Project A2

THE FLICK: After Jackie Chan finally hit it big in the U.S. with “Rumble in the Bronx” the market was flooded with so many Chan imports from his native Hong Kong that the guy must have been making 10 films a year. Some got the deluxe re-mixed and re-released treatment (like “First Strike”) while others were picked up by cut-rate video distributors to cash in on the craze. “Project A2” catches Chan at the peak of his Hong Kong career, with enough clout to direct his own material and enough budget to produce something spectacular (at least by Hong Kong standards). The plot is a nonsensical mess – something to do with vengeful pirates, naïve revolutionaries, and corrupt cops – but the stunts are some of Jackie’s best. From the inventive (trading punches inside a giant bingo tumbler) to the just plain silly (Jackie swallowing hot peppers to spit and wipe in his opponent’s eyes), Chan is never afraid to let the physical comedy be front and center. In that respect, his films will never be taken as seriously as his action contemporaries. But it’s obvious from the stunt outtakes as the credits roll that Chan could care less about his critics – or his own safety! THE FEATURES: Just some sneak previews of upcoming DVDs. But the film itself is presented in widescreen/anamorphic with Dolby Digital 5.1. That may be typical for most films, but Jackie’s lesser known work rarely gets this kind of treatment! FINAL SCORE: The dubbing is hokey, the jokes are dopey, but it’s all part of what makes Jackie Chan different from other action superstars. He’s always willing to be the fall guy. And “Project A2” captures some of his best falls ever.