AllMovie

Director Stanley Tong got his start in the film industry as a stuntman, and he learned his trade as a filmmaker only after surviving years of death-defying stunts. Determined to make films of his own, he started his own production company. As a film director with an intimate knowledge of stunt work, it soon became apparent that a collaboration between Tong and Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan would be an match made in heaven. Tong preceded to make three of Chan's greatest works: Supercop (1992), Rumble in the Bronx (1995), and First Strike (1996). Tong was among those filmmakers and performers who would move to America in anticipation of the reunification of Hong Kong and Mainland China. His first Hollywood outing was a live-action version of Mr. Magoo (1997); the slapstick Leslie Nielsen vehicle was moderately successful, but unfortunately it was panned by critics.