Le Cri de la hyène

This is the last Lo Wei film that Jackie worked on. He walked out in the middle of the filming and as a result, the film was finished with a Jackie look-a-like and existing footage from Fearless Hyena. The various plot lines are connected by the thinnest of threads and come together to a mildly climactic final fight (which most of is taken from Fearless Hyena). This film is only recommended if you have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon and you watch it with your eyes closed and your ears plugged.

I only saw this for my idol Jackie Chan. But even before I decided to rent it I knew it wasn't going to be very good since Jackie plays a villain.

The first thing any viewer would notice is that the cover is very misleading. According to the cover Jackie is star of this movie, even though all he has is a supporting role. In every scene, I found myself trying to catch glimpses of Jackie, but of course he was only a supporting actor.

Now keep in mind, I've seen many of Jackie's movies including some of the oldest ones. But even with that impartial opinion the fighting just wasn't very good either. It could stem from the fact that Director Lo Wei just wouldn't let go of the past. He was the man who directed the classic martial arts film 'Enter the Dragon' starring the legendary Bruce Lee. In a way, this was just another attempt to make Jackie into another Bruce Lee clone. He was even given the name 'Sing Lung' (already a dragon) for his movies with Lo Wei productions.

Another problem with this movie is the big mole Jackie had to wear on his face. I've read his book 'Jackie Chan: My life in Action' and he never mentions what the decision for that was. This could make viewers uncomfortable or something of that sort whenever they see him. I know I couldn't ignore it.

By the end I really wouldn't be able to recommend to anyone. Unless you're like me since I'm starting a Jackie Chan movie collection. And this would be a very important part of it since this was Jackie's last unfinished film with Lo Wei Productions and was released only after Jackie became a big time star in Asia under another production company. This made Director Lo Wei, who had hit some very hard times by then, finish the movie using a look-a-like and stock footage of others movies that could be used.

If you'd really like to see it, I would say rent it first then decide what you'd like to do.

Final Score: 3/10

Jackie had well and truly left the Lo Wei Motion Picture Co when this hodgepodge was put together, a mindless cash-in that mixes scenes of Chan with that of a disguised double, creating a truly awful sequel that bares little resemblance to its successful predecessor. Some actors return (Yen Si Kuan seems to have come back from the dead) with the story concerning the Heaven and Earth fighters who wipe out any combatants of rival styles, of which includes Jackie's father and summarily the former seeks vengeance – but it's all pretty bad stuff, proof if proof be needed of this being Lo Wei's last grab at credibility which ultimately concludes as a wasted exercise. Thankfully the real Jackie Chan went on to live, and work, happily ever after.

There some good bits pieced together from outtakes and other films; but this is not Fearless Hyena II, there IS no fearless Hyena II.

After Jackie Chan finally got out of his contract with Lo Wei, Lo Wei too the le4ft-overs from Chan's last film with Lo Wei's production company (fearless Hyena, obviously), which Chan himself had written and directed, and pasted it together with no rhyme or reason other than to make some extra dough.

A more cynical hack than Lo Wei could hardly be imagined.

Fearless Hyena is an excellent film.

This "II" thing - total junk. Skip it.

The second movie compared to the first, is not as good as the first, even though Jackie is good and they try to devise new tricks, eg, Jackie defeats a guy with a pair of slippers, and there is a hilarious shirt tugging twisting scene.

However, the movie still falls a little flat.

Martial rating 6 out of 10

Overall Rating 4 out of 10