Watch Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu
- PG-13
- 2008
- 1 hr 44 min
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5.8 (784)
Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu is a Chinese martial arts movie released in 2008. It features an ensemble cast of actors who are also trained in martial arts. The film is directed by Antony Szeto and produced by Jackie Chan himself. The story is set in a small Chinese town where a group of young wushu students are training under the guidance of their master. The town celebrates its anniversary every year by organizing a wushu competition that attracts spectators from all over the region. This year, the event is going to be bigger and better than ever before.
As the preparations are underway, a sinister villain, known only as "The Butcher", arrives in town with his gang of thugs. He intends to take over the town and exploit its people for his own benefit. The Butcher challenges the wushu students to a fight and easily defeats them using brute force.
The defeated students are disheartened and their master is injured. But one of the students, Li Er, is determined to avenge their loss and save the town from The Butcher's tyranny. He and his fellow students train even harder and seek the help of a reclusive master who lives in a nearby monastery.
Under the monastery's tutelage, the students learn new techniques and gain confidence in their abilities. They also find inner strength and learn to fight for a greater cause. Meanwhile, The Butcher continues to terrorize the town, extorting money from the locals and beating up those who resist.
The final showdown between the students and The Butcher's gang takes place during the annual wushu competition. The students use their newfound skills to defeat their opponents one by one. Finally, Li Er faces off against The Butcher in a fierce battle.
The fight sequences in Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu are intense, fast-paced and highly choreographed. They showcase the different fighting styles of each character and highlight their strengths and weaknesses. The movie also explores the themes of perseverance, teamwork, and the importance of standing up against tyranny.
The acting in the film is largely competent, with the main cast delivering convincing performances. Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, a veteran actor and martial artist, plays the role of the students' master and brings gravitas to the film. The young actors playing the wushu students are also impressive, displaying a lot of physical prowess and charm.
The cinematography is another highlight of Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu. The camera work is excellent, capturing the action from different angles and emphasizing the beauty of the martial arts. The film often uses slow-motion shots to emphasize the impact of the fight scenes, and the result is both exciting and visually stunning.
One of the downsides of the film is its pacing. Some scenes drag on for too long, making the movie feel longer than its 98-minute runtime. The film's dialogue is also underdeveloped, with characters often speaking in platitudes and cliches.
Overall, Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu is an entertaining martial arts movie that showcases the talent of its young cast. The film's action sequences are exceptionally well done, and its themes of courage and friendship will resonate with audiences. While the film is not without flaws, it is still a worthy addition to the genre and a testament to the enduring appeal of wushu.
Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.