Jackie Chan Movies

Dexterous martial-arts legend Jackie Chan reaches his 100th-film milestone with this historical drama set in the year 1911, as the Chinese public begins to revolt against the Qing dynasty that has ruled the country for 250 years. As the child emperor takes the throne and his mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen), clings to power, famine sweeps the land and warring factions clash in battle. Meanwhile, the army beings targeting rebels, and the desperate leaders of the Qing dynasty begin putting the country's future at risk through rampant trading with foreign countries. When Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) returns home from studying modern warfare in Japan, he finds his homeland consumed by strife. Realizing that the only hope for the future is for China to take up arms and topple the Qing dynasty, Huang enters into an epic battle that threatens devastating consequences for the common people. Lee Bing Bing, Jaycee Chan, and Winston Chao co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The saga of Po continues in this sequel that finds the newly anointed Dragon Warrior (voice of Jack Black) teaming with The Furious Five to safeguard the Valley of Peace. But when a new adversary launches a treacherous bid to seize control of China and obliterate the martial arts, Po must look back to his enigmatic origins in order to unleash his true potential, and defeat his most powerful opponent to date. Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Michelle Yeoh provide addition voices for this sequel directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson from a screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Two rivals strike up a wary friendship in this blend of historical drama, action and comedy starring international martial arts star Jackie Chan. It's 227 B.C., and during the era of the warring states, a fifty-something Liang soldier (Jackie Chan) captures a wounded Wei general (Wang Leehom) in the wake of a battle. The soldier's goal in taking the general prisoner isn't glory but the hope of collecting a reward so he can buy some land and start a farm once then fighting is over. The general, however, is vain and arrogant and insists he was taken captive only after his own men turned against them. As the two men slowly make their way back to Liang territory, they're followed by a duplicitous Wei prince (Steve Yoo) who has his own reasons for wanting the general back, as well as villains and scoundrels on both sides. While the soldier and the general don't get along at first, in time a grudging admiration grows between them as the general comes to appreciate the decency and good nature of his captor. Da Bing Xiao Jiang (aka Little Big Soldier) was an official selection at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Reminiscent of Kindergarten Cop, with a dash of Spy Kids, The Spy Next Door blends together an entertaining mixture of family fun and martial-arts comedy styling to form a familiar story that once again reminds us that even hardened action heroes have a soft side. Jackie Chan stars as Bob Ho, an international spy on loan to the CIA who gives up his job in hopes of leading a so-called normal life with his next-door-neighbor girlfriend and her rambunctious brood. There's nothing in Spy that the audience hasn't seen before from similarly themed incarnations (think The Pacifier), but, fans will appreciate director Brian Levant's homage to Jackie Chan's past Hong Kong movie blockbusters -- most notably, Police Story and The Legend of Drunken Master -- during the opening credit sequence, which is fitting considering many of the action sequences are derivative of those films.

The main story centers on Bob's relationship with artsy single mom Gillian (Amber Valletta) and her three kids: precocious teenage stepdaughter Farren (Madeline Carroll), nerdy middle child Ian (Will Shadley), and adorably energetic Nora (Alina Foley). After an emergency sends Gillian away to Denver, Bob steps up and offers to watch the kids while she's gone. Ill-equipped to handle a situation that's clearly over his head, Bob utilizes his spy skills and gadgets -- video watch, GPS tracking, x-ray glasses -- to gain control over the situation in hopes of winning over the kid's affection, but when an old enemy escapes from prison and threatens his potential family, Bob must return to his 007 world of international espionage to protect them.

Admittedly, there's a certain level of cheese in this film, especially when it comes to the Boris-and-Natasha-style villains, Poldark (Magnús Scheving) and Creel (Katherine Boecher), whose silly Russian stereotyped performances and running joke about American fashion unabashedly border on cringe-worthy territory. Not to mention, the thinly plotted storyline involving brainiac Ian, who accidentally downloads a top-secret formula for oil-eating ooze created by the bad guys, which propels the main action of the film. Adding to the pile are the supporting cast members: George Lopez as the traitorous CIA agent, Glaze, and Billy Ray Cyrus as CIA agent and Bob's BFF Colton James, who lends folksy witticisms like "As gone as rum cake at an AA meeting."

Even so, Chan's charm wins out in the end, and The Spy Next Door's most effective sequences involve Bob's attempts to bond with the kids -- from taking little Nora shopping for a Halloween costume to helping Ian with school bullies and girls. These comedic moments more or less overshadow an otherwise simplistic narrative, and the audience can't help but smile to themselves every time Chan appears onscreen. Die-hard fans might miss the era of classic kick-ass Hong Kong action films, but Spy manages to fill that void as an entertaining alternative that kids and parents alike will enjoy. ~ Alaina O'Connor, Rovi

