Shuang long hui (Twin Dragons)

It is a tradition in the Hong Kong film community for actors and directors to donate their time and the profits from a film in order to raise funds for various causes.

TWIN DRAGONS was part of an effort of the Hong Kong Directors Guild to build a new headquarters. Ringo Lam and Hark Tsui split the director’s job and Jackie Chan splits the lead in two by playing twins separated at birth. They are brought back together when the nonviolent concert pianist John Ma comes to Hong Kong and becomes involved in the life of his streetfighting twin, Boomer.

Although it is conceived as a comedy and an obvious satire of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s own twin brother film, DOUBLE IMPACT, there is plenty of action, including both car and boat chases.

A complicated love story develops, with the usual mistaken identity problems, when Tammy (Nina Li Chi) and Barbara (Maggie Cheung) keep wondering why their boyfriend’s personalities keep changing. Cheung, who is best known for her stunning performance in Wong Kar-Wai’s IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, plays the foil to both characters with her usual sparkle.

Chan provides the well-choreographed fights. Directors Lam, Tsui, and John Woo make cameo appearances.