TheHande REWRITTEN: 15.12.Thunderbolt offers an excellent Jackie Chan experience with a multitude of feelings. There is a multi-cultural flavour brought in due to the changes in character's languages. The story also gets extra gravity since the villain this time is not someone who just wants Jackie dead but someone who considers him an equal behind the wheel. This character-dynamic is what makes the film stand out.Of course certain elements are a little more traditional such as the kidnapping of Foh's sisters. Visually the film is very compelling. I didn't originally like the scenes where the action "clips" but after a re-viewing in widescreen the "crane scene" looks absolutely fantastic. The other action-scenes in the film work excellently as well even though during the arcade fight one may spot Jackie's double quite easily.Plot, character and execution work excellently for the film. The soundtrack is also easily one of the best in any Jackie-film. The only negative sides include the fact that the film loses a little bit of its darkness in the silly arcade fight and the traditional leading lady relationship. Beyond these two the film is easily one of Jackie's best and most under-rated.

illeatyourdog First off, this review is based off the version used on TBS and one thing I learned that TV versions of films (other then the obvious editing for content and length times) often zoom up way too close to have the picture fill up the screen. Anyway, thius movie is enjoyable in sections, not really as a whole. One key difference that seperates this film from all other Jackie Chan films (except for maybe the protector and Crime Story to some extent) is that the movie goes for a serious, dark, and gritty tone. Kackie Chan himself is very (or at least does his best to be) hardedged and unmerciful. That in of itself is difficult to watch becuase that is not Jackie Chan and if anything it cuases more giggles becuase hes actually acting tough (not that hes not tough but he is not known for being a tough guy, hes known more for being a nice guy you dont want to p*** off). Even the story is a hugedetour from what his fans are used to mianly due to the fact that the movies focus is on racing: both on the street and on the track. That cuases a problem becuase it is very difficult to incorporate martial arts action scenes into a film into a race film in any sort of concievable or even tolerable fashion. That being said, the way the story incorporates both amazing kung-fu and int4ense racing is done very poorly. You have a villian who is insanely obssessed with racing and getting people to race. Its one thing to always want to prove you're the best, its another thing entirely to nearly kill (along with kidnapping his two sisters) the guy you want to race in order to get him to race. The villian himself is horrible (even for a Jackie Villian. What makes this villian even worse is that he cant even fight so he cant even save some face that way, he is just poor villian). However, this is a Jackie Chan movie, not a Steven Soberdough movie, so its the action thats important. Again, this is a huge mixed bag becuase there really is no way to smoothly transtion to an intense race scene from kung-fu. But the big mixed feeling comes from the most incrediblely choreographed, staged, and performed fight scenes (and race scenes) shot and edited in a bizarre manner. The name Tony SCott came to mind with some of the shot choices since the figh6t and race scenes feature rabid fire editintg and extreme close-ups that confuse rather than contribute. Another downfall for the fight scenes (for Jackie Chan purists especialy) it is all too obvious thjat a double is used for Jackie Chan (ironically enough, if you are a huge Jackie Chan afficionado you should notice right away whena double is used since the double fights in a different manner than Jackie Chan). This could be the cuase for the editing but somne shots still show it clear as day that a double was used. Again, this is real disconcerning for Jackie Chan fans since one the mian reaons to like Jackie Chan is becuase he doesnt use doubles. Nevertheless, the strange editing choices contiue into the race scenes. Now, the first race scene between Jackie Chan adn the villian was actually done rather well, even if shot a bit too close). The final race however (instead of a final fight. Another dissappointment to Jackie Chan fans) is just one huge mixed bag. You have some incredible race footage and crashes, but most of it is undercranked givning it an irregular feel that takes away from the intensity. It really boggles the mind as to why the director made the decesion to undercrank (of course you could say that about the editing and shooting of the fight scenes as well). So, to put it simply, if you just enjoy action scenes (although lacking the jackie chan sense of humor) then its worth a gander and possibly a purchase. If you can get opver the fact that an obvious double was used (and dont minf undercranked racing footage), then its worth a gander and possibly a purchase. If you prefer to beleive that Jackie Chan never uses doubles, dont even watch it once, the pain will be too great.sidenote: for those Jackie Chan nuts out there (me included) I have read that the main reason why a double was used was becuase he was recovering from an earlier injury. Of course, you could always use this defense: since the film involved wires and Jackie chan (at the time which would 1995) did not like using wires, he probably prefered to have a double used for those scenes (of course this defense wont hold up for too long).

gridoon "Thunderbolt" is probably Jackie Chan's worst movie since "The Protector" in 1985. Yes, I know that nobody watches his movies for their stories, but the plotting of this one is unusually lame, even by his standards, and while the fight choreography IS up to his standards, the fight scenes (the whole two of them) are ruined, as others have mentioned, by the frenetic, distracting camerawork. Even the most serious Jackie Chan fans shouldn't really bother with this offensively haphazard, stunt-and-plug-filled garbage. Anita Yuen's cute and perky performance is one of the few redeeming virtues. For a good "serious Jackie" movie, I recommend "Crime Story". (*1/2)

bikutoru This movie has it's strong points and weak points. The strong points is the high speed car chase scenes and the martial art fighting scenes. The car chase scenes are very fast paced, especially the first one, but i think it could have been better if the dialogue between Jackie Chan and Anita Yuen weren't in it. Though the car chases are filmed that it looks like remote controlled toy-cars, it still looks very good and i like them. Then there is the fight scenes. These are also very fast paced, with Jackie taking on several enemies at once. I especially like the fight in the japanese pachinko-parlor with the Yakuza, in my opinion it's the best fight i have ever seen (I even compare it to "The Matrix" kung-fu fights (!)). It is very very long and is extremely fast, with good choreography, and with heavy cutting though complained about in my opinion very Hong Kong-ish. The blurry slow-motion is forgivable. Dramatic movie, though it is not genial, it is touching and gives Jackie Chan a big chance to act, it is not much comedy in it.