Jackie Chan Movies
One of the most popular film personalities in the world, Jackie Chan came from a poverty-stricken Hong Kong family -- so poor, claims Chan, that he was almost sold in infancy to a wealthy British couple. As it turned out, Chan became his family's sole support. Enrolled in the Chinese Opera Research Institute at the age of seven, he spent the next decade in rigorous training for a career with the Peking Opera, excelling in martial arts and acrobatics.Billed as Cheng Lung, Chan entered films in his mid-teens, appearing in 25 productions before his 20th birthday. Starting out as a stunt man, Chan was promoted to stardom as the potential successor to the late Bruce Lee. In his earliest starring films, he was cast as a stone-cold serious type, determined to avenge Lee's death. Only when he began playing for laughs did Chan truly attain full celebrity status. Frequently referred to as the Buster Keaton of kung-fu, Chan's outlook on life is a lot more optimistic than Keaton's, but in his tireless devotion to the most elaborate of sight gags and the most awe-inspiring of stunts (many of which have nearly cost him his life), Chan is Keaton incarnate.
From 1978's The Young Master onward, Chan has usually been his own director and screenwriter. His best Hong Kong-produced films include the nonstop action-fests Project A (1983), Police Story (1985), Armour of God (1986), and the Golden Horse Award-winning Crime Story (1993) -- not to mention the multiple sequels of each of the aforementioned titles. Despite his popularity in Europe and Asia, Chan was for many years unable to make a dent in the American market. He tried hard in such films as The Big Brawl (1980) and the first two Cannonball Run flicks, but American filmgoers just weren't buying.
At long last, Chan mined U.S. box-office gold with 1996's Rumble in the Bronx, a film so exhilarating that audiences never noticed those distinctly Canadian mountain ranges looming behind the "Bronx" skyline. Chan remained the most popular Asian actor with the greatest potential to cross over into the profitable English-speaking markets, something he again demonstrated when he co-starred with Chris Tucker in the 1998 box-office hit Rush Hour. In 2000 Chan had another success on his hands with Shanghai Noon, a comedy Western in which he starred as an Imperial Guard dispatched to the American West to rescue the kidnapped daughter (Lucy Liu) of the Chinese Emperor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2010
The Karate Kid franchise is resurrected with this Columbia Pictures production starring Will Smith's son, Jaden, as the youngster who learns more than simple karate lessons from a whimsical martial arts master (Jackie Chan). ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan
- 2009
A simple Chinese immigrant wages a perilous war against one of the most powerful criminal organizations on the planet in this sprawling action drama directed by Derek Yee (One Night in Mongkok) and starring Jackie Chan, Daniel Wu, and Masaya Kato. In Japan, foreign migrants are shunned by mainstream society. Taunted by the yakuza, they live in constant fear of being discovered and repatriated. Into this perilous world ventures Steelhead (Chan), a humble tractor repairman who has traveled to Tokyo in search of his missing girlfriend, Xiu Xiu (Xu Jinglei), who vanished into thin air shortly after arriving in the city. It doesn't take Steelhead long to learn just what kind of hardships Chinese immigrants in Japan endure at the hands of underworld gangsters and foreign crime syndicates, and upon discovering that Xiu Xiu has adapted a Japanese identity and married up-and-coming yakuza chief Eguichi (Masaya Kato), the two men form an uneasy alliance. Over time, Steelhead earns the respect of his fellow Chinese immigrants by establishing a place for them to gather. But the dark side still beckons to Steelhead, because after helping Eguichi dispense with a powerful rival, he is granted full control of Shinjuku's most popular nightspots. Resistant to the allure of the criminal lifestyle, Steelhead discovers a new love and opens a tractor repair business just outside the city. When Equichi begins using Steelhead's former compatriots as pawns to front the yakuza's drug trade, the vengeful immigrant returns to the city determined to exact justice, even if it means destroying the future of the woman he once loved. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Naoto Takenaka, (more)
- 2006
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis Koo, Michael Hui, (more)
- 2005
Gen-X Cops star Stephen Fung makes his directorial debut with this action-comedy hybrid from Hong Kong. Frequent Jackie Chan collaborator Daniel Wu plays Georgie, the gay son of a triad king who has been chosen to take his father's place when he dies. However, the crime boss's man thinks that Georgie's roommate Sam (Eason Chan) is his leader's son, and Georgie is all too happy to play along. Being the top dog isn't easy, and soon Sam finds himself in danger. ~ Kimber Myers, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eason Chan, Stephen Fung, (more)
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, All Movie Guide
