Amazon.com

Shot in English and budgeted higher than any of his previousAsian features, Jackie Chan's last film under his Hong Kong contract is anaction-packed globe-trotting adventure shot with the American audiencein mind. The spies and secret agent-laden plot is packed with car chases,explosions, gunfire aplenty, and of course Jackie's own brand of gymnastic martial arts. But the flood of his older films between his hits Rumble in the Bronx and Rush Hour had sated American viewers and Who Am I? woundup being sold directly to cable. It's our loss, for this mix of goofy slapstick and jaw-dropping action is his most impressive film since Drunken Master II. Playing a special forces agent (named, naturally, Jackie) struck with amnesia and adoptedby an African bush tribe following a failed assassination attempt, heembarks on a quest to discover his true identity while armies of killers pourafter him. After an explosive opening, the story gets momentarily bogged downin the kind of mugging humor that leaves most American audiencesscratching their heads, but once Jackie kicks into gear the film is a high-speed action flurry that culminates in a furious battle atop a Rotterdam skyscraper. Jackie is at his most charmingly naive (he berates the villains, pleading "Why do you want to destroy when you can make things better?") and athletically impressive: the marvelous stunts--including a flight downthe side of the skyscraper--and fight choreography make Rush Hourlook like a Sunday drive. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (111)

A very pleasant surprise
This is a great flick for both devotees and novice fans of Jackie Chan.

Why Jackie Chan's U.S. distributors didn't release this in theaters is beyond me. Before I saw it, I thought that it would be c**p, but hell, it's Jackie, so I gave it a whirl. Though the first half hour is slow (by Jackie Chan standards, at least), once this flick gets going it ranks right up there with Drunken Master II and Police Story. The escape from the police with a rope and bucket, the chase and fight in the streets of Amsterdam (what Jackie can do wearing of wooden shoes...), and the final fight on the roof are amazing examples of action and comedic artistry. Stuff that ONLY Jackie Chan could pull off. There's even a car chase scene that breathes some life into the old warhorse of action movie cliches. I feared that Jackie Chan might be slowing down as he reached 45, maybe doing less dangerous stunts...no way.

The actors are terrible, the plot non-existent, the dialog silly, the production values shoddy at times, but one might as well complain the writing is poor in Playboy. You're there to look at the pictures, and Who Am I? has some that took my breath away.

Wow! Typical Jackie Chan - completely entertaining
Let me state upfront that I am not an unbiased reviewer but rather a believer ("my name is Paul and I am a Jackie-Chan-fan..."). The man is, as always, amazing in his stunts. Here he again manages to take action and humor, mix them up in diverse locations, and come up with a winner.

Although the plot is a bit thin in places (who watches his movies for the plot?), this movie is fast-moving from the get-go. Action, action, action. Which in Jackies's case always means stunts and fights... from an atypical car chase in South Africa to a clog-assisted dust-up in the mean streets of Rotterdam to the truly breathtaking final scenes, this film hit all the right buttons.

If you've ever seen Jackie Chan before this film is sure to please, and if you haven't you're in for a family-friendly treat (staged violence aside).

Who Am I-Your a legend
This movie is very nice.It may be his best movie it takes place in Africa at First and he falls off a Helicoptor and gets amnesia and he then meets some girl who had to get help by him.Then later they are in Amstradam and he slides down a building believe me you will like this movie a must
Acting 10 Story 9 Direction 9 Ation 10 Entertainment 10
Overall=48/50 This movie gets a 96 wich is 5 star territory

The original has been cut so much!
I really like the original movie. But this release has been so much cut. I don't know what was the reason for it. But some really funny scenes (like a lion chasing Jackie) don't show up. Try to find uncut version.

STAY WITH ORIGINAL
Why American production make HK movies look so cheap? First of all, they cut off so much scene, second of all ruin it by making look acting so dumb by English Dubb. ALWAYS stick with ORIGINAL LICENSED HK RELEASE. Be careful with cheap imports, boots though. ... Read more

Description

Jackie Chan return becomes and is able to fend off numerous attacks and perform incredible stunts. Aided by his hilarious stepmother and friends, Hong faces the challenge of protecting valuable Chinese history and saving his family honor.s to the role that made him a star in 1979's "Drunken Master." Chinese folklore hero Wong Fei Hong discovers a smuggling ring, orchestrated by the British Government, to transport valuable Chinese artifacts out of the country. Hong must use his unique style of martial arts, "Drunken Boxing," to fight the conspirators and salvage the Chinese treasures before it ... Read more

Reviews (171)

It's a keeper! Rent it. Buy it!
This film has several formats. The VHS version from 1994 is the one you want to see! It is the perfect movie! It's also Jackie's perfect movie! This is a sequel, with 20 years between but Chan manages to look and act much younger. It is not difficult to accept him as being "young Wong Fei - hung". The only connection between the two films is Jackie and drunken boxing. Ti Lung is his father and Anita Mui is "Mom" (actually Fei - Hung's mother is dead). Anita darn near steals the show! This is a fantastic film! It is a period film, with unscrupulous people stealing as many Chinese treasures a possible. Chan accidentally gets involved in helping to stop the thefts and ends up taking on some major bad guys including Ken Lo in a steel factory. In my opinion the extended fight sequence is the absolute best, with
"Wheels On Meals" fight with Benny coming in a close second.
The final fight has Jackie battling a number of people before he squares off with Ken Lo. (Lo is a major talent in the kickboxing world and stands out as one of the best.) Jackie had some differences of opinion with the director and the final fight is designed by Jackie and it shows! It is powerful yet graceful..furious but with purpose. It is beyond excellent!
This film has something for everyone. In addition to Jackie's excellent fighting there are plenty of laughs, and more intricate plot than with many of his movies. There is a scene with Ti Lung and Chan that is poignant and feels very real. But it is the fight scene in the steel factory that will have you rewinding a dozen times. I have two MAJOR criticisms of the US release,primarily Disney's decision to throw out the the soundtrack and musical score! The music from the original is perfect and part of the whole feel of the film. There never was a valid explanation from Disney as to why they dumped the original score. Jackie dubbed his voice for Fei - hung, but the dialogue is not the same! Some might be attributed to the difficulty in translation but in some scenes the dialouge has been radically changed. Disney also cut out the very end of the movie as they felt it was offensive. But that leads to an abrupt end to the film. I have no problem with cutting that scene though and it does not change the film.
One of my all time favorite movies! This one should not be missed!

