Although I wasn't able to find an English or subtitled version of Project A, I was more than thoroughly entertained by the sequel, Project A2. There's a cute montage over the opening credits that recaps the best moments of the first movie, and when the villains explain their desire for revenge because of how Project A ended, you're all set.
Also directed by Jackie Chan, this action-packed police corruption story has fantastic production values. Set at the turn of the century, you'll see beautiful costumes, intricate sets, and very old-fashioned cars. Visually, this movie is an absolute treat. Women with their bustles and corsets, and grand balls hosted by British nobility (the setting is British-ruled Hong Kong), will sweep you away. And it's not every day you get to see Jackie dolled up in tails!
The screenplay is also a treat, as several different obstacles and plot lines converge: women revolutionaries, jewel thieves, corrupt policemen, and pirates seeking revenge. There's a hilarious sequence where Maggie Cheung has to hide six men in different places in her apartment, as one after another keeps knocking at the door. It's a funny comedy of errors, with a bit of danger thrown in.
Action-wise, the movie is a total treat. In the first Project A, Jackie paid homage to Harold Lloyd by hanging off the hands of a clock. In this one, he duplicates the most classic Buster Keaton stunt by standing still while a house falls on him. It's not exactly a house, but it's the same type of structure, and we all hold our breaths until we see him safe and sound on the other side. He falls down a flight of stairs, slides down a ladder, and balances on bamboo rods while fighting a bad guy. The outtakes reel over the end credits is fantastic, as a split screen shows Jackie singing in a recording studio (he often sings the song over the end credits) and also the stunts-gone-wrong. Since he directed the picture, we get to see rare footage of him working with the camera and helping his actors. I really enjoyed this movie, and if I can find an English version of the first movie, I'll definitely rent it.
Also directed by Jackie Chan, this action-packed police corruption story has fantastic production values. Set at the turn of the century, you'll see beautiful costumes, intricate sets, and very old-fashioned cars. Visually, this movie is an absolute treat. Women with their bustles and corsets, and grand balls hosted by British nobility (the setting is British-ruled Hong Kong), will sweep you away. And it's not every day you get to see Jackie dolled up in tails!
The screenplay is also a treat, as several different obstacles and plot lines converge: women revolutionaries, jewel thieves, corrupt policemen, and pirates seeking revenge. There's a hilarious sequence where Maggie Cheung has to hide six men in different places in her apartment, as one after another keeps knocking at the door. It's a funny comedy of errors, with a bit of danger thrown in.
Action-wise, the movie is a total treat. In the first Project A, Jackie paid homage to Harold Lloyd by hanging off the hands of a clock. In this one, he duplicates the most classic Buster Keaton stunt by standing still while a house falls on him. It's not exactly a house, but it's the same type of structure, and we all hold our breaths until we see him safe and sound on the other side. He falls down a flight of stairs, slides down a ladder, and balances on bamboo rods while fighting a bad guy. The outtakes reel over the end credits is fantastic, as a split screen shows Jackie singing in a recording studio (he often sings the song over the end credits) and also the stunts-gone-wrong. Since he directed the picture, we get to see rare footage of him working with the camera and helping his actors. I really enjoyed this movie, and if I can find an English version of the first movie, I'll definitely rent it.