Review of High Risk (1995) by Ahmad J — 05 Dec 2013

This action-packed clone of Die Hard is infact a parody. The story is about Kit played by Jet Li who is working at a police force and tries to save his family in a bus which is designated with a bomb. The bomb being designed by a terrorist named "The Doctor", Kit speaks to him over the phone and unsuccessfully has another man to cut the red wire forcing the bus to explode with the clever mind of The Doctor.

Years later, Kit is now the bodyguard of actor Frankie played by Jackie Cheung who is famous for doing his won stuntwork. But he is nothing but an imitation of Jackie Chan and really a drunken womaniser making Kit do all of Frankie's stunts.

They both attend a gala event at a high-rise hotel where Kit finally encounters The Doctor, his sidekicks, his partners and his henchmen. The terrorists take hostage as the police arrive and while Frankie runs short of courage, it's up to Kit to take on his nemesis and confront his past.

This explosive, amazing film had a bit of everything in it. Jet Li leads the show once again this time with Jackie Cheung by his side as a Jackie Chan lookalike. There are similarities to Die Hard with the whole "cop-saves-hostages-from-terrorists" situation.

The Doctor character was genius and so were the other baddies. Jackie Cheung as Frankie was well-written as Frankie. This naturally pissed off the real Jackie Chan because they were spoofing him which he found disrespectful and a disgrace.

There's a scene where Frankie wears a yellow jumpsuit and the gala is designed just a film that will inspire another film years later...? Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003)? Anyway, this movie had it all which is why High Risk gets a weak 9.

8/10.