CZ12 (Mandarin: ???? ), also known as Chinese Zodiac , is a Hong-Kong-China 2012 action comedy produced jointly, written, directed by, and starring Jackie Chan. The film is a pseudo-reboot of the film franchise that begins with Armor of God (1986) and its sequel, Armor of God II: Operation Condor (1991).
Released in December 2012, the film became more than 145 million dollars at China's box office. Chan also won two Guinness World Records with the film for "Most Stunts Performed by a Actor Live" and "Most Credits in One Movie".
The film won Best Action Choreography at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards.
Video CZ12
Summary
The film was started by Jackie Chan who tells the story of the Old Summer Palace and its looting and destruction by British and French soldiers in the Second Opium War. Among the stolen possessions were twelve bronze heads of Chinese zodiac animals.
On this day, bronze heads are auctioned off for millions of euros each. The main company supplying bronze heads and other relics stolen is MP Corporation. JC (Jackie Chan), assigned by MP Corp to find the remaining bronze heads missing, with a bonus promise 10 times if he can recover everything. JC visited a man named Professor Guan, who has made 12 identical replicas for research purposes with the research team, on the pretext that he was a reporter named Martin from National Geographic. When left alone, JC scans a double bronze Zodiac animal's head using a special glove so that its secret organization can mimic a very realistic model of them. After the scan, he went to Paris to find a woman named Coco, recommended by Professor Guan, for more information on the existence of two bronze heads.
JC, along with his partners Simon (Kwon Sang-woo), David, and Bonnie, infiltrated the mansion to find two bronze heads. JC manages to decode the password into a secret dome and find two bronze heads, a painting called "The Roses", along with many other valuable national treasures that are considered missing inside. The JC cover was soon broken but he managed to avoid catching up with all the valuables. However, he is seen by Coco. Not having time to explain himself, he tells Coco to meet him in a houseboat as he escapes from the security house. At the houseboat, Martin tells Coco that he works for a secret company that is trying to recover all lost relics for China. The guards from the big house stormed the houseboat and tried to attack JC. However, the police were summoned and they were all arrested. JC, Coco and Simon are freed from all errors and released.
Coco, JC and his team were invited to a castle belonging to a woman named Catherine (Laura Weissbecker). Unbeknownst to them, the guard from home kept following them on suspicion. It turns out the captain of "Indestructible", one of the vessels involved in the destruction of the Old Summer Palace and taking the treasure, was Catherine's great-grandfather. This annoys Coco, who faces Catherine on this issue. JC and his team find many treasures in the castle, including Bronze head of the Rooster, and hatch a series of plans to transport them out. JC promises Catherine that she will help her find the remains of her great-grandfather.
The next day, they explored for the treasure of Indestructible, located on an apparently uninhabited island. JC instructed Coco and Catherine to stay behind while his team explored the island. However, Coco and Catherine disobeyed JC orders to find the body of Catherine's great-great-grandfather. They are entangled among the vines and this forces JC to save them. The group inadvertently discovered the remains of some bronze heads that could not be destroyed, and large quantities of gold (plus remnants of Catherine's great-grandfather.) As they prepared to go with all the artifacts, they were confronted by guards from the big house. In turn, the island's local population, a group of pirates, emerged and immediately arrested them all. JC and his team struggled to escape from the island via a log mounted with a pulley system, leaving five guards with pirates.
Back on the cruise ship, Coco accidentally discovers the true motive of JC's efforts and confronts him. Furthermore, the log carries about eight tons of gold sinks. However, JC and his team are still rewarded for recovering some bronze heads missing. The group is angry when they find out that the dragon head is suspected to have been lost already in the hands of MP Corp during this time, so it is not possible to claim a big bonus. Meanwhile, Coco and his friends protest students over the sale of national treasures rapidly increasing and attracting attention around the world. When Coco students try to find out more about MP Corp, three of them, including younger brother Coco, are arrested. Coco approached JC to ask for help, but JC seemed indifferent.
JC contacts MP Corp on the availability of "The Roses" artifacts and is allowed into secret places. After touring the entire plant where nearly exact copies of the relics were made for sale as a real relic in the auction, JC deduced the location of the captive. He challenges old rivals who happen to be there as well - an immoral treasure hunter, Vulture, to fight but ends up in deadlock. JC negotiates with MP Corp to sell the painting "The Roses" at a cheaper price and secure the release of three hostages. When MP Corp refused, JC struggled into the room. During the ensuing battle, the stove exploded because the baton guards burst one of the pipes. The blast destroyed most of the facilities. JC then assigned the release of three hostages in exchange for the painting and did not pay any compensation made to that place.
