Gorgeous

Rating:
Summary: chan physically overshadowed!!!
Review: This film is at a tangent even in chans more recent diverse film career. the english version does not carry his own voice and he moves away from being a cheeky lovable type to a rich guy with a mean streak under his fair play guise. the two fights here are very fast and impressive but show that jackie is not what he was. his kicks are sparse and even lower than ever, but his dexterity and awesome punches are as well used since dragons forever. The popularity of this worldwide release should now bring forth the official DVD release of Drunken Master 2 and hopefully with just as many extras! as a little note, Brad Allan reminds me of Jeff Falcon in 80's classics like Outlaw Brothers and hopefully he will show up in another JC film, but not quite as hard to beat!!

Rating:
Summary: A charming family movie
Review: *Gorgeous* may well mark a turning point in Jackie Chan's career. Under the guidance of his mentor, the late Leonard Ho, Chan had been confining himself to playing cops and adventurers in action-packed martial arts movies. But after Ho's death, he felt somewhat freer to explore new horizons, and decided to take risks with this uncharacteristic romantic comedy.

*Gorgeous* is the story of a naïve country-girl, Bu, interpreted by the brilliant and extraordinarily charming Shu Qi (the tomboy from Golden Harvest's video-gamish *Storm Riders*), who, after being lured to the city by a message in a bottle, falls in love with an aloof, self-made businessman, interpreted by Jackie Chan. The film also has a subplot involving Chan's rivalry with a less principled businessman, whose hired goons repeatedly attempt to beat Chan up.

Seduced by the script written by Vincent Kok, Chan infused the lead male character with his own personality, down to his obsession with cleanliness, his fondness for white clothes, his martial arts prowess and his name. The production designer even copied Chan's real-life office and used Chan's training equipment for the movie. (The only difference between his alter-ego and himself, Chan says, is "I don't understand Wall Street"!)

The result is a mixture of fairy-tale, reminiscent at times of the Spielberg productions of the eighties, romantic comedy, Hong Kong slapstick and martial arts movie- a kind of Chinese Disney film, benevolent, healthy and moral. Even the fight scenes are good-natured, preaching fair-play, non-violence, humility and camaraderie.

As Chan explains in his audio commentary, some critics seem not to have found him believable as a businessman. But that is no reflection on his acting abilities, which have improved a lot since the 1970s. On the contrary, I believe such remarks are motivated partly by the same kind of tunnel-vision that is hampering the movie careers of the great sitcom actors and actresses, and partly by the rarity of thoroughly good businessmen on screen. As far as I am concerned, Chan can play any kind of character (there's a Chinese architect in my script for *Spicemoon*; hint-hint) and I think he could have scrapped the martial arts altogether in *Gorgeous* and given us a full-fledged romantic comedy (even though we would have lost the wonderful fighting scenes with his extremely talented student, Brad Allan.)

If you are tired of the depravity of most modern movies, *Gorgeous* may be exactly the kind of alternative you are looking for. I strongly suggest watching the film in Cantonese with subtitles, and treating yourself to Chan's audio commentary (in English), a loose series of reminiscences about the making of the film that will give you a glimpse of Chan's wonderful generosity, candour and intelligence.

Rating:
Summary: Now THIS is the way to watch a Jackie Chan film!
Review: Okay, let me clarify the "five stars" thing. I'd give the movie itself three to three and a half stars. It was a lot of fun: filled with action and romance, along with some surprisingly well-done production design and art direction for a film like this. No, the reason I'm giving the whole package a whopping five stars is the "full service" nature of the DVD. Before the movie begins, we are given all KINDS of choices. We can watch the movie in standard format or widescreen. We can watch the dubbed English version or the original Cantonese release. Heck, we are then even asked if we want the subtitles turned on or off. Finally, the days of some studio executive deciding what the American public is capable of handling when it comes to foreign action films are over. No more being FORCED to watch bad dubbing because it was decided for me that "Americans are unwilling to read subtitles". Sitting back and watching "Gorgeous", it was terrific to finally get to hear the actual voices of the actors we are seeing in a Jackie Chan movie (though I have to add that I checked out the dubbed version, too, and it isn't as horrendously bad as most other dubbing work I've come across). The other reason I'm going with the "five star" rating is the fact that the extras on the DVD approach "Criterion" levels. In addition to the options mentioned above, viewers are also given a commentary track by Mr. Chan (which I haven't watched yet but am looking forward to), a music video, and several other background materials. I guess I should conclude with another comment about the movie itself: the DVD is worth the price just for the two extended boxing/kick-boxing sequences between Jackie and the guy his rival hires to beat up on him. The ladies will probably think those scenes have a "tacked on" quality and are gratuitous to the story. The guys, however, will be on the edge of their seats. So, don't hesitate to pick up "Gorgeous". The movie delivers the goods, and the overall DVD package does the same and then some.

