Jackie Chan Collection: Vol. 2 (1983-1993)
review by Bobby Blakey
There are few action stars as iconic as Jackie Chan. The man has literally put his life on the line to bring audiences some of the most incredible action to the big screen. Shout Factory delivered a great collection of films from 1976-1982. Now they have brought yet another collection to the fans with the Jackie Chan Collection Vol. 2 (1983-1993)
This collection offers up films not only featuring Chan, but fellow collaborators Sammu Hung and Yuen Biao as well as Benny” The Jet” Urquides, Bill “Superfoot”Wallace, Danny Aiello, and so many more. These films are old school vintage Chan and all brought together in a cool collection fans will no doubt love.
Winners and Sinners (1983) follows five friends who are released from prison and do their best to stay out trouble. Trying to mind their own business (and run their Five Star Cleaning Service), they are unfortunately caught up in a war between rival Triad gangs fighting for control of the counterfeit currency market.
While Jackie Chan is in this film and has numerous fight sequences this is far from his film. It focuses more on Sammo Hung, which is fine as well, but the film doesn’t offer up all that much action sadly. What is here is excellent, but spends more time bumbling around with this group of thieves and their nonsense. It’s a good movie, but not one that really stands out in the martial arts genre. Thankfully the action that Sammo and Chan bring is top notch and makes it worth sticking around for.
In 1984, Chan teamed up with Hung and Biao for Wheels on Meals that follows cousins Thomas and David, owners of a mobile restaurant, who team up with their friend Moby, a bumbling private detective, to save the beautiful Sylvia, a pickpocket. Action and humor abound in the streets of Barcelona, culminating with a battle in the castle hideout of the evil gang.
This time around it does have a lot more silliness at times, but for sure offers more action all around. Chan, Hung and Biao bring it. Each of them get more equal amount of screentime to do their thing complete with some awesome fight sequences and loads of laughs. The finale of the film makes it all worth it with Chan and Biao getting to go toe to toe with Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and Keith Vitali. They are fast paced, perfectly executed and pure perfection.
I had a ton of fun with this one that not only showcased martial arts action, but
The Protector (1985) Billy Wong, a New York City cop whose partner is gunned down during a robbery. Billy and his new partner, Danny Garoni, are working security at a fashion show when a wealthy man's daughter, Laura Shapiro, is kidnapped. The Federal authorities suspect that Laura's father is involved with Mr. Ko, a Hong Kong drug kingpin, so the NYC police commissioner sends the two cops to Hong Kong to investigate. Once in Hong Kong, the pair causes no end of trouble for both Mr. Ko and the local authorities.
This has been one of my favorites since I saw it back in 1985. This is one of the early American features starring Chan and while he had some issues on set with the production I love it. It features tons of great action, the always excellent late Danny Aiello and Bill “Superfoot” Wallace in the final fight against Chan. This movie not only screams 80s, but also just a great martial arts gritty cop action film. It is also the reason we got the even better Police Story franchise from Chan who was so irritated with this production he set out to make his own.
loads of comedy along with Chan and Biao on roller skates and skateboards. Watching Chan through these era of films you can see all the stuff he really enjoyed bringing to the mix especially the roller skates which shows up in Battle Creek Brawl and Winners and Sinners as well.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars (1985) follows a police informant sent a letter containing sensitive information on an illegal drug operation to his friend, Yi-Ching. While on vacation in Thailand, the informant is assassinated by the drug lord's henchmen and, to cover-up their operation, they attempt to eliminate Yi-Ching and double-agent Lau. Back in Hong Kong, police detectives Muscles and Ricky Fung are assigned to protect Lau and Inspector Barbara Woo is assigned to protect Yi-Ching. She takes her to the hideout of the "Five Lucky Stars" and also enlists their help in bringing down the drug operation.
This flick is technically the 3rd outing of Hung’s Lucky Stars trilogy which for some reason the second one is missing in this set. It is pretty much the same tone and cast from Winners and Sinners which isn’t a bad thing. Both movies are fun, but spend more time on the comedy and goofiness than the action itself. Thankfully they brought a bit more this time around and what is here is awesome. There is a fun little cameo from Michelle Yeoh in one of her earliest roles as well as the always awesome Richard Norton in the bad guy role. Interesting to note that this is one of the few films you see Chan with a lot of stunt doubles due to a severe back injury that limited his ability.
