What makes Jackie Chan the best is he’s not trying to be the best. He’s not trying to be superhuman. Yes he takes a lot of hits, but he wins in the end. He’s a much more interesting character because he’s not one dimensional
Jackie Chan's late 70's to early 90s output really needs re-evaluated. The choreography is something to behold and really puts modern "jump-cut" action scenes to shame.
yes. I feel that besides the issue with people only associating artists or films with their more recent Hollywood "brands" there's a thing with many non-USA pre-90s films where the distribuitors tried to "addapt" the language or culture of the product for USA's audiences so the films ended up looking more campy and silly than they actually are.
I totally agree with rewatching old Jackie Chan movies. The stunts and things they do in those old movies are nothing short of astounding. In our more modern movies everything is played so safe and green-screened. Watching actual people fall out of a balcony or getting kicked in the face really makes you appreciate hard-core stuntwork.
The thing with Hong Kong and Asian action cinema in general is: They take time and lots of effort,in order to choreograph and shoot a fight scene and of course,when you do that,you want the audience to actually see it. For example,the legendary fight scene in ''Legend of Drunken Master 2'',in the factory,took 4 months to be made! Both Jackie and Ken Lo,who plays his opponent,were seriously injured numerous times and the scene where Jackie falls into burning coals,was real! No special effects,they just put Jackie in protective clothing and threw him into hot coals! Or a more recent example,the ''Kitchen fight'' in ''The Raid 2'' was shot over 2 weeks. The fact,that most Asian action performers also have experience in martial arts or ballet,helps too.Michelle Yeoh for example,was a ballerina in her youth,who then took up trad. Wu Shu Kung Fu and just like Jackie,she does most of her stunts. Compare this to your typical,modern Hollywood action movie,they shoot an entire movie in less then 4 months,most big actors have:a). no experience with martial arts,b). are too old to perform a fight scene and c). their insurances would never allow them to do it anyway.All this ''I do my own stunts''-talk is BS. As a result,in order to say time/money and to not let the audience see,that the stars don't do much,they have resorted to this crappy shaky-cam & quick-cut style,which was introduced with the second Bourne movie and has ruined Hollywood action cinema,since then. In the last years,we got some Hollywood productions who try to emulate the Asian style of making actionfilms,like the ''John Wick'' & M:I franchises,where K.Reeves & Tom Cruise actually do the fight scenes/stunts or the Netflix Daredevil tv-show,where they did extensive training for the actors,along with using very skilled stuntdoubles,but we need more.
Chan was the best example, but I think it was a feature of Hong Kong action in general, and also the style of the time. The older John Woo films are a good example, too. Even in older Western films, wider choreographed shots and pyrotechnics were more common than now; and in Hong Kong they had the advantage of being able to take a lot more physical risks with the actors and stunts. Modern editing techniques and CG have made that style a bit of a lost art worldwide.
Holy shit now that I think about it Jackie Chan was a better role model for men than any other action stars in his time. While other male action stars basically taught young kids that you had to have nerves of steel and be a cold blooded badass, Jackie Chan was like "y'all can be absolute emotional goofs and still kick ass". He never sought out fights, he only ever defended himself, and he never was an unstoppable force. The greatest thing about Jackie Chan's craft was how he was always at a disadvantage, and always got the shit kicked out of him, and would only win after some sacrifice, not by shooting a rocket into the baddie's chest after saying a cool line
Jackie Chan was my first and will be my last Superhero. My family loves his films: we own all of his movies across every generation of recording. I even think we have Jackie Chan's First Strike on LaserDisc!
jackie chans signature move to me is whipping his hands after a door snaps shut on his fingers. he needs his hands, but jackie is expressive and reactive (defensive) and inherently humorous.
I'm not denying the brilliance of Jackie Chan, I'm just saying that he isn't currently really doing anything, therefore he can't be the modern Buster Keaton.
I grew up watching "Rumble in the Bronx" and "First Strike". Haven't seen them in years but I loved them! Just mindblowing what he is capable of. One scene in First Strike shows him jumping from a helicopter into a nearly frozen lake. Keeping in mind he does all of his own stunts.