Meanwhile, the Dragon bronze chief is expected to take the highest price in the auction but there is no offer for it due to increased pressure from activist groups. MP Corp, in an attempt to teach these groups a lesson, threatens to throw the relics into an active volcano, calling the mission "Let the Dragon Fly," if no offer is received at 12:00 noon the next day. Deadlines pass without one offer and Vulture leads a group of three sky divers to throw the relics into the volcano. JC intervened and, in the ensuing air struggle, seemed to die to save relics from falling into the volcano. As a mark of respect, Vulture handed the relic to the vast JC. The owner of MP Corp was arrested for having the painting "The Roses". JC survives and looks recovered at the hospital and deals well with everyone, including Vulture. The movie ends with JC kissing his wife.
Maps CZ12
Cast
- Jackie Chan as JC a.k.a. Martin
- Kwon Sang-woo as Simon
- Liao Fan as David
- Helen Yao as Coco
- Zhang Lanxin as Bonnie
- Laura Weissbecker as Catherine de Sichel
- Jonathan Lee as Jonathan Lee
- Vincent Sze as Michael Morgan
- David Torok as Michael Morgan's Guardian
- Alaa Safi as Vulture
- Pierre Bourdaud as a Pirate
- Emmanuel Lanzi as Henchman
- Rosario Amadeo as Pierre
- Pierre-Benoist Varoclier as LÃÆ'Â © in
- Wilson Chen as Wu Qing
- Ken Lo as Pirate Head
- Oliver Platt as Lawrence Morgan
- David Serero as a bodyguard
- Caitlin Dechelle as Katie
- Marc Canonizado as Marc
- Zheng Wei
- Bo-yee Poon as Assistant Lawrence
- Abdul Haviz
- Ashok CA
- Shu Qi as David's wife (cameo)
- Daniel Wu as Doctor (cameo)
- Joan Lin as JC's wife (cameo)
- Kenny G as a plane pilot (cameo)
Production
From April 18 to May 2, 2012, Jackie Chan filmed several scenes in the Latodium vertical aerial wind tunnel in Jelgava, Latvia. The shoot also took place in France, China, Taiwan, and Vanuatu.Chan has done most of the action and the scene of his own fights with little support from his acrobat team. Jean-Yves Blondeau, inventor of the skate suit, coached Chan to use the suit for the blading sequence of the movie body. This movie is simultaneously created in IMAX 3D.
Release
Gala premiere of the film is held on December 12, 2012 and then released throughout Asia on December 20, 2012 and in India on December 28, 2012.
AS. release
It was initially announced that the film will be released in US theaters in the summer of 2013 with about 20 minutes edited by Jackie Chan himself to optimize the speed and content for North American audiences. This release date is pushed back to the fall; the re-edited version was released on October 18, 2013 for a theatrical exhibition exclusively by AMC Theaters.
Reception
In competition with foreign films CZ12 earned HK $ 11.7 million (US $ 1.5 million). as well as being the top-ranking Chinese film at Taiwan's box office. The film debuted in second place in mainland China (after Lost in Thailand), extending to gross over $ 145 million at the box office and emerging into one of China's highest grossing domestic films.
Awards and nominations
- Hong Kong Film Awards 32nd
- Win: Best Action Choreography (Jackie Chan, He Jun)
- Nominated: Best New Viewer (Zhang Lanxin)
- Nominated: Best Film Editing (Yau Chi-wai)
- Nominated: Best Visual Effects (Han Young-woo, Victor Wong, Patrick Chui, Seong Ho-jang)
- Guinness World Records
- Win: Most credits in one movie (Jackie Chan)
- Win: Most Acting by Live Actor (Jackie Chan)
- 9th Huading Award
- Win: Best Director (Jackie Chan)
- Win: Best New Arrivals (Zhang Lanxin)
- Win: Best Action Choreography (Team Stunt JC)
Criticism
Time Out Hong Kong gave the movie two stars out of five that referred to the movie as "pedestrian film of any size other than the action design". The South China Morning Post gave the movie one and a half stars out of five, noting that " CZ12 lumber is like a cheap copycat DVD from one of the old [Jackie Chan] classics" and " CZ12 like watching a former star athlete struggling in a playful game. "
The Hollywood Reporter also gave negative reviews, noted the length of the film and the lack of martial arts and stunts starring Chan known. Variety gave the movie a negative review as well, stating "Jackie Chan pulled out Jackie-of-all-trade and master of none at [ CZ12 ]".
See also
- Jackie Chan's filmography
- List of Hong Kong movies
References
External links
- Official website
- CZ12 in IMDb
- CZ12 in Hong Kong Movie DataBase
- CZ12 at Rotten Tomatoes
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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