Armour of God (1986) follows Asian Hawk, an Indiana Jones-style adventurer looking to make a fortune in exotic antiquities. After Hawk discovers a mysterious sword in Africa, a band of Satan-worshiping monks kidnap his ex-girlfriend Lorelei, demanding the sword as ransom as well as other pieces of the legendary Armour of God - a magical outfit dating back to the Crusades.
With this film Chan brought his usual stylings to a more Indiana Jones meets James Bond style film that became a regular thing for some time. Filled with spectacular stunts including the famed hot air balloon jump, this film brings everything we know and expect about Chan now a days to the screen. The film offers up comedy and action that really works better than some of his earlier films. The martial arts action is limited throughout initially with the focus more on random cool stunts including a failed tree jump that that has had lasting effects on him to this day.
The final act is where this film really shines in the martial arts with plenty of non-stop Chan in action including the memorable fight with he Amazons. This was supposedly going to be Cynthia Rothrock in the role, but due to scheduling had to be changed. I love this scene, but would have been awesome to see that version.
Armour of God: Operation Condor follows Agent Jackie who is hired to find World War II Nazi gold hidden in the Sahara desert. He teams up with three bungling women (the three stooges?) who are all connected in some way. However, a team of mercenries have ideas on the ownership of the gold. A battle and chase ensues as to who gets there first.
This film took the fun and tone of the first film and amped it up to bring more insane stunts and action across the board. Fans of the this film in the US may know this film as simply Operation Condor as it was released under that title here with the original Armour of God film released as Operation Condor 2. The usual silliness is here, but it wastes no time getting the meat of it with an insane car/motorcycle chase that is one of the best I have seen. The fights are fast and awesome making this film overall one of Chan’s bets outside of the Police Story series.
Chan really likes showcasing new vehicles and gadgets during this era of his career and it gives these films a huge bump in originality complete with his famed gum popping trick he originated in the previous film. I love this one and so glad to see it get an updated release that looks fantastic.
Crime Story follows a Special Agent who is assigned to protect a wealthy business magnate. However, when the businessman is kidnapped in a daring ambush, he teams up with a seasoned detective to crack the case. But soon he discovers the case isn't that simple.
Of all the films in this collection this one is the most serious. Much like his Police Story series, Crime Story takes a darker tone into the crime thriller. There is plenty of action in the form of shoots outs and card chases, but not as many fight sequences. Have no fear though the ones that are here are most excellent per expectations. I have always dug this movie as it brings not only that focused darker tone, but also an interesting story that culminates with the focus on corruption and betrayal.
City Hunter follows private investigator Ryu Saeba and his assistant Kaori who are caught up in the middle of a cruise liner highjacking while searching for the daughter of a Japanese publishing magnate. It's up to Ryu to save the day...but can he do it on an empty stomach?
Of all the films that Chan has done in his career this is one of my least favorite. The film is based on a Manga series and they fully embrace the comic element a bit too far. The film is just stupid more often than not which is saying something since Chan loves the action comedy. I find this movie to just be annoying most of the time fails to really do much other than be silly. There isn’t that much action here, but does offer one of the most memorable and iconic moments in his career with a sequence taking on martial arts action star Gary Daniels in a goofy full on Street Fighter tribute complete with Chan as Chun Li.
Having action stars Richard Norton and Gary Daniels in the movie alone should have elevated it to a better level, but it gets lost in its own silliness. Thankfully along with the hilarious and fun Street Fighter fight, Chan does get a final fight with Norton that is pretty awesome and fun to watch. Outside of these two fights the film is pretty dumb and one I usually avoid other than watching those sequences.
In addition to the films, which is enough of a reason to get this set, it offers up bonus
content including commentaries, galleries, interviews, documentary and more. Grab your copy of the Jackie Chan Collection Volume 2 (1983-1993) available now as well as Volume 1 (19 – 1982) from Shout Factory.
For more information head over to www.shoutfactory.com