The Project A Collection

In the U.S., we tend to take our kung-fu seriously.  Just look at the psycho-spiritual metaphors in The Matrix or the catalog of ridiculously intense films from Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme.  There ain’t no fooling around.  But Jackie Chan made an entire career out of doing just the opposite, even after Hollywood tried to dull him down.  Project A (1983) was the first time he really got to do things his way, shifting the focus from martial arts to simply “action” and mixing in his playful personality to create a film that crossed all boundaries.

 

Set in the 19th century with Hong Kong under British rule, Dragon (Chan) is a proud member of the Coast Guard, an organization reeling from constant pirate attacks.  After a budget cut, Dragon and crew are forced to become regular Hong Kong cops under the Inspector Tun-tzu (Yeun Biao) who uncovers a weapon smuggling operation led by Fei (Sammo Hung), an old buddy of Dragon.  The trio eventually join forces and take on the pirates on their home turf.

 

The one thing Project A can be taken to task for (and its sequel) is an overcomplicated plot.  After a lengthy production process, it’s almost like Chan – who directs here as well – shot several different drafts of the script at the same time!  But its full of such a sense of joy that any criticism quickly fades.  After playing the cop, the clown and second-banana, Jackie Chan finally finds his niche as a lovable action hero who’s not afraid to look ridiculous.  Project A is loaded with fight sequences and incredible stunt work (no furniture is spared!) but it’s the way Chan stages the details that matter.  The mid-film bike chase through narrow Hong Kong alleyways is pure cinematic perfection, using sight gags, inventive stunts and a punch line that plays to the cheap seats!

 

Project A Part Two, filmed four year later, is set on the same narrative timeline but finds Jackie’s character fighting gangsters, corrupt cops, revolutionaries and some leftover pirates from the first film.  It’s too much for one movie to handle, but Chan and his stunt team make the best of it, staging even more incredible falls and adding a feminine touch with Maggie Cheung. Things are a bit more episodic but there’s no shortage of jaw-dropping moments, culminating in a Buster Keaton inspired showdown at a bamboo construction yard.  The “three dragons” – Chan, Hung and Biao) have gone their separate ways, but Project A Part Two is probably Chan’s most confident film in front of and behind the camera.

 

Does it get any better than having both films together in an Ultra-HD / Blu-ray combo set?  Yes, it doesactually.  Because 88 Films has put together the sort of package that will hold a place of honor on collector’s shelves.  Inside that sturdy packaging (with awesome cover art, by the way) is a 100-page collector’s booklet, fold-out posters for both films and a line-up of extras that’ll take days to sift through, including new audio commentaries by Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto, a new interview with stunt double Mars Cheung and hours of archival extras.  The Dolby Vision encoding makes a big difference on Project A, which has never looked so colorful.  Both the Hong Kong and Extended / Export Cuts are included for each film.

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