Now 64, Jackie Chan remains a charismatic actor with some impressive moves that he puts on display in this colorful but silly sci-fi/action thriller from writer-director Leo Zhang. Chan plays Special Forces officer Lin Dong, whose duty takes him from his dying young daughter to protect a bioengineering scientist. Thirteen years later, Lin watches over a Chinese college girl who has unnatural healing abilities and nightmares that hold the secrets of bioengineered blood capable of creating an army of super soldier "bioroids." Chan plays the sober, serious hero while young costar Show Lo carries the comedy as Leeson, a mysterious young hacker who joins Lin’s mission to save the girl. The confusing plot involves secret identities, a sci-fi author who inadvertently reveals classified material in his new novel, and a race to find the lost formula. Although Chan is no longer able to execute the gymnastic martial arts moves and dangerous stunts of his prime, his team is still one of the best at staging and executing ambitious and memorable set pieces (here including a fight on the fins of the Sydney Opera House and a final battle in a high-tech villain's lair that seems straight out of a classic James Bond movie). But mostly this is a busy, sloppy, and at times goofy action spectacle with lazy sci-fi flourishes and unnecessary characters. Chan fans may enjoy, but this is not one of his best. Optional. (S. Axmaker)
Bleeding Steel
Lionsgate, 110 min., in Mandarin & English w/English subtitles, R, DVD: $19.99, Blu-ray: $21.99, Aug. 21 Volume 33, Issue 6
Bleeding Steel
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