Simply the best Martial Arts Film ever made
I know some of you will disagree and say that Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon", or Jet Li's "Fist of Legend" was the best ever made but I would have to disagree. While Bruce Lee was the best Martial Artist ever, his movies were average in regards to their fight choreography.No one could ever touch him in his films. The fight choreography in "Drunken Master 2" was incredible. It was realistic because there were almost no wire stunts involved and the fight scenes were fantastic. The fight scene with Jackie and Liu Chia Liang (Lau Kar Leung) in the beginning was pure poetry in motion. The final fight scene was fifteen minutes of pure adrenaline pumping action. Unique choreography makes this movie a classic. Unlike Jet Li's characterization of Wong Fei Hung, Jackie makes Fei Hung seem more human and vulnerable. Nobody could ever touch Jet Li in the "Once Upon a Time in China" series. Plus some of the moves just look so ridiculously fake. "Fist of Legend" is Jet's best movie because it isn't as fake and he actually has to fight hard to win. However, it is still only the second best film ever made. Not to criticize any other reviewer, but since when does the ability to do 540's and 720's and Butterfly kicks make a martial art film great? I have been involved in Martial Arts for over a 20 years and would love for someone to try to fight me using those kicks. While they look fancy in forms competition, they mean nothing in a real tournment fight and even less in a real street fight. This film is without a doubt the best Jackie Chan film ever and the best ever made. (At least until Jackie and Jet team up to do a film as has been rumored)

If you see one kung fu movie SEE LEGEND of Drunken Master.
Excelent
a great action movie and a great comedy there isnt a low spot in this movie. Off the start there is amazing fight sceens that are keeping your attention, but not without some story line and, Jackie Chans hillarious personality. But what is truly great about this movie would be that it starts with great action and continuously gets better, when its time for the end fight sceen you can't imagine any better action but youll be amazed again, and what i liked was the little to no use of wires in this movie contrary to many other kung fu movies. It really adds a reality to the action in a way.

What is also great is the well played characters even with the movie dubed it is still acted well enouph to make it a good movie. Not to mention the dubing adds to much of the comedy without being too cheesy.

So if you have never seen a kung fu movie see this one!

You will beilieve Jackie really is the Drunken Master

Decent sequel
Although not as good as the first, Jackie makes an all out effor in this film. The story is somewhat silly, but the action more than makes up for it.

With a bowl in his arms Fat Han's going mad!
This is the best comedy martial arts film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Directed by and starring Jackie Chan, and set in 1930s Hong Kong, Miracles is a gangster film that is equal parts comedy and action film, with a touch of melodrama thrown in for good measure. Chan stars as a young man who rescues a dying crime boss in 1930s Hong Kong. When the boss passes away, he is tapped to become the new leader. He attributes his good luck to an old rose seller and the roses he buys off of her. To pay her back for all of his good fortune, he helps her pretend to be a wealthy socialite, just as she had described herself in letters to her daughter in order to help impress her daughter's wealthy fiancé and not queer their upcoming marriage. The plot is lifted from Frank Capra's Lady for a Day (1933), which Capra remade in 1961 as Pocketful of Miracles. Of course, like all Jackie Chan films, this movie contains more--and more innovative--fight scenes than Capra could ever dream of. Two set pieces in particular are stunning: A big fight in a restaurant and the final battle in the warehouse of a rope factory. Along the way, Chan throws in a musical number inspired by Busby Berkeley and a whole lotta heart, making this a well-rounded and entertaining film, which Chan himself has allegedly referred to as his favorite. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (27)

This is Jackie Chan's most complete film.
I saw this film 10 years ago in the local Chinatown theatre and it still holds up on DVD as his most complete film. The film is shot with higher production values than it's Hong Kong counterparts. The comedy elements don't seem really out of place like in his later films and there is actually a story in this one ( borrowed from Frank Capra's "Pocketful of Miracles" ) The action sequences are as clever and inventive as anything he has ever done ( I didn't mind that there weren't as many of them ). The Restaurant sequence and the Rope factory fight are stand-outs. Even though the film was made for a Hong Kong audience, it transcends that and has something for everyone. It's great movie-making.

The Chinese Godfather, Jackie's Way!
Throughout the the 80's, Jackie Chan was being blacklisted by critics as someone who's only talent was directing lighthearted action films without any substance. Jackie took this criticism personally and created one of the best films of his career, "Miracles." Based on Frank Capra's "Lady For a Day," Jackie took his time and directed a film that can be compared to the best of Hollywood during the Golden Era. Jackie originally didn't want action scenes, but realized none of his fans would see it. There are three brillinat action pieces intertwined with the story, the best is the final at a rope factory. Jackie also used techniques used by Hollywood by using steady cams for extended shots. Anita Mui from "Rumble in the Bronx" has a delightful role as a nightclub and we get to hear her sing (which was her original career.) This movie is a must have for any Jackie Chan fan, or any who appreciates great filmmaking.

The Miracle is how great this film is.
Does anyone here know how to read? It clearly states that this version contains BOTH the subtitled and the dubbed version. If you don't want to read the subtitles, it contained a dubbed english version. How hard is it to realize this? Before you complain, why don't you read the back of the box.

Options!! (It is a Miracle!)
I see a bunch of people have made comments
like "Good if you like subtitles" - this
is annoying and stupid, since the disc contains BOTH
the original version (fir those who 'really'
appreciate hong kong cinema), and the a dubbed
"Chan-for-dummies" version, obviously for those who
only speak 'American.' Ironically, though
Columbia has done a great service by providing
choices for "everyone's" benefit, I have to read such
trifling comments by those who get weak in the

knees when they see a subtitle - even if the dub
is right in front of them.

Chan's the man!
I have only seen parts of this, but plan on getting it very soon. Found it intesting that it contains Subbed and Dubbed versions. Subbed is 126 minutes and dubbed is 106, what gives?
Anyway I'll be watching the SUBBED version. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For people who've discovered Jackie Chan through his American hit Rush Hour and want to learn what his Hong Kong movies are like, Project A is an excellent place to start. Chan plays a sailor in 19th-century Hong Kong; pirates have been terrorizing the seas for months, and all efforts to combat them have been sabotaged by the corrupt chief of police and a criminal gang, who are in cahoots with the pirates. But the plot is hardly the point--a Jackie Chan movie is about astonishingly acrobatic action sequences and breathtaking stunts, and Project A has plenty. Of particular interest is a bicycle chase that is more suspenseful than any car chase you've ever seen. Chan is joined by Sammo Hung (star of TV's Martial Law) as a shifty con man who comes through when the chips are down. Project A also features Yuen Biao, a frequent costar in Chan's movies, who's yet another astounding martial artist. But what separates Jackie Chan movies from other kung fu flicks is his sense of humor; every fight scene is punctuated by something--a clever use of a prop or sudden reversal of your expectations--that will make you bark with laughter. Sometimes it's just so exquisitely choreographed that the entire movie seems to float on a cloud of giddy delight. Purists may object to the movie being dubbed, but given the overall hamminess of the acting, it's not particularly intrusive. Jackie Chan is often compared to the classic silent comedians for his grace and timing--he lives up to it. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The most thrilling, spectacular and entertaining movie ever
I consider myself to be Jackie Chans most loyal fan. I own almost 20 of his martial arts movies, including classics from Police Story to Who am I. The Young Master is an absolutely essential purchase for anyones martial arts collection, which is guaranteed to remain a highly regarded Jackie Chan classic. The movie is set during Chans younger days in cinema and demonstrates his amazing skill in martial arts as well as his great talent in entertaining the viewer through his humorous performances. He even sings the song to the ending of the movie. The film really does show how energetic and original Jackie is, and this is the main reason why I simply admire his artistic talent. The Young Master tells the story of an orphan named Dragon (Jackie) and shows how he struggles to set his friend free from the evil clutches of Master Kam. The master uses his friend to commit a number of crimes and in the process people confuse Jackie with his friend and mistake him for the criminal. The final showdown shows Jackie confronting the Master in a well-coreographed and extremely realsitic fight scene. This is the first most important movie which catapulted Chans career for Golden Harvest Productions and established himself as a great perfomer in all aspects and not only in kung-fu. In conclusion, this is the most thrilling, spectacular and entertaining movie which I have ever seen, and from all his greatest hits this has to be the most enjoyable.

