Name the best "Three Brothers" movies?

[bradavon]

I watched Dragons Forever last night and was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it.

The romance is utterly bizarre and the dialogue is so cheesy in places but for once I found the comedy funny (rare for a Jackie Chan vehicle), it felt very much like a Laurel and Hardy film. The action was nice and brutal too, just how movie violence should be! The 80s feel and villain was a mixture between hilarious and corny. What on earth is up with Benny Urquidez's eyes? It looked like he was wearing make up.

The HKL PE Picture Quality is excellent. It's not often I see a 80s HK film that looks so good. Top marks to Fortune Star/HKL. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Mono included too.

Anyway I enjoyed it much more than Project A (which I found mostly dull). Dragons Forever is now my second favourite Jackie Chan film after Police Story 3, third is Who Am I. I'd almost given up hope that I'd see a decent Jackie Chan film again and was about to give up with him.

Which other "Three Brothers" movies would you recommend? How many are there? What are they called?

Thanks.

[HungFist]

To me it's basically a draw between Project A, Wheels on Meals and Dragons Forever (maybe in this order, if I had to rank them). Jackie, Yuen and Sammo also appear on the Lucky Stars films, although those are basically Sammo films with Jackie and Yuen in small supporting roles. All good, not none great.

Brad, if you liked Dragons then I'd imagine you liking Wheels, too. It's somewhat similar in style.

[Markgway]

In order of best to least:

Dragons Forever
Project A
Wheels on Meals
Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars
My Lucky Stars

I've excluded Winners & Sinners because Biao only has a cameo.

[bradavon]

Thanks Hung and Mark. The action in Dragons Forever was nice and brutal too, just how movie violence should be!

I reckon I'll buy Wheels on Meals. Shockingly the 2 Disc PE looks to be OOP and replaced with a crud 1 disc affair. None of the other HKLs by and large look to be OOP. Most websites don't even list the 2 Disc PE any more, which is strange when the replacement was only released last month.

Wheels on Meals HKL 2 Disc PE looks to be another Fortune Star effort which is a plus, Mono also too. Dragons Forever didn't look pinkified too, unlike the Bruce Lee ones.

I'm not interested in seeing "Okay or Fairly good" Jackie Chan films. I've seen more than enough of those. I still have my Crime Story and New Police Story DVDs to watch though. I reckon "I" may like New Police Story, even if most don't.

The Lucky Stars films look poor. I have no interest whatsoever to see all of Jackie's films.

[Shingster]

I doubt you'll like the Lucky Stars films, try Wheels on Meals and leave it at that. I agree with Mark's rankings for what it's worth.

[Markgway]

The action in Dragons Forever was nice and brutal too, just how movie violence should be!

None of the others have violent action, though you'll probably like the style of fights in WHEELS, which have little prop useage, and not as much comedy as Jackie's.

I reckon I'll buy Wheels on Meals. Shockingly the 2 Disc PE looks to be OOP and replaced with a crud 1 disc affair.

For some reason Megastore used to sell that for a fiver. I have to say that the extras aren't great so unless you're a die-hard fan...

Mono also too.

HKL scored because only their DVDs of WHEELS and DRAGONS have original mono tracks.

I'm not interested in seeing "Okay or Fairly good" Jackie Chan films.

The only other one I can think you might like is HEART OF DRAGON. Seen that?

The Lucky Stars films look poor. I have no interest whatsoever to see all of Jackie's films.

You wouldn't like the LUCKY STARS. 85% goofy comedy.To be honest it's really hard to recommend a film to someone who though PROJECT A was boring. That's actually one I would show to a newbie.

[bradavon]

None of the others have violent action, though you'll probably like the style of fights in WHEELS, which have little prop useage, and not as much comedy as Jackie's.

I do usually find HK comedy doesn't work for me. I also get a bit bored with prop action, they use it so often.

I have to say that the extras aren't great so unless you're a die-hard fan...

It's the same price as the 1 disc affair so why not.

I just watched some of the Dragons Forever extras. They were good. I don't care what anyone says IMO HKL was a fantastic label and it's so sad they're now gone. What we're left with two bit outfits like Cine-Asia. I hope all those who kept saying they wished HKL would go out of business are happy now (not directed at you Mark).

HKL scored because only their DVDs of WHEELS and DRAGONS have original mono tracks.

Do you just mean on Jackie films? It's original on Fist of Fury.

The only other one I can think you might like is HEART OF DRAGON. Seen that?

Nope. The down syndrome aspect looks like bad taste. I guess it's not?

