Review of The Foreigner (2017) by Wnxwind — 28 Nov 2018

An excellent way to bring Hollywood style Jackie Chan to the US audiences. While it may not top most of the films Jackie Chan has made in the last 10 years in China, it is an excellent launching platform and audience / financial success which greenlit numerous films Jackie is currently filming, in pre-production, or films in post-production (including films which previously would have launched around the world but not in the USA... like his numerous back to back years of shattering the box-office records since 2011-2016 each release. Now we will get Journey To China 2 in the USA, Project X could have ended up with an international release but not the USA similiar to the FANTASTIC "Dragon Blade" although John Cena and Jackie Chan's Iraq Epic will be coming to US Theaters, While Namiya a very touching and well written, directed and shot Drama film did not reach the states from the IMDB of what is in the pipeline (9 films currently) it is easy to say "8 of these are just about a lock for major US distribution!).

That in its own right is a WIN for not only Jackie Chan fans but fans of proper Martial Arts Cinema or Hong Kong Cinema. The Foreigner is a very well built and thrilling political action movie, small details may pass the average viewer leaving them missing out on key moments of understanding - along with the IRA being the focus of the film, many younger viewers may not have any knowledge of the brutality of terrorist attacks which had occurred in the United Kingdom as discussed in the film. (This may be one reason the Asian release uses a different abbreviation, which to be quite honest I am unsure of what exactly the terrorist organization in the Asian/Indian releases are referencing.).

If you love Jackie Chan, go see this movie. Period. If you have not been keeping an eye on Chans amazing films over the past 10 years outside of Hollywood and are noting how he looks "OLD" in the film, this was mainly due to the added make-up and grey to Jackies Hair. While he is indeed in his 60's do not let that fool you, he still fights, and does his stunts with grace in his other films that have come out lately although in The Foreigner it was stated by Martin Campbell that he wanted Jackie to become the character as an older beaten up and battered Vietnam Vet who had been captured and tortured as a POW. This is the reason for the choreography displaying a bit of limp movement and slower fight coregraphy which as the film progresses you note Quan (Chan) becoming more 'youthful' in his tactics and movement as he becomes closer to achieving what he set out to accomplish. By the end of the film the final bout, while it is not the sort of fight we'd see in another film of his from the same year (Railroad tigers for example, Kung Fu Yoga) it is still excellent - Don't worry US audiences, Chan still has it and will be putting it on display in some of the upcoming films to be excited about.

The Foreigner is a near flawless movie - I have given it a 91/100 as the lead Jackie Chan and co-lead Pearce Brosnan both with possibly the best dramatic performances of each career while never allowing the film to enter into any lack of momentum, it does not drag despite the longer running time than most Hollywood Chan Films it keeps the viewer engaged with intricate details that unravel the story and has enough twists and plot points that you do not see coming that warrants a second watch to fully process everything.

After that second watch it becomes a classic dramatic political thriller to turn on whenever with whomever. It's just a wonderful film from start to finish.