RRP: £16.99
Our Price: £33.79 (subject to change)
A different sort of Chan
Review date: 2008-02-18 Rating: 8 out of 10
The film's plot, apparantly based on a true story, is fairly predictable and could very easily have come from Hollywood. There is no mystery for the audience and it is left for JC to uncover the deeds of his partner. This lack of mystery for the audience doesn't matter. The film is enjoyable to watch and keeps you engaged as JC starts to piece the jigsaw together to save the hostage. No outright comedic gags but a couple of chuckles. I will not give away too much of the films plot and action but make a couple of points.
What to me looked like a potential love interest for Jackie's character never develops which is welcome as the film doesn't need unwarranted distractions which so often spoil otherwise well scripted films.
For those wanting to see JC's acrobatic style of fighting you might be slighlty dissappointed. It isn't until near the end of the film that any substantial fighting action takes place. For those wanting to see JC's or general martial arts I recommend his earlier films ( Drunken Master etc ).
In this film it feels like JC wants to take a break from his less serious films and put together a performance which people can see a different side to his acting.
As a JC fan I find myself giving an overall rating of 4 to reflect the overall quality of the film ( although perhaps the rating is 3.8 rounded up ). For people who have not see a JC film you have to ask why you want to watch one of his films, you will either be pleasantly suprised or dissappointed. Try some of his earlier films as well as the widely known such as Rush Hour.
Anyone who has been introduced to Jackie Chan through the likes of RUSH HOUR, SHANGHAI NOON or AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS will be postively/negatively (choose as suits your tastes) surpirsed by the lack of any humour in the film. Unlike his famous POLICE STORY movies, where the violence is offset by humourous slapstick moments, CRIME STORY presents itself as a hard-hitting crime thriller in the traditions of such films as HEAT & INFERNAL AFFAIRS, and for me this is very refreshing as I like my serious thrillers as much as I like my comedies (probably more so, in fact!)
CRIME STORY sees Jackie Chan playing a policeman who's duty it is to protect a businessman who thinks there are people out to kidnap him.
Of course, there are, and he does, in spectacular fashion, and it is Jackie's job to track him down.
Spectacular fight sequences ground in reality and a gripping storyline make this a must-see movie for any Jackier Chan fan!