Film Review - Shanghai Noon + Shanghai Knights

Hey all, i'm sorry I haven't posted much. I've been busy spending time with the other half and my parents, watching films, playing board games and taking trips out to garden centers, shopping in the local town and such. I haven't had time to nip in to the shop and pick up my cave troll which is finally here.  So until i've got something battle gamey to report, i'll be giving a film review which I strongly advise you watch. On with the review.



The Shanghai series of films both star Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson (two of my favourite actors) and are set in the early 1800's. Shanghai noon follows Chon Wang (coincidence that it sounds similar to john Wayne? I think not) and his uncle travelling to the Wild West on a train when it is robbed by Owen Wilson and gang. The adventure soon escalates as unlikely duo Chon and Roy find themselves as notorious outlaws whilst on a mission to retrieve the princess and the emperors gold. A fun, wild west themed film with lots of comedy, and Jackie Chan and his stunt team are excellent during the fighting scenes.

Shanghai Noon, a Wild West adventure!

Shanghai knights escapes it's roots which made it a success, and we are shown Chon's father murdered by Lord Nelson Rathbone, tenth in the line to the throne  who shows to be working with Wu Chow, the emperors exiled brother. Chon's sister follows Rathbone to London, and in turn Chon and Roy find themselves in the strange industrial city, searching for his sister and the imperial seal which has been stolen. The same excellent comedy and action blend to make another perfectly fun movie!

Shanghai Knights, the better of the two, in my opinion!

 Whilst both are great, I feel that Knights is the better of the two. Most sequels lack a good, interesting story, Shanghai knights definitely does not. Shanghai noon is more comedy, and a good laugh with slapstick humour and some kung-fu action, as well as some good ol' shootouts and pistols at dawn.

Shanghai Knights is a lot more interesting I feel, as politics are introduced and early on we learn that the villain is actually of royal blood, slandering the Chinese as savage barbarians fighting amongst themselves due to 'Opium wars' which we learn to not be true. There are also a great number of historical people and locations in the film, Sherlock Holmes is a name used by Owen Wilson's character as a disguise, and the chief inspector of Scotland yard 'Artie' turns out to be Arthur Conan Doyle, which is interesting. Charlie Chaplin, Jack the Ripper and Madame Tussaud's wax museum also get a mention!

Charlie Chaplin, portrayed by Aaron Johnson, the cheeky pickpocket who turns out to be both helpful and a burden to the adventure!

So to anyone reading, please do watch these great films. They really are amazing quality. I'm considering buying some minatures, and using EOTD's rules to re-create some of the scenes in the film with a friend, as we both thought it could be an interesting posibility. 

Thanks for reading folks, feel free to comment about the film, or maybe where I could get some good, cheap Wild West figures. 

Until next time...