Jackie Chan’s Project A movies came out in 4K in October, but as a devotee of Hong Kong movies I couldn’t let the year end without taking a look at the collection. The first film was a landmark in establishing Chan’s style of stunts and slapstick comedy. He’d already brought comedy to martial arts in Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master, but Project A brought the setting up to the 20th century, albeit early in the century.
He would get to present day in Wheels on Meals and Police Story, but Project A emphasized elaborate stunt sequences as well as fights. By Project A Part II he and his stunt team were at the hight of their powers.
The Golden Harvest logo never looked so deep and pure, and other Golden Harvest films have been on 4K. You still see the film grain from the ‘80s, but the lavish 19th century sets shine in detail.
Nighttime nautical scenes capture the depth of the night sky and the deep dark drink. Exteriors in bright daylight sun look like they were filmed today, but pointed at sets and cast 40 year ago. The bright white officer uniforms with blue highlights pepper the scenes.
Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto give commentaries for both films. They address Chan coming off of Dragon Lord and the differences showing what he learned from the debacle. Djeng had so much to say about the first film he gives a second solo commentary. There, he goes deeper on the Dragon Lord connection. He doens’t have another full movie in him though so you can turn it off after the bike chase.
There’s only one commentary on Project A Part II but they cover it all and they consider it Chan’s best. I’d say Miracles or Drunken Master 2 but it’s nice to hear their passion. DeSanto mentions Miracles and the debt it owes to this, and it’s really the sophisticated camerawork they admire.
New interviews with stuntman Mars and Anthony Carpio each give perspectives on the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, first and secondgeneration. A new interivew with collector Paul Dre shows all of his memorabilia.
Standard definition interviews include another with Mars, Lee Hoo-san, Yuen Biao, composer Michael Lai and writer Edward Tang. These are thorough and often contain other highlights, like Dick Wei doing some demos and showing his photos with co-stars, and Chan Wai Man’s home movies of training 36th Chamber style.
24 more minutes of outtakes shows the shot preparation longer than the end credits reel does. A large chunk of this includes fans visiting the set where you really see Chan turning on the charm, even with no sound.
“Making of…” footage shows more B-roll from a TV camera, not the film crew. Someone Will Know Me is a 13 minute documentary on the stuntment and their fans with some more good behind the scenes footage. An interview with Roberta Chow in the booklet included reveals this was her thesis film. She was also one of the morphing models in Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” bookley.
Project A comes in a lovely white slipcase with two separate disc cases and a fairly thick booklet with articles. Those articles include cool archival materials like Chan’s own production notes and Golden Harvest’s sales materials.