Review | Shanghai Noon & Shanghai Knights (Blu-ray)

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Plot: What’s it about?Video: How does it look?Audio: How does it sound?Supplements: What are the extras?

Plot: What’s it about?

In Shanghai Noon, Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) is an imperial guard who must venture to the far west in order to rescue a kidnapped princess, where he encounters a world much different than the one he knows. While Chon is driven to save his princess, he finds himself like a fish out of water in the rough and tumble Old West. He manages to forge a shaky bond with an outlaw named Roy O’Bannon (Owen Wilson), but the partnership leads to more trouble than progress. But as the two get into mischief, they also close in on the princess, so can this unlikely duo prove to be heroes? In Shanghai Knights, Chon and Roy find themselves teamed up once again, but this time far removed from the rough and tumble Old West. This time in London, the two end up in the middle of a plot to overthrow the royal family. In addition, Chon is given a chance to settle the score with the man who killed his father, but neither task will be a simple one. Can these two once again beat the odds and not only avenge Chon’s father but save the monarchy and keep London out of the hands of evil?

This double feature collects both installments in the franchise, both of which feature stars Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan. As far as buddy comedies go, these movies offer solid fun and a good amount of action to boot. After all, Chan rarely disappoints and while restrained in these movies, he still provides some nice thrills. I do feel like Owen Wilson was an odd choice, as he can’t really pace with Chan in the action or humor elements, but he doesn’t drag things down too much. The humor proves to be weaker than the action on the whole, with a lot of failed jokes, so don’t expect a laugh riot in either case. But both are able to deliver a couple hours of light, if forgettable entertainment. Fans of Chan will be a little let down, but overall anyone who appreciates action and comedy will find something to like here. I prefer the first film out of the two, as it is a little more consistent. But if you enjoy one of these movies, you’re bound to enjoy the other one as well. So for fans of the series, this double feature is a good chance to add both to your collection for a reasonable price.

Video: How does it look?

Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights are both presented in 2.35:1 widescreen. These movies look good here and while both pressed onto a single disc, no serious issues crop up. The visuals come across as sharp and refined, with definite improvements over the standard DVD versions available. I wouldn’t go as far as to call these eye popping level treatments, but the movies look good and fans should be pleased.

Audio: How does it sound?

The films feature Dolby Digital 5.1 surround options and while not explosive, the movies sound good. The surrounds get ample use and aren’t quite as immersive as lossless soundtracks could offer, but I doubt anyone will complain. The action scenes are well handled and have the kind of kick we’d expect, while more dialogue driven scenes shift the focus to where it is needed. So not the best audio tracks out there, but the movies are treated well here. You’ll also find Spanish and French soundtracks, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.