Jackie Chan at his best?
There's no doubt about it. Jackie Chan is one of the most talented martial arts stars in the world. While The Young Master was the 2nd movie Jackie Chan ever directed, it was his first film for Golden Harvest Productions.

The Lion Dance was really awesome, and was a great way to start the movie out, setting the pace for the rest of the movie. It truly was great, and is a scene you really have to respect. The rest of the fight scenes are for the most part your average Jackie Chan kicks, flips, punches, and lunges. But what's really cool is the bench fighting. Really good stuff, which is often seen in some of Jackie's newer films, but not to the same extent. But what was probably the best part of the movie was the final battle. It was really exciting, and really funny. Truly Jackie Chan at his best.

The story and acting are also a step above most of Jackie's older films. Sure, there was plenty of Jackie's trademark "over-acting", but not nearly as much with most of his older films. This is the movie where Jackie Chan really started to shine in the acting department. From his funny sense of humor (which never fails at making me laugh), to his deadly seriousness (which is still funny most of the time), Jackie Chan really entertains in The Young Master.

The only thing that keep this movie from getting 5 Stars is, while it's entertaining, the bad dub voices spoil the experience. While this movie was basically a step above most of Jackie's older films in every way, the only catigory that remained at the same level was the cheesey voice acting. I'm sorry. Maybe if I'd seen the subtitled version I would have given it 5 Stars, but I haven't. But 4 Stars will have to do, sorry Jackie.

With the minor dubb problems aside, this is truly an exellent Jackie Chan flick, which all fans simply can't be without. Buy The Young Master today, and I promise you won't be dissapointed. Just don't forget to go with the Widescreen Edition, becuase the action scenes may suffor in the formatted version. - Ducky

A little-known classic
This is a great Chan film with great choreography and some really great comedy. I'm surprised by how unknown it is... I rarely see it for sale or rental in the stores, but it really is on par with films like Drunken Master or Fearless Hyena. If you liked those films check this one out!

The Young Master (1980)
Jackie plays a young kung fu student who disovers that his martial arts brother, Tiger, is secretly betraying their Master. However when Tiger gets framed for murder and Jackie gets mistaken for Tiger Jackie's forced to prove his innocence and Tiger's.

One of Chan's best earlier films
There's no doubt about it, Jackie Chan is one of the most accomplished martial arts action stars in the world today, but long before he made it to the North American mainstream, this little beauty was alive and well in Hong Kong. Other than the 1977 version of Drunken Master, this has got to be the best film I've seen from Jackie Chan in his earlier period. The fight scenes are truly a spectacle to behold. The lion dance is one thing, but the actual fighting is just superb. During the scene where the crime boss is released from the custody of the authorities, he delievers the greatest kick I have ever seen. I must have stopped and rewinded about 8 times! The sound is not bad at all, and the picture is not too shabby either. The story and plot is pretty good, even if some dialouge leaves more to be desired. Other than that, no complaints. The Young Master is really something to see, and I would recommend it to those who truly enjoy Jackie Chan's martial art skill! ... Read more

Description

Director and star Jackie Chan (Rush Hour 1 & 2, Shanghai Knights, The Tuxedo, Shanghai Noon) is at his hard-hitting, high-flying best in this powerfully entertaining, action-packed treat! After defeating the evil Pirate Lo on the high seas, Dragon Mao (Chan) is assigned to lead the local police force. But he soon discovers that police corruption is running wild right under his nose! When he's framed for a jewelry robbery, Dragon Mao must fight to clear his name while battling with a group of spies, pirates, and revolutionaries who want to see him go down hard! Also starring the amazing Maggie Cheung (Hero, The Heroic Trio, Supercop). ... Read more

Reviews (11)

one of jackie's best
This is a really enjoyable film. The action is great, the comic timing perfect, the stunts amazing. I'm stumped by how Hollywood can decide to release Twin Dragons when there are such great Jackie classics as Project A 1 and 2, Drunken Master 1 and 2, Police Story 1 and 2.

Project A2 - twice as great!
I had seen Project A many times, so when, seeing Project A2 for the first time, was expecting more of the same (I also gave Project A five stars as well - how can anyone go wrong with a Jackie Chan film?!?!?!). But Project A2, IMHO, is much better, with more action and more amazing stunts (too bad I can't give it 6 stars!!). I have the subtitled version, and I've always liked those versions better, rather than the dubbed versions.

Don't think twice - get this movie (especially if you can find the subtitled version!!!).

Stick with Original
Why American production make HK movies look so cheap? First of all, they cut off so much scene, second of all ruin it by making look acting so dumb by English Dubb. ALWAYS stick with ORIGINAL LICENSED HK RELEASE. Be careful with cheap imports, boots though.

Better than I expected... the DVD, that is...
Alright... I'm keeping myself anonymous as I've been against Dimension Films' treatment of pretty much all Hong Kong imports, yet this release wasn't as bad... First off, I'm not sure if the print was cut at all, but at least the run time was over 100 min. Yes, this version has a new dub created by Dimension, HOWEVER, it has retained the original Hong Kong score. I don't believe Dimension has ever done this. The only thing close to this was the opposite with "Iron Monkey" in which the Cantonese track had been retained, but the music had changed. Also, the score was blasting in 5.1 surround sound, no less. And even the original sound effects were kept and with very good bass coming from the subwoofer. As for the picture, it looked almost like a brand new film. It might not've hit the standards of the Region 2 company "Hong Kong Legends", but was still highly impressive. As for extras... this is where it falls flat on its face... NOTHING! Also, I had feared that Dimension would chop out the outtakes since Jackie is seen singing in Cantonese in the original version, yet it was left in! Unfortunately, Dimension was too lazy to get subtitles for it. Well, it looks like Dimension may be getting closer to getting things right... but not until they release a Hong Kong film on DVD UNCUT and with BOTH English and Cantonese/Mandarin audio tracks. If Disney/Miramax, can take Japanese anime films ("Spirited Away", "Castle in the Sky", etc.) and give them high-class two disc releases, then why not Hong Kong live action films? They'd sell better that way as well. All we can do is wait... but it's getting harder and harder to hold my breath. As for this DVD... if you can find it for a decent price or you have a gift card and can't find anything else, it's actually worth the purchase. But, if you want original language over video quality, I guess you'll have to find the Mega Star Hong Kong DVD... either way, IT'S UP TO YOU!!

