It gives me no pleasure to say that I would even consider, if heavily medicated, watching вЂThe Spy Next DoorвЂ™ again rather than this. There is more excitement in one single frame of Jackie Chan and Stanley TongвЂ™s previous films than in вЂKung Fu YogaвЂ™ even вЂThe MythвЂ™, another film that tried to bring ChanвЂ™s popularity to Indian audiences, had considerably more skill and imagination in it than this big-budget mess can muster. Sadly Stanley Tong didnвЂ™t realise that there is absolutely nothing of merit in вЂKingdom of the Crystal SkullвЂ™ to aspire to and thinks that ugly effects and dull action inspired by said film will somehow make вЂKung Fu YogaвЂ™ enjoyable. вЂKung Fu YogaвЂ™ fearlessly rips-off the Indiana Jones films with impunity. The days of physically proficient performers doing the action has long since passed though and Chan ends up rowing upstream against the tide to try and generate a little bit of interest. As this is modern film-making of course the stars are photogenic especially the shimmering Patani who is awkwardly shoe-horned in as ChanвЂ™s on-off love interest. Unfortunately, while Jackie does get the occasional moment to reel back the years, most of the running time features his uninspiring co-stars flailing their arms at each other and exaggerating every movement like theyвЂ™re in a bad pantomime. While the blue screen effects and technical wizardry are found wanting, we should at least be able to enjoy a bit of ChanвЂ™s usual fisticuffs magic.

ItвЂ™s the current malaise of Chinese cinema, invested with absurd hubris, certain that throwing every effect at the screen will somehow translate to excitement. Quite why we needed a chase scene involving a lion in a car or our heroes escaping from a pack of hyenas is not clear even if the CGI had been exceptional, the ideas are about as welcome as a gangrenous foot. Once again we have a Chinese film that is filled with ropey computer effects that are used for practically every scene. вЂKung Fu YogaвЂ™, a massive hit during 2017 Chinese New Year, is by far the most frustrating and disappointing of the lot. First there was the bland though slightly diverting вЂSkiptraceвЂ™, then December 2016 saw the release of the patchy, but promising вЂRailroad TigersвЂ™. Jackie Chan has had a prolific year or so.

The fact that it isnвЂ™t even as good as the insipid third part of the вЂArmour of GodвЂ™ trilogy, вЂChinese ZodiacвЂ™, should tell you everything you need to know about вЂKung Fu YogaвЂ™. вЂKung Fu YogaвЂ™ is actually вЂArmour of God-liteвЂ™, an action comedy that once again casts Jackie Chan as super-fighting treasure hunter though here his character leans more to the role of historian than anything else. WeвЂ™ll have to wait for Denis Villeneuve to finish the new вЂBlade RunnerвЂ™ film before we can dream about that I suppose. When I first heard the title вЂKung Fu YogaвЂ™ I must confess that I had visions of Jackie Chan putting together a big budget remake of the slightly bizarre yet very entertaining Alan Hsu/Chien Yuet San film вЂKung-Fu v. Naturally the ruthless Randall and his team are also in pursuit and have few scruples in their way to get the incredible hoard. As the diamond shows up for auction in Dubai, Jack seeks the help of his wealthy backer to get the diamond and use it as a tool to uncover the truth behind the mysterious Magadha. Jack and his colleagues escapes with his life, but is let down by his deceased friendвЂ™s son who steals the Magadha diamond, the key to finding the real historical bounty that has tantalised the East for hundreds of years. Although the team finds one of the most noted parts of the treasure their expedition is interrupted by Indian millionaire Randall (Sood) and his band of hired mercenaries who are also after the treasure. Persuaded to make the journey to the suspected area that the treasure resides and backed by his assistants and the son of one of his oldest friends, Jack begins to explore the deep ice caves in Tibet. ChinaвЂ™s best archaeologist, Jack (Chan), is approached by a beautiful Indian historian who brings a map that might lead to the famed Magadha treasure.

Kung fu yoga movie 2016