BY PHILLIP NAKOV | The latest film from Jackie Chan could be a winner!

EXPECTATIONS

Having seen the trailer online I was expecting to see a movie that looked like it was based on an old Eddie Murphy movie called The Golden Child. I knew I would see some cool Karate/Kung Fu action and lots of amazing stunts and leaps. I fully expected to be entertained and see Jackie Chan fight his way out of any situation.

What I'd Seen

I had only seen a poster and the trailer online. A poorly cut trailer which really did not tell me much about the film, the plot or why I should want to see it. But I had promised my date to go see The Medallion, so we went.

What I'd Heard

There was no pre-buzz at all for this film so I really did not know what to expect. I have enjoyed and hated some of Jackie Chans movie so it is hard to tell if it will be first rate or so-so till the end.

What I Wanted

I wanted to be transported to the underworld of Hong Kong and see spectacular battles fought to the death. I expected to see Jackie Chan fly through the air with the greatest of ease as he single-handedly kicks every bad guys ass and walks away without a scar.

EXPERIENCE

What Turned Me On

The fight sequences were pretty good and seeing the eternally good-looking Julian Sands as the bad guy was really a treat. The use of special effects and Matrix-style fighting added to the over-the-top zaniness of this mad-caper action comedy.

What Turned Me Off

The total lack of reason why most characters did anything. It was a little too mindless and a little too simple for my taste. The nonsensical running, fighting, screaming and flying for just no reason at all, was a little hard to take. But the audience seemed to LOVE IT! I had not heard such laughter and roars from the audience in a long time.

Lines Worth Repeating

Heard in line at the concession stand before the movie started did you want butter with that?

Never Saw That Before

I never saw so much flying about in a movie that was supposed to take place in Ireland! The soaring and jumping 10 stories up in the air was too cool!

Fidget Factor

Limited amount of fidget factor detected. Even young kids sat still in their seats for the duration of the movie.

AFTERMATH

I left thinking... This movie will actually make money. The audience LOVED it and loved the outtakes at the end. GO JACKIE!

I left saying... On what level did I park my car?

Expiry Date

Best if consumed when warm and fresh out the first weekend. Goes very well with popcorn, a Diet Coke and a box of Raisinettes. Also, a perfect appetizer for a lovely Chinese dinner afterwards. I recommend ordering the sweet and sour pork and come crazy fried rice!

When it comes out on DVD... Rent it or watch it with a friend. Not the type of film you will want to watch over and over -- unless you are a big Jackie Chan fan or want to gaze at Julian Sands once more. The deleted scenes (outtakes) are also usually pretty fun. This film would make a great babysitter movie.