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Cast:
Andy
Lau
Wong
Jing
Natalis
Chan
Cynthia
Rothrock
Mok
Siu Chung
Cheung
Man
Richard
Norton
Action:
Tony
Leung Siu Hung
Director:
Wong
Jing
Score:
  
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THE
MAGIC CRYSTAL
AKA:
Jade Crystal
Year:
1986 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
While
in Greece, a noted archaeologist discovers an alien crystal
with incredible powers. Such a discovery naturally alerts both
the KGB and Interpol; the former, led by a skilled Russian
martial artist (Norton) manage to kidnap the archaeologist,
but not before the crystal is secretly passed onto a young
Chinese school boy. Travelling back to Hong Kong with this
highly-prized artefact, the young boy discovers that the
crystal not only communicates with him, but also gives him
special powers. These powers are a major asset against the
school bullies and a crafty gambler (Chan) who wants to
exploit him, but it also means that his life is put in danger.
The boy's father (Wong Jing) and good friend (Lau) are more
than happy to protect him while also investigating the origins
of the crystal and its wondrous qualities. Inevitably, both
the KGB and Interpol catch up with them - the latter now
become a useful ally for the heroes - and the ownership of the
crystal is finally contested.
This
is a ridiculous, convoluted film that happily gets sidetracked
by comedy sequences rather than create any real tension for
the viewers to savour. Thankfully, 'The Magic Crystal' is also
a great deal of fun; Wong Jing manages to restrain his usual
vulgarity and blend together some genuinely amusing comic
scenes with an enviable amount of superior fight choreography.
The fact that it is fairly ludicrous is never an issue as
director and cast make sure that the film never takes itself
seriously. Wong Jing should be given some credit for this;
although the comedy is broad and tends to dominate the
storyline, it is still delivered with a pleasant good-natured
quality and real sense of fun that Wong Jing didn't always
convey. Comparing it to Wong's recent foray into science
fiction, 'The
Wesley's Mysterious File', highlights exactly where the
'The Magic Crystal' succeeds and the 2002 production failed -
despite a sci-fi theme that is rare in Hong Kong films, 'The
Magic Crystal' is still a product of the Jade Screen first and
foremost. It doesn't waste its energies trying to compete with
Hollywood blockbusters and this proves to be a vital strength.
Choreographer Leung Siu Hung also makes superb use of his
cast, taking Andy Lau - by no means a real screen fighter -
and making him look as physically adept as he's ever looked.
Rothrock and Norton also get to shine in their closing duel
while regular Jing associate Natalis Chan fills in the comic
gaps quite nicely.
'The
Magic Crystal' would not doubt be picked apart by some Western
critics not used to the visual exuberance that made Hong Kong
cinema so extraordinary. For the rest of us it's a recommended
action comedy that will make most of us feel a twinge of
nostalgia for those golden years.
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