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Jackie Chan stars as a Japan-trained racing
car driver who has since retired and helps the police in finding
sports cars with illegal modifications done to them. Whilst out
on a raid Chan annoys Kougar, a German racing car driver with underworld
connections. Once Kougar has escaped from jail he tracks down Jackie
and tortures him before kidnapping his sisters. Jackie must agree
to face Kougar in the Macao grand prix in order to win them back.
Obviously, this is a fairly standard and unimaginative plot line
but this is not what Jackie Chan films are about. The action on
the other hand is another story with two main sequences choreographed
by Jackie's long time colleague Sammo Hung. Here, Jackie looks at
his most powerful (although he is doubled by stuntman Chin Kar Lok)
and the way the fights are shot is truly cutting edge. In the longest
of the two scenes Jackie must take on a host of bad guys in a Pachinko
parlour (including the amazing Ken Lo!) and this is certain to get
your pulse racing. The remainder of the film is a mixed bag which
drags in places. One particular scene has Jackie horrifically tortured
which seems to happen in everyone of his films recently ie. 'Rumble
in the Bronx', 'Mr Nice Guy'. This is obviously so the audience
feels more sympathy for his character. However, the initial concept
is extremely good and it is obvious that director Gordon Chan has
tried to give Jackie's character a darker edge. There is none of
his usual wise cracking and he only pulls one silly face in the
whole film. It is Jackie's screen presence that makes this film
infinitely more enjoyable and with the exception of Michael Wong
(who is very annoying) the rest of the cast are good too. Unfortunately
there is no end fight scene but the race sequence that replaces
it is very good (if rather undercranked).
Overall two of Jackie's best fight scenes are contained in this
film which also contains one of the worst Jackie plots ever. Also
get your finger ready on the fast forward button for the middle
section. However, the concept of 'Thunderbolt' is a very good one
and a welcome change of pace for Jackie.
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