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous
Review: I am a huge Jackie Chan fan, but this movie was a huge disappointment. I know there are fans out there who think Jackie can do no wrong, but this film was a real stinker. I will let this slide since he has given us so much great and original work, but I am just praying that this is not a taste of things to come. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from this one.

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeously done
Review: The quality is great, and Jackie Chan shows that a punch or kick is not the only he's got. Very funny, and it has something for males and females, romance and great (funny) fights

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars? 10
Review: yo i saw this movie for the first time last week and i had never heard of it before but i love jackie chan films and i have to say this may be one of the best chan movies of the 90's. the fights are so incredible especially the one at the end well you just gotta see this the dubbing is kind of annoying if you are used to the jackie chan films where he speaks chinese but dont worry about it you must have this if you like jackie chan its kind of slow until the fights oooo and his AWESOME mitsubishi yeah pay the [money] for this movie

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous is well......gorgeous
Review: Eye catching and fun without beeing over the top. Gorgeous was aimed toward the Asian market so it lacks what most people crave in the US, sorry no huge stunts here. While action is sparce its the best Jackie has ever done. The fight scenes are done with perfection flow wonderfully. Though the story can be slow, romantic comedy is a new medium for Jackie, however he pulls it off quite nicely. Word of warning: please watch this in the original Cantonese because the dubbed voice acting is horrible, not jackie's, and some of the jokes do not translate over well. For Jackie Chan fans the wait repays you with the best final battle containing the most amazing fighting moves I have ever seen in any of his films. Its just GORGEOUS!

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Fight Scene in History!
Review: The third and last fight scene in this movie features Jackie dueling Australian stunt-man Brad Allan. I have been of the opinion that Jackie was NOT faster than the great Jet Li, on a move for move basis, but this movie proves me wrong.

Believe me when I say that the final fight scene makes EVERY OTHER FIGHT SCENE EVER FILMED look like a Don "the dragon" Wilson prison fight. Jackie's punches are tighter, faster and more furious than you have ever seen in your entire life, and this Brad Allan dude is even FASTER. Brad Allan's work in this movie puts Jet Li to shame, and you will agree when you see it. The only way I can describe this scene is that these two guys are on crack, LOTS OF CRACK. There has never been a video game that even approaches the speed of this REAL LIFE fight, not even MvC2. The thought that human beings can move this fast (Jackie uses no tricks remember?) makes me, a 7-year veteran of the martial arts, realize how slow we all are and how fast we all could be if we work at it.

P.S.-Jackie is like 45 now right? Chuck Norris<--WEAK

Rating:
Summary: great actors, lousy director
Review: I love Jackie. I love Shu Qi. And other great actors in this movie. But the whole movie is a disaster. The one star is for the actors ( and actresses) and the fight scenes.

Rating:
Summary: I can't believe Jackie didn't dubb his own voice!
Review: Ok this movie would have gotten more stars if Jackie Chan had dubbed his own voice. Not only was this diff voice just plain redicolous and SO NOT jackie. I immedietly jumped out of my seat because Jackie dubbs ALL his new films. The dubbing of Jackie and the Girl are prob the only bad things about this film. But they are pretty bad.

On the UPside, it was nice to see that jackie both wrote and produced this little number. Its certainly non-typical Jackie, which is good for a change. THere is no straight up "Villian" and the two "one on one" fight scenes show that Jackie Still hasn't lost his knack to do killer moves. There aren't any real stunts in the movie. And only two real big fight scenes with this awesome martial artist that Jackie Fights against. I wish I knew his name, but George Lucas should prob add him to Episode II. (Could be the Next Ray Park)

The Love Story is a bit hokey at times, and the girl seems like a real bubble head. Jackie does well as the lonely millionare, and the progression of it is at least is believable. I've never seen a chinese-love story and they do add a bit of Magical elements to the story which gives the movie an odd feeling, but a fanciful one. It does have some good funny moments too. I rented it, but being a HardCore Jackie fan I will put off buying this just because it doesn't have alot of replay value. I'm still waiting for the Collectors DVD Edition of Drunken Master 2.

overall, good Jackie Film with a nice mixture of Love for the gals and Action for the guys. Nice change of pace, but nothing too grand for a hardcore jackie fan.