Thanks for checking out our DVD review of Jackie Chan Presents – Wushu.
Genre: Action
Directed by: Antony Szeto
Staring: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Fengchao Liu, Wenjie Wang, Pheobe Wang, Yongchen Liu, Yachao Wang, Junjie Mao, Dong Wei
Released: January 26, 2010
THE GENERAL IDEA
Upon arrival to an elite martial arts conservator, a group of young boys swear an allegiance to each other and form a gang, A decade later at Graduation, the unexpectedly cross paths with an evil marital arts master and foil his kidnapping plan. Now they must put their combat skills to the test in order to defeat this enemy and save their brotherhood.
THE GOOD
This is a showcase of exactly what the art of Wushu is, while having a little adventure in the mix. It is a story about friendship and success while these hard working Wushu artists each strive to be better at their art as well as themselves.
The story is sufficient considering many action films place that secondary. It can be campy but there is some amazing action. The wirework is at a minimum, and where it is is done well. Some impossible moves are present, but they are seamlessly thrown in with other amazing talent that its just a wonder to watch them move.
Oh, and despite Sammo Hung playing the aging mentor, he does open up a can and its awesome.
THE BAD
The acting is REALLY campy, but it lends strongly to the style of movie. As with most films of this genre the characters are exaggerated. As much as that is a credit to the genre, it might be off-putting to those who are not a fan.
Also, despite being Presented by Jackie Chan he is not in this, and the inclusion of his name in the title is purely for promotion for the US release. He is the Executive Producer.
OVERALL
All in all I found the story to be interesting enough, the action to be amazing and the characters all likable. It wasn’t an outstanding film on all levels, but it was pretty entertaining.
This will be getting a North American direct to DVD release on January 26th, and if you like these light story action flicks it will be a fun rental.
I give Wushu a 7 out of 10
Also, if you like sammo hung in this, I gotta stress that you see The Magnificent Butcher. It’s amazing and a great showcase of Sammo’s talent when he was younger.
These kinds of movies these days seem to be hit or miss. I mean Ong Bak has amazing action sequences but the acting and story (especially in part 2) is awful. Same with Chocolate, the fights were awesome but the movie was hard to sit through. Films like Hero, Crouching tiger, the old police stories, magnificent butcher, duel to the death, etc… were amazing. Seems movies of those caliber don’t get made these days. Instead of having visually captivating fight sequences and great story telling, they replace it with just fight scenes.
watch Red Cliff I & II (directed by Jon Woo). its really one film but got the kill bill treatment, so they made it two.
That’s what I heard. I want to see red cliff really bad, because I grew up watching Woo’s older films with Yun-Fat…which were amazing. Hard Boiled is still, to this day, my favorite action film of all time.
yea man i hear ya, but red cliff is more of a historical epic type movie, but i like take on it. pt II i liked a lil better. def. check it out. enjoy.
Thanks for the heads up. Will do.
IP MAN is still the best martial arts film released in the last year. I want more of that kind of movie. Donnie Yen is really great in it.
agreed that movie is too sick. IP Man frys everyone.
Its good to see this type of discussion going on IP Man is amazing, Donnie Yen is the best in the business. He is getting better as he gets older. I want more Donnie, SPL/Kill Zone is fantastic two, I love how Donnie is mixing MMA in his new stuff he hit that dude with a flying ArmBar!
I agree.. My kids and I have been enjoying watching over and over again, both Ip Man movies, Legend of the Fist… we have been thoroughly satisfied with D. Yen’s performances. He portrays such a man of value and integrity in the films.. I totally enjoy him.
Any new Sammo Hung work is worth a look by me. I hadnt heard of this til now, so thanks.
i saw this movie a while back it was ok at best, a 5.75 imo. nonetheless glad to see an asian film review up on tmb. if you are in to asian films and have not seen KillZone (Sammu Hung, Donnie Yen) and Red Cliff I&II (Jon Woo directed) you should def. check them out, great films!
They sent me Fireball as well, so that is coming soon!
haven’t seen that one, interested in your review of that. and again if you haven’t seen the three movies i mentioned above you should.
Check this Korean film out called “Mother”. It. Is. BRILLIANT.