Review of Who Am I?

Who Am I? (1998)
8/10
Possibly Jackie Chan's most underrated film.
31 May 2013
Some of the most exciting action movies came out in the 90's, and this espionage gem is no exception, as it keeps you engaged from start to finish with its death-defying stunts - all of which don't feel as forced as they do in other Jackie Chan action flicks - and intriguing blend of humor, drama, and suspense. Taking place across a variety of locations (including South Africa), it's an adventurous epic that gives you a lot to see. The plot also unfolds primarily as a mystery, keeping you guessing to the end, as Jackie is trying to find out exactly why everyone from the secret police to the CIA is after him. Like most Jackie Chan films, there's also a strong reliance on humor, except this film doesn't have nearly as much slapstick as, say, "Police Story", to the point where it becomes annoying. The humor is carefully blended into the proceedings, and even when it reaches unintentional levels, it somehow makes the movie all the more enjoyable.

I won't spoil the various stunts performed in the film, you just have to see them to believe them, but needless to say, they are jaw-dropping. Speaking of jaw-dropping, the rooftop fight, which also serves as the final fight sequence in the film, is one of the best I've ever seen. It goes on for a while, but it's so well choreographed and stunningly executed that you'll want it to keep going for a few more minutes afterwards. The score by Nathan Wang, while nothing remarkable, fits the movie well, and sometimes goes so far as to raise the excitement factor, specifically during the chase sequences. It must be hard for anybody to direct themselves in a film, especially in an action film on such a large scale as this one, but Jackie Chan does so admirably here, alongside Benny Chan. It's some of his best work of the 90's alongside "Operation Condor".
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