Warning: Plot spoilers ahead.
Ah, trilogies. Don't you just love them? I would say year 2007 is 'Year of 3s'. After Spidey, Piratey, Shreky (and Bourney later), Rush Hour 3 will be another pirated 3-in-1 DVD that I would buy is another 'summer blockbuster', banking on the antics of the Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker partnership.
After over-actingly shaking tears in Rob-B-Hood, Jackie Chan, a name synonymous with martial arts and essentially CHINESE (which I don't quite appreciate it - as I was being called 'Jackie' when backpacking in Europe), is back in a Hollywood comeback after the lackluster Around The World in 80 Days (not to be confused with Around The World in 80+3 Trips).
As usual, here's the movie poster:
The synopsis:
Chris Tucker returns to the big screen after a six-year absence as he reunites with the all-star team of co-star Jackie Chan, director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, X-Men: The Last Stand, Red Dragon), and writer Jeff Nathanson (Rush Hour 2, Catch Me If You Can) to deliver the third installment of the blockbuster Rush Hour franchise. Arriving in theaters on August 10, 2007, Rush Hour 3 sees the beloved action comedy duo of Tucker and Chan reprising their roles as LAPD Detective James Carter and Chinese Chief Inspector Lee respectively. This time around, the two must travel to Paris to battle a wing of the Chinese organized crime family, the Triads. Rush Hour 3 is being produced by Ratner, Jay Stern, and Arthur Sarkissian and executive produced by Roger Birnbaum (Memoirs of a Geisha) and Jon Glickman (The Pacifier).
And the trailer:
So, what fresh - besides Jackie's martial arts and Chris' mouth that won't close (and his Michael Jackson wannabe actions)? So in 5 words, I would describe the film as:
Yellow Black Eiffel Tower Fight
Third time lucky?Basically nothing. Except that the 10-year old Soo Yung has grown up since the first in the series 10 years ago, needs a bra (according to Chris) and is hot. She is played by Zhang Jingchu, which surprisingly could speak better English than Gong Li or Zhang Ziyi anytime.
Makes one ponder, has Jackie not aged a bit since 10 years ago and still fit to be the bodyguard of the Chinese Ambassador?One of the memorable scenes include this scene with the giant bloke, as seen in the trailer.
In real life, two of China's prominent tall blokes - Yao Ming and Bao Xishun are both hitched.
The villain is played by Hiroyuki Sanada (last seen in Sunshine - reviewed here), outplacing Steven Seagal and Tony Jaa to play the role. He plays Jackie's 'shiong di' (brother) in the orphanage. (Wonder when Jackie became an orphan, as in the earlier series he was comparing his father's greatness as a cop with Chris Tucker). Because of this, Jackie was too pussified to kill him even though he attempted to assassinate Consul Han.
They've done Chris' homeland in 1, and Jackie's in 2, so they've decided to follow the Year of the France (hey - what's Mr. Bean's Holiday, Ratatouille?) and filmed it in Gay Paree. Sad to say, the film has to depend a lot on this prop - the Eiffel Tower; which the fight scene at the restaurant supposedly operated by the Chinese triad is kinda too elaborated and boring.
And guess what? Roman Polanski, the Oscar-winning director, cameos as a yellow pages-whipping French police in the film!
Overall, I would rate the film as '4/10'. A summer popcorn flick and strictly for Jackie Chan fans only. How I'd wish Jackie would take up some romantic roles (not unlike Gorgeous), although he did attempt to sing a bit in the film.
Want more Eiffel Tower? Here are two taken at New Year's Countdown 2005.
All images are sourced from Rotten Tomatoes.
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