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Shanghai Noon ReviewsRating: 4 - Chan And Wilson Conquer The Old West East meets West for laughs and plenty of action in director Tom Dey's "Shanghai Noon," starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson. In 1881 China, Royal Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu) is smuggled out of the Forbidden City and taken to Carson City, Nevada, where she is held for a one hundred thousand dollar ransom in gold. The Emperor promptly dispatches his top three Imperial Guards, an interpreter (Henry O), and the interpreter's nephew, Chon Wang (Chan), to deliver the gold and bring the Princess safely back to China. During a botched train robbery in Nevada, the interpreter is killed, and Chon Wang sets out to find the man responsible; but first he must discharge his duty to the Emperor, by finding Carson City and the Princess. Along the way he meets up with a left-handed gunslinger named Roy O'Bannon (Wilson), who was the leader of the gang that tried to rob the train. The cowboy who killed his uncle, a man named Wallace (Walt Goggins), Wang learns, was a new guy to the gang; Roy didn't know him, and nobody, of course, was to supposed to get hurt. Once that issue is resolved, it's shades of Butch and Sundance as Wang and Roy team up to rescue the Princess (and the gold). Dey alternates the action and laughs, often combining the two, and keeps it all moving along at a good, even pace. The likable Chan puts plenty of spirit into Wang, and the fight scenes are spectacular; well choreographed and orchestrated. He also proves himself adept on the comedy front, at times infusing a bit of Stan Laurel in his expression. The charismatic Wilson also shines as Roy, with a subtle, straight-forward delivery that is right on the mark. There's a chemistry between the two that works splendidly, and their timing is perfect. And they play it with a contemporary attitude that fuels the off-beat ambience; at times, it's like a Newman and Redford in the Twilight Zone. Liu, as well, gives a notable performance, lending a Royal mien to her Princess Pei Pei. There's a number of memorable scenes here, including one in which Wang encounters the Sioux (and we can only guess what's really in that peace-pipe); and another, early in the film, that finds Roy buried up to his neck and left to die in the desert, only to be found by Wang, who puts two chopsticks in Roy's mouth and tells him to start digging. The comedy plays well throughout the film, managing real laughs without resorting to slapstick or sight gags. Also worthy of mention is that the opening scene was filmed in China, in the Forbidden City. The excellent supporting cast includes Jason Connery (Andrews), Brandon Merrill (Indian wife), Roger Yuan (Lo Fong), Xander Berkeley (Van Cleef) and Russell Badger (Sioux Chief). "Shanghai Noon" is, above all, a fun movie; a light-hearted and often hilarious spin on the old west, forever changed (historically and cinematically), now that Wang and O'Bannon have happened onto the scene. This is one pair of cowboys you're going to remember, and this is one funny movie you're going to want to see more than once. And that's a promise, Pardner. Rating: 5 - Hilarious and action-packed, Shanghai Noon is loads of fun! I had heard of "Shanghai Noon" when it had first come out, but didn't have much interest in it. But a few weeks ago I decided to try it out once and found it thoroughly entertaining! Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu) decides to leave the Forbidden City of China to go off to America. But when she arrives in Carson City with her English teacher, she realizes she has been in fact kidnapped, master minded by a traitor, Lo Fong (Roger Yuan). It's up to the Chinese Imperial Guards to save her. One Imperial Guard, Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) is separated from his fellow mates and is stuck in the West without a clue where Carson City is! He ties up with Indians for a while, marrying the beautiful Indian princess, Falling Leaves (Brandon Merrill) then gradually teams up with 'not quite your average outlaw' Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson). With the Marshall Nathan Van Cleef (Xander Berkeley) on their tale, will they ever save the princess? PLOT: The plot of the story is average if not very original. But the acting, action, and humor makes "Shanghai Noon" to be a five-star great movie! ACTING: Though most people may not believe it, this is my first Jackie Chan movie to watch. Throughout the whole movie he has this sort of wise yet innocent manner about it since he has no clue how to act in the west. Lucy Liu does not come out that much in the movie yet she has her moments. She's so regal that she's great for the part of the princess in captive. Brandon Merrill, a real-life rodeo champion, is very cool as another princess with lots of guts, getting Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson out of trouble. But I must say, Owen Wilson of Roy O'Bannon steals the whole film. He's just so into his part that you can't believe he's only acting! ACTION: As all Jackie Chan movies are, "Shanghai Noon" is action packed. Because it's a movie how 'East meets West', it has both kung fu and gun fighting. Chan gets to use antlers, a horshoe whip, his pony-tail, and other ingenious weapons while the character of Roy gets to use his 'skills?' as a gunfighter. Lots of great scenes but my favorites are: the bar fight scene, the two Roy O'Bannon versus the Marshall 'stand-offs', and Jackie Chan versus Lo Fong. HUMOR: The whole movie is filled with lots of one-liners you just naturally memorize and subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humor. Most of the humor is given off to perfection by Owen Wilson though Jackie Chan has his moments. Here are a few of my favorite lines: Roy O'Bannon: My name's Roy O'Bannon. Roy O'Bannon: We're men, not pinatas! Roy O'Bannon: On the count of three. 1... 2... 2 1/2... 2 and 7/8... 3! Roy O'Bannon: I may not know karate, but I know crazy. And basically the whole movie is simply hilarious. There's some bloopers at the end of th movie that is just funny! I especially love the one when Jackie Chan is 'fixing' Owen Wilson's shoulder! The music is very cool also, not at all the normal 'western type' of music you would listen to in a typical western movie, but of course, "Shanghai Noon" is NOT a typical western movie. I highly recommend it for anyone how wants a good laugh and some great action/adventure. PG-13 RATING: The movie is rated PG-13 because of language and some scenes. Best for older teenagers and adults. The point of the plot is to get Jackie Chan's character, Chon Wang, into the Wild West of the Nevada frontier in 1881. Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Lui) of the Imperial Court becomes the victim of a kidnapping plot and is taken to the United States. Three warriors are sent to deliver the ransom, along with a royal interpreter; Chon Wang tags along to carry the baggage. Unfortunately the train on which the Chinese are traveling is the target of wannabee outlaw Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) and his inept gang. The two become partners in rescuing the princess, although Roy is more interested in the gold. Consequently the plot is a model of predictability but serves its purpose of getting us from one amazing fight sequence to the next. The pairing of Chan and Wilson is similar to that of Chan and Chris Tucker in the "Rush Hour" movies, contrasting Chan's halting English with an ultra-verbal co-star. But there is a significant difference in that Wilson is more low keyed in his verbosity, making for what I think is a better contrast. The point that I knew this movie was really going to work was when Chon comes across Roy buried up to his neck in the sand. Instead of digging Roy out of the hole, Chon simply gives him a pair of chopsticks and suggests Roy dig himself out. Of course, Roy does, which is important because it gives the character credibility for holding his own, at least on some level, with Chon, which he certainly does in their first fight scene together. More importantly, they are both fish out of water when it comes to the Wild West. Jackie Chan's creativity in fight sequences is astounding and setting the action in a Western gives it an added vitality. However, Chan also has an opportunity to do some "real" acting in this film with several early scenes that require emotional responses. Across the board this may well be Chan's best performance. There are also references to at least two dozen westerns, from the attempt to blow open a safe on a train from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" to a villain being named Van Cleef just liked the actor who played the "bad" guy in "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly." These assorted homages, nudges, and winks to past westerns is just part of the general sense of joy that permeates this film (and give you something to do when you watch the film a second time). 'Shanghai Noon' is just a fun film that avoids insulting the intelligence of its audience. We need more movies like this one (which explains the recent sequel).
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