L'uomo di Hong Kong

This film was intended to be a bigger sequel that Man from Rio was lesser. The story is less logical and the adventure less subtle. The sequences are lost in grandeur and it is played in the absurd, almost like Monty Python. Several very good stunts nonetheless.

It's not boring and we find Ursula Andress, charming and intelligent. She is also part of the adventure.

Almost shot entirely on location, we can see a time capsule of very exotic places for us.

I liked certain adventurous moments and certain funny moments more than others. The weakest part of the film is the story which lacks credibility and which is played too much as a joke, I think.

This film is very typical of the spirit of the sixties, a nice mixture of exotic adventure film, comedy and action. It seems not to be everyone's taste, but it's definitely my liking! The story is being driven at a frantic pace and Belmondo is completely in his element. He runs, jumps, and twirls in all directions. Some action scenes are still impressive by today's standards. Ursula Andress brings the necessary touch of charm and seduction and Jean Rochefort (without his legendary mustache) is impeccable in his role of faithful servant. The images shot on location in Hong Kong, India, and Nepal are a real treat and have a documentary value today. Ideally, watch it after the even better "the man from Rio", of which he does not quite reach the level, but constitutes a very pleasant and entertaining sequel. I recommend to watch it with your children and teenagers, the will love it!

I won't say much as you need to see the movie to be caught by it's adventure theme that's never stop. Bebel is great, Ursulla, sexy of course, and the plethora of second characters make a kind of in movie family. If you like to travel and enjoy visual humor, this movie is for you.

I saw this when it was shown recently on TCM, because I have enjoyed Jean Paul Belmondo's films, particularly "The Burglars". Also this film had supposedly provided some inspiration for the "Indiana Jones" films.

Belmondo is a playboy type, living on a ship, who is propelled into an adventure. There is no logical plot to speak of, just a continuous series of madcap events. Some incidents are entertaining, and others less so, but in any event the movie is best viewed with the brain set in neutral. The scenes involving a balloon and also the escapades on scaffolding are particularly amusing.

Inspiration maybe, but comparisons to "Indiana Jones" would seem to be superficial. This movie is more light hearted, and Belmondo is more of a bumbler than a fearless adventurer. There is a scene with a vine bridge across a canyon, which was also part of "Temple of Doom's" plot, but that aside there are no obvious similarities.

Ursula Andress however, appears on a beach in a white bikini very similar to the one she wore in "Dr. No".

In summary, this is not bad if you don't mind a scattered but creative plot. See this if you have the chance just for the experience. It's fun, but not quite for everyone.

K-Rating: 5/10

Turbulent, fast-paced comedy adventure (one of the best of its time) about unhappy billionaire Belmondo, whose suicide attempts keep failing. When he hires some killers to do him in, he falls in love with beautiful Andress and wants to reverse the deal. Belmondo is ideally suited to this role, exotic locations and lots of stunts make this a joy to watch. A worthy companion piece to the Bond movies of that time. Based on a Jules Verne novel. Score by Georges Delerue. English title: UP TO HIS EARS.

...if you haven't seen it, seek it out... an absolute must! Text-book example of a fast pace... still unequalled in its mad-cap sequences