have some pretty good stunts in them, and there are some humorous moments in the hospital when Lee Evans starts to realize there is something very strange about his recently deceased partner. The decision to go VFX-crazy for this movie was an experiment for Jackie that, I guess, won't be repeated.

let's not overrate the movie: it was a comedy/action/adventure film with a fair story enough for a background, too little for a real adventure and directing, as well as great stunts and - fortunately - only a bit of prop-fighting from Jackie fans don't hate me please, at least it was very-very entertaining this way , and a great deal of supporting roles cliches, I give you that, but superbly played anyway . Claire Forlani gave her best, Julian Sands reminisced his warlock-movies, and... well, John Rhys-Davies should've played a bigger role.Overall, this movie showed something from the future of Jackie, making comedies with stunts instead of fight movies. I recommend this movie to those who prefer a fairly light action-comedy. Those who didn't like the Tuxedo, or Jackie in typical Hollywood movies, will at least dislike this as well.In my opinion, go Jackie, go! : 10 of 10 for being exactly as I expected - not much more, but nothing less!

for bad. Jackie Chan is very clever in this film. He acts well and adds a bit of comedy. Claire Forlani also did a great job. Lee Evans was so-so. He can be a bit annoying. The special effects sucked. A rule of advice is never add CGI to a Jackie Chan movie. It will make that movie bad. What is the point of the cat meowing? It made the movie even worse. Overall, this is a good family film, even though it's a bit cheesy. I rate this movie 9/10.

Jackie Chan the action star that he is. For one thing, his stunt work is graceful like a musical dance scene. taken in the same veins as the likes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The other main idiosyncrasy that stands Jackie Chan out from other action stars is that his comical energy could rival that of the silent film era stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. But under the direction of Gordan Chan and his crew, they are able to see through him and have every trait of his perfectly acknowledged.Any other star, "The Medallion" would've been another fine line action film that has Julian Sands once again playing the evil dude, prancing around sporting a dark cloak complete with a hyena fur boa like did a decade ago in the film "Warlock". But what they got right was that they patented down every move and mindset that Jackie Chan possesses. First we see him at a Hong Kong restaurant feasting down an exquisite food delight, when a stray dog comes right toward him. Feeling bad for the little stray he offers his plate and orders another one for himself.Shifting between Hong Kong and Ireland, "The Medallion" tells the familiar story of a diabolical villain who wants to steal a precious medallion that holds the key to immortality along with more advanced speed, strength and agility. With his menacing blond locks and well educated demeanour, Snakehead Sands is a vibrant antagonist, who lives in posh Irish castle with a modern feel to it. Of course the only thing he wants more than anything is to outlive the human race and continue his mission to thrash his ancient castle more.Chan plays the role of Eddie, a Hong Kong detective assigned by Interpol to hunt down this magical medallion. He joins forces with a tough ex-girlfriend Nicole Claire Forlani and a bumbling, but courageous British agent named Watson Lee Evans . The absurdity of the Watson character may not appease to the non-Western audience, but those of the Western audience will enjoy the presence of Watson's character very similar to Chris Tucker's character to the "Rush Hour" franchise. And even though the filming is American based, "The Medallion" is clearly designed for a Hong Kong audience, the direction is done by Gordon Chan and the rest of the crew make their homes primarily from Hong Kong.And because of this, Jackie Chan can say he feels like home, in front of his fellow countrymen. And it makes a difference because his people knows what he's capable of and doesn't have to be bogged down or watered down just to make an impression towards the American spectrum. Sure he always seems at ease in his surroundings, but unlike films like "Rush Hour" and "The Tuxedo", his stunts aren't part of the story, they are the story. Unlike the films where he shares the spotlight to American co-stars like Owen Wilson and Chris Tucker, he has no worries of sharing or upstaging them, because he's not the sidekick attraction, no here he is in full stardom.The action is definitely all over the place. In one scene while chasing some baddies, a person kicks over some bicycles like dominoes, and Chan just leaps over the seats similar to James Bond in "Live and Let Die" like the crocodile stream scene and it all happens in a span of five seconds compared to scene that could last five minutes.The action scenes are what its all about. What's special about it is that it never looks superficial. There's no long takes or quick cuts. It's Jackie Chan moving naturally the whole 90 minutes of this film. The comic timing adds the right spice to bring this film to life. What more can any action fan want?Forlani is a great partner for Chan. This underrated performer is not only attractive, but she's tough and intelligent to want to be on any team. She knows that he's more than just a butt-kicking hero, but a humane individual fighting against all evil and all obstacles. She knows as much as we do what's he like and how he does it.

is certainly not a film without flaws, it is satisfying on the whole if you approach it as a comic book/cartoon-styled Jackie Chan actioner. The film combines even more genres than that, actually, and there are times when it seems almost to be a spoof of James Bond-styled thrillers. There are also more straightforward comedy elements--especially when Evans is on screen, the film almost becomes a slapstick farce--there are Matrix-styled fantasy/action aspects, and there is a romance subplot. On top of all of that, The Medallion moves very quickly. Director Gordon Chan packs a lot of information into the film and barely pauses for a breath--if you blink, you're likely to miss some bit of crucial action, a plot point, or a joke.In short, it's a complex stew of different genres, with a mixture of adult themes and childlike lightheartedness, wrapped in a dense mythology of fantasy and served at a non-stop, breakneck pace. Undoubtedly, those qualities will turn off a great deal of viewers, whether because they hate MTV/attention-deficit-disorder-styled editing, genre hopping or a lack of real-world believability. I don't mind any of those qualities, and in fact I tend to prefer films that forgo realism.I only had two small complaints about The Medallion. One, it took me a few scenes to get up to speed with the film, both plot-wise and in terms of style. Once I got into the groove, though, I didn't want the film to stop--enough that my second complaint is that the film was too short and in general, I strongly dislike the fact that most films seem to be forced by studios to end within 90 minutes . I wanted to see more of these characters, especially Evans, who stole most of the scenes he appeared in. Jackie Chan fans seeking a return to films that are solely kung fu-oriented will likely be disappointed, but if you have broader tastes, The Medallion might hit the spot. An 8 out of 10 from me.

does Julian Sands seem to be getting younger? I mean, he's been making movies for a long time and he certainly doesn't appear to be getting any older. Maybe he should do The Portrait Of Dorian Gray for his next film.

Chan's martial artistry these days. "Kwai Chang Caine" yeah right..."who's that???" is getting a tad long in the tooth too but check out KILL BILL Vol 2 when it comes out! Seems to me Jackie hasn't lost a whole lot....lets see how many rounds his critics might last with him when THEY are his age! This is in essence a fun family movie with no message, no purpose and no hard violence. Sure Lee Evans grates at times - he shares a couple of excruciatingly funny scenes with Chan but for the most part is a complete ass! Forlani more than compensates though. Julian Sands always DID have the charisma of a dead woodpecker. He probably reached the zenith of his career with WARLOCK. Actually he was lucky to still HAVE a career after BOXING HELENA. He must be the first name on every Producer's list when they need a "flying bad guy."So how about you all cut this film some slack. Live with the hacked editing and just see if you can't find something decent to say about it. For myself, I figure it makes it to a 5.8.