Project A 2 (1985)
This film is just as good as it's previous one. A hialarious scene is when Jackie was fighting the bad guys he had to eat REAL red hot chillies, spit the juice into his hands and rub the juice onto the bad guys eyes'. The plot is quite simiar to the other one but don't worry it's still is a real treat! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A Great Showcase of Jackie's Talents
Much in the tradition of the great comics, such as Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin, this movie really shines on Jackie's comic genius. You can turn off the sound and the comic scenes would still be hilarious. However, this isn't just about comedy... the movie shows his range as an actor, from humor to grief, and his heroic final fight has some incredible work, as well as -- of course -- more humor. In all, it is probably one of his best films. It's a shame they used some dork to dub over his voice, but still that wouldn't have kept me from buying this film. If you want to appreciate Jackie Chan at his best... this is one of the better movies you could watch!

An old chan movie is better than anyone else's best movies
One of Jackie's breakout movies with some actual comedy, rather than the Bruce Lee imitation he was forced into with the first 8 films or so. another viewer on this site says that they like drunken master 2 better. Drunken master 2 is probably his best kung-fu film, so this isn't saying much. It was also made in 1994, and it was NOT made by lo wei. I put this movie almost on par with drunken master one. If you're not a Jackie fan, yet, start with Mr. Nice Guy or Rumble in the Bronx; this one's for die hards only.

3 stars for the movie, 0 for awful dvd!!
the movie is pretty good and has some really good fighting and training scenes but the plot is corny and incredibly inconsistant. on first view, it seems just like another, drunken master, snake on the eagle's shadow, magnificent butcher or dance of the drunken mathis ripoff...well in fact it is, but not that great....is funny and pack with action, but nothing you haven't seen before. now, the dvd is plain awful!!! this is a columbia/try star release and it look horrible!!! the tranfer is directly from a betamax tape, not even vhs!!!! is grainy, dirty and washout....the dubbing is horrible and the subtitles is as phony as it gets!!!....no remaster at all, trystar did not put a penny on a new tranfer or colorcorrection or anything like it....it looks horrible!!!!! i can't believe this mayor film company didn't care and just wanted to get some money.....the movie is pretty entertaining but not the best...and the tranfer does it no justice!~~~ti bad this is the only copy avaliable

chantastic
this is by far the best of his early work this is chantastis has some of his best fights ever

Kung-Fu Comedy with a Young Jackie Chan
Have you ever watched one of the numerous Hong Kong or Chinese made movies where the various characters defy gravity, performing stunts like those in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"? This movie is a lot like those, but without resorting to the stunts that overcome the laws of physics.

I had to watch the movie twice because I missed a key connection at the beginning. Even catching on to the connection, portions of the movie remain a bit murky and the plot flow is somewhat jerky. The movie begins with The (Evil) Master and his henchmen chasing after three individuals. One of these individuals has an injured leg and escapes thanks to the self-sacrifice of the other two individuals, both of whom are killed.

We immediately jump to a long-haired, young Jacky Chan (yes, that's the way it was spelled in the credits) performing some sort of practice Kung-Fu routine for his grandfather. From this point forward, the movie plays like The Three Kung-Fu Stooges. I have to admit that as bad as the acting and the dubbing was, I laughed throughout this portion of the movie because it was funny. It was stupid, but it was funny too. The dubbing is atrocious, with weird English accents for each of the Chinese actors. This movie could definitely use a re-dub.

I enjoyed the martial arts throughout this movie because they all appeared real. I cringed when the actors fought, because when they hit each other, they HIT EACH OTHER! I can see where there had to have been a lot of bruises after each day of filming. There was nothing fake about any of the fight scenes. The actors' martial arts skills were very, very good. However, the "elderly" martial artists looked like 20-something actors with white hair and eyebrows.

We see Jackie's character as he goes through this interlude of comedy until The Master shows up and, by connecting the sign at Jackie's Kung Fu school to Jackie's grandfather, tracks him down and kills him. There isn't really any justification given for tracking down and killing these people by The Master, so we have to accept on faith that there is some sort of vendetta or history we are not privy to. Jackie tries to kill The Master, but of course does not. Instead Jackie encounters The Unicorn, who has a gimpy leg (recalling the beginning of this review). The Unicorn teaches Jacky a number of tricks and some really serious martial arts to go off and wreak vengeance on The Master and his henchmen.

This movie is corny, the acting is weak and often excessively overdone, and the plot is formulaic. However, it is still funny, and somehow it all works. As long as you aren't expecting a serious Kung-Fu movie, and as long as you are expecting very light entertainment, and particularly if you are a fan of Jackie Chan, you might find this movie interesting. Three stars because of the flaws, but I still like the movie and plan to watch it again. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fun Comedy and Impressive Action.
I don't want to mislead you - the movie does have a number of action scenes. But they take a back seat to the comedy in the film. For me, this film does feature some of the best martial arts, if not THE best work, by Cynthia Rothrock. People will say 'Yes Madam' or 'Righting Wrongs' when they are asked which is the best Rothrock film, but I strongly disagree. While those films featured more of her fighting, the coreography also relied heavily on stunt doubles for Rothrock. In fact, you can tell in on scene in 'Righting Wrongs' that it's her co-star Yuen Biao jumping on those tables in a dress! But I digress - this film also features some impressive fighting by Sibelle Hu, which is not something I can say often, since I've seen a number of her films where she looked absolutely awful.
Anyway, like I said at the beginning, if you're looking for a strictly Femme Fatale type of movie like those with Moon Lee and Yukari Oshima, you may be slightly disappointed. If you expect something similar to the My Lucky Stars films, except where the sex-starved males take a back seat to the women, then this movie is definitely for you.
An interesting note is that I read somewhere that Cynthia Rothrock's martial arts training was mainly focused on the Eagle Claw kung fu style. She uses it for a bit near the end of this film against a Monkey Kung Fu expert (see the film 'Iron Monkey (1977)' for more Monkey vs Eagle kung fu action), which is a treat to see. Too bad it's a little too brief for my tastes!

Funny for the kind of movie it is
If you're looking for something meaningful and insightful, this isn't the movie you're looking for. If you're looking for some Hong Kong slapstick comedy or looking for a decent kung fu flick, this could be exactly what you're looking for, especially if what you want to see is some bad*** women deal the kung fu.

I first watched this as a 10 year old at home with my family, and we watched on and on, laughing till our bellies split.

The premise is simple. The Hong Kong authorities want to assemble a unit of female commandos, kind of like an all-girl swat team. This is the comical story of their "boot camp." Sibelle Hu plays the training unit's tough-as-nails 'drill sergeant.' Throughout training, the female brigade's rival are the boys training for an all-male unit. Admist the hilarious training fiascos, these girls also make time out of their day to play pranks on the boys in a sorority versus fraternity fashion. And when there's no training to goof up or boys to make fun of, they play pranks on each other- not all of them get along. Admist all of this, they even go beat up unfaithful boyfriends for each other.

Seeing that her unit needs some serious work, Sibelle Hu enlists the help of a comrade. Enter Cynthia Rothrock. She "substitute" teaches the unit of Chinese trainees to help Sibelle get the girls' acts together. It's hilarious when the girls realize they were better off with Sibelle, because Cynthia is even more hardcore than their original instructor. So, when Sibelle and Cynthia join forces, the group of slowly grow into something like the elite unit they're supposed to be.

