The Defender (1994) | (VHS) | USED | Starring Jet Li

USA ONLY

Title: The Defender (1994)

Alternate Title: The Bodyguard from Beijing

Genre: Action / Thriller

Plot Synopsis
Allan Hui Ching-Yeung, a top operative from Beijing, is dispatched to Hong Kong to protect Michelle Yeung, the lone surviving witness to a high-level murder. Upon his arrival, he reorganises her security house into a fortress, installing cameras, panic buttons and bullet-proof measures — much to Michelle’s frustration. Despite her attempts to evade the strict supervision, Allan’s vigilance soon proves vital as an elite team of assassins closes in. A deadly confrontation in a crowded shopping mall leads to a relentless siege on the penthouse, where the mastermind Killer Wong exacts vengeance for his brother’s death. In a final mix of martial-arts precision and tactical brilliance, Allan shields Michelle, takes two bullets, and turns his bayonet on his foe. After the chaos subsides, he leaves behind his watch as a parting gift and returns to the mainland, as Michelle watches the car drive away.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Corey Yuen

• Writers: Gordon Chan, Chan Kin-chung

• Cast:

  • Jet Li as Allan Hui Ching-Yeung / John Chang

  • Christy Chung as Michelle Yeung

  • Kent Cheng as Charlie Leung Kam-po (“Fat Po”)

  • Ng Wai-kwok as James Song Sai-cheung

  • Sing Ngai as Killer Wong (Wang Wenjun)

IMDb Link: The Defender (1994) 

Reviews from Letterboxd

1. gregs1999 – ★★★☆☆
   “Jet Li pulls off the wackiest stunts, if the weirdo who spun around in Obi-Wan Kenobi got his own film. Fat Po was amazing, we all need a friend like him. Reminded of Police Story a little bit, woman being protected before testifying but believes she doesn’t need one, etc etc. Predictable, yet an enjoyable and funny action film.”

2. Simon Pro – ★★★★☆
   “A banger action-romance-melodrama about a guy who is really fucking great at his job, with this one having the advantage of starring Jet Li in the titular role and being directed by the late, great Corey Yuen. And though it’s no secret I have an immense dislike of Kevin Costner, I gotta concede that if not for him, this film likely would not exist. New 4K restoration looks very good!”

3. Lexzilla – ★★★½
   “This made me happy. Mostly because I just love watching Jet Li. But also because I’m finally not viewing a badly-dubbed pan and scan version. Woo hoo. Directed by the late great Corey Yuen, this is a Hong Kong take on The Bodyguard only with zero musical numbers and a lot more exciting violence. Also, and I can’t stress enough how important this is, there’s Kent Cheng and Li mismatched buddy cop bonding! I never knew I needed it, but I was so damn glad to get it.”

4. Michael Brooks – ★★★☆☆
   “The Bodyguard from Beijing isn’t trying to be profound — it’s a pulpy, stylish action-romance that delivers when it counts. It’s a time capsule from an era when bodyguards were stoic legends, love was expressed with eye contact, and Jet Li could take down an entire SWAT team with a sofa cushion.”

5. Mark Costello – ★★☆☆☆
   “But sadly, it’s not one of Yuen’s or Li’s finest hours. Far from a hateful or painful watch, it just muddles along through its 92 mins and ends on a high, despite the many lows that preceded it. One for the hardcore, casual fight fans can rest assured with a hard swerve on this one.”

Meta Description:
A taut Hong Kong action-thriller directed by Corey Yuen, starring Jet Li as an elite bodyguard assigned to protect a key murder witness — but when assassins storm a shopping mall and a vengeful killer emerges, his mission turns into an explosive fight for survival.