Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu (2008)

Ten years ago, five students joined a martial arts school and learned the disciplines of Wushu and the bonds of friendship. Today, both will be put to the test after they and a former student stumble into a child kidnapping ring.

Director:

Antony Szeto

Writers:

Dennis Chan (screenplay), Ho Leung Lau

Stars:

Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Fengchao Liu, Wenjie Wang

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sammo Kam-Bo Hung	...	Li Hui
Fengchao Liu	...	Yang Yauwu
Wenjie Wang	...	Li Yi
Phoebe Wang	...	Fong Fong (as Wang Fei)
Yongchen Liu	...	Xiao Zhang
Yachao Wang	...	Li Er
Junjie Mao	...	Xiao Yi
Dong Wei	...	Young Li Yi
Zhicheng Liang	...	Young Yang Yauwu
Xin Liu	...	Young Fang Fang
Yao Shi	...	Young Xiao Zhang
Dezhou Wu	...	Young Li Er
Jin Zhang	...	Guo Nan
Nan Tie	...	Ke Le
Jing He	...	Zhang Ting

Storyline

Ten years ago, five students joined a martial arts school and learned the disciplines of Wushu and the bonds of friendship. Today, both will be put to the test after they and a former student stumble into a child kidnapping ring.

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Plot Keywords:

wushu | kidnapping | school | martial arts | violence | 

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Taglines:

The art of combat has a new generation.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence

Details

Official Sites:

mtime [China] Sina [China]

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

23 October 2008 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$350,329

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dadi Century, Hippopotamus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the school in this film, Yonghua Wushu College, is taken from the director's Chinese pinyin name, Situ Yonghua.

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Connections

Referenced in The Making of 'Wushu' (2008)

User Reviews

Not the most entertaining of martial arts movies available...

As much as I enjoy Asian martial arts movies, then "Wushu" from 2008 failed to impress me. Sure the martial arts sequences were nice and well choreographed. But it just felt like watching a staged display of skills in the Wushu fighting style and the entire movie was permeated by a sense of it being made specifically to cater a young teenage audience.

The story in "Wushu" was straight forward, sure, but it was also so predictable to the core that it was embarrassing to witness. You knew exactly how the movie was going to pan out and how it would end right from the very beginning. And as such then director Antony Szeto was merely running on autopilot and sitting comfortably in his comfort zone. This made the movie suffer a devastating blow.

It should be noted that the martial arts performers and actors/actresses were doing good enough jobs with their limited options in terms of script and story. But they were most definitely delivering quite well in terms of technical aspects of their martial arts performances. But a movie with nothing but displays of martial arts skills can only go so far, and it was nowhere enough to support an hour and forty-four minutes.

Sammo Hung is used to lure in the viewers, as he is the most established and familiar of all the talents in the movie. However, it should be said that his role is merely a supportive role. He is not the lead actor by any means, and it was initially what lured me into buying the movie. So I was somewhat disappointed with that.

If you are a teenager and fascinated with the martial arts, then you will find much enjoyment in "Wushu". However, if you are more of a mature mind and prefer to watch martial arts movies that also come with a proper storyline, then "Wushu" is a weak choice of movies. There are far better Chinese martial arts movies available.

I am rating "Wushu" a mere four out of ten stars, solely because of the impressive martial arts and choreography there was in the movie. And Sammo Hung also did help to lift up the movie somewhat, despite having a supportive role only.