Aside from the laughs (and there are plenty of those in this film!) there are some really good martial arts scenes. Towards the end of the film, Cynthia has an awesome showdown with a jewel theif- when he uses Monkey Style against her, she shifts tactics and busts out the Praying Mantis style to counter.

One word describes this movie- goofy. If you want some good ol' goofy laughs and a nice bite of kung fu to go with it, this is it.

Fun but silly...
This is a light, slapstick comedy in "Police Academy" style. Sibelle Hu stars as tough-as-nails police academy sergeant is chosen to lead an all-girl police academy team known as the 'female commandos.' While at first the girls seem to be failing to become a cohesive team, Hu's vigilance, and the girls own work-ethic soon persevere, and the Female Commandos become a force to reckon with.

I really liked Inspector Wears Skirts, but it was neither a serious or sophisticated flick...It is what it is... A Chinese kung-fu slapstick movie, taken in this vein, it was pretty funny.

This is the first in a series of "Inspector" films. If you like, slapstick cop films, you'll like this one. The only thing I DIDN'T like about this movie was the rather abrupt ending and the poor subtitles.

Woman Police Academy...
Sibelle Hu is appointed to organize an all-women police squad in this Hong Kong girls with guns action-comedy take on "Police Academy". Her regimen is harsh, yet she earns the girls' respect when a male cadet vs. female cadet tournament ensues, with the women coming up victorious. Fang, the leader of the men's squad then falls for Sibelle, and they eventually find themselves on the same mission. On their very first assignment, they wind up bound and gagged by diamond robbers, until Sibelle takes care of business. All in all a mindless action flick. ... Read more

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The Replacement Killers
The director of Chow Yun-fat's first Hollywood outing, music-video veteran Antoine Fuqua, seems to be trying to squeeze the charismatic Asian superstar into a conventional American action-hero mold, and the results are dispiriting. Fuqua never lets this high-spirited actor smile, fetishizing him as a gunslinging clotheshorse in a series of garish, scenery-smashing battle scenes. As a paid assassin whose former employers turn against him, Chow enlists the help of an illegal documents specialist played, with surprising grit, by Mira Sorvino, and then spends most of the time fending off squads of killers in mirror shades. The movie is art-directed and photographed fit to kill (even the most routine incidents are eye-gougingly colorful) and edited to a hip-hop beat. It's garishly superficial. The frequent gunplay duels may keep action fans riveted, but they'll hate themselves in the morning. --David Chute

Who Am I?
Shot in English and budgeted higher than any of his previous Asian features, Jackie Chan's last film under his Hong Kong contract is an action-packed globe-trotting adventure shot with the American audience in mind. The spies and secret agent-laden plot is packed with car chases, explosions, gunfire aplenty, and of course Jackie's own brand of gymnastic martial arts. But the flood of his older films between his hits Rumble in the Bronx and Rush Hour had sated American viewers and Who Am I? wound up being sold directly to cable. It's our loss, for this mix of goofy slapstick and jaw-dropping action is his most impressive film since Drunken Master II. Playing a special forces agent (named, naturally, Jackie) struck with amnesia and adopted by an African bush tribe following a failed assassination attempt, he embarks on a quest to discover his true identity while armies of killers pour after him. After an explosive opening, the story gets momentarily bogged down in the kind of mugging humor that leaves most American audiences scratching their heads, but once Jackie kicks into gear the film is a high-speed action flurry that culminates in a furious battle atop a Rotterdam skyscraper. Jackie is at his most charmingly naive (he berates the villains, pleading "Why do you want to destroy when you can make things better?") and athletically impressive: the marvelous stunts--including a flight down the side of the skyscraper--and fight choreography make Rush Hour look like a Sunday drive. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not awesome, but still worthwhile....
While I rarely agree with Maltin, I will say that I was SOMEWHAT disappointed with Replacement Killers. The Corrupter was SOOO much better and would have been a more appropriate introduction for Chow Yun-Fat to Hollywood. That being said -- I LOVE Mira Sorvino so it was still a GREAT movie with some GREAT action. Just not as a good as The Corruptor, IMO.

'Who Am I?' roolz! Nuff said. You won't be disappointed with this DVD.

Maltin should not be allowed to rate films!!
These are two excellent movies if you enjoy Hong Kong action movies. Being a big Jackie Chan fan, I thought Who Am I? is perhaps Jackie's best movie to date. Ditto for the Replacement Killers. Was reading the review for Titan AE and noticed that Maltin hated that movie also, BUT I remember Roger Ebert saying he really liked Titan AE because of its great graphics. If like me you hate Maltin's reviews so much that you use him as a contra-critic (you like what he hates)--these two movies are for you. Both have terrific action sequences with more action than in 5 American action movies each. And if you like Jackie Chan's playful comedic style of movies you will love both of these great action movies. Replacement Killers will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next. A super combination of two movies, rare when so many companies are packaging movies like this with one bad movie put with one good one--I assure you this is not the case here.

One thousand beautiful images blended into motion
A perfectly executed painting, set in motion, and wrapped around a simple story. This is a piece of art. A series of beautiful images and motion. Colors and movement flow from scene to scene taking the viewer into a deep realm of perfect design. If your the kind of viewer who involves themselves in a visual experience, you can't go wrong. If your looking for a story to blow your circuits and change you forever.... don't be lazy, go buy a book. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A Great Showcase of Jackie's Talents
Much in the tradition of the great comics, such as Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin, this movie really shines on Jackie's comic genius. You can turn off the sound and the comic scenes would still be hilarious. However, this isn't just about comedy... the movie shows his range as an actor, from humor to grief, and his heroic final fight has some incredible work, as well as -- of course -- more humor. In all, it is probably one of his best films. It's a shame they used some dork to dub over his voice, but still that wouldn't have kept me from buying this film. If you want to appreciate Jackie Chan at his best... this is one of the better movies you could watch!

An old chan movie is better than anyone else's best movies
One of Jackie's breakout movies with some actual comedy, rather than the Bruce Lee imitation he was forced into with the first 8 films or so. another viewer on this site says that they like drunken master 2 better. Drunken master 2 is probably his best kung-fu film, so this isn't saying much. It was also made in 1994, and it was NOT made by lo wei. I put this movie almost on par with drunken master one. If you're not a Jackie fan, yet, start with Mr. Nice Guy or Rumble in the Bronx; this one's for die hards only.

3 stars for the movie, 0 for awful dvd!!
the movie is pretty good and has some really good fighting and training scenes but the plot is corny and incredibly inconsistant. on first view, it seems just like another, drunken master, snake on the eagle's shadow, magnificent butcher or dance of the drunken mathis ripoff...well in fact it is, but not that great....is funny and pack with action, but nothing you haven't seen before. now, the dvd is plain awful!!! this is a columbia/try star release and it look horrible!!! the tranfer is directly from a betamax tape, not even vhs!!!! is grainy, dirty and washout....the dubbing is horrible and the subtitles is as phony as it gets!!!....no remaster at all, trystar did not put a penny on a new tranfer or colorcorrection or anything like it....it looks horrible!!!!! i can't believe this mayor film company didn't care and just wanted to get some money.....the movie is pretty entertaining but not the best...and the tranfer does it no justice!~~~ti bad this is the only copy avaliable

chantastic
this is by far the best of his early work this is chantastis has some of his best fights ever

Kung-Fu Comedy with a Young Jackie Chan
Have you ever watched one of the numerous Hong Kong or Chinese made movies where the various characters defy gravity, performing stunts like those in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"? This movie is a lot like those, but without resorting to the stunts that overcome the laws of physics.

