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Crime Story

Crime Story

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Chan Can Act
Review: "Crime Story" represents Chan's only "serious" film since 1989's delightful "Mr. Canton and Lady Rose" (aka "Miracles"). Unlike "Mr. Canton and Lady Rose," "Crime Story" is very dark: dark themes, dark lighting, and dark locations. "Crime Story" enables Chan to demonstrate his considerable acting ability and range. "Crime Story" tells the story of police corruption, betrayal, and the ubiquitous presence of the triads. The movie also includes some of the best action sequences filmed in the 1990s. I have seen most of Chan's films in their original form, but not "Crime Story" (aka "Police Story IV"). The American edition of "Crime Story" appears to suffer from extensive editing. For example, the female psychiatrist plays a vital role in the first fifteen minutes of the film, yet disappears for the remaining hour and a half. This does not effect the overall entertainment value of the movie. Many fans complain about the complete absence of comedy in this film. However, I have seen over forty of Chan's films, and the change afforded by "Crime Story" was welcome.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Blunt and effective -- and excellent
Review: Chan's most down-to-earth movie is a remarkably hard-boiled HKcrime movie drawn loosely from a real-life incident. It is easily oneof Jackie's best movies, but it's also one of his least typical. Forone thing, Chan's usual cheery humor is totally absent -- I can't evenremember a scene where he so much as cracks a smile. Instead ofmaking him seem wooden or remote, though, it only makes us take himall the more seriously.

The plot's pretty basic: a corrupt cop issick of poverty, and so he hatches a plan to kidnap a wealthybusinessman whose colleagues will want to pay up lest he wind upexposing their mutual wrongdoings to the public. Chan gets assignedto the case, and uses a remarkable amount of Dirty Harry-stylehardnosing to get things done. The climax, in a burning building,puts the similar ending of "Hard Boiled" to shame.

Anotherbonus is the presence of HK staple actor Kent Cheng (see him to greateffect in "Run and Kill"), who plays the lead bad guy. Noend of chases and stunts in this film, either: one spectacularsequence takes place over a series of tin roofs that are not thesturdiest things in the world!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Blunt and effective -- and excellent
Review: Chan's most down-to-earth movie is a remarkably hard-boiled HKcrime movie drawn loosely from a real-life incident. It is easily oneof Jackie's best movies, but it's also one of his least typical. Forone thing, Chan's usual cheery humor is totally absent -- I can't evenremember a scene where he so much as cracks a smile. Instead ofmaking him seem wooden or remote, though, it only makes us take himall the more seriously.

The plot's pretty basic: a corrupt cop issick of poverty, and so he hatches a plan to kidnap a wealthybusinessman whose colleagues will want to pay up lest he wind upexposing their mutual wrongdoings to the public. Chan gets assignedto the case, and uses a remarkable amount of Dirty Harry-stylehardnosing to get things done. The climax, in a burning building,puts the similar ending of "Hard Boiled" to shame.

Anotherbonus is the presence of HK staple actor Kent Cheng (see him to greateffect in "Run and Kill"), who plays the lead bad guy. Noend of chases and stunts in this film, either: one spectacularsequence takes place over a series of tin roofs that are not thesturdiest things in the world!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A serious, action packed no nonsense film
Review: Crime Story is in stark contrast from many of his other films which often focuses on comic relief and non-stop action at the expense of character development and a solid story line.

Crime Story is does not contain the comic interludes that have become a trademark of his films. This action packed film has a serious and at times dramatic tone to it. Crime Story is very well written and produced film that shows a diversity in Jackie Chan's repertoire never seen before. This is one of Jackie's top films to date.

- a must see

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: This is the worst Chan movie I have seen
Review: Even though I really like all of the other Chan movies that I have seen this was a severe disappointment compared to his other films. There was almost none of Jackie's great comic fighting, making this movie like all of the other cop movies out there, minimal plot and boring action.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: good acting by jackie
Review: great action great acting but the only thing is they should cut out some bad parts.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Serious Jackie
Review: I have only seen the VHS version (with subtitles) but this story is very good, serious drama from Jackie Chan. If you only like him for crazy kung fu and comedy, then don't see this movie. Very little of either. Jackie gives an excellent performance for which he won the Golden Horse Best Actor Award from Taiwan. He plays a police officer almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown, who is obsessed with finding a kidnap victim before he is killed. His efforts are hampered by his partner, who has actually arranged the kidnapping! The ending in the burning building is great. I cannot recommend actually buying this DVD, as I am not sure if any scenes have been cut from this DVD release, which usually happens with USA releases. The 5 stars are for the story and for Jackie's acting.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Serious Jackie
Review: I have only seen the VHS version (with subtitles) but this story is very good, serious drama from Jackie Chan. If you only like him for crazy kung fu and comedy, then don't see this movie. Very little of either. Jackie gives an excellent performance for which he won the Golden Horse Best Actor Award from Taiwan. He plays a police officer almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown, who is obsessed with finding a kidnap victim before he is killed. His efforts are hampered by his partner, who has actually arranged the kidnapping! The ending in the burning building is great. I cannot recommend actually buying this DVD, as I am not sure if any scenes have been cut from this DVD release, which usually happens with USA releases. The 5 stars are for the story and for Jackie's acting.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: cool shootouts, not a common jackie chan movie
Review: I liked the car chase and the shootouts, it reminded me of a john woo film. Then, towards the middle of the film i relized there wasn't much fighting. the ending is really cool! Very cool movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A different Jackie Chan
Review: I must say, I had not, until this, seen Chan in a serious and somewhat chilling film, as he is usually the star of action comedy's. Chan said he was not comfortable in making this film based on a true story of deceit and distrust, but it must be said that he performed well and the film is well worth a watch.


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