Drunken Master 2
Reviewer: Piccolo
Director: Lau Kar-leung
Studio:
Year of Release: 1994(JK), 2000(USA)
Genre: Martial Arts Action/Comedy
Starring: Jackie Chan
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Rating: R
AKA: Legend of the Drunken Master

I've only seen the Chinese version of this movie, with subtitles, so that is what I will be reviewing here.

Jackie Chan is probably my favorite Chinese movie star. And this is probably my favorite Jackie Chan movie. It is very fun to watch, and would make a great movie to show someone to introduce them to Jackie or even this genre, in my opinion. Like all Jackie Chan movies, there is an equal amount of zanyness mixed in with the fast and well cohreographed fights, but this one borders more on the zany side. Why this one got an R rating when it was shown in the states I'll never know, unless they threw some more swearing in the dub. As far as I can tell, people are just beaten up, and no one is killed outright.

The plot is a bit loose, but that is not what I go to see a Jackie Chan movie for, so I'm not going to even try and explain it. This movie's fights are unlike anything you've seen, save for the original Drunken Master. What Jackie Chan's fighting style involves is getting drunk and then using several specialized techniques to defeat opponents. He doesn't just stumble around and dodge punches by luck, although that is one part of it, but instead he uses his unpredictable motions to his advantage and attacks when and where the enemy doesn't expect. Building upon this, he uses techniques that few people are familiar with. For example, he acts like he is holding a huge barrel of wine, and in his arms he knocks his opponent's head around. As soon as you see him drop into his Drunken Boxing stance, complete with the loud flapping of the cloth on the arms of his uniform, you know you're in for a fight that will be great fun to watch.

Not to say Jackie Chan is the only cast member, the lady who plays his mother in this is quite a character herself. I believe it is Lau Kar-leung who fights Jackie with a spear, and the whole scene is like something out of Ranma 1/2. Jackie Chan's rival in this movie, Ken Lo, is also in excellent physical shape, and performs dozens of rapid, complex leg kicks that would easily tire a normal man. The final fight between him and Jackie borders on insanity, after Jackie drinks grain alcohol instead of normal wine and starts to breathe fire.

Overall, this is a very entertaining movie to watch. Everything adds up to make a great movie that will even entertain those unfamiliar with Jackie Chan or movies of the martial arts genre in general. Jackie Chan is as funny as he is fast. Unlike some Chinese martial arts movies, the pace is pretty quick. After it's over, you'll want to learn and try out some Drunken Boxing yourself. Without real grain alcohol, of course. That would be bad.