Project A

1983 "Rip-roaring adventure on the old China Coast."
7.3| 1h46m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 22 December 1983 Released
Producted By: Orange Sky Golden Harvest
Country: Hong Kong
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

In late 19th Century Hong Kong the British may rule the land, but the pirates rule the waters. One Coast Guard officer is Dragon Ma, who is determined that his beloved Coast Guard will not be made a fool of.

Genre

Action, Comedy

Watch Online

Project A (1983) is now streaming with subscription on Paramount+

Director

Jackie Chan

Production Companies

Orange Sky Golden Harvest

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.
Watch Now
Project A Videos and Images
View All
  • Top Credited Cast
  • |
  • Crew

Project A Audience Reviews

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated
Console best movie i've ever seen.
Beanbioca As Good As It Gets
Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
leonblackwood Review: All of the old Kung Fu movies were amazing when I was young but now that I've decided to watch them again, they are just about watchable. Some of the old classics are still amazing but the old Jackie Chan movies are badly written, with awful comedy sketches. With this movie, there was way too many characters and I didn't have a clue about the plot after a while. I know that he was a coast guard fighting against Pirates but the more that the plot thickens, it gets well confusing. As usual, the action scenes are amazing and well choreographed but the reasons why they were fighting, we're completely ridiculous. Anyway, I've never really been a big fan of Jackie Chans comedic movies but his fighting styles have always amazed me. I have never seen an actor push himself to the limit as he does with his stunts but I much prefer him in serious movies. As for this movie, it did seem to go on forever and the storyline was all over the place but it's still worth a watch because of its authentic action scenes and original stunts. Watchable!Round-Up: At 61 years old and making nearly $2Billion at the box office, Jackie Chan is definitely a champion in his field. He has made over 120 movies so I'm surprised that his overall gross isn't more but it's still a big achievement. Rush Hour 2 is still his biggest film to date, making nearly $340million at the box office but it's his reputation as an action star that has made him a household name around the world. He has damaged every bone in his body, which is due to his determination to do his own stunts and he is unable to get insurance in some countries because of the extent that he pushes his amazing fighting scenes. This was the 4th movie that he directed and it became a cult smash at that time and I'm sure that there are many collectors that treasure there original videotapes in the early 80's. Anyway, it's not the best Jackie Chan movie that I have seen but it's definitely one worth having if your a Kung Fu fan.I recommend this movie to people who are into their martial arts/action/comedy movies about a coast guard/policeman who is fighting against Pirates and corruption in the police force. 4/10
daworldismine jackie chan's most well loved, and respected action comedy 'project a' was in many ways the first pure jackie chan movie, and a blockbuster hit that has gone on to win millions of fans. im not going to talk about the story, this is a jackie chan film remember, but as for the action, it still remains some of chan's best, the fight scenes are his best yet, and the stunts remain a joy to watch, the two highlights bieng his bicycle chase, and clock tower fall. the comedy is still very funny, and jackie chan is at his peak, and is at his best here. there is a reason why 'project a' is such a well loved movie, but you need to go and see it for yourself, go buy this movie now, you wont regret it, i highly recommend
Shawn McKenna While Jackie Chan's previous film Dragon Lord (1982) did not have as much local success as Chan wanted his next film Project A would be an artistic and commercial success. It is the maturation point for Jackie as a filmmaker and would start a string of successes that would help establish Chan as an action auteur. He directed, starred, co-written and even hired two "brothers" in Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao (they had grown up together in the same opera troupe and performed as the Seven Little Fortunes amongst others; Sammo was already an established success at this time and certainly is a prodigious presence in this movie) in the first film where they all had decent acting time -- kudos to those who can name the first film they acted in together.Dragon Ma (Jackie Chan) is a sergeant in the Hong Kong Water Police where pirates are problematic on the coastline (they would remain an issue even past WWII), his