The Jackie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (1983 - 1993)

The career of martial arts icon Jackie Chan is a storied affair as he struggled to attain the heights of action-hero status while carving out a unique persona and style. His early efforts lacked original and engaging stories though were box-office successes. These features catered to period aesthetics for an audience rapidly embracing a modern world.  Fortunately, Jackie was able to dazzle filmmakers enough with his acrobatic style which added connective tissue to these recycled stories of warriors and masters. Collaboration, confidence, and compromise helped him navigate his growing global identity. The resulting films from 1983-1993 are all unique reflections of his staying power as the greatest action star of all time. 

This collection from Shout! begins with two films from actor/director Sammo Hung with Jackie in supporting roles. Winners and Sinners (1983) and Wheels on Meals (1984) are slapstick action comedies featuring the famous Lucky Stars crew of Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Stanley Fung, and John Shum. In both films, Sammo gives Jackie plenty of creative authority to choreograph his dazzling stunt work. In Winners Jackie’s detective storyline seems sadly cut from another film until the end. Wheels puts Jackie in the driver’s seat allowing him more screen time in this goofy film about a food truck crew that becomes involved in a kidnapping. 

I’m going to skip the disc order and detail another Sammo Hung flick from 1985 titled Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars. This zany yet problematic slapstick comedy is peppered with insane fight scenes featuring the skills of Chan, Sammo, and the crew. Here the standout moment is Jackie’s sustained fight with martial arts legend Richard Norton from Gymkata. Look out for an appearance from Michelle Yeoh as a judo instructor who puts the moves on Sammo. This is another solid entry for Sammo’s filmography but Jackie’s performance is still sadly detached from the narrative. Three films into this collection and I feel as if Jackie is just a featured player in Sammo’s world rather than a participant. Collaboration is more sacrifice than you’d expect, right? 

After the disappointment of Battle Creek Brawl Jackie tried to break into the American film market again with 1985’s The Protector directed by James Glickenhaus. This sleazy thriller marks a departure for Jackie from comedy and instead pits him with Danny Aiello in this over-the-top exploitation actioner filled with salacious nudity and brutal violence. The film is a mess tonally but works as a vehicle for Jackie to show American audiences his craft. It takes confidence to take a risk, right? Jackie would re-edit the film for Asian markets which you can see in this collection. Afterward, Jackie would famously direct his own version of the film, Police Story. 

 Most know 1986’s Armour of God as the film that nearly killed Jackie Chan. Here he channels Raiders of the Lost Ark in possibly his best film to date. Explorer Asian Hawk is stealing prized antiquities, using cool gadgets, and battling monks all in the name of saving an ex-girlfriend from her captors. Armour is a solid action comedy with an interesting story giving Jackie plenty of opportunities for stunt work. Something unique for a Jackie Chan film. Highlights include the balloon jump, the Amazonian warrior fight scene, and the chase scenes involving Jackie’s adorable Mitsubishi convertible. 

1991’s Armour of God 2: Operation Condor sees the globe-trotting explorer back with more toys at his disposal. Directed by Jackie this time around the film uses hidden Nazi gold to motivate our adventurer and his crew of beautiful ladies who provide plenty of sexual provocation. Action scenes use comedy as a crutch with sight gags appearing faster than Jackie’s punches. Highlights include a hotel shootout, wind tunnel turbine stunts, and the motorcycle chase sequence.  

1993’s Crime Story sees another departure for Jackie in this true crime thriller based on a famous kidnapping case. Jackie isn’t out of his league playing the headstrong detective, but story and character come before the fists. With intense lighting cues for the huge set pieces, the feature is full of atmosphere and mood. A far cry from Glickenhaus’ The Protector. As a true crime thriller, it fires on all cylinders offering plenty of action, drama, and high tension. Audiences expecting a cartoonish Jackie will see him digging deeper into his acting chops in a film decidedly more mature with racier content than usual. 

