This instalment of Jackie's POLICE STORY series doesn't have much connection to the previous episodes, other than the welcome return of a cameoing Bill Tung playing Jackie's superior, Uncle Bill. Instead, this is more of a James Bond-style tale of international espionage, the hunt for a missing nuclear warhead, warring factions, and of course plenty of Jackie's unique style of action, namely martial arts mayhem. As with most of Jackie's films from the 1990s, the emphasis is on non-stop stunts, chases and action, mixed in with a fast placed plot and a couple of HUGE bad guys (action cinema veteran Nathan Jones) lurking around for good measure. Critics will always complain about elements of Chan's movies, whether it be the acting or the storyline, but rest assured that this is solid entertainment all the way which - whilst not quite up to the previous three movies - certainly packs a punch in terms of action and is at least as exciting, if not more so, than the latest Hollywood blockbuster.So my recommendation is to sit back, ignore all the double-crossing agents and confusing back story of the film, and instead enjoy the endless action which just gets better and better as the film progresses. Beginning with some action on the ski-slopes of the Ukraine for a change, the film offers lots of adventures in international locations. Jackie is chased by henchmen at the top of a tower block, jumps on to a helicopter from a cliff, and falls into a freezing cold lake. Then there's the major martial arts fight halfway through, in which he takes on a gang of henchmen using all kind of furniture as weapons, culminating in his ultimate use of a step ladder to repel the enemy! My favourite moments include the assault on the carnival parade and the ensuing hijinks, and the awesome climax which offers tons of the usual kung fu action, all taking place underwater in a shark-infested tank! Plus things are rounded off with the usual stunt work and Jackie being as cool as ever. Not one of THE classic Chan films, but very entertaining, smooth and recommended viewing for action lovers everywhere.

First Strike (1996): Dir: Stanley Tong / Cast: Jackie Chan, Jackson Lou, Jouri Petrow, Bill Tung, Wu Chen-chun: This film eventually strikes out big time with its horrible dubbing, but its first strike is its numerous martial arts sequences that seem to be chain linked. Jackie Chan stars as an agent sent to follow a woman. He discovers that the villains wish to steal a missile off of a warhead. This all occurs during a visit to the Ukraine, which isn't exactly his best bet for a vacation site since he nearly loses his life more times than a cat. Director Stanley Tong knows how to present the action and he is backed with fine winter location sites, but finding a script worth the time is his problem. Chan is subdued to bad dubbing and at one point held at gun point where his clothes are demanded leaving him in his underwear with only a car door to shield himself. Unfortunately he had nothing to shield himself from the lame writing. He is skilled and creative with these stunts, adding an innocent sense of humour, but it is all show and little substance. His co-stars are not exactly hand picked by the Academy Award voters either. Among them are Jackson Lou, Jouri Petrow, Wu Chen-chun, and Bill Tung and none of them are going out of their way to give a convincing performance. Conclusion includes bloopers and outtakes but the entire film pretty much sums that up. Score: 2 / 10

OK first, Jackie Chan stumbling around a Russian ski resort in a fluffy sea lion hat is priceless! An awful heck of a lot happens in the first 30 min alone.There were a lot of things I found a riot that were subtle and the slapstick variety. Like when Jackie is on a snowmobile at the ski resort and comes to a restricted area with a warning sign of one guy shooting another guy if you cross - he calls his superiors and asks what to do an the guy says, "Oh that's just for kids." So Jackie forges on. LMAO It's done do deadpan I'm not sure if it's intended to be funny, but I was roaring.The action keeps moving and there are some amazing moments like the famous ladder fight scene. The humor is great and well-placed and there's even a credible reason for Jackie to get naked at one point. His attempts to hide himself had me laughing out loud.This is one of those movies that you'll enjoy if you just let yourself enjoy it and not try to make sense of it. I found the story went in way too many directions to follow. But everything that goes on on screen is so much fun I kinda didn't care.

This moniker wasn't a joke. This movie really proved it's point. Compared to "Rumble in the Bronx" and "Supercop", "Jackie Chan's First Strike" packed a major punch! All the sabotage, the espionage, Jackie Chan was really ready to rumble. Survive the biting cold seemed rough for Jackie, but he managed very well. Sometimes he character seemed to wonder who were the good guys and who were the bad caused some wonder. In the scene where he was heavily bugged, he didn't do bad on the old 60's song "I Will Follow You", and it was embarrassing when everyone saw his posterior, I would rather hide in a thorny bush, than to be seen nude myself, unless the women are driven wild by male nudity. Then there's the fight scene in the aquarium, where the sharks and sea urchins have their way with the victims. And most of all the ladders fight which is the most memorable of all scenes. I liked it all, the turnout, the plot and the choreography, this Jackie Chan movie is the tops. Rating 4 out of 5 stars.