The Legend of Drunken Master on DVD

Kicks and Thrills

Jackie Chan reprises the role that made him a star more than twenty years earlier in this action-packed martial arts comedy.

Chan is Wong Fei Hung, who gets caught up in a plot by the British to steal Chinese treasures while basically turning the workers they employ into little better than slaves. Wong keeps getting into trouble in a series of misadventures that seem to cause bigger and more lavish fight scenes as the movie progresses - and isn't that why one watches a Jackie Chan movie in the first place?

Drunken Boxing is Wong's specialty, which means that the more he drinks, the better he gets (if only!). He uses it to fight for his family's pride, help his friends and neighbors, and save the valuable Chinese treasurers from the evil Brits.

There's spectacular action and unbelievably choreographed fighting scenes; it's really amazing just how coordinated some of these people are! Wait until you see them go at each other while underneath a train; this reviewer's back aches just thinking about it!

In some ways, parts of the movie remind one of John Carpenter's "Big Trouble in Little China," though with a more gentle and less silly sense of fun.

Chan comes across as a decent guy trying to excel in difficult situations - and never at the cost of his sense of fun and humor. He's supported by "His Stuntman's Club" who do journeyman duty in the film's spectacular action sequences.

The Legend of Drunken Master, from Dimension Home Video
102 min, widescreen (2.35:1), 16x9 TV compatible, Dolby Digital 5.1
Starring Jackie Chan, Anita Nui, Ti Lung, Lau Ka Leung andLandy Lau
Written by Edward Tang Tong man Ming Yen Chieh Chi
Produced by Eric Tsang, Edward Tang, Barbie Tung, Directed by Lau Ka Leung.

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