The final film in the collection is 1993’s City Hunter. A silly action comedy where Jackie is given endless opportunities to go full Buster Keaton on a cruise ship full of sexy ladies and terrorists. While not everything works here it's a goofy mix of cartoonish antics framed by a DIE HARD story structure. Nothing is to be taken seriously which makes the whole effort an entertaining ride. Highlights include the Street Fighter sequences, the Game of Death theater fight, and the abrupt music video in the middle of the film.  

Within two years Jackie would release Legend of Drunken Master and Rumble in the Bronx cementing his presence to Western audiences thanks to the growing VHS market carrying his films stateside. Just three years later Jackie would appear in Rush Hour making him a reliable presence in mainstream action comedies to this day. 

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
The Jackie Chan Collection Vol. 2 is brought to Blu-ray thanks to Shout! Factory’s Shout Select line. Housed in a wide keep case with two-sided artwork, the eight Region A discs are individually housed in separate trays. Loading each disc presents the Shout! Factory logo before landing on the static Main Menu screen. Typical navigation options are presented clearly. A slipcover is available for this release but could be limited after the initial release window. 

Each film in The Jackie Chan Collection Vol. 2 is shown in its original widescreen format in an AVC encoded 1080p presentation. All films are in 1.85:1 AVC 1080p except Meals on Wheels, Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars, Armour of God, and Armour of God II: Operation Condor which are in 2.35:1. Winners and Sinners and Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars receive 4K restorations from the original film elements while the remaining titles receive 2K restorations from their original film elements. Overall each image presentation looks excellent with source materials improving with the younger films. The Protector has the most issues in terms of image detail and colors though it still looks better than previous home video releases. Across the board the grain fields, color dynamics, black levels, and fine detail particulars are solid. If you have these titles on Blu-ray from UK labels 88 Films or Eureka Entertainment you’ll find their image presentation pretty near identical to these discs. Check out my notes below to see what each disc brings to the tale.

Winners and Sinners arrives in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with a new 4K transfer from the original film elements. Solid black levels are apparent during the opening nighttime heist scene and carry throughout the feature. Even skin tones and bright primaries are also evident. Fine detail appears within facial textures and costuming fibers making medium and close-ups look fantastic. Primaries are bold with reds and blues particularly strong. 

Meals on Wheels arrives in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with a new 2K restoration. Fine detail and fibrous textures are apparent within the image though a softness appears at times. The grain field is stable though it becomes heavier during the third act insanity. Skin tones are even with strong primaries. Inky black levels reveal detail within shadow. Flickering is evident during the nighttime scenes within the castle sequences. 

The Protector arrives with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and a new 2K restoration. Black levels are solid with a consistent grain field present. Primaries are strong with cold blues and deep reds dominating the image. Fine detail present in some closeups and medium shots. Clothing textures and facial features receive similar treatment. Depth and contrast are adequate for this action feature and often disappoint in larger action set pieces or moody outdoor locations. Detail is often lost in darkened scenes though no artifacts are evident on first viewing. Of all the films this one is the toughest to watch with its numerous image issues. However, its Glickenhaus so at least its entertaining, right?

Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars arrives in its original 2.35:1 with a solid 4K restoration from the original film elements. Fine detail in facial textures and costuming allow this hilarious film to feature its stars clearly. Primaries are bright with reds and greens looking dynamic and full. Skin tones appear even throughout the feature in medium and close-up shots. Black levels are solid without noise or artifacts. No smoothing is evident. Overall a damn good transfer for the Lucky Stars crew! 

Armour of God arrives in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio with a new 2k restoration transfer of the HD image. The “International Cut” also found on the disc doesn’t claim to have the same restoration but on a first watch, the image looks similar. Here on the “Hong Kong Cut” running 98 minutes you’ll find a clear and detailed HD image with bold colors. Inky black levels support excellent contrast which helps detail within the exciting cave sequences. A chunky grain field gives the film that 80’s action film texture which looks perfect. 

