Product: Operation Condor [VHS] (1997)
Rating: 3.0
An entertaining action film starring Jackie Chan
"Operation Condor" is similar in style to "Rush Hour" or "Mr. Nice Guy". These are examples of Chan`s later movies in which he tries to burst through to America by breaking free from his Hong Kong roots. The production values are far glossier than his earlier movies - this one is shot on location in the Phillipines, Spain and Morroco. In the film, Chan and three female friends (one Japanese, one Chinese, one German) journey into the desert to find hidden gold - and get into comic scrapes. Sadly, the version I saw featured appallingly sloppy dubbing into English, which made it feel as if the film was produced in the U.S, not Hong Kong. In a bizarre way, this works to Chan`s advantage. He works well with the supporting cast, generally fooling around and displaying a fine line in comic timing and Buster Keaton style slapstick, which is very entertaining. A good, fun film. Don`t expect a kung-fu classic like "Fist Of Fury" because you won`t get it. But remember, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee are different. Chan was trained to entertain his audience, and this film will entertain all who see it.