I had to watch the movie twice because I missed a key connection at the beginning. Even catching on to the connection, portions of the movie remain a bit murky and the plot flow is somewhat jerky. The movie begins with The (Evil) Master and his henchmen chasing after three individuals. One of these individuals has an injured leg and escapes thanks to the self-sacrifice of the other two individuals, both of whom are killed.

We immediately jump to a long-haired, young Jacky Chan (yes, that's the way it was spelled in the credits) performing some sort of practice Kung-Fu routine for his grandfather. From this point forward, the movie plays like The Three Kung-Fu Stooges. I have to admit that as bad as the acting and the dubbing was, I laughed throughout this portion of the movie because it was funny. It was stupid, but it was funny too. The dubbing is atrocious, with weird English accents for each of the Chinese actors. This movie could definitely use a re-dub.

I enjoyed the martial arts throughout this movie because they all appeared real. I cringed when the actors fought, because when they hit each other, they HIT EACH OTHER! I can see where there had to have been a lot of bruises after each day of filming. There was nothing fake about any of the fight scenes. The actors' martial arts skills were very, very good. However, the "elderly" martial artists looked like 20-something actors with white hair and eyebrows.

We see Jackie's character as he goes through this interlude of comedy until The Master shows up and, by connecting the sign at Jackie's Kung Fu school to Jackie's grandfather, tracks him down and kills him. There isn't really any justification given for tracking down and killing these people by The Master, so we have to accept on faith that there is some sort of vendetta or history we are not privy to. Jackie tries to kill The Master, but of course does not. Instead Jackie encounters The Unicorn, who has a gimpy leg (recalling the beginning of this review). The Unicorn teaches Jacky a number of tricks and some really serious martial arts to go off and wreak vengeance on The Master and his henchmen.

This movie is corny, the acting is weak and often excessively overdone, and the plot is formulaic. However, it is still funny, and somehow it all works. As long as you aren't expecting a serious Kung-Fu movie, and as long as you are expecting very light entertainment, and particularly if you are a fan of Jackie Chan, you might find this movie interesting. Three stars because of the flaws, but I still like the movie and plan to watch it again. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Whoa...COOL!
Sitting in awe of Jackie and this DVD. That man is amazing. A must have for any Jackie Chan fan. Long live (and love) Jackie Chan!

Everybody loves Jackie!
Whether you are a die hard Jackie fan or a passive visitor of the infinite Jackie video libraries you will find this "documentary" highly entertaining. This isn't a typical type of documentary because it features Jackie and his stunt crew showing off how the intricacies of their action sequences. It seems Jackie actually took the time to film this twice, one where he speaks his native language and another time where it is filmed in english. He didn't simply dub it, there are two sides to the DVD.

Pay attention as Jackie nails the camera while demonstrating how they use fake blood...what a pro!

Wonderful
Excellent behind the scenes type video explaining and detailing everything you could want to know. Too bad we don't get to see Chan do much execpt for when they show some of the greater moments from past movies. Get it!

Jackie Rocks!
This DVD is a must have for any Chan fan! Take a tour behind the scenes as Jackie gives an in depth look into the art of making a classic "Jackie Chan movie." You'll see exclusive footage and fighting sequences choreographed by Jackie and performed by his stunt guys and students. You'll go behind the scenes on the set of Who Am I? and Rush Hour, take a bus tour in Hong Kong with Jackie hanging by umbrella for a look at Police Story revisited, listen as Jackie tells fascinating stories about stunts gone awry, visit the Jackie Chan Stunt Lab. You'll learn what it is that makes his fight sequences so spectacular, get a glimpse of their training techniques, hear some of Jackie's ideas and plans for the future and so much more! This DVD is high quality stuff, and the JC Group went all out to make this documentary as a gift to his fans. In fact, some of the stunt men were actually hurt in the filming! If you truely love Jackie's movies you must have this DVD! It is so much fun!

Very Helpful and entertaining
I find myself constantly fascinated by this man, Jackie Chan. He never ceases to amaze me. Look how old he is and try to understand how he does what he does. He truly is a legend in the flesh.

This particular DVD is an excellent example of how Jackie makes his stunt driven movies. He goes into fine detail on how he sets up the scenes and prepares for each of his breathtaking stunts. It also gives you a little insight on Jackie's creative stunt team that have been black listed on the insurance market for doing what they do. It shows that without them Jackie's stunts would never look as good as they do. For me this DVD was a great "HOW TO" movie. I myself make cheesy movies every now and again with friends and hope to someday make big budget movies, this DVD showed me how to perform some stunts with better protection and just made me think of new ways I can decieve the audience. Mind you, don't go trying this stuff at home unless you are physically fit and mentally fit for it.

In the end I would have to say this is just another Jackie Chan movie that must be in your collection. What's great is that there are two sides to the disc, one is English (yay!) and the other is Mandarin. No subtitles here baby! Buy it, buy it, buy it I say! For Jackie Chan will never fail to entertain you. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Talented Jackie
Having just read Jackie Chans Book I felt I had to see the video. I was extremely surprised how talented he really is. The two songs featured on the DVD are both excellent and show what a lovely voice he has. It was nice to see the other side of the Action Man! It makes you smile just to watch him, as he seems such a happy & lovely man.

watch both sides!
This documentary is worth watching, and don't miss watching both sides, as the english version is somewhat different from the chinese (or cantonese) one. There are also two different songs which are very funny to watch. From Jackie you learn to know of his youth, his films and his family. Please let us know much more!

A must see for any Jackie Chan fan.
The DVD is great. The special features really enhance this DVD. The sound mix is good too. You can really get to know about Jackie Chan. There's a large section on some of his amazing stunts.

a good film
all about jackie including his family and his working attuide ,i think this film was great but i think the film 'jackie-chan my stunts'was better than this film

The autobiography of Jackie Chan on film
This documentary serves as a great companion to Jackie Chan's autobiographical book "I Am Jackie Chan." He talks about his early days in the Peking Opera School to his rescent American success "Rush Hour." There is also numerous clips from most of his movies, like his brief appearences in "Chinese Connection," scenes cut out of "Heart of Dragon" and an entire fight scene not seen in the American version of "Armour of God 2: Operation Condor." This is required viewing for any Jackie Chan fan and anyone else who appreciates great filmmaking. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Big Budget film does so-so on the Asian Market.
This film was originally going to be the sequel to Jackie Chan's blockbuster hit "Young Master" and carry the title "Young Master in Love", however, during the making of this film the plot changed from having connection to the original so the title "Dragon Lord" was given. This film was given the title Dragon Strike though because it is the English dubbed version. Jackie has many scenes, which actually included no gung fu at all and were taking place inside a sports arena. Some 50-200 shots were taken on a hackiack scene! Jackie ends up accidentally finding a gangs secret hideout and discovers a smuggling plot to illegally export Chinese artifacts. This film does have a few good fight scenes and is the first of his modern Hong Kong films. It also stars the famous Yuen Biao, which is a happy side note. Not a bad film for the martial arts/Hong Kong film viewer. Also a good pick for Chan fans. All together, Dragon Strike is a film worth owning.

