First Strike (1996)

This installment of Chan's Police Story film franchise has our hero trying to locate a missing nuclear warhead.

Director:

Stanley Tong

Writers:

Greg Mellott, Elliot Tong

Stars:

Jackie Chan, Jackson Lou, Annie Wu

2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jackie Chan	...	Insp. Chan Ka Kui
Jackson Lou	...	Jackson Tsui
Annie Wu	...	Annie Tsui (as Chen Chun Wu)
Bill Tung	...	'Uncle' Bill Wong
Yuriy Petrov	...	Col. Gregor Yegorov (as Jouri Petrov)
Nonna Grishaeva	...	Natasha (as Grishajeva Nonna)
John Eaves	...	Mark
Terry Woo	...	Uncle Seven
Kristopher Kazmarek	...	Cmdr. Korda (as Kristoff Kaczmarek)
Ailen Sit	...	Golden Dragon Club Member
Man-Ching Chan	...	Golden Dragon Club Member
Rocky Lai	...	Golden Dragon Club Member
Wai-To Chan	...	Golden Dragon Club Member (as Wai To Chan)
Brett Arthur	...	Hit Man
Mark French	...	Hit Man

Storyline

Jackie, a cop, participates in a sting operation on an international spy-ring. But when one of them (Tsui) gets away, Jackie is ordered to apprehend him. This leads Jackie all over the globe starting with Tsui's sister in Australia. The story follows him as he tries to stay alive and capture the villain.

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Plot Keywords:

frame up | fourth part | hero | australia | undressing | 

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Taglines:

Jackie Chan fights for America in his biggest action film ever.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for plentiful action/violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since Annie Wu didn't speak Cantonese at that time (she was just learning the language), all of her scenes, and those of Uncle Seven and his family (including Jackson Lau) were done in Mandarin. Thus, most of this movie was shot in Mandarin, not Cantonese.

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Goofs

After Jackie meets up with Annie with the security guards at the elevator, the security guard talking on the walkie-talkie says that they are on the top floor, but after Jackie pushes both guards into the elevator, you clearly see the elevator going up, clearly indicating there is at least one more floor.

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Quotes

Col. Gregor Yegorov: You even share the same coffin as your father.
Jackson Tsui: The coffin is for you. You killed my father!
Col. Gregor Yegorov: He had to die somehow. At least it was for a reason.

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Crazy Credits

Outtakes of the stunts that went wrong, injuries and funny scenes.

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Alternate Versions

The US release was cut by approximately 20+ minutes from the original Hong Kong version. Many video/DVD releases are based on this cut version (ie. UK and Germany).

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Connections

Referenced in B gai waak (1998)

User Reviews

Good - but shouldn't be part of the Police Story series

The second 1990s Jackie Chan film made for a worldwide market. It seems the team has learned its lessons with Rumble in the Bronx, as First Strike is more on pace. Filmed in Hong Kong, Ukraine, Russia and Australia, spy intrigue is combined with kung-fu comedy as Chan gets involved in the illegal sale of weapons by the Russian Mafia (yes, another film with this premise). Thanks largely to the presence of Chan, the storyline is pulled off relatively successfully. The ski stunts are impressive and also humorous - but poor Jackie - he really is wearing a couple of layers' clothing! The Australian action sequences are well choreographed and have a sense of occasion. The action is better paced: it is not kung-fu for kung-fu's sake, although if you want realism in your stories, look elsewhere. As an individual Chan film, it works - but it does not deserve being part of the Police Story series, which it was in Hong Kong. The Chinese style is watered down in pursuit of the western markets - and the producers would have been better off creating a new character for Chan this time. Compared to the first and third instalments, it is lacking. This aside, it is entertaining and enjoyable, whether you see the original or dubbed version.

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

English Cantonese Mandarin Russian Ukrainian

Release Date:

10 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jackie Chan's First Strike

Filming Locations:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,778,933, 12 January 1997

Gross USA:

$15,318,863

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,890,845

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Harvest Company, Paragon Films Ltd., Raymond Chow

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 83 min (USA)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS (US version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1