HIGH RISK (DVD/1995/LBX) DVD

High Risk
This action parody is a Die Hard clone with an interesting twist. Kit (Jet Li) leaves the police force after the death of his family at the hands of a terrorist named "The Doctor." Kit becomes the bodyguard for Frankie (Jacky Cheung), a movie star who is famous for supposedly doing his own daring stuntwork. Frankie, a shameless send-up of action superstar Jackie Chan, turns out to be a drunken womanizer whose martial arts skills have waned; Kit secretly performs all of the actor's stunts. Frankie attends a gala event at a high-rise hotel when the Doctor shows up and takes hostages. While Frankie runs short of courage, it's up to Kit to confront his nemesis. Jet Li, whose serious action performances have often been contrasted to Jackie Chan's slapstick antics, is a perfect choice to play the "real thing" opposite Cheung's outrageous Chan caricature. It should be noted that the film's sharp jabs at Chan's onscreen credibility are funny and audacious, but also highly inaccurate. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide

Cast Jet Li as Jacky Cheung as Yau Chingmy as

Crew Corey Yuen - Director Wong Jing - Director Pei Hsiang-Chuan - Producer Wong Jing - Producer Wong Jing - Screenwriter

High Risk
After an opening scene in which we see our hero, Kit (Jet Li), watch his wife and child die in a bus explosion, High Risk shows loud and clear that it is not the typical Hong Kong action comedy. Directed by action master Corey Yuen, High Risk is easy to peg as a rip-off of director John McTiernan's American action classic Die Hard. The movie features tons of similarities, not the least of which being the basic plot of one hero trying to rescue people trapped in a high-rise building from evil terrorists. What sets this film apart from other clones is a madcap camera energy and raw hunger for the hyperactive action usually only seen in the Hong Kong action films of John Woo or the early films directed by Sam Raimi. A scene in which Kit effortlessly shoots a machine gun out the windows of an out of control spinning car and proceeds to then drive the car, while it is on fire, into an elevator will silence those expecting anything close to typical. Also of note is Jacky Cheung as the character Frankie, who appears to be a comedic spoof of both Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Cheung is thrilling to watch, as he gets some of the film's most awe-inspiring and gravity-defying moments. The fact that Cheung is able to hold his own with legendary Jet Li is a credit to not only his martial arts skills but to his onscreen charm as well. Made years before Li became a real star in the U.S. and before this style of filmmaking became the standard for action cinema worldwide, High Risk remains a little seen and rarely spoken about action masterpiece. ~ Jason Gibner, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: Cantonese, Mandarin Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: 5.1: 5 full-range channels. Includes 3 for the front speakers, 2 surround channels for rear speakers, & 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel to carry deep bass effects 1: PCM mono Additional Features: [None confirmed] MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: All Content Length: 100 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Chapters 1. Chapter 1 [:29] 2. Chapter 2 [11:09] 3. Chapter 3 [12:02] 4. Chapter 4 [11:50] 5. Chapter 5 [12:17] 6. Chapter 6 [13:26] 7. Chapter 7 [13:37] 8. Chapter 8 [12:08]