IMDb > The Medallion (2003)
The Medallion
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The Medallion (2003) More at IMDbPro »

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The Medallion (2003) -- A Hong Kong detective suffers a fatal accident involving a mysterious medallion and is transformed into an immortal warrior with superhuman powers.
The Medallion (2003) -- A Hong Kong detective suffers a fatal accident involving a mysterious medallion and is transformed into an immortal warrior with superhuman powers.
The Medallion (2003) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
4.7/10   9,196 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 19% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Alfred Cheung (story)
Bennett Davlin (written by) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Medallion on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 August 2003 (USA) more
Plot:
A Hong Kong detective suffers a fatal accident involving a mysterious medallion and is transformed into an immortal warrior with superhuman powers. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(17 articles)
Trailer: The King of Fighters
 (From HeyUGuys. 26 November 2009, 10:23 AM, PST)

The King of Fighters Trailer Starring Ray Park and Maggie Q
 (From FilmJunk. 26 November 2009, 7:16 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Entertaining, Fast-Paced Genre Melder more (122 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jackie Chan ... Eddie Yang

Lee Evans ... Arthur Watson

Claire Forlani ... Nicole James

Julian Sands ... Snakehead

John Rhys-Davies ... Cmdr. Hammerstock-Smythe
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang ... Lester (as Anthony Wong)
Christy Chung ... Charlotte Watson
Johann Myers ... Giscard
Alex Bao ... Jai (as Alexander Bao)
Siu-Ming Lau ... Antiquerium Dealer (as Lau Siu Ming)
Diana C. Weng ... Undercover Woman (as Diana Weng)
Chow Pok Fu ... High Priest
Tat Kwong Chan ... Monk
Wai Cheung Mak ... Monk (as Mak Wai Cheung)
Anthony Carpio ... Guard Monk
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Highbinders (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for action violence and some sexual humor.
Runtime:
88 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The original title for this film was "Highbinders". more
Goofs:
Continuity: Jackie uses a "NOD" (night optical device) to check out the dock before they get out of the water, but leaves the lens cap in place. more
Quotes:
[When Jackie has Giscard traped in the bins]
Giscard: Ever heard of police brutality?
Eddie Yang: Sounds like fun.
more
Movie Connections:
References "Jackie Chan Adventures" (2000) more
Soundtrack:
Cue the Pulse to Begin more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
23 out of 30 people found the following comment useful.
Entertaining, Fast-Paced Genre Melder, 13 January 2005
8/10
Author: Brandt Sponseller from New York City

Every 1000 years a child is born who can wield the power of two halves of a supernatural medallion, which can bestow superhuman strength and immortality, as well as take life away. Snakehead (Julian Sands), your typical crook with world domination ambitions, has discovered the identity of a modern-day chosen child, and pursues him. Meanwhile, Hong Kong police detective Eddie Yang (Jackie Chan) and Interpol agents Arthur Watson (Lee Evans) and Nicole James (Claire Forlani) have been pursuing Snakehead because of his criminal activities, and stumble into the grander scheme.

While The Medallion is certainly not a film without flaws, it is satisfying on the whole if you approach it as a comic book/cartoon-styled Jackie Chan actioner. The film combines even more genres than that, actually, and there are times when it seems almost to be a spoof of James Bond-styled thrillers. There are also more straightforward comedy elements--especially when Evans is on screen, the film almost becomes a slapstick farce--there are Matrix-styled fantasy/action aspects, and there is a romance subplot. On top of all of that, The Medallion moves very quickly. Director Gordon Chan packs a lot of information into the film and barely pauses for a breath--if you blink, you're likely to miss some bit of crucial action, a plot point, or a joke.

In short, it's a complex stew of different genres, with a mixture of adult themes and childlike lightheartedness, wrapped in a dense mythology of fantasy and served at a non-stop, breakneck pace. Undoubtedly, those qualities will turn off a great deal of viewers, whether because they hate MTV/attention-deficit-disorder-styled editing, genre hopping or a lack of real-world believability. I don't mind any of those qualities, and in fact I tend to prefer films that forgo realism.

I only had two small complaints about The Medallion. One, it took me a few scenes to get up to speed with the film, both plot-wise and in terms of style. Once I got into the groove, though, I didn't want the film to stop--enough that my second complaint is that the film was too short (and in general, I strongly dislike the fact that most films seem to be forced by studios to end within 90 minutes). I wanted to see more of these characters, especially Evans, who stole most of the scenes he appeared in. Jackie Chan fans seeking a return to films that are solely kung fu-oriented will likely be disappointed, but if you have broader tastes, The Medallion might hit the spot. An 8 out of 10 from me.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Medallion (2003)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Claire Forlani saves this one fmor
what was the deal with the wife? ldivinag
Why was this set in Ireland again? RossNolan
Jackie Chan actually kills someone with a gun bbc100
Was anybody else disturbed by the stabbing scene? arcticdragon340
Peanut butter and 'Jelly' sandwich?? matt-akers
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