Set in 1930's America, Chan stars as a martial artist who has been forced to fight in the titular Battle Creek Brawl by a mobster gang.

Being produced by Fred Weintraub and directed by Robert Clouse (who both had the same involvements with Bruce Lee's magnum opus 'Enter The Dragon'), this is really lame. The only bits really worth their salt are the training bits, but the actual combat scenes are lame and are more like the sort of thing you see in a WWF arena without the costumes (although some of the combatants' costumes are a bit iffy).

Jackie not being given his usual creative control either of the camera or what he could do in the action sequences was to be a big minus for his fans. As an example, there is one baddie he does a series of very quick hand strikes on, but the camera is so badly positioned that the baddie almost completely obscures what Jackie is doing. 'Even the best techniques are useless if the camera doesn't catch them' was one of the lines uttered in the documentary 'Jackie Chan: My Stunts'; that was absolutely correct. He does, however, do an aerial triple-kick that's worthy of a rewind.

Another problem was that Jackie had not been speaking English for that long, so he had a hard time with his acting whilst struggling with a then-very-new language.

This is a bit of a disappointment all round, really...

I really enjoyed watching this one!
Review date: 2001-11-01 Rating: 8 out of 10

I think it's unfair to call this a bad film. It's Jackie's first American outing, and it's true he wasn't allowed to coreograph the fights, but I think he shows his physical talents all the time. Just look at the introduction! Jackie punches and kicks and jumps and flips his way through the whole film, just as we love to see him! And the jazz inspired score is nice, especially compared with his early Asian films. The DVD is great! Picture, sound and extras are excellent. Over all I think it's one of his best films, and I own 25.

I quite like this film
Review date: 2001-10-02 Rating: 6 out of 10

...I quite like this film, the first Jackie did in America. He had absolutely no say in how he did stunts or action, so don't expect any outstanding Jackie-type action. However, the story is quite good and the comic fight scene in the alley behind the restaurant gives us glimpses of the usual Jackie style. The wrestlers Jackie fights in the end are hilarious (unintentionally so I think). Jackie looks like he could walk all over them without any trouble at all! I love Mako, who plays Jackie's uncle, a very under-used actor. His sly humour is very funny. Please give this movie a go, but keep in mind is it is the usual Jackie action film. This DVD version has exceptional video and audio quality and Hong Kong Legends are to be congratulated.

The Biggest Brawl in Town
Review date: 2001-01-04 Rating: 8 out of 10

Jackie Chan's first attempt to break into the American market doesn't really stand up when compared to Drunken Master, Fearless Hyena or any of the other early classics he was making in Hong Kong at the time. But, nevertheless, it is good for what it is. Jackie is the son of a chinese resturant owner who refuses to let his son fight. However, Jackie has other ideas and is secretly learning kung-fu from his uncle - a chiropracter (apologies for spelling). Whilst defending his father from the local mob he comes to the attention of the mob leader who needs a fighter for the upcoming Battlecreek Brawl. He sets about blackmailing Jackie into fighting for him...which he does!!! The fights aren't as fast or as fluid as they are in Jackie Chan's Jackie Chan films, and this just shows how little control Jackie had over the choreography. However, there are a few scenes in which Jackie gets to show what he's made of and the fact he speaks in English gives it something special.

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