Meltdown (1995)
"Shu dan long wei" (original title)

After failing to save his wife from 'The Doctor', Kit Li is working as a bodyguard and secret stunt double for the cowardly martial arts film star Frankie Lane. Frankie attends an ... See full summary »

Directors:

Jing Wong, Wai-Lun Lam

Writers:

Domonic Muir (dubbed version), Jing Wong

Stars:

Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, Chingmy Yau

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jet Li	...	Kit Li
Jacky Cheung	...	Frankie Lone
Chingmy Yau	...	Helen
Charlie Yeung	...	Joyce
Kelvin Wong	...	The Doctor / David Wang
Valerie Chow	...	Fai-Fai
Billy Chow	...	Kong
Ma Wu	...	Frankie's Father
Charlie Cho	...	Charlie
Ben Lam	...	Rabbit (English dubbed)
Chung-Hsien Yang	...	Detective Chow Kam (Joyce's Boyfriend)
Suki Kwan	...	Li's Wife
Bobby Yip	...	Ugly Extra
Tak Yuen	...	Salvage-Corps Man
Corey Yuen	...	Wai

Storyline

After failing to save his wife from 'The Doctor', Kit Li is working as a bodyguard and secret stunt double for the cowardly martial arts film star Frankie Lane. Frankie attends an exhibition of the crown jewels of Russia at a Hong Kong hotel, and when the Doctor's gang take over the building in attempt to steal them, Kit is the only thing standing in their way. Will Frankie regain his courage? Will romance blossom between Kit and the nosy reporter? Who has the best Kung-Fu?

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Plot Keywords:

bodyguard | kung fu | martial arts | hong kong | poisoned blade | 

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Taglines:

He Redefines Revenge

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and some language

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin English

Release Date:

12 July 1995 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Meltdown

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Sun Entertainment, Upland Films Corporation Limited, Wong Jing's Workshop Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jacky Cheung's character Frankie Lone was originally intended for 'Jackie Chan'. Before production began on High Risk, Chan was starring in Jing Wong's movie, Sing si lip yan (a.k.a. City Hunter). They didn't get along during the filming, and the experience of working with Jackie was so bad that Wong Jing chose to make the character of Frankie Lone a mockery of Chan. Jackie Chan was understandably offended and Jet Li personally apologized to Jackie for his involvement with the movie.

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Goofs

Frankie tricks the henchman searching for him and his dad by placing his sneaker just barely visible behind the wall and jumps the guy from behind after he shoots at the shoe - falling flat on his face. We then see Frankie doing pushups with both his shoes on again.

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Quotes

The Doctor: No Risk, No Reward.

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Connections

References Sunset Boulevard (1950)

User Reviews

Jet Li shows his skills

The movie might have been Hong Kong's version of "Rush Hour" if Jackie Chan was playing the role of Frankie. Unfortunately, the chemistry between the principles didn't seem to match, and this didn't happen.

Jet Li is a Hong Kong police officer in the special operations. He lost his wife and daughter on his mission to defuse a bomb set under their bus. He's deeply affected by this event, and retires from the police force. He's finding bit part as a stunt man, but then the culprit who was responsible for the bombing of the bus shows up at the hall he happens to be in. Him, Frankie, (Jackie Cheung) and others battle the gangs to save the day.

Jet Li was still unknown in the west at the time, but he puts in a great performance. I can't tell if it's wire work, but he does some unbelievable moves in this movie. Perhaps the fastest I've seen him move.

What surprised me was how decrepit Jackie Cheung looks in this movie. I almost didn't recognize him.

The movie didn't come out as the stellar action movie it could have been, but Jet Li shows his presence in this movie as the leading man. Worth the watch.