Armour of God 2: Operation Condor looks spectacular in its 2.35:1 2k restoration showcasing a film-like HD presentation. Detail is sharp within facial features and costuming. Primaries are bright with greens and blues defining the many landscapes our intrepid explorer encounters. Inky black levels support excellent contrast and depth to the image. 

Crime Story appears moody and dark with its 2k restoration in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Deep black levels support solid depth and contrast. Fine detail is prominent throughout the feature. I think this may be the best HD image in the collection so far. Colors pop nicely with primaries bold and dynamic. Neon lights paint the city scenes in bright reds and blues creating a vivid environment for shootouts and spectacular Jackie stunts. 

City Hunter hits the deck with a strong HD image in the film’s original 1.85:1 with excellent depth and color reproduction. Fine detail is evident within medium and closeups. Grain appears stable throughout the feature though gets heavy during sustained action sequences. Some insert stunt shots lack clarity but action fans won’t be bothered. Primaries are bold and dynamic giving this early 90s action comedy plenty of flair. 

The Jackie Chan Collection Vol. 2 features an utter ambush of audio options in multiple languages with English dubs. Overall the 24 bit DTS-HD MA Mono and Stereo audio options presented are clear and clean with minimal hiss and pop evident even in the classic audio tracks. The 5.1 Surround mixes in Dolby Digital are an excellent addition though only the track from City Hunter impressed me enough to merit watching the full feature. Attempting to scrutinize each audio mix would be a fruitless effort as they’re all great. 

English subtitles are available across the board with occasional discrepancies apparent. The various audio options are well restored with original tracks offering greater fidelity than dubs. Each disc has English subtitle options and an SDH option for the English language tracks. Below you’ll find the audio options for each disc. 

Winners and Sinners  

• Mandarin 5.1 DD 
• English Dub Mono DTS-HD MA 
• Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA  
• Alternate Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA

Wheels on Meals

• Original Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA 
• Cantonese 5.1 DD
• Cantonese 2.0 DTS-HD MA with Alternate Soundtrack
• Original English Mono DTS-HD MA 
• English 5.1 DD (Classic Dub)
• English 5.1 DD (2006 Dub)

The Protector

• English 2.0 DTS-HD MA 
• English 5.1 DD

Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars

• Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA
• Mandarin Stereo DTS-HD MA
• English Mono DTS-HD MA
• Alternate Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA

Armour of God

• Mandarin Stereo DTS-HD MA
• Cantonese Mono (Original Theatrical Mix) w/ Lorelei Ending Theme in DTS-HD MA
• Cantonese Mono (Original Theatrical Mix) w/ Flight of the Dragon Ending Theme in DTS-HD MA
• Classic English Dub w/ Lorelei Ending Theme in DTS-HD MA
• Classic English Dub w/ Flight of the Dragon Ending Theme in DTS-HD MA
• Cantonese Stereo DTS HD MA
• English Stereo DTS-HD MA
• English 5.1 DD

Armour of God 2: Operation Condor

• Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA
• Cantonese Stereo DTS-HD MA
• Classic English Dub DTS-HD MA

Crime Story

• Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA
• Cantonese 5.1 DD
• English Mono DTS-HD MA
• English 5.1 DD

City Hunter

• Cantonese Mono DTS-HD MA
• Cantonese Stereo DTS-HD MA
• Cantonese 5.1 DD
• English 5.1 DD 

Shout! Select doesn’t disappoint with this volume of Jackie Chan films. Each disc offers commentary tracks, interviews, trailers, and other archival goodies. I recommend superfans check out the Alternate Cuts of The Protector and Armour of God 2: Operation Condor. A majority of the featurettes and interviews are ported over from Blu-rays released by 88 Films and Fortune Star so check your collection before double dipping.

