Month: December 2019

Today’s quick review: The Medallion. Inspector Eddie Yang (Jackie Chan) of the Hong Kong police gives his life to save Jai (Alexander Bao), the young keeper of a sacred medallion, from a criminal (Julian Sands) trying to kidnap him. In gratitude, the boy uses the power of the medallion to revive Eddie and give him extraordinary powers. Now Eddie must use his newfound strength to keep the power of the medallion from falling into the wrong hands.

The Medallion is a martial arts action comedy with fantasy elements. The Medallion takes Jackie Chan’s usual recipe of light adventure and martial arts slapstick and blends it with a dash of mysticism, thanks to the titular medallion and the powers it gives Eddie. The Medallion uses these powers as an excuse for even more over-the-top stunts, but a combination of weak humor and over-reliance on special effects make it less satisfying than Chan’s best.

The Medallion has two major weaknesses that will make it a dicey pick for most viewers. One is that its comedy is more juvenile that Jackie Chan’s other work, mainly relying on Eddie’s partner Watson (Lee Evans), a bumbling Interpol agent, for its laughs. The other chief weakness is the fantasy elements. Eddie’s physics-defying powers look artificial, hurt the film’s credibility, and take it away from the kind of honest action Jackie Chan does best.

Still, The Medallion does have a few things going for it. The film moves quickly, and though it takes a while for Eddie to get his powers, the extended opening doesn’t feel wasted. Eddie’s love interest, an Interpol agent named Nicole (Claire Forlani), gets along well with him and fits the tone of the movie. The Medallion also delivers some decent action: the super-powered fights are at least playful, and the more conventional stunts are quite solid.

Those who are willing to put up with The Medallion’s foibles will enjoy the film as a light, fast-paced bit of entertainment. Those looking for sharp humor, a grounded story, or pathos should look elsewhere. For a safer pick with better comedy, try Rush Hour. For a Jackie Chan movie with a similar premise and a spy twist, try The Tuxedo. For a fantasy action adventure with a similar vibe, try Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

5.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for some fun action coupled with mediocre humor and a shaky premise.

Today’s quick review: Dick Tracy. Ace detective Dick Tracy (Warren Beatty) is hot on the trail of Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino), the one mobster he can’t seem to catch. As Caprice tightens his grip on the city’s criminal underworld, Tracy tries to convince Breathless Mahoney (Madonna), a lounge singer at Caprice’s club, to testify against him. But the investigation soon begins to jeopardize his relationship with Tess Trueheart (Glenne Headly).

Dick Tracy is a stylized crime adventure movie based on the classic comic strip. Dick Tracy combines a unique visual style with a classic adventure story, aiming to recapture the appeal of early- to mid-20th-century pulp stories. The film is partially successful in this, but its simplistic story and extreme stylization give it a very unusual flavor. The result is something of a niche film that will on appeal to part of its intended audience.

Dick Tracy’s most distinctive feature is its visual style. The film goes to great lengths to recreate the look and feel of the comic strip. The criminals are deformed caricatures, colorful costumes and lighting make the visuals pop, and lavish models capture the size and grandeur of the city. These visuals are backed by a fun but predictable story, kid-friendly thrills, and a clear love for the source material.

However, the film’s style is a double-edged sword. The grotesque villains and heavy accents are a constant source of distraction. The sets and colors work extremely well in some scenes but only look artificial in others. The story and characters will only appeal to fans of the pulp era of crime-fighting; those expecting anything resembling a realistic story will be disappointed. Finally, the action is energetic but not especially impressive.

Give Dick Tracy a shot if you’re a fan of classic, comic strip-style adventure. Its extreme stylization means that even fans of the genre might not like it, but the film has enough heart and all-around quality to be worth checking out. Skip it if you’re looking for something nuanced or subversive. For other films that play around in the same space, try Tim Burton’s Batman, The Spirit, or Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a light, wholesome adventure with unique visuals and a hit-or-miss style.