Dragon Lord : Don't be confused, This is a good film.
Dragon Lord is the first good Jackie Chan film. All the elements of a classic Jackie Chan film came together in this film for the first time: 1) The well-trained but clumsy underdog hero whose adolescent tendencies get him into big trouble. 2) The use of almost cartoonish humor, blended with spectacular, sometimes death defying stunt work 3)sometimes brutal hand to hand fights with a bare minimum of bone breaking sound effects or blood.

This was only the second film Jackie directed. His first was Young Master and that film established Jackie as the martial arts Buster Keaton. However that film could not break out of the utterly formulaic restrictions the martial arts film and producers insisted upon.

Dragon Lord does change the formula and drastically. It also was not a box office success in Hong Kong and Jackie would work with his friends and Sammo (and fufill his contractual obligation to appear in the dreadful Cannonball Run 2 in 1983) before directing his first full-fledged Chan-masterpiece Project A in 1984. Dragon Lord was originally conceived as a sequel to Young Master, to be called Young Master in Love. But continuity did not allow the film to be an official sequel. It was first released (barely) to the U.S. as The Dragon Strikes in 1982. At this point in his career, Jackie knew he was not going to follow in the footsteps and be the new Bruce Lee for producer director Lo Wei. He had other things in mind and almost got what he was after with Dragon Lord.

For nearly the entire first hour of Dragon Lord , Dragon (Chan) and his best friend Cowboy (Mars) vie for the attentions of a young woman who's name we later learn is Sexxy. We are treated to an incredible display of stunt work in a opening title sequence of a Football game (not soccer) , Chinese Style. Forget about protective gear or the refs calling anyone for unnecessary roughness. 90 stunt people received minor injuries and Jackie hurt his chin so bad he was in pain when he tried to talk .

Later Cowboy and Dragon run into a field of tall grass after a pheasant and meet a desperate man trying to hide from some thugs. The thugs start to rough up Cowboy and Dragon but realize they are just kids and not connected to the man they want.

Dragon, sneaks out of his house and gets away from his studies to try and meet the young woman of his dreams but runs into his best friend and rival Cowboy. Cowboy seems to take the upper hand with a dirty trick performed in front of Dragon's father. But Dragon gets another opportunity and he has a plan. The plan involves staging an attack so that supposedly Cowboy can be a hero, but instead it's Dragon that is about to become a hero. Tempers flare however and Cowboy and Dragon fight and it becomes clear the attack was staged. The girl is not impressed and Cowboy and Dragon get into trouble and stop being friends.

Eventually the two friends make up and compete in a Chinese shuttlecck match which is played like soccer only instead of a ball the players use a shuttlecck )without rackets keeping it off the ground and moving it around without using their hands). The nearly fifteen minute sequence involving the playing of this game is a highlight of physical dexterity and stunt work. Picture the best hacky-sack players you have ever seen , now add non-stop acrobatics to the mix. Wow.

Next Dragon tries to send a note to the girl Sexxy. The kite carrying the note blows in the wrong direction and Dragon goes to retrieve it. He finds himself on a roof top and there is a top secret illegal smuggling operation going on below him. Men with spears try to get him and they almost succeed. Smugglers are stealing Ming Vases to ship out of the country illegally.

Dragon's father gives Dragon a test on his studies, and in another comic slapstick sequence Dragon manages to cheat himself through his father's examination.

This eventually all leads to a show-down with the thugs and smugglers for Cowboy and Dragon and the incredible 20 minute fight sequence finale of the film. A fight sequence which is full of all of the best of Jackie's trademark moves and humor, with only the barest minimum of any wire work or trickery. It's pure Jackie acrobatics for 20 minutes straight and a must see for all Jackie fans. He would re-stage and upgrade the fight slightly (with different characters) to end the Hong Kong film version of The Protector (the American version of this film with Danny Aielo is to be avoided except for the curious to compare it to the superior Hong Kong version of the film which Jackie re-edited and directed additional martial arts sequences for -including a new ending).

Dragon Lord doesn't represent Jackie's finest (look to Drunken Master 2 aka Legend of the Drunken Master and Project A part 2 for that). The first hour of the film feels too light and episodic. The use of music punctuates sequences in much the same way cartoon music is used. The sports sequences are knock-outs but they feel disconnected from the narrative of the film. It isn't until the final 40 minutes the film seems to come together when it generates a little bit of suspense and then delivers the knock out final fight sequence. Chan's direction and choreography though a bit repetitious after a while is impressive.

If you like Jackie Chan at all, put this one on your must see list and if your thinking maybe you'll buy it.. it's worth having!

- -Christopher J Jarmick,is the author of the steamy suspense thriller The Glass Coccon with Serena F. Holder

Uneven, but still entertaining
Dragon Lord is an interesting early directorial attempt by a very young Jackie Chan. It bounces back and forth between some strange sports and an actual story involving friends and girl chasing. Some times it's good, sometimes it drags. For me, the sporting events went on too long, although the bun pyramid race was an interesting depiction of a Chinese custom. I really enjoyed the story on this one, because the friendship between Jackie and his freind "Cowboy" was very charming, and I enjoyed their boyish pranks trying to woo a girl away from each other. The bigger plot is similar to "Drunken Master 2", with theives plotting to smuggle precious artifacts out of China -- a subject Jackie obviously feels strongly about, since it occurs again in "Rush Hour". It has a couple of exciting fights, and lots of athletic clowning which I enjoyed just as much as the fights.

Oops, wong movie!
To be honest, I haven't seen this film, but the very helpful review below is of the wrong movie! The reviewer below is referring to Dragon Fist, not Dragon Lord. They are two different movies!

Light on the Action, but Excellent Stunts!
My jaw dropped when I watched the Chinese hackey sack game. You'll cringe at the beginning of the movie as Jackie falls fromt the top of a human tower! OUCH! But the fight scenes were pretty lame and there wasn't a very good villain either. If you want a movie with a good villain and great action, get Young Master. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Big Budget film does so-so on the Asian Market.
This film was originally going to be the sequel to Jackie Chan's blockbuster hit "Young Master" and carry the title "Young Master in Love", however, during the making of this film the plot changed from having connection to the original so the title "Dragon Lord" was given. This film was given the title Dragon Strike though because it is the English dubbed version. Jackie has many scenes, which actually included no gung fu at all and were taking place inside a sports arena. Some 50-200 shots were taken on a hackiack scene! Jackie ends up accidentally finding a gangs secret hideout and discovers a smuggling plot to illegally export Chinese artifacts. This film does have a few good fight scenes and is the first of his modern Hong Kong films. It also stars the famous Yuen Biao, which is a happy side note. Not a bad film for the martial arts/Hong Kong film viewer. Also a good pick for Chan fans. All together, Dragon Strike is a film worth owning.

