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Technical Information
Studio:
Touchstone Home Entertainment
Year of Theatrical Release: 2003
Disc Format: 1
single-sided, Dual Layer
Image Format: Anamorphic
Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Region Encoding: 1
Sound Format: Dolby
Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 (pro logic)
Running Time: 114
minutes
Director: David
Dobkin
Stars: Jackie
Chan, Owen Wilson, Donnie Yen, Aiden Gillen
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Disc Supplements:
- Feature length commentary with director David
Dobkin
- Feature length commentary with writers Alfred
Gough and Miles Millar
- Fight Manual documentary
- Action Overload featurette
- Deleteed scenes
- DVD trailers
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I have seen a lot of Jackie Chan films in
my time and I have to say that Shanghai Knights probably has
the best choreography of the bunch. Now, before all of you hardcore
Chan fans start writing me e-mails, let me clarify my statement.
There are certainly Chan films with more spectacular and more
intense scenes, but in his earlier efforts, there seems to be
a sense of reckless abandon to the fights. Chan always seemed
on the verge of losing control and that worked well for the
younger Jackie.
Now Chan is older. He very obviously can't
perform the same sorts of stunts that made him famous and he
wisely doesn't even try. Instead, Chan crafts fights scenes
that play exactly to his strengths. The action is more controlled,
a little slower and more fluid and every bit as impressive as
we've come to expect.
Of course, this is still a Jackie Chan film
and you can expect to see stunts and fight scenes that are jaw
dropping. The action is stepped up from Shanghai Noon with more
and better fight scenes.
Unfortunately, while the action is increased,
the story suffers a bit. Shanghai Noon worked as a quirky western
that blended Chan's action with Owen Wilson's odd contemporary
twists. But underneath were the elements of a true western.
Shanghai Knights moves the action to Europe,
where Chon Wang (Chan) and Roy O'Bannon (Wilson) stuggle to
find an artifact stolen from Wang's father. The problem is that
the importance of the artifact never seem all that convincing
and the exploits of Wang and O'Bannon seem more like a situation
comedy than an action movie.
The chemistry between Wilson and Chan is still
just as strong as in the first film and, as I said, the action
is far better. This is what saves Shanghai Knights. Director
David Dobkin is competent behind the lens when it comes to the
fights, but seems a little unsteady for everything else.
This is one of those films that's tough to
recommend because it does have many redeeming qualities. As
I've said, the fights are top-notch and Wilson and Chan are,
at times, hysterical. More attention to the story would have
propelled Shanghai Knights into the stratosphere. As is, it's
still a very fun film.
:::back to
top |
Shanghai Knights is a much better
film that Shanghai Noon, with lush colors and impressive sets. This
enhanced and often stylized appearance is carried off very well
on this disc. Colors are very bright and rich without being oversaturated.
Flesh tones are natural and the contrasts and black levels are very
strong. This is a very clean print, both in terms of the source
material and the digital transfer. I noticed no compression noise
and edge enhancement seems to be at a minimum.
:::back to top |
Although it may not seem like it,
Jackie Chan films are ripe for immersive surround tracks, what with
the intense fight scenes and bodies swinging and kicking in every
direction. This Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is certainly up to the task,
with good dynamic range. Most of the sound remains rooted to the
front stage, but the music and bigger action pieces really expand
to fill the entire sonic stage. Panning and effect separation is
decent. While not a reference quality mix, this is definitely a
nice sounding disc.
:::back to top |
Shanghai Knights surpized me with
a considerable array of extra features.
Starting things off is a feature
length commentary track with director David Dobkin.
Dobkin jumps right in, even before the studio credits start, and
rarely pauses. He fills the track with tons of information, even
offering up insights into event from the first film. He discusses
Chan's fight choreography style, which is entirely counterintuitive
to normal filmmaking. Overall, this is an entertaining track.
Following the director's commentary
is a commentary track with writers Alfred Gough
and Miles Millar. Traditionally, commentaries with multiple parties
tend to be more lively and informative in that that participants
can play off of each other. To an extent, this remains true for
this film in that there are very few pauses in the comments, but
overall, the track seems a bit more dry than Dobkin's commentary.
Still, this is far better than some tracks and worth a listen.
Next up is a Fight Manual
documentary. This features Chan and Dobkin discussing what
makes for effective fight scenes in an action comedy film. The documentary
takes us through Chan's process through a series of interviews and
split screen behind-the-scenes segments. Unfortunately, there is
a bit less substance here than I would have liked -- we see a lot
of scenes of people standing around behind the cameras and not enough
of the action planning.
The Action Overload
is similar to what's been done with other films in that it does
little more than strip away all pretenses of story and gives us
only the best action bits. However, this feature is far better done
than most. Keeping with the old west theme, the short featurette
is presented like a silent film, complete with sepia tones and film
scratches. Most of the action is lifted right from the film, but
I think I noticed one or two different edits or camera angles.
By far, the most exciting and best
extra feature on this disc is the deleted scenes
section. There are 7 extended and deleted scenes, most of which
seem to have been cut for time concerns, but that do add a couple
of comical and needed story elements. But the best part is the inclusion
4 full-length fight scenes. Almost all of the fights were trimmed
down, again for time concerns, and so it is a special treat to see
them as they were originally conceived. In many ways, it's a shame
that these fights were trimmed down as they are beautiful to behold.
Chan is the master at creating funny, but highly intense fight scenes
and, as I mentioned above, I think that this is some of his best
work to date.
When you first pop in the disc, you
will be assaulted with a series of trailers for
other Touchstone films, Bringing Down The House and The Recruit.
Thankfully, if you don't want to watch them, you can either hit
the Menu key or chapter skip through them. These trailers don't
seem to be accessible from the bonus features menu.
:::back to top |
Shanghai Knights lacks the story of the first
film, but pumps up the action by several notches. Overall, I'd put
it on par with its predecessor and a fun experience. The array of
extras help to increase its value, making it a worthwhile investment
for your collection.
:::back to top |
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| There are a couple of questionable
scenes involving sexual situations, but they are brief enough to shield
the kids from. Overall, most of the action is fairly harmless and
the film does promote some decent values in the way of loyalty to
family and friends. |
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| -- By Robert Wurth. Copyright
© 2003. |
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