Predictable 'Knights' Scores at Box Office

Thursday, February 13, 2003 •Page 17 The Pendulum A & E Predictable ‘Knights’ scores at box office Andi Petrini_______________________ _ A&E Editor Jackie Chan and Ow'en Wilson move from the Wild, Wild West to Victorian London to retrieve the imperial seal of China in the 1880s in the No. 2 movie at the box office this weekend, “Shanghai Knights.” In the sequel to the 2000 flick “Shanghai Noon,” the daring duo team up against mul tiple bad guys armed with little more than Chan’s stunt work and Wilson’s quick tongue. “Knights” pulled in $19.8 million at the box office in its opening weekend. The movie begins with the murder of Chon Wang’s (Chan) father, as a British Lord Rathbone (Aidan Gillen) steals the imperial seal to use in a treacherous plot to become king of England and make China a British colony. Chan’s sister Chon Linn (Fann Wong) follows Rathbone to London to avenge her father’s death. Chan leaves his post as sheriff of Carson City, Nev., to aid his sister in killing Rathbone. He recruits his tall-tale-telling friend Roy O’Bannon (Wilson) to accom pany him to London, where Linn is sitting in jail, having been arrested for attempted Touchstone Pictures / KRT Campus murder. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson pair up in “Shanghai Knights,” where they try to stop an evil British lord from making China a British What follows is a string of Chan stunts colony The action takes place in London, and the film is the sequel to 2000's “Shanghai Noon." that lead to a predictable ending. mainstream films, is just the right blend of O’Bannon falls in love with Linn, much to “Knights” falls comedically short. The Arthur Conan Doyle (Tom Fisher) believes cunning and evil to make the villain slight- the disappointment of Wong, affectionately opening murder scene of Chan’s father he is more of writer than a sleuth, and sets nicknamed John Wayne by O’Bannon. sheds a depressing light on the film, and out to write tales about Sherlock Holmes. ly flawed. Two action sequences will stand out to many of the jokes and Wilson’s one-liners Chan’s performance is on par with any Director David Dobkin gave “Knights” a novel turned movie appearance, as the audiences. The first is 10 minutes into the are lost on audiences still recovering from other action-comedy duet he has starred in, movie, when Chan fights five police offi witnessing the grisly murder. with the exception of “The Tuxedo.” sets look contrived on a studio back lot. The camera work manages to capture the cers in a revolving door. The second comes The saving comedic grace of “Knights” Wilson resumes his role as the lying fight sequences so the viewer doesn’t get during the climax, where Chan and Wilson is the play on characters in film and litera sidekick with the same wit as in “Noon.” The most refreshing performance is by lost in the action. take on Gillen inside Big Ben. ture that, during the time period of the Rating: “Shanghai Knights” makes a Of course, no Chan movie is complete movie, do not exist. Fann Wong. While the movie takes place better rental than theater experience. without a reel of outtakes before the credits For example, Wilson’s nickname for in 1887 when women are not equals, roll, and “Knights” is no different. Chan is John Wayne. A kid (Aaron Wong’s character is just as good of a mar While “Shanghai Noon” was the nght Johnson) that helps the pair on their tial artist as Chan. Contact Andi Petrini at [email protected] or 278-7247. combination of comedy and action, escapades is Charlie Chaplin, and inspector Gillen, who has not been seen in many ‘Chicago’ loads in Academy Award nominations witli 13 bids Actress Supporting Actress The nominees for the 75th Academy for their roles in “Chicago.” John C. Reilly Best Picture Salma Hayek Kathy Bates Awards were announced Tuesday morn received a nomination for best supporting Chicago Nicole Kidman Julianne Moore ing, and the anticipation to the broadcast actor. Left off the list was “Chicago” star Gangs o f New York Richard Gere, who learned to tap dance for ' Diane Lane Queen Latifah on March 23 mounts. The Hours Julianne Moore Meryl Streep “Chicago” received 13 nominations. the role as lawyer Billy Flynn. Lord of the Rings: Two Towers Martin Scorcese’s Another major contender in most Oscar The Pianist Renee Zellweger Catherine Zeta-Jones including best picture. “Gangs off NewM>w York”YorK recieved 10 nomi- categories was “The Hours,” an adaptation Director followrf by “The Hours wh,ch of Michael Cunningham’s Pulitzer Prize- Actor Supporting Actor winning novel. Nicole Kidman was nomi Adrien Brody Chris Cooper Ron Marshall recieved nine nods. , , f Martin Scorsese Zdlwcger was non..n. ccl ror nated for best actress and Julianne Moore Nicolas Cage Ed Harris Stephen Daldry b « a c .,c s , in .IK musical, and Catherm was nominated for best supporting actress. Michael Caine Paul Newman Roman Polanski Zcla-Joncs ami Q"“ " ‘-at.rah both “The Hours” and “Chicago” were both Daniel Day-Lewis John C. Reilly Pedro Almodovar nominated for best adapted screenplay. Jack Nicholson Christopher Walken reccwcd suppollihS.

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