Romeo Must Die

As far as Shakespeare-goes-to-the-hood movies — this one by way of Hong Kong martial arts — "Romeo Must Die" isn't too bad. Not bad at all, really.

It's not likely to replace Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" as the definitive film version of the tale,. Nor is it likely to supplant the musical, "West Side Story."

But you certainly could do worse than this very loose and limber action-thriller.

For one thing, it's better than the all-style, no substance "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet." And it's a decided improvement upon "Lethal Weapon 4," which marked the major U.S. debut of Jet Li.

"Romeo Must Die" is a much better vehicle for the acrobatic Jet and one that could make him nearly as big a star here as his former Hong Kong competitor, Jackie Chan.

Jet stars as Han, the oldest son of Asian ganglord Ch'u Sing (Henry O), who is positioning himself as a power in Oakland, Calif.

Serving time in a Hong Kong prison for aiding his father's escape to America, Han now wants nothing to do with him — at least until he discovers that dad's shady dealings may have led to the death of Han's brother.

So, Han breaks out and heads to the States seeking vengeance on those responsible for his brother's murder. But instead, he lands in the midst of an apparent gang war between Ch'u and his former business associate, Isaak O'Day (Delroy Lindo).

What's worse, the only person he can turn to for help is Trish (singer Aaliyah), O'Day's beautiful daughter, who also wants nothing to do with the gang warfare.

The plot is a bit convoluted and confusing, but fortunately it plays second fiddle to the action — and there is plenty of that, as Jet uses his feet and hands, firehoses and even his co-star as weapons.

And although first-time director Ardrzej Bartkowiak (a former cinematographer) lets the pacing drag, especially in the protracted first half, things definitely get more exciting in the seemingly too-brief second half.

Actingwise, Jet isn't the greatest performer, but his dialogue is kept to bare minimum, which wisely leaves the emoting to both Aaliyah, who's not bad, and the always reliable Lindo.

"Romeo Must Die" is rated R for violent martial-arts fighting and gunplay, profanity, racial epithets (heard in song lyrics), simulated drug use (marijuana), crude humor, brief gore and brief female nudity.