Other than Jackie Chan playing his usual underdog cop character – here a intrepid coastguard intent on bringing a band of pirates to justice – and the inevitable spectacular action and stunt sequences, Project A is a different proposition to the star's recent Hollywood vehicles.
Coming predominantly from within the Hong Kong tradition and made for the domestic audience, it's not as immediately accessible as a Shanghai Noon , or Rush Hour . Nor can it get easy laughs out of culture clash skits.
Those who only know films like these may find the often zoom-happy direction, a smorgasbord of period signifiers, awkward dubbing and frankly cheesy scoring detract from their appreciation of the film.
But the cognoscenti – the sort of person who can recognise that Chan and his co-star Sammo Hung are doing a skit from their Peking Opera days – will appreciate Project A all the more for the these very features, the chance to see Jackie and his team at the peak of their powers and the absence of a Chris Tucker or Owen Wilson.
This said, Chan knows that audiences, whether Hong Kong or Hollywood, go to see his films first and foremost for the spectacular stunts and action sequences, and Project A does not disappoint in this regard.
The fights, from an early brawl between the coastguard and the police to the climactic sequence that sees Chan, Hung and Yuen Biao face off against pirate leader Dick Wei, are well choreographed, performed and staged, while the stunts, including an acrobatic bicycle chase and the death-defying clock tower routine inspired by Harold Lloyd's Safety Last , would surely merit inclusion in a Jackie's Greatest Hits compilation.
Project A is a film which plays to its strengths, delivers what is expected and will not disappoint fans of its star or his genre.
No complaints about the picture or sound quality on this Region 2 disc from Hong Kong Legends. While perhaps not a demo disc, the restored 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation and Dolby Digital sound mix means the film looks and sounds as good as it probably ever will, considering its age and the somewhat 'fire and forget' circumstances of its production.
HKL have gone all out with the supplements for this "special platinum edition" of Project A. Altogether over four hours of material is presented, split across two discs.
First and foremost is a full length commentary from ever-reliable HKL stalwart Bey Logan, who continues to impress with his encyclopedic knowledge of, and passion for, Hong Kong popular cinema. His commentary is pitched at the right levels, with something for both neophytes – "veteran fans will know this but…" – and experts – "Here's a good Hong Kong cinema trivial pursuits question: In which film does Dick Wei play the good guy…". Other than a couple of times when Logan refers to the 18 th /19 th century when he appears to be meaning the 19 th /20 th , which I felt should have been re-edited, no complaints.
Next up are a set of short interviews and featurettes: segments with co-stars Yuen Biao (different to the one on HKL's Zu Warriors DVD) and Dick Wei, martial arts master Lee Hoi-San, stunt expert Mars, and composer Michael Lai.
The package is rounded off with a comprehensive retrospective documentary and location tour, hosted by Logan, which clocks in at 75 minutes; a useful essay, Triple Dragons; on the parallel careers of Chan, Hung and Biao from their Peking Opera days to the present, and the standard trailers and stills galleries.
Until a disc with Jackie Chan commentary, outtakes and deleted scenes, that apparently exists somewhere in the vaults, surfaces – an event I would not advise holding your breath for, since HKL clearly do their best and don't go in for "double dipping" – this DVD will do nicely, thank you.
Copyright © K H Brown 2002-2005
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