Review: The Protector
DVD: The Protector (1985)
As the camera sweeps across the desolate streets of New York City, Mad Max styled street punks attempt to rob a truck driver that has ended up on the wrong side of the tracks, but we are not in some futuristic nightmare; we are, strangely, in a Jackie Chan film.
The Protector from 1985 was Jackie Chan’s first lead in a western film. After success in his homeland with kung fu classics such as Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master, Chan was scouted for James Glickenhaus buddy cop/kung fu movie. A brave move by the writer/director, who beat the trend by a few years before Lethal Weapon set the tone and Big Trouble in Little China pushed the east-west boundaries. Jackie Chan was, in my opinion, in one of the best and most overlooked genre mash ups in the last 30 years.
Glickenhaus had already made the exploitation classic The Exterminator in 1982; an extremely violent revenge film that depicts NYC as a tortured wasteland full of punks and gangs, which must explain the bizarre opening scene which is totally out of place next to the rest of the film. Still, add to that the world’s most inventive martial arts actor and stunt master and you have a film so ridiculous and violent that you can help but love it.
Chan is detective Billy Wong; a hard as nails NYC detective whose partner is gunned down by cocaine snorting goons in a bar, a scene where Chan draws the movies first blood in exploding squib fashion. He also spectacularly blows up a boat shortly after in pursuit of his partners killers.
Wong has a staple PISSED OFF captain who scorns his reckless approach to police work (classic) and a good friend in fellow detective Danny Garoni played wonderfully by Danny Aiello who almost steals the film with some zinging one liners and a fantastic combination of red jacket and no shirt! When the daughter of a high profile businessman is kidnapped by a drug lord and whisked off to Hong Kong, Billy & Danny are sent to advise the local police in rescuing the daughter and hopefully stem the flow of hard drugs into NYC.
The duo arrive in Hong Kong and the action ensues right from the off. Chan was, and still is, famous for his extreme stunts and breath taking action scenes and fans of his style are not disappointed. The action is as hard as it comes even by today’s standards. Still warranting an 18 certificate after 30 years is testament to how brutal this film is. Danny lets rip on several occasions with a sub machine gun tearing henchmen apart. Later in the film Billy has a fantastic fight with uber hard bad guy and karate expert, where a circular saw is wielded.
Jackie Chan is quite infamous for being a bit ‘adverse’ to extreme violence in his films and recut The Protector for eastern audiences, apparently removing gratuitous nudity and adding some action scenes. I’ve still yet to see his cut of the film and frankly don’t really care to as Glickenhaus’ balls (and tits) out action film ticks all my boxes. Glickenhaus and Chan were at each other frequently over the direction of the film and Chan’s recut was a response to his dissatisfaction to the final outcome, that said, Chan went on to direct several cop themed action films in Hong Kong as a direct response to his experiences making The Protector.
I adore this film. It’s a perfect blend of 80’s gratuity, Jackie Chan’s trademark fights and stunts and Glickenhaus underrated direction. If you only know Chan from Armour of God and Police Story then venture further back in his cannon and enjoy this brilliant and underappreciated action gem.
Review by Ramrod (co-host of 60 Minutes With)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5MKQBqkfa0
