Shanghai Knights
2003 · Directed by David Dobkin
Original language: English
- adventure
- comedy
- western
The story
When a Chinese rebel murders Chon's estranged father and escapes to England, Chon and Roy make their way to London with revenge on their minds.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-washed Victorian comedy: wide, saturated studio sets of London streets, cobbled alleys with mist and gaslight, and bold primary costumes against drab period grey, shot in a fairly conventional, well-lit studio style with quick cuts and playful zooms during the fight choreography. Sound is brassy and cheerful, with orchestral swells, slapstick sound effects and the odd pop-song flourish. The vibe is light, goofy and buoyant, the kind of thing that suits a Saturday afternoon, a family movie night or a comfort rewatch when you want something easy to laugh along to. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with martial-arts set pieces punctuating running gags and banter between two mismatched men slowly warming to each other, a sidekick-and-hero friendship that never gets too heavy. Violence is frequent but cartoonish: stylised fistfights, swordplay and arrows with almost no blood, and a murder that happens off-screen as the catalyst for the story; fear is minimal and the emotional stakes stay gentle. Made for fans of Jackie Chan's physical comedy and buddy-comedy pairings who want high-energy fun without grimness.
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