Entertainment Review
Vol. 6
A Hollywood Film
Jet Li in
uROMEO MUST DIEv
This is Jet Li's debut as a leading actor in Hollywood.
Joel Silver, the producer of this film and the giga hit film "Matrix",
says "This film is better than 'Matrix' because Jet Li is a real kung-fu
master." He thinks this film is the amazing action film with hi-speed kung-fu
action and the special effects.
Certainly, the action is amazing. Li's action is fast and beautiful.
However, I felt a unnatural in those action sequences. When Li does jump kick
to the guy first and then another guy in the different side without landing, I
felt he stops in the sky. I think this is because special effects team use the
digital effects to show Li's action smoothly. It was weird. In the final battle,
Li and Russel Wong make the big flying and Li's kick hits Wong's head. In this
sequence, Li's action was like an icon dragged by mouse to the Wong on the computer
screen.
Kung-fu action is plain if compared with "Once Upon A Time In China." Corey Yuen, the martial arts supervisor, made some films with Jet Li in Hong Kong and I felt same thing for those. If the supervisor were the same person in "Once Upon A Time In China,"it might be better
The story, which focuses on the battle between black gang and Chinese gang,
and the family of both, is really dramatic and deep. This film is really nice
if the action is natural.
Martial Arts must be natural. That means Li's action must be natural. Wire action
is the limit how the kung-fu action can be shown dynamic. Special effects destroy
it.
I hope Li's next film is based on the action he showed in Hong Kong film like "Once Upon A Time In China."