Winners and Sinners

• Audio Commentary with author and critic David West
• A Winning Formula An Interview with Author Dr. Luke White (HD 13:55) Dissecting the history of Chinese action cinema and its intersection with Peking Opera themes, Dr. White finds Jackie Chan’s work to be a grand moment of bringing a global audience together to appreciate a larger sphere of culture and entertainment.
• Archival Interview with Director/Actor Sammo Hung (HD 6:05) A breezy segment with Sammo speaking candidly about working with Jackie Chan. Cantonese with English subtitles. 
• Teapot Tango - An Interview with Director/Actor Sammo Hung (HD 13:29) Ported over from the Hong Kong Legends Region 2 DVD, this interview with Sammo goes more in-depth about the challenges of making the film and his influences in cinema. 
• The Man Behind the Legend: Sammo Hung (HD 19:59) Co-stars from various projects speak about their joys of working with Sammo through the years. 
• Outtakes (HD 4:59) In Cantonese with English Subtitles
• Alternate Japanese End Credits (SD 2:11) This includes even more stunt outtakes and bloopers. 
• Original Hong Kong Teaser and Theatrical Trailer (HD 4:55)
• English Trailer (SD 2:41)
• Japanese Trailer and TV Spot (SD 2:49)
• Still Gallery (HD 1:52)

Wheels on Meals

• Audio Commentary with David West
• Break-Neck Brilliance: A New Era of Jackie Chan and Skeleton-Shattering Stunts (HD 88:04) A feature-length documentary on the rise of Jackie’s stardom from stunt coordinator to leading man. 
• Outtake Footage (SD 4:01) There is sincere joy from seeing Jackie Chan fall off a skateboard just like a regular human. 
• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD 4:46)
• Still Gallery (HD 4:27)

The Protector

• Audio Commentary from Author and Critic Kim Newman, moderated by Filmmaker Sean Hogan
• Alternate “Hong Kong” Cut by Jackie Chan (HD 92:09) 
• -Audio Options: Cantonese Theatrical, Cantonese Home Video Stereo, English/Cantonese Hybrid 
• From New York to Hong Kong - An Interview with James Glickenhaus (HD 9:32) The director speaks about the controversy surrounding Chan’s alternate cut. 
• Locations Then and Now (HD 4:20) A brief comparison of shooting locations between 1985 and 2012. 
• Behind the Scenes Trailer (HD 4:59) Promotional featurette with Chan’s stunt work and clips from his alternate cut of the film. In Cantonese without subtitles. 
• Original Trailer (HD 4:35)
• Hong Kong Trailer (HD 3:53)
• Japanese Trailer and Teaser (HD 1:46)
• Still Gallery (HD 1:57)

Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars

• Commentary by author and critic David West
• Extended Taiwanese Version (HD 107 mins) In Mandarin with English subtitles. Here most scenes are longer than the original theatrical cut. Dialogue exchanges and comedy antics stretch much further into the bits. Fight scenes are unchanged. 
• A Life of Laughter: An Interview with Actor Richard Ng (HD 21:04) Richard details his life and career through amusing stories from his favorite projects. 
• Gentlemen Warrior: An Interview with Richard Norton (HD 32:50) The stuntman and martial artist speaks at length about his history of training and transitioning into film work. 
• Outtakes (HD 3:48) 
• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD 4:24)
• English Trailer (HD 2:30)
• Japanese Trailer and TV Spot (HD 2:26)
• Still Gallery (HD 1:52)

Armour of God

• Commentary with James Mudge from Easternkicks.com
• International Cut (HD 84:55) The normal cut runs for 98 minutes but here a number of sequences are cut including a concert sequence, a dream sequence, and a slapstick comedy sequence involving Alan hiding in May’s room. 
• Rise of the Phoenix - Radek Sienski on Armour of God (HD 20:50) BAFTA nominated film editor Radek Sienski discusses the editing of Armour of God and goes in-depth on Jackie’s infamous injury from the production. This featurette is ported over from the 2021 Blu-ray from UK label 88 Films. 
• Interview with Jackie Chan (HD 4:06) Archival interview in which Jackie discusses his fight scene with the warrior women in the final act of the film. 
• Interview with Willie Chan (HD 3:40) Art director Willie Chan discusses his experience taking Jackie to the hospital after his accident on set. 
• Interview with Editor Peter Cheung (HD 4:42) Famed collaborator with Bruce Lee, Cheung edited Chan’s films from 1975-1997. This featurette is ported over from the 2021 Blu-ray from UK label 88 Films. 
• Japanese Release Outtakes ((HD 4:29)
• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD 4:55)
• Japanese Theatrical Trailer (HD 1:10)
• English Theatrical Trailer (HD 2:07)
• Still Gallery (HD 1:52)

