Jet Li was already a god in Asia by 1995. He'd done the Once Upon a Time in China series, he'd played Fong Sai-yuk, and he’d basically redefined what "graceful" looked like in a fight scene. But then came High Risk. If you’re a fan of 90s Hong Kong cinema, you know this movie is a weird, chaotic, and incredibly fun anomaly. It’s basically Die Hard in a hotel, but with a mean-spirited parody of Jackie Chan thrown in just for kicks.
Most people call it Meltdown now, thanks to international re-titling, but High Risk Jet Li fans know the original vibe was something special. It was directed by Wong Jing. If you know Wong Jing, you know he doesn't do "subtle." He does loud, fast, and often controversial.
The Weird Beef Behind the Scenes
The most fascinating thing about this movie isn't even the stunts. It’s the shade.
In High Risk, Jacky Cheung plays a character named Frankie Lone. He’s a world-famous action star who claims to do all his own stunts but is actually a drunk, womanizing coward who uses doubles for everything. At the time, everyone in the industry knew this was a direct, albeit unofficial, jab at Jackie Chan. Rumor has it Wong Jing had a falling out with Jackie during the filming of City Hunter and decided to use this movie as a massive, cinematic middle finger.
It’s bold. It’s petty. Honestly, it’s kind of hilarious.
While Jacky Cheung is busy being a caricature, Jet Li plays the "real" hero, Kit Li. Kit is a former cop who lost his family to a terrorist named "The Doctor." Now he's working as a bodyguard/stunt double for Frankie. The contrast between Jet Li’s stoic, grieving professional and Cheung’s over-the-top buffoonery drives the whole first act. It’s a strange mix of high-stakes revenge drama and slapstick comedy that shouldn't work, but somehow, in that mid-90s HK way, it totally does.
Why the Action in High Risk Holds Up
We need to talk about the choreography.
Corey Yuen was the action director. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he's the guy who helped Jet Li transition to Hollywood with Lethal Weapon 4 and The Transporter. In High Risk, the action is snappy. It’s visceral.
There’s a scene involving a car in an elevator that is just... peak 90s. No CGI. Just real metal, real wirework, and a lot of practical pyrotechnics. Jet Li’s speed during this era was almost impossible to capture on film. Film editors often had to slow down his footage because he moved too fast for the 24-frames-per-second standard of the time to look "natural."
In High Risk, you see a version of Jet that is less about the "wushu master" persona and more about the "urban tactical" hero. He uses guns. He uses furniture. He uses a freaking helicopter. It’s a precursor to the style he’d bring to American audiences later in Romeo Must Die.
The Villain Problem: "The Doctor"
Every great action movie needs a punchable villain. Kelvin Wong plays The Doctor, and he is a piece of work. His catchphrase—"People should depend on themselves"—is a dark contrast to the way he manipulates everyone around him.
The plot kicks off when The Doctor and his gang take over a luxury hotel during a jewelry exhibition. It’s beat-for-beat Die Hard. You have the hostages, the tech expert, the ruthless leader, and the one guy in the vents (or elevators) trying to stop them.
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But High Risk adds a layer of cynicism. The movie doesn't just want to be an action flick; it wants to mock the concept of the "action hero" while simultaneously delivering a top-tier action performance through Jet Li. It’s meta before meta was a buzzword.
The Controversy of "Meltdown"
If you go looking for this on streaming services today, you’ll probably find it under the title Meltdown.
The international cuts are often messy. Some versions trim the Frankie Lone scenes because the Jackie Chan parody didn't translate well or was seen as too inside-baseball for Western audiences. But if you watch the trimmed version, you’re missing the soul of the movie. The movie is a reaction to the HK film industry of the time. It’s about the tension between the "image" of the martial arts star and the reality of the grueling work.
Also, the tone shifts are wild. One minute you’re watching a heartbreaking flashback of a bomb going off, and the next, Jacky Cheung is doing a Bruce Lee impression in a yellow jumpsuit. It's jarring. It's kooky. You'll love it or hate it.
Is it Jet Li's Best Work?
Honestly? No.
Fist of Legend is a better technical showcase. Hero is a better piece of art. Once Upon a Time in China is a better cultural touchstone.
But High Risk Jet Li is arguably his most "fun" movie. It doesn't take itself seriously. It’s a movie that knows it’s a B-movie and leans into it with 100% commitment. For fans who find Jet Li a bit too "serious" in his later roles, this is a reminder that he could play the straight man in a ridiculous comedy-action hybrid and still look like the coolest person on the planet.
Technical Details for the Nerds
- Release Date: July 1, 1995 (Hong Kong)
- Director: Wong Jing
- Action Director: Corey Yuen
- Runtime: Approx 101 minutes (original cut)
- Box Office: It grossed about HK $12.7 million, which was decent but not a massive smash compared to Jackie Chan’s Rumble in the Bronx that same year.
The budget was tight, which shows in some of the sets, but they spent the money where it mattered: the stunts. There's a sequence where a helicopter crashes into the side of the hotel that still looks more convincing than some of the muddy CGI we see in $200 million blockbusters today.
What You Can Learn from High Risk
If you’re a filmmaker or a writer, High Risk is a masterclass in "pacing through variety."
It never lingers on one emotion for too long. If the drama gets too heavy, there’s a fight. If the fight gets too long, there’s a joke. If the joke falls flat, something explodes. It’s "kitchen sink" filmmaking.
The movie also proves that you don't need a massive budget if you have a lead actor with incredible physical presence. Jet Li doesn't have a lot of dialogue in this. He doesn't need it. His eyes and his movement tell you everything you need to know about Kit Li’s grief and his singular focus on revenge.
How to Watch It Today
Finding a high-quality version of the original Hong Kong cut is getting harder. Most US releases (the "Meltdown" versions) have a different soundtrack and some questionable dubbing.
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If you can, hunt down the Fortune Star remastered versions. They keep the original Cantonese audio track, which is essential. The comedic timing of Jacky Cheung just doesn't work in English—the linguistic nuances of his "cowardly" persona get lost in translation.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of Jet Li's career, here is what you should do:
- Track down the "Hong Kong Legends" DVD: This UK-based label produced some of the best versions of these films with great commentary tracks that explain the Jackie Chan feud in detail.
- Compare it to Die Hard: Watch both movies back-to-back. It’s a fascinating study in how different cultures adapt the "lone hero in a building" trope.
- Watch for the Wirework: This was the peak of "wire-fu." Look at the way Jet Li is pulled during the fight scenes. It’s not meant to be realistic; it’s meant to be operatic.
- Check out 'The Enforcer' (My Father is a Hero): Also released in 1995, this shows the other side of Jet Li from the same year—more grounded, emotional, and gritty. It makes a great double feature with High Risk.
The 90s were a golden age for Hong Kong cinema because the rules were basically non-existent. High Risk is the poster child for that era. It’s mean, it’s fast, it’s funny, and it features Jet Li at the absolute top of his physical game. Don't go in expecting a philosophical masterpiece. Go in expecting a car in an elevator and a very angry Jet Li. You won't be disappointed.