Project A: Part II (1987)

Wow! Such a good movie.

One of my all time favorites.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

I was a bit reserved about this film because rarely the sequels are as good as the prequels. After seeing it I have to say that it's not only as good but even better.The action is still the same. There are many fight scenes and stunts performed at the same high level as they are in the first film. The pace is well-balanced and goes at the right speed without being too fast to follow or too slow to bore.What makes the difference is the story. As opposed to the first film which is a little straightforward this one has many layers and they are combined into one major story that involves all the characters and resolves all the minor stories without taking away the classy humour or the amazing action. The film is certainly not predictable and that is what makes it interesting to follow.I rate this one higher that the first one because it offers a better balance between action scenes, humour and dialogue.

I guess a second instalment to the very successful original was inevitable and this follow-up doesn't disappoint either, although I wouldn't say it comes close to it predecessor. With the likes of Summo Hung and Yuen Mao not returning it does leave a very big hole, but we know how well Jackie Chan can carry a film and that's was he does with Part II. Chan again would star, co-wrote, and direct along with being the stunt coordinator. You know by now the stunts we are seeing are Jackie leading the way in some feats like the handcuffed chase, rotating cage and the climatic showdown involving falling framework, but never really do they reach the great heights of some of his other staged stunts. Dragon Ma has rid the sea of Pirate Lo and his men, and now finds him back on land where he's given a new assignment of cleaning up crime and corruption in one of the roughest districts. But Ma and his loyal crew don't have it easy with the local police chief who's crafting a web of deceit. However also riding Ma's back are some pirates who want to avenge the death of Pirate Lo and then there are agents of the Manchu government. This action-adventure can be as fast and furious with outstanding martial arts choreography balanced out with goofy, if charming slapstick humour. The action is not as frequent as it seems spaced out, with more comical elements finding its way in where Chan toys around. Even the script shines the spotlight on some political issues involving communist's rebels vs. mainland Chinese imperials, which can make things a little talky and some sub-plots feel aimless. It starts off rather sharp, but never recaptures that spirit it began with. The lavished production makes good use of its set-designs and costumes with a flamboyant Hong Kong backdrop.

i honestly dont know why so many people hate this movie, i have always thought that it was one of my absolute faves. the fight with tiger and his men rocked, the fight with the pirates with the axes rocked, the whole skit with everyone trying to avoid one another in the house is pure genious...ok so it didnt have the requisite kick ass final confrontation but the manchus were pretty good. i give it a 8/10.

Possible Spoiler alert, though there's not much to spoil about this film. I saw Project A part II not having seen the first movie. I don't think I missed much. Project A Part Two is not only the worst Jackie Chan film I've seen to date (yes worse than `Fantasy Mission Force'), this film is one of the most unwatchable films the world has ever seen. It's right up there with `Plan 9 From Outer Space' on the sleep inducing scale. The plot is twisted up and knotted like a 50 foot ball of yarn the cat's been playing with and finally left for dead. The `humor' if you could call it that, seems to have been written by an annoying High School freshman, who despite how many people tell him he's not funny, is determined to get his lame humor out no matter how painful a movie is made. And this movie is painfully bad. The plot involves Jackie Chan as a Navy officer recruited by the police force to round up `all known criminals'. He rounds them up in the first half hour of the movie, and I prayed for a quick ending which I didn't get. Why the movie bothers to progress from this point I haven't a clue. The movie drags on and on and on with no purpose, no plot, and attempts at humor that fail so miserably, they make Carrot Top look like a comedic genius. The Kung Fu in this movie is lame, and forgettable. There's better Kung Fu in that movie about the 3 Ninja kids. Project A part II is neither an action movie nor a kung fu movie, it is however a complete waste of the talents of Jackie Chan and Maggie Cheung who have made films worlds superior to this. As Jackie Chan repeatedly escapes certain death, I enter `Blair Witch' mode asking (and wishing) `Is he going to die NOW, so the movie can end? `. An Example of how ludicrous this movie is: Jackie Chan is handcuffed to another man. A gang of pirates (that look nothing like pirates) throw axes at Jackie. Does Jackie grab one of the wayward axes and break the chain on the handcuffs? No! You see that would spoil the `hilarious' gag of him being handcuffed to another person. If you have a friend who laughs at everything, I encourage you to watch this movie with him or her, and watch as even they won't get a chuckle out of this film. If you're an insomniac this movie is sure to put you to sleep. Do not operate heavy machinery while watching Plan A part II. Possible side effects include headache, retinal strain, and death by boredom. 0/9 Stars