review for High Risk on AllMovie

After an opening scene in which we see our hero, Kit (Jet Li), watch his wife and child die in a bus explosion, High Risk shows loud and clear that it is not the typical Hong Kong action comedy. Directed by action master Corey Yuen, High Risk is easy to peg as a rip-off of director John McTiernan's American action classic Die Hard. The movie features tons of similarities, not the least of which being the basic plot of one hero trying to rescue people trapped in a high-rise building from evil terrorists. What sets this film apart from other clones is a madcap camera energy and raw hunger for the hyperactive action usually only seen in the Hong Kong action films of John Woo or the early films directed by Sam Raimi. A scene in which Kit effortlessly shoots a machine gun out the windows of an out of control spinning car and proceeds to then drive the car, while it is on fire, into an elevator will silence those expecting anything close to typical. Also of note is Jacky Cheung as the character Frankie, who appears to be a comedic spoof of both Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Cheung is thrilling to watch, as he gets some of the film's most awe-inspiring and gravity-defying moments. The fact that Cheung is able to hold his own with legendary Jet Li is a credit to not only his martial arts skills but to his onscreen charm as well. Made years before Li became a real star in the U.S. and before this style of filmmaking became the standard for action cinema worldwide, High Risk remains a little seen and rarely spoken about action masterpiece.