@@dodgrblu I said new to me. And no... I'd say maybe .04% of people growing up like I did in the west actually saw these Chinese 80s films so it's not that surprising. I'll check em out though :)
@@TipeONegatyve yeah, my point was that it's weird you haven't seen any of them given that you loved those 2 movies, and yet didn't check out more. I guess I'm part of that 0.4%, which realistically seems much higher to me.
You're right. According to the restoration notes, they went back to the original camera negatives (first generation) to make the transfer. Whereas if you saw this theatrically, you were seeing a 4th or 5th generation copy.
There are several uniquely lovable traits of Jackie Chan-always plays very human and humble characters, unlike other action stars who play invincible and unbelievable characters, does all his own stunts, has a different theme in all his fights and makes use of whatever space and surroundings around him, adds comical elements to his stunts and fights etc. However, what I like most is that he showcases the full ability of the other actors that he fights against or along with. He isn't insecure like others in his position would be and isn't afraid that the other artist may upstage him. He just wants the fight to look great.
wow....this clip made me remember watching jackie chan movies with my older brothers when i was little, and how the choreography and stunts were so insane that we all bonded through the shared experience of being amazed and in awe of jackie. thanks for the upload. cheers.
I always think of Pablo Francisco's impression of Jackie: "Stop! Please! Leave me alone! Uncle help! I don't wanna fight!" while singlehandedly kicking everyone's ass.
Chan also lets the people around him shine, and elevates their game. His co-stars, villains, love interests all get to show off their stunt skills, which makes the whole thing more exciting. Contrast that with Schwartzenegger where the villains are cyphers who exist purely to make him look good. The result is that it's actually Chan who comes off looking more impressive, because the guys he's fighting aren't faceless drones, but genuinely skilled performers.
I'd put Jackie Chan on the same level as Buster Keaton in terms of physical charisma and stunts. He manages to effortlessly blend action and comedy together in his choreography that I wish more action-comedy films did it similarly to Jackie Chan's classics. Edgar Wright knows his stuff, always appreciate when he gets to talk about the films he loves.
I love Jackie Chan! When I was a kid, I'd save up my lunch money incrementally to go watch any movie he was in! He was always so thrilling and so fun to watch! A real cinematic joy... the cinema world is forever indebted for his physical sacrifice to the art of REAL MAD STUNTS! BRAVO! 👏🏻
If there was a fighting style called the Chameleon, Jackie Chan would be that because he can do it all and I always love the flow he has going from one thing to another. So timeless.
I learned about jackie chan as a kid through the cartoon series that was based on him. Later I got exposed to his movies, and they were a sight to behold.
Jackie Chan is really a pacifist, he never looks for a fight or challenges anyone. He usually shakes his hands in the air and says “I don’t want any trouble.” Then whips your ass.
I watched Police Story some time ago and i was blown away by the stunts of the movie. I think Michael Bay ripped off one of the action sequences in the movie (The part where they were rolling down the village) and no matter how many times i saw him sliding down the pole where he got electrocuted, its a marvel to watch.
That's right there! The visual comedy! It's look good and understandable so it's work on any audience. I'm Thai and I hate dub movies. I start learning English earlier than most of anyone my age because of it, to watch soundtrack movies. This is what I agree the most about why Jackie Chan is so popular all around the world. I even love watching his dubbed movies. And Edgar Wright sure does know how to create his works beautifully compliment visual comedy style.
Is that Edgar Wright who did Scott Pilgrim vs. The World with Michael Cera? #funfact Apparently, they invited the Jackie Chan Stunt Team for the Action….
Difference between Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan’s characters in kung fu/MMA films is that Lee’s character’s were cocky, who never walked or backdown from a fight. Where’s Chan’s character was a humble, everyday guy-of loser who hated conflict but would always defend himself.
Criterion, If you’re reading this, please give us more Jackie. The other two Police Story movies, both Armour of God movies, both Project A movies, City Hunter, Crime Story, Meals on Wheels, Gorgeous, Dragons Forever, Thunderbolt, Who Am I, all of them. Do it! Please! -Longtime Criterion and Jackie Fan
Remember the action scene from bad boys II chasing and crashing all those houses downhill at the end or when stallone shoots in the air and the trackers stop thus resolving in crashing through and flie through the windshield in tango and cash or brandon lee and scene in rapid fire when he takes motorcycle and crash that bad guy through all those glassess right into the wall...those are all from police story.
