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Film review: Rumble in the Bronx (1995) by Stanley Tong

"I hope next time when we meet we won't be fighting each other. Instead we will be drinking tea."

With this production, a smash hit all over the world, Asian superstar at long last went mainstream in the United States after cracking their movie market, after his previous starring attempts like “Battle Creek Brawl” (1980) and “The Protector” (1986) got him nowhere. Moreover, it went on to win the Best Action Choreography Award at the 15th Hong Kong Film Awards in 1996. “And just like that, I was a big star in America after fifteen years of trying.” Chan later wrote in his autobiography “Never Grow Old”.

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Hong Kong policeman and kung fu expert, Ma Hon Keung (Jackie Chan) arrives in New York to attend the wedding of his Uncle Bill ( Biu) who is also in the process of selling his supermarket in the Bronx. Almost overnight, Keung gets himself involved with a biker gang, a syndicate, stolen diamonds and the police. Soon enough everyone is after him; there is plenty of property damage along the way and the whole scenario ends up in a hovercraft chase around town.

By the 1990s, Chan realized that by making his next action Hong Kong film more “international” with a Western setting with non-Asian characters, instead of just starring in a Hollywood film he might be able to get the attention of the American audiences, and he was right. Enter “” shot mainly in Vancouver which doubled as the Bronx, which became a huge hit when released in the States besides breaking box office records in Asia. However, re-dubbed in English but with participation from Chan, the American version was also about seventeen minutes shorter. New Line Cinema also replaced Nathan Wang's original rock and jazz orientated soundtrack with a new and more bombastic music score written by J. Peter Robinson.

On the other hand Chan, is charming and acrobatic throughout and his love for using the surroundings in a fight shines through. Take the brawl in the gang's warehouse hangout for example where he uses just about every object like pinball machines, fridges, bottles, shopping carts and turns them into weapons. This amazingly filmed fight scene happens so fast and precise that it commands multiple viewings. Of course, the most dangerous and impressive stunt is his jumping from the rooftop of a parking lot to the fire escape of a nearby building, without wire or harness too.

In a very much thankless role, the usually amazing plays Elaine who has the misfortune of buying Uncle Bill's constantly hassled and vandalized supermarket by Tony's biker gang. Basically, her role is that of a damsel in distress in which she just acts silly and blunders around doing comedy relief. Considering her wonderful role in “Legend of the Drunken Master” (1994) also starring opposite Chan, this is a real letdown. Almost unrecognizable in a suit, Shaw Brothers veteran Yueh Hua cameos as a real estate agent in a brief but memorable role. Apparently, Vancouver is a popular city for Hong Kong actors looking for a quiet life style to settle in after they retire.

Attractive newcomer plays Keung's next-door neighbor Nancy, a cage dancer in a night club who also hangs out with gang leader Tony (). She has a little disabled brother Danny () who becomes good friends with Keung. Elsewhere, Angelo () plays a gang member who gets involved with the syndicate and their stolen diamonds. All these characters except Danny give Keung a hard time during his short stay in the Bronx but unbelievably, they team up later and help the police to take down syndicate boss White Tiger () after Keung calls them the scum of society.  

Hardly one of Chan's best movies, the plot and the characters are incredible thin but the production values, the stunts and the fight choreography are impressive nonetheless. Above all its importance lies in its mainstream friendly approach which was perfect for Chan to break into the global stardom.

About the author

David Chew

G'Day! Ni Hao? Hello! Many steamy hot tropical moons ago, I was bitten by the Shaw Brothers movie bug inside a cool cinema in Borneo while Wang Yu was slicing away on the screen. The same bug, living in my blood then, followed me to Sydney, Down Under years later, we both got through Customs & grew roots. Now I'm still happily living with this wonderful old bug and spreading my 'sickness' around to others whenever I can. Cheers!

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