Movies: The Myth

Before I went on vacation, I managed to sneak in a movie-watching session with Dad. While the rest of the family went to see something in the theaters, we cracked open the DVD case and came up with "The Myth." It was a loan from someone else's Netflix queue, so we popped it in.

For people who only know Jackie Chan through his woeful American outings, it might be surprising to learn that Chan is one of Hong Kong's most bankable stars. "The Myth" is one such blockbuster, fueled almost entirely by Chan's slapstick fighting and lush production values (a 15 million dollar budget buys a lot in HK).

The plot is all over the place in this one (and more than a bit reminiscent of "The Fountain," to be honest). Jackie plays both an ancient Chinese general safeguarding a princess and a modern day archaeologist seeking answers, though it's initially unclear how these two stories intertwine. Add in some nonsensical levitation, a Bollywood interlude that includes a dance number, and you have a very strange mishmash of genres.

As I said before, the production values save this one. The parts set in ancient China feature some convincing costumes, and the various locations in the modern day look great too. The fight sequences are the real draw here, and though it's not one of Jackie Chan's best movies, it makes for a passable way to get your sci-fi/fantasy/martial arts fix.

Rating: 6/10

The movie has many. many battles, but the standout has got to be the fight in a rat paper factory, featuring a cameo from the rather fetching Indian sex symbol Mallika Sherawat.