Thunderbolt (1995 film)

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Thunderbolt DVD cover

Thunderbolt (霹靂火) (Piklik Foh; Dead Heat in North America) is a 1995 Hong Kong film, directed by Gordon Chan and starring Jackie Chan.

1 Plot
2 Box Office
3 Cast and roles
4 Trivia
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Foh (Jackie Chan) is a mechanic and part time racing car driver, playing the Good Samaritan for the police force by helping them to apprehend a dangerous criminal named Cougar (Thorsten Nickel) by means of a car chase. The criminal soon breaks free however and takes revenge on Foh by trashing his business and home and kidnapping his two younger sisters. The only way Foh can free her is by taking part in a race with Cougar a rematch after the criminal's earlier defeat.

[edit] Box Office

Despite generally poor reviews, Thunderbolt was a box office hit in Hong Kong, grossing HK $45,647,210 in its theatrical run. Factors that may have affected the reviews include the fact that Chan had previously injured his leg and was unable to perform all of his stunts, and the director's editing method could be seen as being too artistic for a Hong Kong action film. In addition the central concept of the film revolves around vehicles and racing rather than Chan's fighting ability. As is often the case, the film was rushed for a Chinese New Year release on.

[edit] Cast and roles

Jackie Chan - Chan Foh To (Alfred Tung in US version)
Anita Yuen - Amy Yip
Michael Wong - Steve Cannon
Thorsten Nickel - Warner 'Cougar' Kaugman
Chor Yuen - Foh's father (Alfred's father in US version) (credited as Yun Chor)
Wu Oi-Yan - Dai Mui (Daphne in US version) (credited as Daisy Wu Oi-Yan)
Man Chung-Han - Sai Mui (Sammi in US version)
Yūzō Kayama - Coach
Kenya Sawada - Saw
Ken Lo - Kong (credited as Houi-Kang Low)
Wong Chi Wah - Mr. Lam (credited as Tze-Wah Wong)
Chin Kar Lok - Assistant to Coach (credited as Ka-Lok Chin)
Corey Yuen - The Doctor (credited as Cory Yuen)
Marie Eguro - Miss Kenya (credited as Mari Eguro)
Yung Kam-Cheong - Cheong, mechanic (credited as Peter Yung Kam-Cheong)
William Tuen - Koo (credited as William Tuen Wai-Lun)
Bruce Law - Bruce (credited as Bruce Law Lai-Yin)
Patrick Han - John
Lam Wai-Kong - Inspector Cheung (Joe)
Shing Fui-On - Illegal racer (credited as Fui-On Sing)
Paul Rapovski - Kong's gang member #1
Michael Ian Lambert - Kong's gang member #2
Tom Lent (voice)
Annie Man
Stephen Fung (uncredited)
Sau Leung 'Blacky' Ko - Mechanic (uncredited)
Ailen Sit - Bribing thug (uncredited)
Wong Ming-Sing - Police officer (uncredited)

[edit] Trivia

In Thunderbolt, Jackie Chan crashes a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 3 and receives a Mitsubishi GTO as a replacement.
The film features the Mitsubishi HSR concept car.
Race track locations for the film include Japan's Sendai circuit and the Batu Tiga Circuit, Shah Alam, Malaysia.
The main theme at the beginning of the film in is in Cantonese, whereas the theme played over the closing credits is in Mandarin.
In the credits, there is an apology to racers injured during filming. Apparently, real racers from different countries volunteered to travel and participate in the racing sequences.