and performed without the benefit of doubles or trick photography. The writer/director/actor (and title song singer) single-handedly legitimizes the concept of mindless entertainment, at the risk of bruises and more than one broken bone, but never mind: the film is exhilarating, exhausting, and just plain fun.

(postscript: fifteen-plus years after seeing 'Project A II' I finally caught up to the first chapter, which is even more energetic than its sequel...)

Dragon Ma (Jackie Chan) is back as a H.K. Water Police. He is assigned to clean up corruption and lawlessness. They catch a couple of thieves stealing a money box from Yesan (Maggie Cheung) collecting for the Nationalist cause. Yesan runs away fearing the corrupt cops. The cops promptly release their client thieves and try to beat up on Dragon. Dragon takes over the precinct to take on crime lord Wolf. Dragon faces off against many-headed corruption while the Empress's men are after the rebels.

This is not as comedic as the original. Jackie handcuffed to the inspector is fun. The various people hiding in Yesan's room isn't as funny as it should be. There are lots of fight action stunts. There are a ton of jaw dropping stunts. Jackie doesn't do anything too risky in this one but he does do a Buster Keaton bit with a facade falling on top of him. The story is pretty messy that has multiply interconnected villains and some that go both ways. I love the fighting stunts but the story is too twisty. This one does have the final extra clips with the closing credits.

i honestly dont know why so many people hate this movie, i have always thought that it was one of my absolute faves. the fight with tiger and his men rocked, the fight with the pirates with the axes rocked, the whole skit with everyone trying to avoid one another in the house is pure genious...ok so it didnt have the requisite kick ass final confrontation but the manchus were pretty good. i give it a 8/10.

This is a direct sequel to the Project A. All the casts from the previous movie returns to continue their roles.

Inspector Chun is the only Chinese police officer who is allowed to carry a gun under the British rule China. He's corrupt and stages his own arrest to make himself look good, killing the hired suspects during his arrest. His superiors are on to it and recommends Dragon Ma (Jackie Chan) to patrol Chun's territory along with him to find proof to his corruption. He becomes assigned to Sai Wan district as police superintendent. Two flower sales girls Yesan and Beattie (Maggie Chun, and Lau Ka Lin) is also into agitating the crowd to promote revolution. So police are keeping eye on them. They end up selling flowers to Dragon and his colleagues, and immediately after gets robbed. Dragon and his pals apprehend the thieves. The thieves are Tiger's henchmen, and at the Sai Wan police station they are released because supervisor Chu at the station is bribed by Tiger. Dragon reprimands the officers of Sai Wan station, but they are spineless and corrupt. Dragon must now face Tiger on his own with his own police department being not dependable. But he has his old supervisor Tung, and his troop's support.

This movie was made in Jackie Chan's prime, and his actions are superb. The story and his action has an edge that's refreshing to watch. The movie has an atmosphere of old school Hong Kong kung fu movies, but production is more polished and modern.

While not as comedic as the original Project A, this is an action packed movie that's a classic on its own right.