CZ12
Story: A treasure-seeker and his crew seek Chinese national treasures: 12 bronze heads representing the Chinese Zodiac (most are privately owned) for an auctioneer. Will they get them in time?
Movie Review: In this film, treasure hunter Chan takes up a job that requires him to deliver the 12 bronze heads of the Chinese Zodiac, pillaged from a former Chinese dynasty's Summer Palace centuries ago. The location of some of these heads is known and Chan and his crew are hired to find the rest and get them to Oliver Platt's character (who plays an unscrupulous auctioneer in the film).
While on the job, he runs into Coco (Yao), a researcher/activist and Katherine (Weissbecker), a poor lil' rich girl, who's on the verge of bankruptcy. As things are, they've supposedly important parts to play but behave like bumbling fools in the film. Eventually, it's a race against an assorted bunch of pirates, disgruntled security guards and fellow mercenaries that takes this film forward.
A major grouse against the film is the absence of subtitles in a movie that is in English with a smattering of French and Mandarin (Chinese). Where the film excites with superbly-executed stunts (they never get old, do they?), it also disappoints with a direction-less screenplay (JC's jack-of-all-trades nature to blame?). Recommended solely for those who enjoy Chan's unique brand of humour-laden action with light doses of preachiness and drama, this one could be better, so much better.
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