The Bodyguard from Beijing (4½ Stars)

Several films starring Jet Li have recently been released on Blu-Ray for the first time, so I'll be watching them over the next few days. After that I'll return to "The Sopranos".

The film takes place in 1994, when Hong Kong was still separated from Mainland China. Allan Ching-Yeung is a renowned bodyguard in Beijing. At the beginning there's a statement in voiceover: "A policeman can make many mistakes and be forgiven, but a bodyguard can't make a single mistake". That's extreme, but I can understand what the director is trying to say through Allan.

In Hong Kong there's a gangland murder. The witnesses are all killed, except a woman called Michelle. Her boyfriend, a wealthy businessman, hires Allan to protect her. Allan is cool and collected, acting efficiently to do his job. Not one mistake. Michelle begins to have feelings for him, but he turns her down. Nothing must distract him from his job.

The main story is excellent. It could have been better if not for humorous subplots involving children. They're totally unnecessary.