MOVIE REVIEW

The action star teams with Claire Forlani and shows off his amazing martial arts skills in the amusing and supernatural "The Medallion."

By Kevin Thomas, Times Staff Writer

"The Medallion" takes Jackie Chan back to Hong Kong and the basics that made him an international star: a brisk, far-fetched plot, exotic locales and, most important, plenty of opportunities to show off unflagging martial arts skills and bravura stunts. This time he adds a supernatural element that taps into ancient mythology and provides opportunities for some spectacular — but not overdone — special effects.

The film teams Chan with his lifelong friend and colleague Sammo Hung, serving as the film's action director, and the large-scale film features exceptional production design (by Joseph C. Nemec III) and beautifully lighted cinematography (by Arthur Wong). Director Gordon Chan's consistent light touch makes "The Medallion" a pleasure for Chan fans.

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Director Chan and a clutch of co-writers cast Chan in a familiar role that fits him like a glove — that of an intrepid (of course) Hong Kong police inspector — and turn him loose on a far-flung adventure.

Chan's Eddie Yang has been assigned to assist Interpol in capturing an elusive, Ireland-based crime lord known as Snakehead (Julian Sands, delightfully reptilian). Snakehead and his gang have descended upon Hong Kong knowing that a ceremony, performed only once every thousand years, is about to take place in a Buddhist temple. During the ceremony, an anointed child will place together two halves of an ancient medallion, allowing the boy to confer immortality and superhuman powers upon others.

During the ceremony, ham-fisted Interpol agent Arthur Watson (Lee Evans, occasionally amusing, but way over the top) botches the capture of Snakehead. Eddie, however, manages to save the boy, Jai (Alexander Bao), who has the medallion halves in his possession, from being kidnapped by Snakehead.

The adventure moves to Ireland to Interpol headquarters, where Eddie discovers Arthur's boss is his old flame (Claire Forlani, one of Chan's loveliest and most amusing female leads).The film climaxes in Snakehead's lair in the bowels of the ruins of an ancient cliff-side castle, the gothic interior created by Nemec a vast and intricate M.C. Escher-like maze of intersecting arches and staircases.

Chan defies time and gravity with remarkable energy, ease and resourcefulness, not to mention charm and humor. He even gets away with a nude scene, not bad for man who turns 50 in April.

'The Medallion'

MPAA rating: PG-13 for action, violence and some double-entendre

Times guidelines: Appropriate family fare

Jackie Chan ... Eddie Yang
Lee Evans ... Arthur Watson
Claire Forlani ... Nicole James
Julian Sands ... Snakehead
John Rhys-Davies ... Hammerstock-Smythe
Alexander Bao ... Jai

A Tristar Pictures in association with Emperor Multimedia Group presentation of a Golden Port Productions Ltd. And Jackie Chan production. Director Gordon Chan. Producer Alfred Cheung. Executive producers Jackie Chan, Albert Yeung, Willie Chan. Screenplay Bennett Joshua Davlin, Alfred Cheung, Gordon Chan, Paul Wheeler, Bey Logan; original story and characters created by Cheung. Action director Sammo Hung. Cinematographer Arthur Wong. Editor Chan Ki Hop. Music Adrian Lee. Costumes Grania Preston. Production designer Joseph C. Nemec III. Art directors Oliver Wong, Jim Furlong, Anna Rackard, Chaiyan Chunhasitthiwat. Set decorator (Ireland) Joanne Woollard. Set decorator (Asia) Elli Griff. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

In general release.