REVIEW:
I can't say I went into this film with the highest of expectations. After the horrible City Hunter, I was prepared for the worst. I did, in fact, get a pretty bad film - but not quite as bad as I expected. In Wong Jing style, High Risk uses the same silly hijinks, over-acting, and blatant stupidity as a movie like City Hunter. But, this film does actually have a few action moves in it to redeem itself. Skipping the terrible hijinks and Wong Jing-ish style of the film, a few action pieces and a plot that doesn't totally suck might just redeem this film a little bit.

If the premise for most of this film's struggle sounds like Die Hard (trapped in a building with terrorists), that's because it is. The gag is that Cheung is a down and out actor who doesn't do his own stunts and Li is the bodyguard with a troubled past who covers for him. How will the two react in a dangerous situation like this? This is actually a decent premise and the plot itself isn't bad at all. In fact, the villain is quite cool too and the way he gets his men to do everything so he can stay secret for a while is great. Although, again, you may be reminded of Die Hard again at a certain point when the villain has to pretend like he is one of the hostages. Overall, though, there isn't much to complain about the plot. Its decently paced, has good characters, and, while nothing new, has the potential for entertainment. One thing, though, is that Wong Jing may have gone out of his way to take some jabs at Jackie Chan after the two had differences during the making of City Hunter. Another example of Wong Jing letting things that shouldn't affect his filmmaking.

So, while the plot doesn't suck - the presentation does. If you've seen City Hunter - you know much of over-the-top style to expect. No, there are no cartoon effects or oversized hammers. But, the style of the film is much the same. Again, characters put on way over-the-top performances with over-exaggerated reactions and facial expressions. Jet Li is the only person in the film who puts on a smooth, composed performance (and we expect no less from suck a great actor). The film also manages to make much of the action and violence really cheesy and goofy. While action can be funny, like many Jackie Chan films, and I don't feel that violence has to be portrayed really morbidly - Wong Jing manages to make pumping round after round into someone's back a goofy, stupid hijink. Let's put it plainly - I don't like Wong Jing's overly commercial and terribly over-the-top stupid style. It is exactly that style that ruins this film.

Action, while a mixed bad, manages to be the main redeeming point of the film. Some action is nothing special or straight up sucks, but there are quite a few moments where we get to see Jet Li pull of some smooth moves. As always, Li is in fine form and the action has some good choreography in everything from fights to shootouts. Unfortunately, some fights start out awesome only to degenerate into some silliness. But, we'll take what we can get, huh?

Not a surprise, but still a disappointment - High Risk isn't very good. The over-the-top stupidity and over-acting kills what was a reasonable plot and some decent action. If you, for some strange reason, actually like Wong Jing's style, you may enjoy this film - but otherwise be sure to know what you are getting before you watch it.

Well, what can you say? Very obviously, the majority of the plot is ripped off from Die Hard (in fact, the Chinese title of High Risk is almost the same as the Chinese name of Die Hard), but High Risk at|ains a manic pacing that even the great Die Hard couldn't match if Bruce Willis was hopped up on speed. One sequence has Li driving a car through a hotel lobby, which in itself is really not that over-the-top, but then he drives it into an elevator, takes it up a few floors and commences to wax some more bad guys!

If you're looking for realistic action, you won't find it here. But if you want slamming action delivered at a jackhammer's pace, coupled with some great kung fu (Corey Yuen, responsible for some of Li's best work, assisted on the film), you can't go wrong with High Risk, though it does help to be a long-time fan of HK movies to get some of the jokes. (Wong Jing and Jackie Chan didn't get along during the filming of City Hunter, so Wong spares no expense in roasting Chan in this movie, even going as far as putting in dead-on impersonations of Chan's father and manager.)

You see, "High Risk" is nothing more than a parody (perhaps skewering is the more accurate term) of the kind of movies that Jackie makes, and also of the character that Jackie often plays. Oh, to be sure, it has its moments where I was doubled over in laughter at the silliness of it all. If you're at all familiar with kung fu movies, you'll recognize all of the jabs. Nothing is safe from Wong Jing ("New Legend Of Shaolin", "Naked Killer"), and at times you wonder how much of it is in fun, and how much of it is savage satire.

Kit Lee (Li) is a soldier turned bodyguard for Frankie Lone (Cheung), the biggest action star around. Unfortunately, Lone's been resting on his laurels lately. He spends all of his time chasing women and getting drunk, and his kung fu abilities are slipping. It's so bad that Lee has to stand in for him during stunts. Of course, this can't be made public, since everyone believes Lone does his own stunts. If they find out otherwise, he'll be disgraced. However, when a snoopy reporter (Yau) starts tailing Lone, his secret's in danger of getting out.

Jackie Cheung rules in this movie. Lone's a buffoon, lecher, and coward, and Cheung goes completely over the top with the role. He even manages to pull off a lot of Chan's little quirks and facial expressions. And he doesn't stop at Chan; a lot of his character is also a parody/satire of Bruce Lee, especially during the fight scenes. Just listen for the Bruce-like whoops and taunts. In fact, you'll probably get a bigger thrill from watching Lone get in and out of precarious situations than from any of the action scenes.

But back to the movie... Lone gets invited to a celebrity gala event, a showing of the Russian Crown Jewels, at a plush hotel. He shows up (wearing blue jeans, of course) and proceeds to start chasing girls. The reporter is there as well, hoping to get more evidence of Lone's fraud. During the middle of the event, a group of terrorists arrive, intent on stealing the jewels. Lee realizes that their leader is the same man responsible for the deaths of his wife and son, a man he knows by voice only, and he charges to the rescue. Unfortunately, he must also keep Lone safe from the terrorists, as well as a man who is convinced that he must fight Lone to prove his abilities.

If you've seen "Die Hard", you've seen much of "High Risk". Many of the hotel scenes feel eerily reminiscent of John McClane's adventure, just with a crazy kung fu twist. And I suppose that should be one argument against "High Risk". So much of it feels lifted from other movies. But that's really all part of the fun. Yeah, it steals a lot, but at the same, it pokes fun at everything it steals. Sometimes, it gets a little mean-spirited, but whenever I think of Lone's little antics, I have a good laugh. Watching Lone try to hide from the terrorists, while still trying to bed pretty women, is worth the price of the rental alone. And his final battle manages to beat Chan at his own game, as common items become deadly weapons (or visual gags) and Lone rediscovers his kung fu abilities.

Just don't take anything too seriously, and you'll have a blast watching this one. That goes for you too Jackie.

Now hurry up and make that movie!