Operation Condor

At first glance, Operation Condor--an American re-release of the Hong Kong film Armour of God II-- screams out "James Bond wanna-be": exotic locations, wild stunts, beautiful women. Jackie Chan, however, is talented enough to improve on an icon. This is action filmmaking at its most ridiculously entertaining, full of enough energetic comedy and virtuoso stunt work to put a dozen Hollywood efforts to shame. Like most recent action films, the plot doesn't matter at all; unlike most, the action is inventive and thrilling (not just big, loud and expensive). And, of course, there's Chan, who continues to delight with his trademark boyish charm and a willingness to laugh at himself. Despite the predictably stiff supporting performances, Operation Condor is "fun" in a way that should make people embarrassed for using the same word to describe Con Air, The Lost World, or most recent James Bond films for that matter. The name is Chan...Jackie Chan. Highly recommended. (S. Renshaw)[Blu-ray Review—July 3, 2012—Echo Bridge, 91 min., PG-13, $14.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1997's Operation Condor boasts a fine transfer and features a DTS 5.1 soundtrack. The sole extra is trailers. Bottom line: one of Jackie Chan's better films shines on Blu-ray.]