# Shanghai Knights

> 2003 action comedy film directed by David Dobkin

**Wikidata**: [Q595595](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q595595)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Knights)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shanghai-knights

## Summary
Shanghai Knights is a 2003 action comedy film directed by David Dobkin. It serves as the sequel to the 2000 film *Shanghai Noon*, continuing the buddy film genre tradition by pairing two protagonists in a comedic adventure set in London.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date:** February 7, 2003 (United States).
- **Director:** David Dobkin.
- **Genre:** Action comedy, buddy film, adventure film.
- **Sequel To:** *Shanghai Noon* (2000).
- **Production Companies:** Spyglass Media Group, Touchstone Pictures.
- **Countries of Origin:** United States, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Kingdom of Great Britain (historical context).
- **Cast:** Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (as Charlie Chaplin).
- **Box Office:** $88.7 million (Worldwide).
- **Budget:** $50 million.
- **Runtime:** 110 minutes (1h 50m).
- **MPAA Rating:** PG-13.
- **Filming Locations:** Czech Republic, United Kingdom.
- **Plot Setting:** Victorian London, England.

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Shanghai Knights?**
The film follows Chon Wang and Roy O'Bannon as they travel to London to avenge the death of Chon's father. They uncover a conspiracy to overthrow the British monarchy and the Chinese Imperial family, teaming up with Chon's sister to stop the plot.

**Who are the main characters in Shanghai Knights?**
The film stars Jackie Chan as Chon Wang and Owen Wilson as Roy O'Bannon. They are joined by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who plays a young Charlie Chaplin, and Fann Wong, who plays Chon Lin, Chon Wang's sister.

**Is Shanghai Knights a sequel?**
Yes, it is the sequel to the 2000 film *Shanghai Noon*, directed by Tom Dey. It continues the story of the two main protagonists in a new setting.

**Where was Shanghai Knights filmed?**
While the story is set in London, the film was largely shot in the Czech Republic, taking advantage of its historic architecture and lower production costs.

## Why It Matters
Shanghai Knights represents a significant entry in the early 2000s buddy action-comedy genre, blending martial arts choreography with Western humor. It showcases the continued collaboration between Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, whose chemistry drives the film's comedic appeal. The film also serves as an early notable role for Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who portrays a fictionalized young Charlie Chaplin, adding a layer of historical whimsy to the narrative. Its production in the Czech Republic highlights the growing trend of Hollywood outsourcing filming to Eastern Europe in the early 21st century.

## Notable For
- **Sequel Success:** Successfully followed the 2000 hit *Shanghai Noon*.
- **Star Power:** Features the iconic pairing of martial artist Jackie Chan and comedic actor Owen Wilson.
- **Historical Cameos:** Includes a fictionalized portrayal of a young Charlie Chaplin by Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
- **International Production:** A co-production involving companies from the United States and the United Kingdom, filmed in the Czech Republic.
- **Box Office Performance:** Grossed nearly $89 million worldwide against a $50 million budget.

## Body

### Production and Direction
Shanghai Knights was directed by David Dobkin, an American film director, producer, and screenwriter born in 1969. The film was produced by Spyglass Media Group, an American film production company founded in 1998, and Touchstone Pictures, an American film production company founded in 1984. The film had a production budget of approximately $50 million.

### Cast and Characters
The film stars Jackie Chan as Chon Wang and Owen Wilson as Roy O'Bannon. A notable supporting role is played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, an English actor born in 1990, who portrays a young Charlie Chaplin. Taylor-Johnson began his career in 2000 and has since become known for roles in films such as *Kick-Ass*, *Godzilla*, and *Avengers: Age of Ultron*. His role in Shanghai Knights came early in his career, following his appearance in *Shanghai Knights* (2003) and preceding his breakthrough in *Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging* (2008).

### Setting and Filming Locations
The narrative of Shanghai Knights is set in London, England, during the Victorian era. Key historical and geographical entities referenced or depicted include the United Kingdom, an island country in north-west Europe, and the Kingdom of Great Britain, a constitutional monarchy that existed from 1707 to 1800. While the story is set in London, significant portions of the film were shot in the Czech Republic, a landlocked country in Central Europe. The Czech Republic, established in 1993, has become a popular filming location for Hollywood productions due to its varied topography and historic architecture.

### Genre and Style
Shanghai Knights is classified as an action comedy, buddy film, and adventure film. It combines the martial arts action style of Jackie Chan with the improvisational comedy of Owen Wilson. The film follows the "buddy film" genre convention, where two people of the same sex are non-romantically paired, often with contrasting personalities.

### Release and Reception
The film was released on February 7, 2003, in the United States. It received mixed reviews from critics, holding a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 58 out of 100 on Metacritic. Despite mixed critical reception, the film was a moderate box office success, grossing $88.7 million worldwide.

### Historical Context
The film's plot involves a conspiracy to overthrow the British monarchy, referencing the historical context of the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Great Britain. The United Kingdom, consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has a rich history of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary government. The film playfully interacts with this history, including the inclusion of fictionalized historical figures like Charlie Chaplin and Jack the Ripper.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300471/)
2. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/rycerze-z-szanghaju)
3. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-28963/)
4. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film735878.html)
5. [Source](http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/shanghai-knights-2003-0)
6. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/shanghai-knights)
7. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
8. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300471/fullcredits)
9. Letterboxd
10. The Movie Database
11. Shanghai Knights. Rotten Tomatoes
12. Freebase Data Dumps
13. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300471/releaseinfo)
14. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/shanghai-knights/)
15. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
16. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
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20. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/A076-05B6-8E82-80A1-6382-X)
21. Danish Film Database
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