Shanghai Knights

Last updated
Shanghai Knights
Shanghai knights.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by David Dobkin
Screenplay by
Based onCharacters
by Alfred Gough
Miles Millar
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Adrian Biddle
Edited byMalcolm Campbell
Music by Randy Edelman
Production
companies
Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release date
  • February 7, 2003 (2003-02-07)(United States)
Running time
114 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$50 million [2]
Box office$88.3 million [2]

Shanghai Knights is a 2003 American martial arts action comedy film. It is the sequel to Shanghai Noon , and the second installment of the Shanghai film series. Directed by David Dobkin and written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, it stars Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Fann Wong, Donnie Yen and Aidan Gillen.

Contents

It was released on February 7, 2003. The film received mixed reviews but it performed well at the box office. [2]

Plot

In 1887, Lord Nelson Rathbone leads a band of Boxers into the Forbidden City, stealing the Imperial Seal of China and mortally wounds its Keeper. Before dying, the Keeper gives his daughter Chon Lin a puzzle box for her brother, Chon Wang. In Carson City, Nevada, Wang is now sheriff. He receives the box and a letter from Lin, telling him of their father's death and that she has tracked his killer to London.

Wang travels to New York City to find his old partner Roy O'Bannon and collect his share of their gold so that he can buy passage to London. Roy has left law enforcement, invested all the gold, and is now a waiter and gigolo. Following a series of misunderstandings, the pair ship themselves to London in a crate.

In London, Roy's pocket is picked by a youth named Charlie, leading to a massive brawl; Roy and Wang are arrested. In Scotland Yard, the two quickly befriend Inspector Artie Doyle and are released. Artie shows them that Lin is in custody for attempting to kill Rathbone. Roy is instantly smitten with Lin. Wang and Roy reunite with Charlie and acquire an invitation to a gala at Rathbone's country estate.

Roy and Wang infiltrate the gala in disguise, and follow Rathbone to a private library, where he slips through a secret passage. Lin, having escaped prison, arrives and saves Roy from Boxer guards. The three see Rathbone give the Imperial Seal to Wu Chow, the illegitimate brother of the Emperor of China. After a brief struggle, Charlie steals the seal. Everyone escapes and Wang, Roy and Lin make their way to Whitechapel.

At a brothel, Roy is devastated when he overhears Wang try to convince Lin that Roy is an unsuitable husband. Wang, Roy, and Lin are found and captured by Rathbone, who reveals his plan: In exchange for the seal, Wu Chow will kill the British royal family with a prototype machine gun and frame Lin. Rathbone, tenth in line for the throne, will become king. Roy and Wang reconcile and manage to escape.

Wang and Roy consult Artie about Charlie's location. Artie deduces that Charlie is at Madame Tussauds. They save him from the Boxers, but are forced to hand over the seal in exchange for Charlie's life. Roy and Wang are arrested, but Charlie rescues them and reveals that his full name is Charlie Chaplin. Roy and Wang free Lin and stop the assassination, killing Wu Chow with fireworks. The three pursue Rathbone to the top of Big Ben. Wang is able to throw Rathbone through the face of the clock, killing him.

Roy, Wang, and Artie are knighted for saving the royal family. Artie decides to become a writer and creates the character Sherlock Holmes based on the disguise Roy wore at the gala. Wang opens the box his father sent him to find a message reminding him of the importance of family. Roy proposes that he and Wang go to Hollywood to join the new motion picture industry. Charlie stows away in their carriage as they drive off.

Cast

Jackie Chan Stunt Team

Production

Director David Dobkin was personally chosen by Jackie Chan. Dobkin had a difficult time choosing a suitable Asian actress who could do movement work, emote well and speak excellent English. He then saw clips of Fann Wong's videos "Wo lai ye" (2001) and "Qing she yu bai she" (2001) and asked to audition her in London, which she did. She got the role and the number of scenes with her in was increased by thirty percent. According to Jackie Chan's memoir Never Grow Up, Faye Wong from his native city Hong Kong was his first choice, but Fann Wong was incorrectly hired instead. [3]

Aside from establishing shots of iconic English landmarks, including The House of Lords, Buckingham Palace and Madame Tussaud's, the scenes in London were largely filmed in Prague, Czech Republic from February 4 to June 21, 2002. [4] [5]

Reception

Critical response

Shanghai Knights received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the chemistry between Chan and Wilson, the action sequences, and the fun nature of the film, but strong criticism for the plot.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 65% based on 150 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The site's consensus states: "A silly, anachronistic mess, but the pairing of Chan and Wilson makes the movie fun." [6]

