The Golden Child

Eddie Murphy stars as Chandler Jarrell, during the height of his popularity. Chandler is a detective that has an uncanny skill at finding missing children. When a young boy known as the Golden Child is kidnapped by a nefarious group, he is approached by Kee Nang, played by Charlotte Lewis, with the hopes that he can find the child before he is killed. Referred to as The Chosen One, Chandler accepts the case and finds out that there is a lot in this world he does not understand.

This is a great movie, though not without some flaws. Having Charles Dance as the villain was absolutely the right choice.This is essentially a toned down version of Murphy's character from the Beverly Hills Cops movies.Be warned though if you have never seen it that the special effects do not all hold up.

I own this title and I think that it should have been strictly a serious type movie but with Eddie Murphy there had to be the occasional crack of a joke. Overall though, it is a fine movie for people of all ages.

I first saw this movie on television some years ago and frankly loved it. Charles Dance makes one of the most terrifying villains anyone can imagine. His sophistication is such a perfect contrast to the crudely good hero. I have never been much of an Eddie Murphy fan but find his irritating portrayal here a winner: a bit of "Axel Foley Through the Looking Glass". Charlotte Lewis is, to utilize a hackneyed phrase but the only one applicable, luminously gorgeous. Some scenes are wonderfully created: the dream sequence, the bird, the silly fight scenes, and the climactic confrontation. Through it all Murphy is the modern man suddenly dropped into an oriental myth, a stunned and quieter version of Kurt Russell in his oriental fantasy romp. Like that movie we have James Hong, the incomparable actor whose scenes, however short, raise the quality even of Derek. Since 1955 Hong has defined the fine supporting actor, the "class act" of his profession. "The Golden Child" is silly; it is not perfect; but it has so many redeeming features that it is an enjoyable and amusing fantasy, well worth watching. After four years I have seen "The Golden Child" again; I enjoyed it even more! It truly is great fun.

"The Golden Child" is one of Eddie Murphy's most underrated films of the 80's but even though it's not well liked by many, well i have always loved it for the fun fantasy adventure it is & Eddie Murphy is still good fun here with his witty comedy.

Eddie Murphy, who is a hero of mine from growing up, here he plays a great role & play's it more straight & restrained, he's still funny but not overly energetic or crazy & i like his performance alot!!! He plays Detective Chandler Jarrell who specialises in missing children cases, discovers he's "The Chosen One" to help find a missing magical Tibetan Child who has great powers that can save the world from Evil, it's a totally fantastical Comedy adventure story with excellent pure 80's special effects & music & has a feel or vibe like the Classic "Big Trouble in little China" but not as great, & also stars two actors from that movie with Victor Wong & James Hong. The look & production design is excellent & some of the down town L.A scenes are actually very grimy & gritty, actually it's quite a dark movie with it's theme of child abduction & there's a very dark scene of a young girl found face down & dead in a grubby & gritty area of Los Angeles. Without the Fantasy & Magic side it would be a more Darker Noir Detective Thriller which in a way it really is!!! But that's also a plus point to this movie is it's basically set in the real dangerous world where these evil things do really happen but the Fantasy part helps to cope with it & gives a nice comforting feel that even the comedy legend Eddie Murphy has to come accross evil in the world. The demon monster villain at the end is Awesome & looks great still.

"The Golden Child" is so 80's & so much fun & was Directed by Michael Ritchie who has done many excellent films such as Fletch (Chevy Chase) & Fletch Lives & The Couch Trip (Dan Aykroyd) & Cops & Robbersons (Chase), he knows great comedy.

It's a different type of role for Eddie Murphy & he's great in it. "The Golden Child" is very underrated & i can see why some didn't enjoy it because it's not the usual Murphy brand of antics, he's more serious & reserved in a way but definitely suits the movie because of it's dark atmosphere & as a kids family type fantasy Comedy it has some scary stuff in here.

Yes i have Nostalgia for this flick but it's a film i have always loved & enjoyed. I love most films that critics hate anyway!!! I love the 80"s

"The Golden Child" was Eddie Murphy's first film since his megahit "Beverly Hills Cop". And even though it's not as good as "Cop", it's a fun comic adventure. Murphy stars as a finder of lost children who's assigned a most unusual case. His assignment: to find the title character, a child with mystical powers. This movie could have been titled "Beverly Hills Cop and the Temple of Doom" since parts of this movie plays like a Spielbergian adventure, kinda like an Indiana Jones comedy. It's got comedy with laughs, and adventure with special effects. Lots of fun.

*** (out of four)