Starring: Jet Li, Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, DMX Directed By: Andrzej Bartkowiak Average Rating: Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: VHS Tape Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 1 Release Date: November 21, 2000 Running Time: 115 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 22, 2000
Amazon.com: Cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak, the cameraman behind Speed, Lethal Weapon 4, and The Devil's Advocate, makes his directorial debut with a lively but by-the-numbers film that mixes Hong Kong action pyrotechnics with gritty urban gang drama. Jet Li stars as a jailed cop named Han who hightails it to Oakland, California, to seek revenge for the gang-related murder of his brother. What he finds, though, is a fierce war between his father's syndicate and that of Isaak O'Day (Delroy Lindo) for control of the city's precious waterfront land, as both groups are trying to make a deal with a corrupt football-team owner to build a new stadium. The political shenanigans are basically just a backdrop for the kick-ass action, and to give Li a number of enemies to lock limbs with. It also provides him with a love interest, Trish (hip-hop star Aaliyah), who's O'Day's daughter and like Han, the only straight arrow in a family of crooked mobsters. Li and Aaliyah have a teasing, gentle chemistry, and when they're onscreen together, the movie lights up and glides along smoothly. Li even finds a way to work Aaliyah into one of his action set pieces, using her arms and legs to fight a female adversary because "I can't hit a girl!" However, when these two aren't onscreen (and that's a fair amount of the time) the movie plods along, despite a stately turn by Lindo and Isaiah Washington and Russell Wong as two family allies who may not be as loyal as they seem. Li's action, though, is still phenomenal as ever, from his prison breakout (as he takes out a platoon of guards--strung upside down by one leg) to a knockdown-dragout fight with the agile and dangerously sexy Wong. And despite the Romeo and Juliet overtones, this is one mighty chaste romance, albeit one with a happy ending for the star-crossed lovers. --Mark Englehart
Good movie for Jet Li and/or chopsake fans Nothing spectacular to add, just that the movie is fun to watch... especially Jet Li's fight scenes. Also a tribute to Aaliya - she showed promise. Plot was pretty tried and true - acting average to good. Fight scenes, not overly realistic but lots of fun!
If you missed out on this movie somehow... I recommend!
All the best,
Jay
STEPPING STONE As an Aaliyah FAN (1979-2001), ROMEO MUST DIE was an stepping stone for Miss. Aaliyah.. GOOD MOVIE
Good; but miss-cast... This is one Jet Li movie I believe could've been better if Li was the villian and Russell Wong was the lead! Try as they will, Jet and Aaliyah did not have the chemistry to pull off a believable romance, not too mention, they didn't even look good together. Handsome Russell Wong, on the otherhand, could've easily pulled off a realistic romance with the beautiful Aaliyah.(RIP)
Cool fight scenes Jet Li plays en ex-cop who went to prison in Hong Kong for crimes his father committed. The father and younger brother move to the U.S. and continue with their criminal enterprises. Their main competition comes from a black family headed by Delroy Lindo. When Li's brother is killed, he breaks out of prison and comes to the U.S. to find out who did it. He meets Delroy Lindo's daughter who is the only one in the family not involved in the family business. She helps Li investigate who killed his brother. Along the way, her brother also gets killed and their are people in both organizations who are not as loyal as their bosses believe.
Romeo Must Die was an enjoyable movie. The story moves along at a decent pace and Jet Li and Aaliyah have good chemistry together. There were some excellent fights with imaginative use of items at hand. I especially liked a fight Li was having with a woman. Deciding he couldn't hit a woman, he used Aaliyah's body to throw the punches and kicks.
One Of The Better Martial-Arts Movies I was surprised I enjoyed much of this since martial arts movies are okay but nothing I really get into often. Jet Li plays the only likable character in this Asians vs. Blacks gang story.
Some of the stunts were tremendous. Some were so over-the-top, so unbelievable that they were funny. The movie certainly isn't one to be taken seriously.
The wild action scenes, fairly involving story and nice colors and interesting sound track all make this movie a cut above the normal martial arts fare. The excellent surround sound and sharp picture make it a good one for DVD.
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