Today’s quick review: Armour of God. Jackie (Jackie Chan), a rock star turned treasure hunter, reunites with his former bandmate Alan (Alan Tam) when the leader of a cult (Ken Boyle) kidnaps Alan’s fiance Lorelei (Rosamnud Kwan). Jackie and Alan are told to hand over the Armour of God, five artifacts with immense power. Instead, they team up with May (Lola Forner), the daughter of a collector, to infiltrate the cult and rescue Lorelei.
Armour of God is a martial arts action comedy starring Jackie Chan. Armour of God fits comfortably into the same mold as Chan’s other movies: a light adventure full of impressive stunt work and physical comedy. Armour of God is some of Chan’s sharper work when it comes to stunts, with precise and well-choreographed fight scenes that show off his impressive acrobatic ability. The action forms a strong backbone for the film.
However, Armour of God is missing some of the polish of Jackie Chan’s later work. There’s less of a focus on comedy, with bits and pieces thrown in for flavor rather than the elaborate madcap sequences seen in some of his other films. The plot is a mixed bag, starting off strong but never finding the proper way to escalate. The result is an insubstantial romp that starts jettisons most of its story and character development to fit in more action.
Armour of God is a solid pick for fans of Jackie Chan or anyone interested in creative applications of martial arts. How much you get out of the movie will depend on whether you value Chan’s stunts or his humor more, with the movie skewing slightly towards the former. Still, Armour of God has enough of each to make it an entertaining watch for a broad range of viewers. Steer clear only if you’re looking for something with a deeper story.
For a loose sequel, check out Operation Condor or Chinese Zodiac. For a Jackie Chan movie with more heart and a better balance of action and comedy, try The Legend of Drunken Master.
7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for strong stunt work and decent comedy.