As I cant spare the time I'd like, I'm taking an extended leave of absence from CIAO. Hope to return...
As I cant spare the time I'd like, I'm taking an extended leave of absence from CIAO. Hope to return some day. All the best.
Member since:26.09.2000
Reviews:49
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Would it surprise you to learn that this is the sequel to “Rush Hour”? Of course it wouldn’t.
I’ve never seen the original, but by all accounts it was quite an enjoyable movie and was successful enough to justify this sequel.
The original had Hong Kong policeman Lee (played by kung-fu movie master Jackie Chan) pursuing a case to LA and buddying up with wise cracking LA cop James Carter (Chris Tucker).
RH2 has Carter travelling to Hong King on vacation to meet up with his old buddy. However, when a bomb explodes in the US embassy Lee is put on the case and drags along Chris, who only really wants to have some fun. A local Triad gangster, Ricky Tan, is initially implicated in the bombing, however following the intervention of the US secret service we learn that he is a front for a bigger fish and Lee and Carter are warned off the case.
Unable to drop
the matter , Lee and Carter interfere once too often and when things seem to go dreadfully awry, Lee is severely reprimanded. Carter is ordered to return to the States, which he does and drags Lee along with him as he has a hunch about the case.
This hunch takes them firstly to LA and then onto Las Vegas for the big show down.
I haven’t gone into too much detail about the plot coz frankly there isn’t too much of one and what there is is barely credible with several holes in it large enough to drive a team of rickshaws thru.
But for once I accept that in the case of this movie that doesn’t really matter, the only purpose of the story is to transfer our heroes from our set piece to another, and in that it succeeds brilliantly.
The action sequences are excellent and pretty thrilling and there are quite a few good laughs to be had as well, mostly provided by Chris Tucker.
Jackie Chan is rightly renowned for his tightly choreographed fighting sequences and has several chances here to show of his frenetic style. One big fight which takes place in a massage parlour is fantastic. The pace is punchy, the moves inspired and witty. At the end I felt breathless just watching it. We also see him doing incredible things on bamboo scaffolding; it is difficult to believe that the guy is almost 50! However as good as he is at action, his acting ain’t in the same class. English is his second language and he struggles a little with his lines, which isn’t a problem, however there are a coupe of scenes where he needs to act “emotion” and they don’t quite come off. Not that I’d tell the guy to his face, in case he kicked my butt.
I was surprised by Chris Tucker as I didn’t find him anywhere near as annoying as I thought I would. He does that bug-eyed, screechy camp black man routine, all sass and ‘tude, which normally grates on me, but here it worked quite well and there were a couple of knowing jokes at his expense. Big fun moment was his Michael Jackson karaoke routine.
The two stars interact well with each other and there does seem to be real chemistry between them.
If must grumble (and oh…I must, I must), it would be about the role given to the gorgeous Ziyi Zhang as Ricky Tans hench-woman. We know from Crouching Tiger… that she is capable of kicking butt however she is given precious little chance to do that here. She has only a couple of very small fight scenes towards the end of the movie which are nothing to write home about. Seemed a golden opportunity wasted.
And perhaps there could have been bit more fighting.
But that aside I really enjoyed this movie. It’s not art and ain’t ever gonna win any awards. But if you’re looking for a chance to sit in the dark for 90 minutes, eat popcorn and watch an entertaining movie with a few thrills and a few laughs, you won’t be disappointed.
And don’t leave as soon as the movie ends or you’ll miss the Jackie’s traditional out-takes which are every bit as funny as anything in the movie.
The movie has a “12” certificate. I don’t recall any significant language, there were a few ladies in their underwear, violence wise loads of people get their butts kicked, all very comic book.
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Rush Hour 2retains the appeal of its popular predecessor, so fans will enjoy the antics of ... more
the returning stars, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. The action--and there's plenty of it--starts in Hong Kong, where Detective Lee (Chan) and his LA counterpart D...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Rush Hour 2retains the appeal of its popular predecessor, so fans will enjoy the antics of ... more
the returning stars, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. The action--and there's plenty of it--starts in Hong Kong, where Detective Lee (Chan) and his LA counterpart D...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Crime fighting has never been so hazardous: or funny! Chopsocky action star Jackie Chan ... more
reteams with motormouth Chris Tucker in this 'Rush Hour' sequel as the mismatched cop duo investigate several bombings in Hong Kong attributed to Chinese gang lea...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
The fastest hand in the East returns with the biggest mouth in the West in the box office ... more
smash Rush Hour 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 1998 blockbuster action-comedy that grossed over $250 million worldwide.Chief Inspector Lee of the Royal H...
Advantages: Ebtertaining, great one liners, awesome on screen relationship, funny, action packed Disadvantages: None for me - It is Chan and TUcker at their best
yackers1 14.06.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rush Hour 2 (DVD)
![Rush Hour 2 [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78539593.jpg "Rush Hour 2 [DVD] [2001]")
Sep 6th, 2001
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