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Action icon Jackie Chan returns to the screen in the film The Medallion in the latest of his unique and innovative style of films that have made him a legend in Asia and have garnered him fans the world over.

Chan stars as Eddie Yang, an inspector with the Hong Kong Police who is working with Interpol in an attempt to apprehend a dangerous criminal known as Snakehead (Julian Sands). Yang disrupts a heist planned by Snakehead but loses his query in the process and is forced to follow him to Ireland after a local boy is kidnapped via forces loyal to Snakehead. Once in Ireland, Yang is joined in his efforts to rescue the child and capture Snakehead by an old flame named Nicole (Claire Forlani) and his former colleague from Interpol Arthur Watson (Lee Evans I).

During the course of the investigation, the characters discover that the child is actually a chosen one whose order believes has the power to grant immortality and resurrect the dead by manipulation of a two-sided medallion. Legend says that the chosen one is capable of uniting both halves of the medallion and performing miracles. Naturally, Snakehead wants to become immortal and satisfy his illusions of godhood and is willing to sacrifice the child to obtain it.

What follows is typical Chan style as he finds himself endowed with magical powers as he attempts to fight the bad guys and save the day. What separates The Medallion from past Chan films is an alarming lack of Chan's style of action that blends choreography and humor to create original and often funny scenes of excitement. Worse yet, it is very evident that many stunts involved wires and computer assisted enhancements, which drastically undermine the film, as Chan is famous for doing his own stunt work.

One does not expect that spectacular a story in a Jackie Chan film as he is a master at creating action films that the whole family can enjoy and as such keeps plots to simple terms of good and bad, concentrating more on the artistry of his action scenes and comedy. Sadly, there is far too little of that in this film as I struggle to recall any action scene that is worthy of Chan's talent. If that problem is not enough, Evans, who turns in a fantastic performance as the bumbling yet good-natured Watson, performs the bulk of the best comedy. Forlani, despite being a talented and attractive actress, is not given little to do aside from smile and cast gooey looks at Yang. Evans is given a few good lines as the comic relief, but it is not enough to save this film from its shortcomings. Following up the disappointing The Tuxedo with good work in Shanghai Knights, Chan slips with this film which is easily once of his most disappointing films in recent memory.

Gareth Von Kallenbach   August 29, 2003

Jackie Chan's latest film, The Medallion, has undergone title changes and opening date changes. Finally, it opens and proves to be a slightly above average Chan action flick. Jackie could play this part in his sleep. He is (as usual) a cop who goes against authority (as usual) has a beautiful female partner (as usual), a male partner who is always going in the wrong direction (as usual) and a villain with oiliness to spare (as usual). In fact, I have probably typed out the plot to Chan's next film.

The Medallion is a special medal that bestows immortality on the good guys and takes it away from the bad guys. We can see why bad guy Julian Sands wants it. Jackie is actually working with Interpol and inept partner Lee Evans (who gives over-acting new meaning) in an immigration case when they stumble upon the kidnapping of a child-priest and his special medallion. Jackie's former partner Michelle (Claire Forlani) isn't keen about having Jackie around, as they dated and he never called her back. In the meantime, Sands is having problems kidnapping and keeping the child because Jackie and crew are stopping them through martial arts fights. Of course, this action is what fans come to see. Eventually, the group all end up in Ireland (probably the only place in which Jackie hadn't made a film) where the accents are murky and so is the plot. The fights escalate from poke and jab to something out of Matrix films. Oh, that the entire film were like the last one-third of this picture.

I had trouble following the plot of The Medallion. How did Sands hear about this medallion? Why, when he says, "Treat the kid gently," does the boy get tossed around like a bag of rice? Why isn't the elegant John Rhys Davies in the picture more? When is Lee Evans going to stop mugging at the camera? Why didn't Chan let the hey-dude scientist help them? This guy had pizzazz and for a moment, I thought the film would take off, but no, it was back to action. Not that that is a bad thing in a Jackie Chan film, for he does his own stunts, and one wonders how many guardian angels have retired over him. One thing about Jackie Chan--he has a smile that lights up the screen. No wonder fans love him.

All in all, when will be bad guys learn never to leave each other in a Chan film, especially in a dark tunnel. Or, the call, "Get him!" only means bad-guys-piled-in-heap while Chan walks away unscathed. The Medallion is just what it is supposed to be--Jackie Chan and action. There is the sewer chase, the rooftop chase, the boat fight, underwater sequence and the castle fight. In-between, you can step out for popcorn.

Copyright 2003 Marie Asner
Submitted 9/4/03