Review of Shanghai Noon (2000) by Clem666 — 27 Nov 2020

I am truly surprised by the average user score for this movie. Yes, it's sometimes funny (mainly thanks to the amazing Jacki Chan's acting) but just substract all the racist and intolerant jokes and it becomes flat. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the scenario falling apart in the first quarter of 'Shanghai Noon'. How mainstream and unoriginal is it to put a Chinese character deep into the western american society ? Obviously there are huge differences between the characters. Obviously there is a gigantic hole between their moral values and behaviours. Obviously they don't live the same way. But is it really all the job of the movie to make fun of these differences ? I guess it's hilarious to see a 'china man' test weed and getting drunk these days. This movie is just gross, vulgar and doesn't hide its racism.

The storytelling takes a hell of a hit for the development of some jokes. For example, all the 'American Indian' part could be resumed in: 'the hero meets a badass girl who will save his ass in multiple occasions without asking anything back'. This kind of scenes makes the scenario look duller and more predictable.

There are two main female characters in the entire cast, all the others are hookers. Waw.

The ending is quite unpredictable but doesn't make sense anyway.

Gunfights are lazy and emotionless while bare-hands fights are amazingly choreographed.

It is barely impossible to identify and to have empathy for the sidekick (Owen Wilson), who compiles betrayal behaviors and an unforgettable mercantilism.

Movie soundtrack is great and so is the artistic direction.