Project A 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.

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.

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.

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...)

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.