Romeo Must Die

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak Andrzej Bartkowiak

Overview

"Andrzej Bartkowiak's Jet Li-starring, kung-fu-meets-Romeo & Juliet action/romance Romeo Must Die comes to DVD in a fairly complete presentation. A widescreen, anamorphic transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, behind-the-scenes footage, and two music videos from the film's co-star Aaliyah -- ""Try Again"" and ""Come Back in One Piece"" -- are examples of the disc's diverse extras. The movie's high-flying martial arts and special effects are given their due in the ""making-of"" documentary, which covers the choreography of the fights and stunts, the development of the visual effects, and the shooting techniques used to deliver the film's unique brand of action. Filmographies of selected cast and crew members, two theatrical trailers, a ""making of"" special for Aaliyah's ""Try Again"" video, web access, and an interactive martial arts game round out the disc. Though it may not go into enough depth for hardcore kung-fu film fans, the DVD does provide entertaining extras along with one of 2000's most surprisingly successful films."

Product Details

Release Date:	08/01/2000
UPC:	0085391812821
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:55:00
Sales rank:	16,240

Special Features

13 behind-the-scenes documentaries; Three music videos; Interactive menus; Filmographies; Two theatrical trailers; Scene access; Languages and subtitles: English and Français; DVD-ROM PC features: ; Interactive "Martial Arts Challenge"; Web events and chat-room access; Original theatrical web site; Sampler trailers

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jet Li	Han Sing
Aaliyah	Trish O'Day
Isaiah Washington	Mac
Russell Wong	Kai,New Prisoner,Asian Dancer
Delroy Lindo	Isaak O'Day
DB Woodside	Colin
Henry O	Ch'u Sing
Jon Kit Lee	Po Sing
Edoardo Ballerini	Vincent Roth
Anthony Anderson	Maurice
DMX	Silk
Matthew Harrison	Dave
Terry Chen	Kung
Derek Lowe	Chinese Messenger,Young Po
Byron Lawson	Head Guard
Kendall Saunders	Colin's Girlfriend
Benz Antoine	Crabman
Keith Dallas	Bouncer
Taayla Markell	Po's Girlfriend
Tseng Chang	Victor Ho
Tong Lung	Overlord
Richard Yee	Overlord
Colin Foo	Overlord
Lance Gibson	Doorman
Grace Parker	Asian Dancer
Manoj Sood	Akbar
Fatima Robinson	Lori
Gaston Morrison	Maurice's Crew
Clay Donahue Fontenot	Maurice's Crew
Francoise Yip	Actor
Stanley Clarke	Composer
Timbaland	Composer

Technical Credits

Mitchell Kapner

Eric Bernt

John Jarrell

Mitchell Kapner	Screenwriter
Eric Bernt	Screenwriter
John Jarrell	Screenwriter
Andrzej Bartkowiak	Director
Dan Cracchiolo	Executive Producer
Joel Silver	Producer
Jim Van Wyck	Producer
Manex Visual Effects	Special Effects
Dane Davis	Sound/Sound Designer,Sound Editor
Rob Young	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Jet Li makes his bid for Hollywood stardom in Romeo Must Die, a contemporary take on Shakespeare's classic romance spiced up with vivid martial-arts sequences. The Bard's oft-filmed play is retooled to make Li a disgraced Hong Kong cop who journeys to America to avenge the death of his brother, apparently murdered at the behest of corrupt developer Delroy Lindo. Li's father is a crime boss, too; and while his organization is involved with Lindo's in a complicated land grab, the murder ticks him off. The Montague-Capulet connection is completed when Li, of course, falls in love with Lindo's daughter (well played by recording artist Aaliyah in her film debut). Director Andrzej Bartkowiak, assisted by longtime Li collaborator Corey Yuen, gives his star free rein in numerous, intricately staged fight routines, while at the same time carefully developing the romance between Li and Aaliyah. Slick, fast, and exciting, Romeo Must Die is a welcome addition to its star's impressive canon.