The bond of brotherhood is put to the ultimate test when a tight-knit team of martial artists unite to defeat an evil master. Li Yi (Wei Dong) and his little brother Li Er (Wu Dezhou) are starting a new life with their father Li Hui (Sammo Hung), a respected wushu instructor, when they enroll in the martial arts consortium. Over the course of the next decade, they hone their skills to perfection while forging an unbreakable bond with fellow students Fong Fong (Liu Xin), Xiao Zhang (Shi Yao), and Yang Yauwu (Liang Zhicheng). Ten years later, they're about to graduate when they stumble into a diabolical kidnapping plot hatched by a sinister sensei. Thwarting his plan, the young graduates believe that they have won the war -- but that fight was just a small battle. When the master strikes back the real struggle begins. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Legendary martial arts stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li come together onscreen for the first time ever in director Rob Minkoff's time-traveling take on the Monkey King fable that finds an American teen transported back to ancient China after wandering into a pawn shop and discovering the king's fighting stick. Once there, the adventurous teen joins an army of fierce warriors who have sworn to free their imprisoned king at all costs. In addition to appearing as the mythical Monkey King, Li assumes the role of a silent monk, and Chan appears in the role of kung fu master Lu Yan. Famed action choreographer Yuen Woo Ping presides over the fight sequences. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The Jackie Chan-headlined action farce Rob-B-Hood concerns Slipper (Chan), a character caught up in a hornet's nest of problems. Raised by poor parents and expelled from school at an early age, Slipper became notorious for his lightning-fast footwork and quick-fingered hijinks, but managed to tally up a massive amount of gambling debt. With no other choice, he accepted his crooked landlord's bid to participate in a series of crazy heists. They paired up with another shady character, Octopus (Louis Koo), and successfully kidnapped BB, a tycoon's grandson, but unforeseen complications led the trio to keep the baby longer than they had originally intended. Now, when the men learn that a triad intends to collect on some unpaid ransom and kill the child in the process, they decide to keep the baby indefinitely, as an unofficial "adopted son," and train him in the ways of burglary. They receive assistance, in this endeavor, from a teenage hanger-on, Pak Yin (Charlene Choi); a nurse named Melody (Gao Yuanyuan); and the landlord's missus, (Teresa Carpio). Suddenly, however, the rollers and the triads begin to close in, and the men must figure out a way to return the baby to his folks. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

A pair of teenage kung fu experts find that their widowed father's far-fetched tales of adventure may hold more water than they thought in this martial arts adventure featuring fight choreography from The Matrix action director Yuen Woo Ping. In his day, Teddy (Anthony Wong) was a force to be reckoned with, but these days most of the aging chiropractor's energies are spent looking after his rebellious son Nicky (Stephen Fung) and his thrill-seeking daughter Natalie (Gillian Chung). Despite the fact that the young pair cringe when their father begins waxing nostalgic about the good old days, what they don't realize is that their father is still fighting the good fight by doing his best to protect other retired agents. When their father is kidnapped by a vengeful nemesis looking to settle a score from the past, Nicky and Natalie jump into action with Natalie's butt-kicking boyfriend Jason (Daniel Wu) to take on the bad guys and ensure that their father has a safe and happy homecoming. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A police officer has been disgraced in front of both the department and the entire city, and when the sadistic gang that wronged him attempts to cement their grip on the terrified community, the only man who can come to their aid is the one nobody believes in anymore as the long-running Police Story saga receives an exciting breath of fresh-air from director Benny Chan. Police Inspector Wing (Chan) used to be Hong Kong's top cop, but when his entire team is wiped out by a youthful group of cold-blooded bank robbers, Wing quickly falls into a deep depression. A year after everyone including Wing's fiancée has lost their faith in the fallen police inspector, Wing gets a second shot at glory when he is assigned an ambitious new partner and given the opportunity to bring the gang that nearly destroyed his life to justice. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A sequel to the successful, 2003 action fantasy Twins Effect in name only, this stylized, special effects-heavy martial arts adventure finds a humble boy embarking on an epic journey to claim his rightful position on the throne of a vast kingdom. Enraged by tales of a young warrior who legend states will rise to end her diabolical reign over Huadu, the wicked Empress (Qu Ying) and her eunuch high priest (Daniel Wu) dispatch skilled assassin Blue Bird (Gillian Chung) to prevent the prophecy from coming to pass. Later, Blue Bird clashes swords with irritable slave trader 13th Young Master (Charlene Choi), but the two rivals decide to join forces after realizing they have a common goal. When Blue Bird and 13th Young Master cross paths with Blockhead (Wilson Chen) and Charcoal Head (Jaycee Chan, son of Jackie), they realize that one of the boys is the one prophesized to wield the mythical sword Excalibur, and defeat the evil Empress. Upon realizing that Charcoal Head is the legendary warrior in the flesh, Blue Bird and 13th Young Warrior join him on his treacherous quest to become the rightful ruler of Huadu. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Explore one of the cinema's most enduring traditions as the Independent Film Channel and filmmaker Ian Taylor team up to take viewers on an unforgettable tour of the stars, fighting styles, and inventive weaponry of the Hong Kong film industry. From the early screen adventures of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung to the remarkable choreography of Chang Cheh and the hard-hitting films of the legendary Bruce Lee, Chop-Socky: Cinema Hong Kong explores and analyzes the unmistakable techniques and innovations of kung fu cinema with the help of such filmmakers as Lau Kar-Leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) and John Woo, and such high-kicking superstars as Jackie Chan and Jet Li. From the silent era to such modern innovations as "wire-fu," this exhilarating and exciting documentary leaves no stone unturned. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi