JACKIE CHAN'S FIRST STRIKE

US, 1996, 87 minutes, Colour.
Jackie Chan, Bill Tung.
Directed by Stanley Tong.

Jackie Chan's First Strike is an entertaining action comedy drama. James Bond is referred to several times - and Jackie Chan seems to want to be the eastern/Asian/Pacific James Bond.

Jackie Chan is getting older - however, his excellently choreographed fight sequences are still as vigorous as ever (even though in the post-film credits sequences we see a lot of the bloopers). He plays a Hong Kong policeman assigned to follow an agent to the Ukraine. While there are some external sequences in the Ukraine and Russia, the snow sequences were all filmed at Falls Creek, Victoria. The action then moves to the Sunshine Coast with some additional scenes, especially at a funeral and a battle in Brisbane.

The characters tend to be stereotypes of good and evil (with former KGB officers now heading the Russian Mafia - as in so many American films of the '90s). The film is colourful, exciting - and, ultimately, forgettable.

1. Jackie Chan's popularity on screen - in Hong Kong and Asia, his attempts at popularity in America in the '70s and '80s, his success in the '90s? Playing for Asian audiences, Hong Kong audiences - and, especially, for western audiences?

2. Jackie Chan's comic presence, the literal little man, his ability as an agent, his alertness, his physical fitness, his ingenuity with the choreographed fights, heroic, a touch romantic? Good versus evil? His not taking himself too seriously (especially with the scene on the Sunshine Coast and the tourist looking at him without his clothes)?

3. The title and the focus on Jackie Chan? On action?

4. The familiarity of the plot? The '90s and the selling of nuclear missiles? The rogue KGB officers? Mafia action in the former Soviet Union? The links with Hong Kong? The buying off of CIA officers? The CIA in pursuit? The addition of Australia on the international terrorist scene? The confrontation between good and evil?

5. Jackie, his work in Hong Kong, his chief, on the plane, in the Ukraine, the tourist, his alertness, following Natasha, his being cold, the telephone connections with the CIA, his pursuit, the house, the battle, the snow and skiing sequences, the frozen lake, the helicopter blowing up? In hospital in the Ukraine and his being taken over by the KGB officer? His being assigned to Australia? The luxury of Australia, his relaxing, the koala? The koala underpants? His contact with Anna, underwater world? The humour with the sharks - and the later seriousness of the underwater fights? The hospital, the dying father, the missing brother, his confrontation with Jackie? Finding out the truth? The toughs and their huge size, the fights in the hotel? The murder of the old man? The pursuit of Jackie, the fight and the funeral centre? Jackie Chan on stilts and his skills, rescuing Anna, the fight in Brisbane? The happy ending?

6. The Russians and the KGB, the background, ruthless, terrorism, deals, the henchmen? The pursuits in the Ukraine? The snow fights, the helicopters? Their all coming to Australia, the pursuits, the battles in the hotel, in Underwater World, the echoes of Thunderball with the fights? The sharks? The fight at the funeral? The overcoming of the villains?

7. Tsuie, his relationship with Natasha, the terrorism, the double-dealing? In Australia, his father? His vindicating Jackie? The truth, his sister blaming him, the reconciliation, his appearing at the funeral, his final arrest?

8. The father and his status in Brisbane, his illness, the funeral? His sons?

9. Anna, her work at Underwater World? Attraction to Jackie, blaming him, her brother? The participation in the action?

10. The presentation of the Australians - and their broad accents? Genial at the Sunshine Coast, the hotels, the police, Underwater World? The Australian jokes?

11. The use of Hong Kong scenery to open the film, the Ukraine and winter, the Australian locations? An entertaining package?