I was going to try Crime Story, Wheels on Meals and maybe Miracles. Although I'm not sure I'd like Miracles.

To be honest it's really hard to recommend a film to someone who though PROJECT A was boring. That's actually one I would show to a newbie.

. My Jackie Chan tastes have always been wildly different from most.

Police Story 3 is still my favourite. A mate of mine loves Project A (he's not generally a JC fan) and kept saying I should see it for years. I did and wasn't sure what all the fuss was about.

For me the thing is, too many Jackie Chan films get the action right but pay zero attention to the rest of the film so when the action comes I'm usually so bored I no longer really care. The non-action bits spoil the action bits.

I can say that about Police Story, Police Story 2, Drunken Master 2 and Project A. I felt "overall" this wasn't the case with Dragons Forever. I liked the comedy for once. Even if it has some utterly weird romantic moments, those are definitely lost on a Western audience or maybe just me.

The villain with his cigar is hilarious and you've got to love the 80s clothes, at least I do.

[Beat TG]

Wheels on Meals
Dragons Forever
Project A
Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars

[gasteropod]

Brad, I'd be up for selling the HKLs of Wheels on Meals (2-disc) and Heart of Dragon if you're interested, lemme know.

[Markgway]

It's the same price as the 1 disc affair so why not.

It used to be a fiver... that was a while ago. But I would look around before getting the 1-disc.

I hope all those who kept saying they wished HKL would go out of business are happy now (not directed at you Mark).

They fucked up a lot, but I'm sorry they've gone. Some of their releases were very good.

Do you just mean on Jackie films? It's original on Fist of Fury.

Just the two we mentioned.

Nope. The down syndrome aspect looks like bad taste. I guess it's not?

Sammo doesn't have Down's Syndrome. His character is retarded though. I found the drama sympathetic and sensitive (especially by HK standards). Judge for yourself. Very little comedy in it.

Although I'm not sure I'd like Miracles.

Probably not. I think it's superb.

Police Story 3 is still my favourite.

One of the most mainstream Jackie films. Stanley Tong brought an internaitonal sensibility to the series, which I've never been sure about. Cool film though, great finale.

For me the thing is, too many Jackie Chan films get the action right but pay zero attention to the rest of the film so when the action comes I'm usually so bored I no longer really care. The non-action bits spoil the action bits.

I happen to really like Jackie's brand of comedy and that's from someone who isn;t a massive fan of Cantonese humour. I find Jackie very accessible, which is why he's an international superstar and Michael Hui isn't. If it wasn't for the more mainstream Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer Stephen Chow would have had no chance.

Even if it has some utterly weird romantic moments, those are definitely lost on a Western audience or maybe just me.

I found the romance quite sweet. I think one of Sammo's successes with Dragons Forever is the way he blends and balances the various elements: action, comedy, drama, romance.

The villain with his cigar is hilarious and you've got to love the 80s clothes, at least I do.

Jackie should wear a suit more often. The villain is Yuen Wah. Sammo wanted him to come off like a 30s gangster.

[bradavon]

It used to be a fiver... that was a while ago. But I would look around before getting the 1-disc.

Gasteropod is selling me his for £5. It's also out of stock at Sendit for £5.39 but otherwise looks hard to get hold of.

They fucked up a lot, but I'm sorry they've gone. Some of their releases were very good.

Again talking generally what I never understood was those who want HKL (and Tartan) to go out of business because they seem so sure the replacement company will be better.

Cine-asia aren't the same league as HKL, even if HKL weren't perfect.

One of the most mainstream Jackie films. Stanley Tong brought an internaitonal sensibility to the series, which I've never been sure about. Cool film though, great finale.

That's probably why I like it. The finale is great. I always find Michelle Yeoh very watchable too, more so than Jackie Chan in fact. If she were male she'd be much bigger, probably.

I happen to really like Jackie's brand of comedy and that's from someone who isn;t a massive fan of Cantonese humour.

I really meant the non-action/comedy bits. People were right when they said Jackie doesn't care about acting, scripts or anything non-action/comedy related. Except for Miracles, that's only one film though.

I found the romance quite sweet. I think one of Sammo's successes with Dragons Forever is the way he blends and balances the various elements: action, comedy, drama, romance.

Agreed. I found it sweet too but it is odd in places. Like the Sammo Megaphone sequence and some of the dialogue is just weird, presuming the subs are accurate.

[gasteropod]

The finale is great. I always find Michelle Yeoh very watchable too, more so than Jackie Chan in fact. If she were male she'd be much bigger, probably.

I can't believe it when she rides a motorbike onto the top of a moving train, what a madhead!