Le Marin des mers de Chine 2

I guess a second instalment to the very successful original was inevitable and this follow-up doesn't disappoint either, although I wouldn't say it comes close to it predecessor. With the likes of Summo Hung and Yuen Mao not returning it does leave a very big hole, but we know how well Jackie Chan can carry a film and that's was he does with Part II. Chan again would star, co-wrote, and direct along with being the stunt coordinator. You know by now the stunts we are seeing are Jackie leading the way in some feats like the handcuffed chase, rotating cage and the climatic showdown involving falling framework, but never really do they reach the great heights of some of his other staged stunts.

Dragon Ma has rid the sea of Pirate Lo and his men, and now finds him back on land where he's given a new assignment of cleaning up crime and corruption in one of the roughest districts. But Ma and his loyal crew don't have it easy with the local police chief who's crafting a web of deceit. However also riding Ma's back are some pirates who want to avenge the death of Pirate Lo and then there are agents of the Manchu government.

This action-adventure can be as fast and furious with outstanding martial arts choreography balanced out with goofy, if charming slapstick humour. The action is not as frequent as it seems spaced out, with more comical elements finding its way in where Chan toys around. Even the script shines the spotlight on some political issues involving communist's rebels vs. mainland Chinese imperials, which can make things a little talky and some sub-plots feel aimless. It starts off rather sharp, but never recaptures that spirit it began with. The lavished production makes good use of its set-designs and costumes with a flamboyant Hong Kong backdrop.

Project A II is a classic Jackie Chan movie with all the kung fu, crazy stunts and slapstick humor you expect. Not as good as the prequel but still it is a great movie if you just want something fun to watch. The story is simple, jackie chan versus the evil men. So if you want a movie that you don't have to be a braniac to understand, i would suggest this one.

Although I wasn't able to find an English or subtitled version of Project A, I was more than thoroughly entertained by the sequel, Project A2. There's a cute montage over the opening credits that recaps the best moments of the first movie, and when the villains explain their desire for revenge because of how Project A ended, you're all set.

Also directed by Jackie Chan, this action-packed police corruption story has fantastic production values. Set at the turn of the century, you'll see beautiful costumes, intricate sets, and very old-fashioned cars. Visually, this movie is an absolute treat. Women with their bustles and corsets, and grand balls hosted by British nobility (the setting is British-ruled Hong Kong), will sweep you away. And it's not every day you get to see Jackie dolled up in tails!

The screenplay is also a treat, as several different obstacles and plot lines converge: women revolutionaries, jewel thieves, corrupt policemen, and pirates seeking revenge. There's a hilarious sequence where Maggie Cheung has to hide six men in different places in her apartment, as one after another keeps knocking at the door. It's a funny comedy of errors, with a bit of danger thrown in.

Action-wise, the movie is a total treat. In the first Project A, Jackie paid homage to Harold Lloyd by hanging off the hands of a clock. In this one, he duplicates the most classic Buster Keaton stunt by standing still while a house falls on him. It's not exactly a house, but it's the same type of structure, and we all hold our breaths until we see him safe and sound on the other side. He falls down a flight of stairs, slides down a ladder, and balances on bamboo rods while fighting a bad guy. The outtakes reel over the end credits is fantastic, as a split screen shows Jackie singing in a recording studio (he often sings the song over the end credits) and also the stunts-gone-wrong. Since he directed the picture, we get to see rare footage of him working with the camera and helping his actors. I really enjoyed this movie, and if I can find an English version of the first movie, I'll definitely rent it.

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.

For me, this sits happily as the ultimate Jackie Chan movie: a super-fast paced journey of mad cap martial arts, hilarious humour, all mixed together in a fine comedy-cum-adventure concoction with plenty going on to keep the entertainment value high. Indeed, this film is so relentless and high-octane that I barely found time to breathe while watching it; every second brings something fresh and exciting to the screen, every plot point seems original and intriguing. At this stage in his career, Jackie knew exactly what the audience wanted and reached his cinematic peak of perfection with differing projects that all retained the same winning formula: comedy, action and danger, rolled into a fast and frenetic combination.

The ultra-complex storyline drags in a corrupt police official who plans to have Chan killed, an underground rebel cause who plan to overthrow the government, vengeful pirates, and of course the vicious crime element in the city. The script is witty and Jackie Chan is at the top of his game, whether it be with the endless magic stunt work, the genuinely funny comedy (the chilli-eating moment is something to be seen) or the exciting chases, which invariably see Jackie perform some superhuman manoeuvre - shinnying up a wall, running across a suspended horizontal pole - as if it were the norm for him.

PROJECT A PART II has plenty of memorable moments, not least being the raid on the hotel which mixes in suspense, drama, comedy, and plenty of action, as well as real danger. Then there's the finale at the building site, which lasts for ages but remains exciting and watchable for every single second, and the hilarious comedy set piece in which a succession of people attempt to hide inside Maggie Cheung's apartment and interact in various ways. Other great moments are too numerous to mention, but the handcuff chase is a real crowd pleaser anyway you look at it. Underneath the non-stop on screen action, the plot is rather thin and lurches from one set-piece to the next, but the formula is so stable and successful that I couldn't care one bit.

Supporting the ever-excellent Chan are a number of quality actors giving fine performances, namely Wai Lam as the corrupt and sinister 'Chun' and Wai-Man Chan as the genuinely threatening 'Tiger'. Plus there are the welcome returning bit players, including Mars and Jaws, and also Maggie Cheung and Bill Tung, two friends returning from POLICE STORY, along with a little-seen Rosamund Kwan. Tung in particular gets some fine comic interplay as he finds himself mending a leaky tap and getting handcuffed to a sofa! The martial arts come thick and fast and never lets up, and you'll need your eyes glued to the screen to keep track of all the super-quick kicks and lightning punches which roll across the screen in nicely choreographed punch-ups with plenty of prop destruction and choreographed chaos to keep them watchable and funny. A definitive and outstanding film. And okay, it hurts that Sammo and Yuen don't come back, but to be honest you won't miss them when the film's this good.