Scene: More thrills and spills
Scene: More thrills and spills
Review: Rush Hour 3
Director: Brett Ratner
Cast: Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Naomie Lenoir.
The third instalment of the Eastern martial arts Vs. Western loud mouths franchise starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, continues where the last one (released in 2001) left off.
Although inspector Lee (Chan) and Carter (Tucker) — who has fulfilled his life-long dream to become a traffic cop — aren't as close as they used to be after a small falling out, they must partner up again when the ambassador of China (from the first film) is targeted by The Triad, one of the most dangerous criminal organisations in the world.
After the ambassador's daughter gets involved, Lee and Carter find themselves in Paris, hot on the trail of the Triad's most sinister and senior members to put a stop to them once and for all.
Ninety minutes reminiscent of the preceding two films, with the same formula of one-liners and signature slapstick humour, and you have just got to love part III. However, the thrill behind it is lost, with a staleness and a yet another recycled story taking its place but the dynamics between Lee and Carter are still spirited and touching.
Let's just hope, for their sake, this is the last hour.
60-SECOND PROFILE: Chris Tucker
- Born: August 31, 1972
- Background: Tucker arrived in Los Angeles after high school to follow his dream to do comedy.
- In 1995 he landed a major movie role alongside rapper Ice Cube in the cult hit Friday, and decided to take up acting as a side job next to his growing comedy career.
- First Seen: In 1997, he starred in both Money Talks, alongside Charlie Sheen, and in The Fifth Element with Bruce Willis. He followed this up with a part opposite Samuel L. Jackson in Jackie Brown, considered one of the highlights of his movie career.
- Real Claim to Fame: Lead role as the wacky Detective Carter alongside Jackie Chan in the 1998 martial arts action comedy Rush Hour and its sequel Rush Hour 2 (2001) that turned Tucker into a household name.
Tucker reprises his role in the third film of the lot. - Future Plans: Tucker continues to perform stand-up comedy and will reprise his role as Smokey in Last Friday as well as starring in the upcoming film Mr President.
- Moments: Although Tucker has only made a few films, he has already been able to demand $20 million per film in such a short time, something that took fellow actors Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Will Smith a while to achieve. Tucker attends charity events in efforts to help bring to global focus the issues of African poverty and starvation.
Captivity
- Director: Roland Joffé
- Cast: Daniel Gillies, Elisha Cuthbert, Laz Alonso, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Michael Harney
Setting aside her TV role in 24, Elisha Cuthbert is back on cinema screens as American supermodel Jennifer Tree in this psychological torture thriller.
A celebrity loved by fans all over, it is not long before she has a stalker on her trail. But this is no ordinary stalker Jennifer soon finds out.
She is kidnapped from a charity event, and taken captive in a cell where the sadistic torture begins — as does her break down in every conceivable way.
This is a visually artful but substantially unimaginative look into the female psychology and the breaking point of torture.
If you liked Saw, you're better off without this superimposed imitation.
We Say: Horrid horror
