JAI Entertainment

'Jackie Chan's First Strike'

Rated PG-13

ackie Chan has been fighting
for recognition for over 15
years. Until 1996, his only ex-
posure to most Americans
has been a handful of forgettable
films including such cinematic
masterpieces as the Cannonball
Run series. However, over the
last year, America has finally got-
ten a chance to see Jackie in all
his glory.

j

'The Relic'

Strike (original title Operation comparison to Jackie's Supercop
CIA: First Strike) in early 1996. co-star, Michelle Khan. Jackie,
It's the fourth in the Police Story however, shines as usual, more
series which began in 1985
than compensating for-
(last fall's Supercop was the
Wu's lackluster per-
MOVIES
third installment) and the
formance.
fourth film in which Jackie
The story should be
has teamed up with director and quite palatable to American au-
stunt coordinator Stanley Tong. diences, especially those fond of
First Strike takes Jackie's po- James Bond (to whom Jackie
lice character to the Ukraine for makes several references). While
a bit of surveillance followed by watching First Strike's aquari-
_ some much needed rest and re- um scene, keep in mind that this

Jackie Chan in his newest action adventure, Jackie Chan's First Strike.

-

Jackie was offto a rough start laxation. The vacation lasts for
with the goofy Rumble in the all of five minutes before the CIA
Bronx, which suffered from dub- has been foiled and only Jackie
bing reminiscent of the chop- can save the day.
sockey films that used to
Jackie pursues an interna-
populate late-night UHF air- tional arms smuggler while be-
waves and from an undue ing hunted by the Russian
amount of editing in an attempt mafia, the Australian police de-
to Anglicize the narrative.
partment, and even a couple of
In the year since Rumble came shopping mall security guards.
to the United States (it premiered Jackie fends off his attackers by
two years earlier in the rest of the employing his wits, his incredi-
world), Jackie has certainly made ble agility, a ladder, a pair of
his presence known. He made stilts, a sports car and some
the rounds on the talk-show cir- sharks!
cuit, presented an award at last
The English dialogue is more
year's Academy Awards ceremo- . on par with Supercop than the
ny, and even made the cover of laughable dubbing of Rumble.
GQ magazine.
The only real distraction in the
Principal photography was film is the character of Annie
completed on Jackie Chan's First (Chen Chun Wu), whose
"damsel in distress" whimper-
ing tends to get under one's skin.
Mike White is a local filmmaker
Her poorly conceived character
and editor of Cashiers du
is an annoyance especially in
Cinemart.

movie was made prior to both
Eraser and Mission: Impossible.
Jackie's new-found populari-
ty comes at quite an opportune
time for the Hong Kong star,
since the Chinese takeover of his
country on June 30th will un-
doubtedly mean the end to mak-
ing films in his homeland.
Jackie is scheduled to return
to Hollywood in An Alan
Smithee Film with Sylvester
Stallone and Confucius Brown
with Wesley Snipes. In the
meantime, Chan will be visible
in several more rereleases, in-
cluding Thunderbolt, Crime Sto-
ry, Drunken Master 2 and
SuperChef, all of which have
been optioned by domestic dis-
tribution companies such as
New Line Cinema and Dimen-
sion Films.

— Mike White

Rated R

out what's causing the killings
and eradicate it before many of
he Relic, produced by Gale Chicago's dignitaries are put at
Ann Hurd and Sam Mercer risk. Unfortunately, museum dol-
and directed by Peter lars are at stake, and as muse-
Hyams, is about a creature um director Ann Cuthbert (Linda
with a hormone problem: It just Hunt) insists, the show must go
can't get enough. The
on as scheduled.
beast is rapidly evolving,
As you might guess,
MOVIES
you see, and if that means
her decision turns out
removing and devouring hu-
to be quite a blunder, and
man hypothalami to get the nu- through the carnage, the only
trients it needs, then it's more question that remains is whether
than up to the task. this beast — according to legend,
The film is set in Kothoga's his name — can be
the Chicago Muse- stopped at all.
um of Natural His-
"Blunder" might also describe
tory, where two authors Douglas Preston and
crates of field-re- Lincoln Child's decision to ap-
search findings have prove of their novel's adaptation
arrived via cargo to the screen. The book is quite a
plane from Brazil. bit more intricately and intelli-
One contains a bro- gently developed than this rather
ken Amazon relic of simplistic and wholly undazzling
a chimera, or devil- film.
god; the other one
Penelope Ann Miller's perfor-
seems virtually emp- mance is adequate, but Detroit-
ty.
native Tom Sizemore's all-
But after a few too-frequent wise-guy retorts are
brutal killings de- almost putrescent enough to
capitation-style, evo- make for a B-movie feel. As two
lutionary biologist elderly folk, Whitmore and Hunt
Dr. Margo Green lend an iota of humanity to the
(Penelope Ann suspense.
Miller) begins to put
If The Relic does have a some-
the pieces togeth- what redeeming quality (and
er— with the help of this is questionable), it's the spe-
Dr. Frock (James cial effects, which feature a large
Whitmore), an ex
and limber Jurassic Park meets
pert on an evolu- Alien creation; and I should men-
tionary phenomenon tion that big fans of beheadings
that seems more su- will get plenty of kicks.
perstition than fact.
Really, though, this movie of-
It turns out, howev- fers nothing we haven't experi-
er, that those who enced many times before — a
doubt the powers of minimal emotional investment
superstition are with a handful of cheap thrills.
about to be taught a major lesson But while some films manage to
— and get their heads ripped off push this genre forward with
in the process!
artistic flare, The Relic is devoid
With a gala planned to honor of such inspiration: like
the opening of a new exhibit, the Kothoga's victims, it's brainless
pressure is on Lt. Vincent waste.
D'Agosta (Tom Sizemore) to find
0 1/2

Dan Zimmerman is a rapidly
evolving college freshman.

— Dan Zimmerman

Bagel Barometer
..... ......Outstanding

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83