Armour of God 2: Operation Condor

• Extended Cut (HD 1:57:10) This cut is taken from the 88 Films Blu-ray released in 2020. Longer than the “Japanese Extended Cut” released years ago, this even longer cut allows scenes to breathe and gives Jackie more space to display his brilliant fighting techniques. This is the ideal version of the film to watch as it contains no censored edits or Americanized tailoring. 
• Extended Cut with Commentary from critic James Mudge
• Notes for a New Direction - An Interview with Composer Stephen Endelmen (HD 13:54) When the film was released through Miramax in America new scores were created for the film by Endelmen. 
• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD 3:20)
• Still Gallery (HD 3:22)

Crime Story

• Audio Commentary from film critic James Mudge
• Criminally Creative: The Story of a Stylistic U-Turn (HD 10:19) Film critic Andrew Heskins talks in detail about the film’s place in Jackie’s career and how it wasn’t received as well as expected. 
• Interview with Bruce Law (HD 57:03) An extended interview with celebrated stunt coordinator Bruce Law who speaks at length about his career in the industry and helping transform stunt choreography in Hong Kong cinema. 
• Interview with writer Teddy Chan (HD 11:42) The writer/director goes in depth about adapting the true story for the film and developing the script. 
• Interview with Director Kirk Wong (SD 10:31) In this interview the director details the pre-production process, true story adaptation, production design, and working with the actors.
• Deleted Scenes from the Singapore Version (SD 6:38) A handful of scenes show Chan’s relationship with his therapist become more than professional. 
• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD 4:13)

City Hunter

• Audio Commentary with critic and author David West 
• Slapstick in the City: Jackie Chan Enters the Nineties (HD 12:40) Film critic Andrew Heskins speaks about the risks Jackie takes in the early 90’s as his fame reaches global status but is still constrained by the mediocre status his films attained over time.  
• Interview with Jackie Chan (SD 13:46) An archival interview in which Jackie points out the challenges of relaying his vision to directors hoping to market him to American audiences. 
• Interview with Director Wong Jing (SD 7:14) In this archival interview the director speaks about his experience working with the cast. 
• Interview with Stuntman Rocky Lai (SD 10:59) An archival interview in which the stuntman details his career and working on the film. 
• Interview with Richard Norton (SD 15:17) Celebrated stunt actor Richard Norton praises the production for giving him a “real” character and Jackie’s work ethic. 
• Interview with Gary Daniels: Evolution of a Fighter (HD 29:53) Archival interview with the stunt actor who details his history with martial arts and transitioning into film work. 
• Outtakes Music Video (HD 2:37) A screwball selection of outtakes from the film set to upbeat rock music. 
• Outtake Montage (HD 4:39) 
• Japanese Ending Credits (HD 3:37) 
• Original Theatrical Trailer (SD 4:01)
• Still Gallery (HD 1:57) 

Shout! Select doesn’t disappoint with The Jackie Chan Collection Vol. 2 which provides fans a mix of recognizable titles and hidden gems. Going through the features you’ll see that collaboration, confidence, and compromise helped Jackie navigate his career from The Lucky Stars crew to the cusp of global stardom. These films are unique reflections of his tenacious commitment in the face of the changing landscape of Hong Kong action cinema. Fans will love seeing titles like Armour of God 2 and City Hunter, but I encourage you to check out the entire collection to see Jackie’s journey. Shout! Select has given each film an excellent A/V package and supplied a bevy of supplemental materials worth checking out. Highly Recommended.