On Metacritic, the film has a score of 58 out of 100, based on reviews from 33 critics. [7] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B+" on scale of A to F. [8]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "fun in a broad, genial way", but disapproved of the "entirely arbitrary" plot. [9] Joe Leydon of Variety found it better than its predecessor: "A hugely entertaining and more lavishly mounted follow-up to 2000's Shanghai Noon, the high-concept East-meets-Western – that first teamed [the] top-billed duo – pic rides even taller in the saddle as a fleet and funny crowd-pleaser." [10] Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times gave a positive review, singling out Chan's fight sequences and Wilson's performance, noting how "Wilson gets to steal a part of the movie that Chan is smart enough not to want." Mitchell also praised the "bluntly gorgeous" cinematography, and said Chan's reputation is "resuscitated in the rousing, cheerful sequel", calling it "one of his best." [11] Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club also praised the chemistry between the two leads, writing, "Chan [...] found the perfect screen buddy in Wilson." Rabin criticized the "thin" plot, but found "there's a greatest-hits element" to Chan's fight scenes. [12]

Planned sequel

MGM announced in May 2015 that they were moving forward with Shanghai Dawn. Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, and Fann Wong are expected to reprise their roles as Chon Wang, Roy O'Bannon, and Chon Lin respectively. [13] In September 2016, Jared Hess signed on as director for the film, while both Millar and Gough would develop a screen story with Theodore Riley and Aaron Buchsbaum writing the script for the film. [14] [15]

Gough said the third film will be set in China because Chan "wants to showcase China in the way that the first film showcased the old West". Gough added that Chan and Wilson also have a hand in the creative process: "With those films, the collaboration of Jackie and Owen comes out on screen as they get along very well. With that in mind, you want to get their input in the story phase, so that when we got to script, it's based into the DNA of the story." [16]

In 2024, Gough later revealed that the sequel will most likely never happen as Chan seemed to lose interest in producing it. He further revealed that the plot would have picked up from where the last film left off with Chon Wang now a Hollywood stunt man. He would receive news that Roy O'Bannon was in Mexico with revolutionaries and would team back up with him. [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Shanghai Noon</i> 2000 martial arts western action comedy film by Tom Dey

Shanghai Noon is a 2000 American martial arts western action comedy film directed by Tom Dey in his feature film debut, written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and starring Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson and Lucy Liu. It is the first entry in the Shanghai film series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keye Luke</span> American actor (1904–1991)

Keye Luke was a Chinese-born American actor, and a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. He portrayed Lee Chan, the "Number One Son" in the Charlie Chan films, the original Kato in the 1939–1941 Green Hornet film serials, Brak in the 1960s Space Ghost cartoons, Master Po in the television series Kung Fu, and Mr. Wing in the Gremlins films. He was the first Chinese-American contract player signed by RKO, Universal Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was one of the most prominent Asian actors of American cinema in the mid-20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fann Wong</span> Singaporean actress (born 1971)

Fann Woon Fong, known professionally as Fann Wong, is a Singaporean actress, singer, businesswoman and model. She has been referred to as one of MediaCorp's Ah Jie for being one of the most successful actresses from Singapore.

<i>Snake in the Eagles Shadow</i> 1978 Hong Kong film

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film directed by Yuen Woo-ping in his directorial debut. It stars Jackie Chan, Hwang Jang-lee, and Yuen Woo-ping's real life father, Yuen Siu-tien. The film's plot is about Chien Fu, an orphan who is bullied at a kung fu school, meeting an old beggar, Pai Cheng-tien, who becomes his sifu (teacher) and trains him in Snake Kung Fu.

Kim Chan was a Chinese–American actor and producer. He was most notable for his roles as Lo Si, a.k.a. The Ancient, in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues and Mr. Kim in The Fifth Element.

<i>New Police Story</i> 2004 Hong Kong film

New Police Story is a 2004 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by Benny Chan. It stars Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse, Charlie Yeung, Charlene Choi, and Daniel Wu. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 24 September 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Wang Yu</span> Taiwanese actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (1943–2022)

James Wang Yu was a Hong Kong-Taiwanese martial artist, actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. Initially a contract player for Shaw Brothers, he rose to fame for his starring role in The One-Armed Swordsman (1967) and its sequels, and was one of the first major stars of martial arts and wuxia cinema. At the height of his fame in the 1970s, he was the highest-paid martial arts actor in the world. According to The New York Times, Wang was "the biggest star of Asian martial arts cinema until the emergence of Bruce Lee."

<i>Dragons Forever</i> 1988 Hong Kong film

Dragons Forever is a 1988 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film directed by Sammo Hung, who also starred in the film, and co-directed by Corey Yuen. The film co-stars Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Pauline Yeung, Deannie Yip, Yuen Wah, Roy Chiao, and Crystal Kwok. It is the last film in which Hung, Chan and Biao all appeared in together, as later Chan subsequently focused on his solo film career.

