Set in the 1990s in Japan's seedy red light district Kabuki-cho, Jackie portrays a Chinese rural farmer, Steelhead who enters Japan illegally to find the whereabouts of his girlfriend Xiu Xiu. He lost contact with her after she left for Japan to work illegally. There he meets his hometown friend, Jie (Daniel Wu) and they do odd laboring jobs to make a living. Most of the time, they were evading cops and harrased by local thugs.
Steelhead meets Lily (Fan Bingbing), a beautiful young Chinese lady who owns a pub. One day he saves her from being harassed by local gangsters and they became an item eventually.
But later, Steelhead finds out that Xiu Xiu has married a Japanese Yakuza boss called Eguchi, therefore he decides to remain in Japan and obtain citizenship. In order to achieve this, Steelhead decides to earn a living by doing illegal activities, including selling phony phone cards and cheating at slot machines by tampering with the microchips. As Jie is too cowardly to continue doing illegal work, Steelhead and the rest pull together some money to buy Jie a chestnut cart.
But later, Steelhead finds out that Xiu Xiu has married a Japanese Yakuza boss called Eguchi, therefore he decides to remain in Japan and obtain citizenship. In order to achieve this, Steelhead decides to earn a living by doing illegal activities, including selling phony phone cards and cheating at slot machines by tampering with the microchips. As Jie is too cowardly to continue doing illegal work, Steelhead and the rest pull together some money to buy Jie a chestnut cart.
However, one unfortunate day, Jie temporarily replaces his housemate in a slot machine game when the Taiwanese mafia already suspects tampering of the microchips. Jie becomes a victim and the Taiwanese gangsters beat him up and violently chop off his left hand using his chestnut wok and steel turner. Steelhead then seeks to avenge Jie's tragic misery and slashes the Taiwanese boss. After that, the storyline spirals in to brutal gang fights, revenge and betrayals.
If you are expecting Jackie Chan's signature stunts and explosive action, you'll be disappointed as the movie revolves around gang fights and one's greedy ambition to power. However, you'll see a different side of Jackie Chan. Daniel Wu's acting has shown great improvements in his role as Jie.
Directed by highly acclaimed Derek Yee, this supposedly potrayal of the hard life of illegal Chinese immigrants in the land of the rising sun is actually more of a gangster flick. However if you enjoy "One Night In Mongkok" which was also directed by Derek Yee, you'll enjoy this movie as well.
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