To Kill With Intrigue
1980/106 mins.
Released by Simitar
Rated NR(probably a PG-13 or R)
Starring Jackie Chan
Directed by Lo Wei
Format: Single Sided/Single Layered(Film is presented in
Fullscreen format)
Reviewed by Robby Cox
E-mail; koi@magicnet.net
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Opening Remarks: I had seen this film previously and didn't
really care for it. I found the subject matter to be extremely
dark and depressing. I never watched it again until I bought this
DVD. By the way, I bought this DVD and the DVD of New Fist Of
Fury for $9.99 total! A Jackie Chan 2-pack for $5 a piece! The
price tag said $14.99, but it rang up for $9.99! I was surprised
and happy. Now on to the review...
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Movie Quality: Well, upon viewing this film for a second time, I
still am not impressed. This is an extremely dark Jackie Chan
film. This film takes place in olden days and Jackie plays a son
out for revenge for his parents' deaths. Here's the plot summary
from the back of the package-"Jackie Chan stars as Siao Lei,
a young lord whose entire family is slaughtered by a gang. The
gang's leader, Ding, spares Siao because she loves him, but knows
in her heart that he will never love her. Ding redeems herself by
passing on her skills to Siao and helping him devise a plan to
kill his enemies". That's a pretty good summary, but they
fail to mention the torture that Ding puts Siao through. She
scars him with a hot iron, makes him drink what is supposedly
poisoned wine(but it's actually her own blood), and she just
beats the crap out of him. This movie is pretty lame and there
aren't really any cool fights in it. Only watch this film if you
are a die-hard Jackie Chan fan, like me, or have nothing better
to do.
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Video Quality: This disc looks much better than the Simitar VHS
tape I own. The colors are bright and vivid and this film just
does not look like a nearly 20 year old film. The film is
presented Fullscreen, but what's goofy is that the credits are in
Widescreen?!? The whole film should have been presented that way.
Other than that, this disc looks great.
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Sound Quality: The sound could use some work. The voices are
kinda muted and there are a lot of scratches and pops. There is
also a Cantonese soundtrack and it sounds great. It seems kinda
goofy that the Cantonese track sounds much better than the
English track.
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Extras: Simitar's Jackie Chan DVDs never have many extras and
this disc is just like the others. There are Film Facts, a Jackie
Chan Biography and Filmography, and the same Jackie Chan
interview that is on every other Simitar Jackie Chan DVD. Come on
Simitar, you can do better than this.
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Improve: More extras.
RIYL: Project A II, City Hunter, Mr. Nice Guy, Jackie Chan's Who
Am I?
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Overall Opinion: This is a disc that I have a mixed opinion
about. This disc looks much better than the videotape, but it
could have been a lot better. Then again, I feel like I got my
money's worth out of it. Then again, I only paid $5 for it. If
you like old school chop-socky action then this disc is for you.
Otherwise, save your money.
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Movie Quality: **
Video Quality: ****
Sound Quality: ***
Extras: *
Personal Opinion: ***
Total: 13 out of 25
Final Score: 52 %