FilmFan
12-05-2009, 09:34 AM
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Project A aka 'A' gai wak
Running time: 106 minutes
Directed by: Jackie Chan
Starring: Jackie Chan
IMDB rating: 7.2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085127/
Though I'm not a big fan of the genre, I figured I'd try watching an Asian martial arts film, and decided to go with Project A, which is one of Jackie Chan's earlier offerings.
The story is set in the early 1900's, and Jackie plays a sergeant in the coast guard, which is not doing very well due to the activities of pirate in the area. Him and the sailors he commands are drinking in a bar where there are a large number of cops. Although there are some insults exchanged between other people, Chan continually tries to be friendly, even when tripped up by the cop in charge, but finally retaliates when he has drink poured on him. Being a total badass super-tough SOB, this is the last straw for Jackie Boy, and him and the head cop start fighting, leading to a mass brawl involving about 50 or so people which is pretty entertaining. Eventually the fight is broken up, and Chan and his fellow sailors go off and climb aboard their boats.
Meanwhile, some pirates approach some gangsters to get them some special issue police rifles, and they agree. The man they select for the job is Fei, who is approached while playing (and cheating at) at a game that looked a bit like (and possibly was) mah jong. Fei is a bit of a cunt, but not a complete bastard. He's played by Sammo Hung, who was in the American show Martial Law about 10 years ago.
At this point, I started to wonder if I'd gotten this confused with a different JC film, as I was under the impression it was a cop vs gangsters martial arts movie. However, a few moments later, JC and his colleages are removed from the coast guard and told that they must become police officers instead.
Jackie then has to enter police training, with the commanding officer being the main guy that he was fighting with in the bar. These scenes are pretty funny, a bit like if Full Metal Jacket was re-written by Laurel and Hardy or something.
Anyway, it turns out that Jackie Chan and Fei know one another, though they've had some disagreements in the past. Fei tricks Chan into helping him get the guns, but when Chan finds out the truth he hides them, resulting in the gangsters coming after both him and Fei.
My favourite scene was when JC was being chased through several narrow allies while on a bike, and he gets into several fights, in some cases without leaving the bike, in others he uses the bike as a weapon.
The ending wasn't quite as good as I was hoping. Jackie obviously ends up fighting the bad guy, but he has help from two friends of his, which spoiled it a bit. Come on Jackie Chan, you're supposed to be superhard, and now you need help from a fatty and a cop to beat up some pirate dude?
I like that the film had quite a bit of comedy rather than just being pure action, and this is what made it above average in my opinion. I'm not a huge fan of martial arts filmed, and might've gotten bored were it not for them having several less-serious moments.
Overall a good, fun, entertaining film.
6.5
Project A aka 'A' gai wak
Running time: 106 minutes
Directed by: Jackie Chan
Starring: Jackie Chan
IMDB rating: 7.2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085127/
Though I'm not a big fan of the genre, I figured I'd try watching an Asian martial arts film, and decided to go with Project A, which is one of Jackie Chan's earlier offerings.
The story is set in the early 1900's, and Jackie plays a sergeant in the coast guard, which is not doing very well due to the activities of pirate in the area. Him and the sailors he commands are drinking in a bar where there are a large number of cops. Although there are some insults exchanged between other people, Chan continually tries to be friendly, even when tripped up by the cop in charge, but finally retaliates when he has drink poured on him. Being a total badass super-tough SOB, this is the last straw for Jackie Boy, and him and the head cop start fighting, leading to a mass brawl involving about 50 or so people which is pretty entertaining. Eventually the fight is broken up, and Chan and his fellow sailors go off and climb aboard their boats.
Meanwhile, some pirates approach some gangsters to get them some special issue police rifles, and they agree. The man they select for the job is Fei, who is approached while playing (and cheating at) at a game that looked a bit like (and possibly was) mah jong. Fei is a bit of a cunt, but not a complete bastard. He's played by Sammo Hung, who was in the American show Martial Law about 10 years ago.
At this point, I started to wonder if I'd gotten this confused with a different JC film, as I was under the impression it was a cop vs gangsters martial arts movie. However, a few moments later, JC and his colleages are removed from the coast guard and told that they must become police officers instead.
Jackie then has to enter police training, with the commanding officer being the main guy that he was fighting with in the bar. These scenes are pretty funny, a bit like if Full Metal Jacket was re-written by Laurel and Hardy or something.
Anyway, it turns out that Jackie Chan and Fei know one another, though they've had some disagreements in the past. Fei tricks Chan into helping him get the guns, but when Chan finds out the truth he hides them, resulting in the gangsters coming after both him and Fei.
My favourite scene was when JC was being chased through several narrow allies while on a bike, and he gets into several fights, in some cases without leaving the bike, in others he uses the bike as a weapon.
The ending wasn't quite as good as I was hoping. Jackie obviously ends up fighting the bad guy, but he has help from two friends of his, which spoiled it a bit. Come on Jackie Chan, you're supposed to be superhard, and now you need help from a fatty and a cop to beat up some pirate dude?
I like that the film had quite a bit of comedy rather than just being pure action, and this is what made it above average in my opinion. I'm not a huge fan of martial arts filmed, and might've gotten bored were it not for them having several less-serious moments.
Overall a good, fun, entertaining film.
6.5