The Jackie Chan Stunt Team, also known as Jackie Chan's Stuntmen Association, is a group of stuntmen and martial artists who work alongside Jackie Chan. Founded in the 1970s, it originally included Hong Kong action stuntmen and martial artists, before expanding to include international talent over the next several decades.

David Dobkin is an American director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the films Clay Pigeons, Shanghai Knights, Wedding Crashers, The Judge, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

<i>Ten Tigers from Kwangtung</i> 1980 Hong Kong film

Ten Tigers from Kwangtung is a 1980 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Chang Cheh and produced by Mona Fong. It is one of Chang Cheh's tales of Shaolin's historic rivalries with the Qing dynasty and the Canton Tigers. Along with the Brave Archer series, Ten Tigers had an all-star cast of Shaw martial artists.

<i>Story of the Vulture Conqueror</i> 1958 Hong Kong film

Story of the Vulture Conqueror is a two-part Hong Kong film adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The first part was released in 1958 while the second part was released in the following year. The film was directed by Wu Pang and starred Cho Tat-wah and Yung Siu-yee in the leading roles.

<i>The Fairies of Liaozhai</i> Chinese television series

The Fairies of Liaozhai is a Chinese television series adapted from Pu Songling's collection of supernatural stories titled Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. The series is produced by Chinese Entertainment Shanghai and stars Nicky Wu, Fann Wong, Qu Ying, Daniel Chan, Lin Chia-yu, Pan Yueming, Sun Li and Cecilia Liu. Shooting began in December 2006 and wrapped up in March 2007. The 40-episode series is divided into four parts — Liancheng (連城), Xia Nü (俠女), Huanniang (宦娘), and Xin Shisiniang (辛十四娘).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pal Sinn</span> Musical artist

Pal Sinn Lap-man is a Hong Kong musician and actor.

<i>Dont Give a Damn</i> (film) 1995 Hong Kong film

Don't Give a Damn, also known as Burger Cop in the United States, is a 1995 Hong Kong action comedy film produced and directed by Sammo Hung and starring Hung, Yuen Biao, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Kathy Chow.

<i>Shanghai</i> (film series) Action comedy franchise

Shanghai is a series of martial arts action comedy films based on the characters written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The series includes: Shanghai Noon (2000), Shanghai Knights (2003), and the upcoming Shanghai Dawn (TBA). It stars Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson as the Chinese Imperial guard Chon Wang and the American bandit Roy O'Bannon. The series grossed a combined $188 million.

<i>The Climbers</i> (2019 film) 2019 Chinese film

The Climbers is a 2019 Chinese adventure drama film directed by Daniel Lee and written by Alai. The film stars Wu Jing, Zhang Ziyi, Zhang Yi, Jing Boran, and Hu Ge. The film tells the real-life expedition of two generations of Chinese mountaineers to ascend Mount Everest from the perilous north side in 1960 and 1975. The film was released in China, the United Kingdom and North America on September 30, 2019.

References

  1. ↑ "Shanghai Knights (12)". British Board of Film Classification . Archived from the original on 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  2. 1 2 3 "Shanghai Knights (2003) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  3. ↑ "Jackie Chan's Memoir 'Never Grow Up': Fann Wong Wasn't His First Choice in 'Shanghai Knights'". Archived from the original on 2022-01-09. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  4. ↑ "'Shanghai' wraps". Variety . June 26, 2002. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Czech Republic: Jackie Chan films "Shanghai Knights" on location in Prague". ITN. May 16, 2002. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Shanghai Knights". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  7. ↑ "Shanghai Knights". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  8. ↑ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
  9. ↑ Ebert, Roger (February 7, 2003). "Shanghai Knights Movie Review (2003)". Chicago Sun Times . Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  10. ↑ Leydon, Joe (January 26, 2003). "Shanghai Knights". Variety . Archived from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  11. ↑ Mitchell, Elvis (February 7, 2003). "FILM REVIEW; Galahad in Shining Cowboy Duds". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  12. ↑ Rabin, Nathan (2003-03-14). "Shanghai Knights". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  13. ↑ Perry, Spencer (2015-05-14). "MGM Moving Forward with Shanghai Dawn, Starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 2019-08-25. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  14. ↑ "Shanghai Dawn | News | Movies - Empire". gb: Empireonline.com. 2003-02-20. Archived from the original on 2019-08-25. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  15. ↑ Kit, Borys (September 6, 2016). "'Napoleon Dynamite' Director Jared Hess Tackling 'Shanghai Noon' Sequel (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  16. ↑ Swinson, Brock (November 23, 2016). "Into the Badlands: Blood-splattered Heroes and the One Degree of Jackie Chan". Creative Screenwriting. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  17. ↑ Weintraub, Steven; Weisman, Jake (September 24, 2024). "'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Writer Breaks Down the Sequel and Talks 'Wednesday' Season 2 [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.