"Kung Foolery"
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What You Need To Know:
ROMEO MUST DIE is an exciting revenge thriller based on Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET. Jet Li shows all the moves that made him famous as a martial arts star. Regrettably, however, amid all the kung fu action are lots of strong foul language, plus several gratuitous shots of X-rays of bones crunching during the fighting. There is also a gratuitous lesbian scene with some brief nudity. Hence, this R-rated revenge movie has too much brutality and objectionable material to be edifying, especially for action fans who still have a moral conscience.
Content:
(B, PaPa, Ho, LLL, VVV, SS, NN, AA, D, M) Mild moral worldview marred by some brutal, immortal pagan behavior, including a revenge theme & several gratuitous shots of X-rays showing bones crunching, plus a gratuitous lesbian scene; at least 90 obscenities & 5 profanities; strong violence such as bloody gunfights, lots of martial arts action, man shown brutally strangled, man shoots himself off-screen, & several gratuitous shots of X-rays showing bones crunching; depicted sexual immorality with brief lesbian scene of two women dancing seductively & kissing, with one woman removing other’s top; upper female nudity, brief upper male nudity & women in sexy outfits; alcohol use & drunkenness; smoking & drug references; and, gangsterism & revenge theme taints hero’s battle against villains.
More Detail:
Hollywood continues its assault on the role model of the hero in the new martial arts action movie, ROMEO MUST DIE. Although the assault is not as blatant as most, it still goes over the line of acceptability, despite the fine efforts of the movie’s charismatic star.
In the story, martial arts star Jet Li plays an ex-cop named Han who willingly goes to jail to protect his brother, Po. Po has been corrupted by their gangster father, who has moved his Asian gang to the streets of Oakland, Calif. There, the gang is actively involved in a brutal power struggle against some black gangsters. Both gangs are trying to go “legitimate” by buying waterfront property and selling it to a new white-owned football franchise. Someone murders Po, and Han escapes prison to unmask the killer. Han then gets involved with the beautiful daughter of the man who runs the black gang. Although partly motivated by revenge, Han makes an honest effort to stop the villains behind the mayhem.
ROMEO MUST DIE is a nicely constructed, exciting action thriller based on Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET. Jet Li shows all the moves that made him famous as a Hong Kong martial arts action star. He presents a charismatic figure who can be both funny and charming.
Supporting Li well is the rest of the cast. That cast includes popular singer Aaliyah as the daughter of the black crime boss, Delroy Lindo (THE CIDER HOUSE RULES) as her father, Isaiah Washington (TRUE CRIME) as the father’s henchman, and Russell Wong as the right-hand man of the Asian crime boss. These actors are aided by director Andrzej Bartkowiak’s rather deft handling of a complicated plot.
Regrettably, however, there are some problem areas amid all the kung fu action and drama. For example, there is lots of strong foul language, plus several gratuitous shots of X-rays of bones crunching during the fighting. Furthermore, the heroic Han is motivated partly by revenge for the death of his brother, a brother who seems to really enjoy the corruption of the gangster life. These elements taint the morality of Han’s heroic quest. Finally, ROMEO MUST DIE also shows a gratuitous lesbian scene of two women dancing seductively and kissing, with some brief nudity. Hence, this R-rated movie contains just a bit too much brutality and objectionable material to be edifying, especially for action fans who still have a moral conscience.
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