Drunken Master 2 (1994)

3.5 out of 4

Starring: Jackie Chan, Ti Lung, Anita Mui, Felix Wong, Ken Lo, Liu Chia-Liang

Director: Liu Chia-Liang

Time: 102 mins

In the pantheon of Jackie Chan films, his 1994 effort Drunken Master 2 is considered by many of his fans to be one of his best. A sequel to 1978's Drunken Master, one of his earliest successes, Jackie's return to a period martial arts film after many years of modern comedy action/adventures features some of the most incredible kung fu action scenes ever captured on celluloid, and cemented his position as one of the most popular action stars around the world. If you haven't seen a Jackie Chan film before, either the original Police Story or Police Story 3: Supercop would be a better introduction to his skills and talents. But if you want to see Jackie at his fist-fighting best, Drunken Master 2 reigns supreme.

The story, as in most of Jackie's Hong Kong films, is quite flimsy, serving only as a springboard for the incredible fight sequences. Playing Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung (one of the most portrayed characters in film history), Chan looks too old for the part, considering he has a middle-aged father (70s Hong Kong star Ti Lung) and even younger-looking mother (singer and frequent Chan co-star Anita Mui). The plot involves the smuggling of priceless Chinese artifacts out of the country by a group of westerners, and the efforts by decorated Manchu general Fu Wen-chi (Liu Chia-Liang, who was also the director) and Wong Fei-hung to stop them. The story might not hold up to Hollywood standards, but the action scenes are often more gasp-inducing than anything you will see in a US-made film.

The first fight sequence involves Jackie and the Manchu general Fu Wen-chi. This is a well-filmed weapons duel in and amongst a train and under a raised house. The use of swords and spears is startling in the cramped locations. The second is the first time we see the drunken boxing style that is indicated by the film's title, when Jackie battles a group of thugs. Fluid and - yes - even comical, the balletic manouevres are a sight to behold. Third is a superb confrontation between Jackie, the general, and scores of axe-wielding opponents in a deserted tavern. If all those preceding fights were good, the climax itself is the piece de resistance. Reputedly taking some three months to shoot, the finale in the steel mill is a marvel of speed, athleticism, power, and pure aesthetics. It has to be seen to be believed. Bruce Lee may have had lightning reflexes, but his opponents (with the possible exception of Chuck Norris) were nowhere near his league in terms of martial arts skill. Jackie's antagonist is Ken Lo, his one-time, real-life bodyguard (that he's good enough to be Jackie's own bodyguard speaks volumes for his prowess). What Ken Lo does with his feet is nothing short of amazing - it's a cyclonic flurry of kicks, jabs and more kicks that will have your eyes glued to the screen. Jackie's reply to this kicking machine is even more ingenious, requiring the effects of industrial alcohol to turn him into a superhuman fighter, one impervious to pain. The resulting duel has probably only been equalled by one previous Jackie one-on-one, and that was with karate champion Benny ("The Jet") Urquidez in 1984's Wheels on Meals. Suffice it to say it rains on any on-screen fight that a Seagal or van Damme has ever been involved in.

As is expected in a Jackie Chan film, there are plenty of moments of comedy. Most of these are supplied by Jackie and Anita Mui, especially during a silly but funny segment showing the substitution of an ordinary plant for a missing ginseng root that has medicinal properties. The final scene, about the after-effects of the industrial alcohol on Jackie's character, is meant to be funny, but has been dismissed by many as tasteless and unnecessary. I didn't think it was funny, and, yes, it is kind of tasteless, but it must be remembered that comedy in Hong Kong films is a different beast to comedy in US films. Just as British humour may be considered too dry or droll, Hong Kong humour sometimes goes over the top. This is not to excuse the final scene in DM2, but it shows political correctness does not often apply in Hong Kong filmmaking.

There was reportedly a feud between Chan and director Liu that led to Jackie taking over directing duties before the film was finished. Apparently Chan didn't agree with the amount of wire-assisted work that Liu wanted in the picture. I'm more of an advocate for pure martial arts, but I still enjoy a wire-fu production provided the wire work doesn't dominate the entire film (like in the recent Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Good examples of wire-fu movies include Jet Li's Once Upon A Time In China and Fong Sai Yuk series. In DM2, there are telltale signs of wire work, but thankfully this is minimal and is used to enhance the ballet-like movements of the drunken boxing style. Also, there are a couple of fleeting moments when a double seems to have substituted for Jackie during a spinning-on-the-ground manouevre. Shocking, perhaps, for those reared to believe Jackie does all his own acrobatics, but Jackie was forty years old at the time and probably didn't feel it was necessary for him to do every scene. This is only a minor observation, of course - the rest of the fighting is pure Jackie.

There is one brave (crazy or incredibly foolish may be more appropriate terms) stunt that Jackie performs near the end, when he falls onto a bed of hot coals. The outtakes during the end credits confirm that Jackie did it himself. Though it's not as spectacular as some of his other stunts (see the Police Story or Project A series for more thrilling examples), it's still a defining moment for those looking for Jackie's trademark deeds of derring-do. If you've heard of Jackie's penchant for risking his life in the pursuit of film heroics, and want to see some examples, then Drunken Master 2 is not the showcase for this stuntwork. But if you are a Chan fan, or are a martial arts fan in general, then you ought to see Drunken Master 2. It may quite possibly be the greatest martial arts film ever made.

** Footnote: Drunken Master 2 was recently released in North America under the title The Legend Of Drunken Master. While only the final scene has been cut, the original language soundtrack and score has apparently been replaced with an English dub and different music and sound effects. While I applaud the distributors for giving Jackie more exposure, my preferred choice is to view a film in its original language and soundtrack. Hence, if you can, watch DM2 in its original form.

(c) Joe Wong (3 March 2001)