department is poorly financed, there are interdepartmental squabbles with the landlubber police and their haughty commander Captain Chi (Kwan Hoi-San) and his nephew Inspector Hong Tin Chi (Yuen Biao: Knockabout) and they just had their remaining ships blown up real good (nice model sets in that scene). Project A is the codename to combat these buccaneers. However, it looks bad for the Water Police when they get merged back into the main police force and there is a plot to steal rifles and be sold to the pirates headed by Lo San Po (Dick Wei: The Five Venoms) who ultimately does not seem that bad to me. Later the pirates make the ultimate mistake in kidnapping a ship with a Rear Admiral aboard and take them hostage. This leads to Dragon Ma eventually teaming up with wayward thief and gambler Fei (Sammo Hung) and Inspector Hong to combat these irascible swashbucklers.There are several stunts in this movie that are truly amazing. Much has been stated about the clock tower fall inspired by Harold Lloyd in Safety Last and with good reason. It is a superlative stunt and still one of my favorites as well as Jackie too. Jackie hangs by a clock hand about 50 feet above the surface and lets go to crash through two cloth awnings until the rude smacking into the ground proving that gravity is indeed a harsh mistress. It would be the first "superstunt" Jackie would do in a film and which would soon be a reoccurring theme in his movies to risk his life to please the audience. All three takes of this life-threatening drop are available to see on the film: two are shown in the movie and one is shown in the outtakes at the end. Every take looks quite painful. Leading up to this situation is another quick stunt that was quite dangerous. He climbs a flag pole to the top while handcuffed so he can unwrap himself from that mast and escape his predicament. But you look at how high he is from the concrete floor below and realize that if he messes this stunt it could be much worse than the fall through the awnings.The comedic fighting in this film is also quite adroit and amazing in its action direction led by Jackie and Sammo. The first scene between the water and land police is a crazy mêlée of kung fu, throwing objects and spaghetti. It is quite reminiscent of an updated western bar fight. The Keatonesque bicycle chase and action sequence is a brilliant combination of the two. While the scene certainly had been influenced by such films as Sherlock Jr., especially in the bicycle camera view towards the end, Jackie gives it such a unique touch that makes it such an aesthetically pleasing and entertaining spectacle. Add in several other fight scenes and a fantastic finale with the three brothers and the antagonist and you have quite a satisfying film.Project A was a hit in Hong Kong (19M HK dollars box office) and found critical support there as well. Jackie Chan would be nominated for Best Actor for Hong Kong Film Award; however, this film would win Best Action Design (Jackie Chan's Stuntman Association was even nominated against itself that year in Wheels on Meals) an award it truly deserved. It is also an important film for Hong Kong cinema. It helped push action movies into modern day locales and away from the Qing era and before dominated themes (though this film is considered a period film since it takes place in early 20th century).While the film may not know what to do with female characters like Wong Man-Ying and the plot is not the most sublimely cohesive -- there is a grenade scene early in the film which seemed a bit excessive, not that funny and did not seem to fit -- this film is consistently fun and beautifully directed (cinematographer Cheung Yiu-Jo does not get enough credit for the work he has done with Jackie Chan). Action aficionados certainly talk about this film though it is somewhat overshadowed by Police Story (one of my favorite films) when they discuss the oeuvre of Jackie Chan. With the humor, the dangerous stunts with complete disregard for human life and the awesome action scenes it is easy to recommend this. I certainly love this film and find multiple viewings rewarding. There does remain one question that I will resolve soon: which film is better: this or the sequel?
long-ford Another completely over the top Jackie Chan adventure but fairly enjoyable if you are into this sort of thing.Jackie and his brothers fight pirates (!) off the coast of Hong Kong. That's the basic (nonsensical) plot which allows plenty of martial arts and overwrought Asian melodrama.Sadly Jackie is forced to share the limelight with other actors, who can't match his charisma or sheer athletic ability. The film is not as polished as his Police Story efforts or his recent Hollywood stuff (Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Knights), but makes for a decent home viewing choice.overall 6/10