Dragon Lord : Don't be confused, This is a good film.
Dragon Lord is the first good Jackie Chan film. All the elements of a classic Jackie Chan film came together in this film for the first time: 1) The well-trained but clumsy underdog hero whose adolescent tendencies get him into big trouble. 2) The use of almost cartoonish humor, blended with spectacular, sometimes death defying stunt work 3)sometimes brutal hand to hand fights with a bare minimum of bone breaking sound effects or blood.

This was only the second film Jackie directed. His first was Young Master and that film established Jackie as the martial arts Buster Keaton. However that film could not break out of the utterly formulaic restrictions the martial arts film and producers insisted upon.

Dragon Lord does change the formula and drastically. It also was not a box office success in Hong Kong and Jackie would work with his friends and Sammo (and fufill his contractual obligation to appear in the dreadful Cannonball Run 2 in 1983) before directing his first full-fledged Chan-masterpiece Project A in 1984. Dragon Lord was originally conceived as a sequel to Young Master, to be called Young Master in Love. But continuity did not allow the film to be an official sequel. It was first released (barely) to the U.S. as The Dragon Strikes in 1982. At this point in his career, Jackie knew he was not going to follow in the footsteps and be the new Bruce Lee for producer director Lo Wei. He had other things in mind and almost got what he was after with Dragon Lord.

For nearly the entire first hour of Dragon Lord , Dragon (Chan) and his best friend Cowboy (Mars) vie for the attentions of a young woman who's name we later learn is Sexxy. We are treated to an incredible display of stunt work in a opening title sequence of a Football game (not soccer) , Chinese Style. Forget about protective gear or the refs calling anyone for unnecessary roughness. 90 stunt people received minor injuries and Jackie hurt his chin so bad he was in pain when he tried to talk .

Later Cowboy and Dragon run into a field of tall grass after a pheasant and meet a desperate man trying to hide from some thugs. The thugs start to rough up Cowboy and Dragon but realize they are just kids and not connected to the man they want.

Dragon, sneaks out of his house and gets away from his studies to try and meet the young woman of his dreams but runs into his best friend and rival Cowboy. Cowboy seems to take the upper hand with a dirty trick performed in front of Dragon's father. But Dragon gets another opportunity and he has a plan. The plan involves staging an attack so that supposedly Cowboy can be a hero, but instead it's Dragon that is about to become a hero. Tempers flare however and Cowboy and Dragon fight and it becomes clear the attack was staged. The girl is not impressed and Cowboy and Dragon get into trouble and stop being friends.

Eventually the two friends make up and compete in a Chinese shuttlecck match which is played like soccer only instead of a ball the players use a shuttlecck )without rackets keeping it off the ground and moving it around without using their hands). The nearly fifteen minute sequence involving the playing of this game is a highlight of physical dexterity and stunt work. Picture the best hacky-sack players you have ever seen , now add non-stop acrobatics to the mix. Wow.

Next Dragon tries to send a note to the girl Sexxy. The kite carrying the note blows in the wrong direction and Dragon goes to retrieve it. He finds himself on a roof top and there is a top secret illegal smuggling operation going on below him. Men with spears try to get him and they almost succeed. Smugglers are stealing Ming Vases to ship out of the country illegally.

Dragon's father gives Dragon a test on his studies, and in another comic slapstick sequence Dragon manages to cheat himself through his father's examination.

This eventually all leads to a show-down with the thugs and smugglers for Cowboy and Dragon and the incredible 20 minute fight sequence finale of the film. A fight sequence which is full of all of the best of Jackie's trademark moves and humor, with only the barest minimum of any wire work or trickery. It's pure Jackie acrobatics for 20 minutes straight and a must see for all Jackie fans. He would re-stage and upgrade the fight slightly (with different characters) to end the Hong Kong film version of The Protector (the American version of this film with Danny Aielo is to be avoided except for the curious to compare it to the superior Hong Kong version of the film which Jackie re-edited and directed additional martial arts sequences for -including a new ending).

Dragon Lord doesn't represent Jackie's finest (look to Drunken Master 2 aka Legend of the Drunken Master and Project A part 2 for that). The first hour of the film feels too light and episodic. The use of music punctuates sequences in much the same way cartoon music is used. The sports sequences are knock-outs but they feel disconnected from the narrative of the film. It isn't until the final 40 minutes the film seems to come together when it generates a little bit of suspense and then delivers the knock out final fight sequence. Chan's direction and choreography though a bit repetitious after a while is impressive.

If you like Jackie Chan at all, put this one on your must see list and if your thinking maybe you'll buy it.. it's worth having!

- -Christopher J Jarmick,is the author of the steamy suspense thriller The Glass Coccon with Serena F. Holder

Uneven, but still entertaining
Dragon Lord is an interesting early directorial attempt by a very young Jackie Chan. It bounces back and forth between some strange sports and an actual story involving friends and girl chasing. Some times it's good, sometimes it drags. For me, the sporting events went on too long, although the bun pyramid race was an interesting depiction of a Chinese custom. I really enjoyed the story on this one, because the friendship between Jackie and his freind "Cowboy" was very charming, and I enjoyed their boyish pranks trying to woo a girl away from each other. The bigger plot is similar to "Drunken Master 2", with theives plotting to smuggle precious artifacts out of China -- a subject Jackie obviously feels strongly about, since it occurs again in "Rush Hour". It has a couple of exciting fights, and lots of athletic clowning which I enjoyed just as much as the fights.

Oops, wong movie!
To be honest, I haven't seen this film, but the very helpful review below is of the wrong movie! The reviewer below is referring to Dragon Fist, not Dragon Lord. They are two different movies!

Light on the Action, but Excellent Stunts!
My jaw dropped when I watched the Chinese hackey sack game. You'll cringe at the beginning of the movie as Jackie falls fromt the top of a human tower! OUCH! But the fight scenes were pretty lame and there wasn't a very good villain either. If you want a movie with a good villain and great action, get Young Master. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The most thrilling, spectacular and entertaining movie ever
I consider myself to be Jackie Chans most loyal fan. I own almost 20 of his martial arts movies, including classics from Police Story to Who am I. The Young Master is an absolutely essential purchase for anyones martial arts collection, which is guaranteed to remain a highly regarded Jackie Chan classic. The movie is set during Chans younger days in cinema and demonstrates his amazing skill in martial arts as well as his great talent in entertaining the viewer through his humorous performances. He even sings the song to the ending of the movie. The film really does show how energetic and original Jackie is, and this is the main reason why I simply admire his artistic talent. The Young Master tells the story of an orphan named Dragon (Jackie) and shows how he struggles to set his friend free from the evil clutches of Master Kam. The master uses his friend to commit a number of crimes and in the process people confuse Jackie with his friend and mistake him for the criminal. The final showdown shows Jackie confronting the Master in a well-coreographed and