Operation Condor 2 Blu-ray offers solid video and mediocre audio in this mediocre Blu-ray release
Hard-hitting fortune hunter Jack's ex-girlfriend is kidnapped and held for ransom by an evil cult. Then, things really kick into high gear when her fiance, an old friend of Jack's, turns to him for help in finding and delivering the kidnapper's lone demand: the priceless Armour of God.
This isn't to say that Jackie Chan isn't a nice looking man or anything of the sort, but the fact is that many -- if not most -- of the faces that appear on
cinema screens make it to the top of the Hollywood pile because of their looks, not for any unique talents they bring to the table. Certainly a few of
them are very capable actors who also happen to be gorgeous ladies or handsome men. Some of them have an uncanny knack for making
people laugh, others still offer the perfect Action movie physique, or maybe there's some other legitimate characteristic beyond mere appearance that's
brought them success in the film industry. But if there's one actor who can truly say that he's become a massive sensation because of a skill set
rather than simply looks, it's Jackie Chan. Jackie's become one of the most celebrated and beloved entertainers of this era because of his remarkable
agility and ability to perform complex physical stunts. He's the perfect Action star, a human highlight reel if ever there was one, and combine his
charming personality with his unique physical gifts and, sure, he's a nice-looking fellow, and suddenly all the pieces are in place for one of history's
biggest movie stars.
Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Jackie (Chan), also known as "The Asian Hawk," was once a member of a prominent pop band along with best friend Alan (Alan Tam) and would-be
girlfriend Lorelei (Rosamund Kwan). But Alan wasn't thrilled with the prospect of Jackie landing Lorelei for himself, so out the door went Jackie and
into
Lorelei's heart went Alan. Jackie's since been off adventuring, getting himself into and out of sticky situations against impossible odds and with
unimaginable prizes at stake, but he's about to face his toughest challenge yet. A secret criminal bossman wants to complete his collection of godly
armor. Legend has it that the man who possesses the entire set may wield great power, and he'll do anything to get his hands on the last pieces.
He's
ordered Lorelei's kidnapping, hoping to use her for leverage to retrieve the remaining pieces of armor from the man who possesses them and the
man who
cares enough for Lorelei to make the exchange: Jackie. With the help of a young woman named May (Lola Forner) whose father also possesses
pieces of the
armor, the three set out on a quest to rescue Lorelei and prevent a madman from gaining the ultimate power of the armor of God.
Operation Condor 2 is typical Chan. In truth, little more need be said. Fans of his style will love the movie, and those viewers familiar with
his on-screen antics will know exactly what to expect. The Action superstar again uses his physical gifts to entertain. The picture is built around
Chan's agility and ability to use his body and his environment to tremendous action advantage and entertaining effect. He slides, jumps, tiptoes,
punches, kicks, flips, and performs all sorts of death-, gravity-, and odds-defying stunts. It's all very well choreographed and looks and feels very
natural, even as the feats come in rapid-fire superhuman form. The result is a movie that's exciting, heart-pumping, and very watchable. This is a
rare case where mere visuals are reason enough to watch; to be sure the plot is certainly not remarkable -- to say nothing of the secondary
elements -- but Chan's persona and physical attributes rightly dominate the picture and elevate it beyond mere throwaway moviemaking and mold it
into a real
treat for the eyes.
But with Operation Condor 2, Jackie Chan's on-screen performance is only the beginning. The actor also works the other side of the
camera, directing the picture and doing so with surprising skill and know-how. It should really come as no surprise that Chan's a capable Martial Arts
film director. After all, who better to really know how to put together a film of this sort than the man who makes it happen out on stage?
Chan knows his physical gifts; his unique style; his capabilities; and yes, even his limitations better than anyone one the planet, so it seems only
proper and natural to allow
him to stage the entire thing. His direction accentuates the action and tightens the story, and even if the plot isn't at all spectacular, Chan makes it
passably interesting and smartly moves rather quickly in between action scenes, ensuring a good flow and little downtime, just enough for the
audience's collective heartbeat to settle back down only to be sparked back up into high gear the next time the star is swinging and jumping and
ducking and doing whatever else he does through the course of the picture. Certainly, however, the movie struggles in areas; the characters are flat
and overdone, particularly the villains; Chan himself never really sound capable of delivering his lines with better than a robotic cadence; and the
dubbing for English-speaking audiences sounds goofy but at least adds a charm. But the movie just works in spirit and style alone.
Operation Condor 2 represents all that's good about cinema on a very base level. It's entertaining and it shows audiences the kinds of
things
they rarely, if ever, see outside of the movie house. If that's not the definition of spectacle entertainment, then what is?
Operation Condor 2's 1080p Blu-ray transfer won't dazzle any but the newest of high definition audiences, but this is nevertheless a serviceable
transfer from Echo Bridge. Though the image may appear slightly fuzzy and washed out in spots, it's generally sharp and nicely detailed. Film grain
accentuates and stabilizes. Details impress, whether complex facial and clothing textures, rough stones, or beaten wood planks. Clarity is generally
strong, and the image usually stays mostly sharp, allowing even objects distant from the camera to appear rather crisp and true. Colors are not
spectacular, but neither are they dull. Vibrant green vegetation is usually the highlight, and balance is suitable whether other bright shades or lesser
earthen tones. Black crush is evident at times, but skin tones remain neutral. Light speckling is often cause for concern, but this transfer is relatively
free of other blemishes, such as banding and blocking. Operation Condor 2 won't walk away with "catalogue transfer of the year," but fans will
appreciate the boost the movie receives on Blu-ray.
Operation Condor 2 arrives on Blu-ray with a messy DTS-HD MA 2.0 lossless soundtrack. The presentation suffers from the lesser, confined
track, and the absence of surround channels doesn't do the movie any favors. This is definitely this release's weak spot, at least from a technical
perspective. The track often sounds mushy, crunchy, and indistinct. Fortunately it never sounds as hollow as the music that plays over the main menu,
but neither does this one ever sound quite as rich and clear as it should. Music plays sloppily, with little real clarity, poor definition, and muddled range,
but energy and effort both receive high grades. Sound effects also come up lacking. Crashing rocks, zooming cars, and other effects lack sonic
distinction. Gunfire never rings out with precision or authority, and landed punches and kicks are met with a dull thud. The low end rattles heavily at
about the one-hour mark, and the lack of a tighter bass line hurts the movie. Dialogue is relatively clear and accurate, however. This is a decent
presentation; it does the movie no real favors, but it's certainly not a sonic disaster, either.
Operation Condor 2 excels as a Jackie Chan movie. It would flop badly with anyone else in the lead role and it wouldn't be nearly as exciting
with someone else behind the camera. Jackie Chan proves to be a one-man moviemaking machine with this one. He accentuates the pluses and
reduces
the minuses from behind the camera, all the while showing off like only he can in front of it. Certainly the ancillary elements will leave audiences
wanting, but chances are most simply won't care. People watch Jackie Chan movies not for deep plot but for superhuman feats of agility, and
Operation Condor 2 delivers. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Echo Bridge's Blu-ray release. Though the video quality is decent, the
two-channel lossless soundtrack struggles and no supplements are included. Definitely worth a rental, and for the right price fans should consider a
purchase.
Blu-ray bundles with Operation Condor 2 (1 bundle)