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, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Documentarian Mabel Cheung traces the seemingly improbable but true tale of international movie superstar Jackie Chan's realization that the truth about his family's history is much different than he was led to believe. As Chan's mother's health deteriorated, his father decided that the younger Chan should know the truth about his family before either or both of the elder Chans passed away. In actuality, Chan was Jackie's mother's family name and not that of his father's family, which his father fearfully changed from Fong after the advent of China's Cultural Revolution. Additionally, Jackie was not an only child, as his parents each had two children -- all of whom have long since become estranged from their respective parents -- in each of their previous marriages. Traces of a Dragon premiered in 2002 and was screened in the Panorama program of the 2003 Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ti Lung, Jackie Chan, (more)
- 2000
This 2000 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Jackie Chan and features musical guest Kid Rock. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Kid Rock, (more)
Jackie Chan has become known for doing the dangerous stunts his characters perform in the films. This documentary, hosted by the actor, shows how some of those stunts were rehearsed and what happens when some of the stunts go wrong. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
A pair of martial arts legends do battle through the magic of 21st century technology in this documentary that dares pose the question "Who would win in a battle between Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan?" From Lee's unparalleled ferocity to Chan's cunning acrobatic comedy, this question leaves no stone unturned in the quest to find out who truly is the world's greatest martial artist. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
First, a little background: in 1955, the Director's Guild of America created the pseudonym Alan Smithee, which film directors are allowed to use if they feel their work has been tampered with to such a degree that they no longer want the credit. (For example, if you look at the credits of the expanded and heavily narrated TV version of Dune, you'll notice the director is not listed as David Lynch, but as Alan Smithee.) An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn is a comedy about a film editor (played by Eric Idle) who finally gets his big break -- he's given the opportunity to direct a big-budget action film starring Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jackie Chan. But filming does not go well (the budget eventually balloons to 200 million dollars) and the producer, James Edmunds (Ryan O'Neal), tampers with the final cut of the film. As a result, the hapless neophyte director doesn't want his name to appear on the credits. But his real name is Alan Smithee, so what's he supposed to do? In a stunning example of art imitating life, director Arthur Hiller was supposedly unhappy with the interference of screenwriter and producer Joe Eszterhas on this project and chose to remove his name from the credits -- so An Alan Smithee Film carries the directorial credit of none other than Alan Smithee. Rappers Coolio and Chuck D appear as the filmmaking Brothers Brothers; Chuck D also contributed to the film's score. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ryan O'Neal, Coolio, (more)
- 1996
- Add The Invincible Fighter: The Jackie Chan Story to QueueAdd The Invincible Fighter: The Jackie Chan Story to top of Queue
The setting is Hong Kong and the hero of the film is Jackie Chan. This documentary chronicles the life and entertainment career of the star of Hong Kong action films. Archival photographs and the personal recollections of family and friends paint a portrait of the private life of the film star. Clips from movies, such as Top Fighter and Rush Hour, as well as the television series Jackie Chan's Adventures show the martial artist's prowess and skill. Interviews with Chanand his colleagues give viewers an inside look at how some of the stunts are set up and carried out, as they put the action in action films. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
Jackie Chan dons a helmet and jumpsuit to stars in this critically panned action flick about crime and hotrods. Jackie is an ace car mechanic and an even better driver who gets himself involved with notorious bandit racer Cougar (Thoresten Nickel) during a casual street race. The Hong Kong cops have long been looking for Cougar for not only illegally modifying racing vehicles, but also for a string of less obscure crimes like murder and extortion. When Jackie beats the guy in the race, Cougar is furious. As a result of the race, Cougar gets dragged to the clink and vows revenge. Soon after, Cougar busts out of prison kills Jackie's parents, kidnaps his sister (Anita Yuen Wing-yee), and demands that he race him in the Sendai Grand Prix in northern Japan. Wild high-speed chases and a rollicking kung-fu fight in a pachinko parlor ensue. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Follow the remarkable life of martial arts icon Bruce Lee, from his birth in San Francisco to his mysterious death in Hong Kong, in an absorbing, highly informative documentary featuring interviews with those who were closest to the legendary actor and athlete. Few screen stars have experienced such a rapid rise to stardom as the star of Enter the Dragon and Game of Death, and now, as such friends and colleagues as Jackie Chan, James Coburn, and Bolo Yeung share their fondest memories of the agile martial arts icon, fans can finally find out just why he continues to inspire such stars as Ong-Bak's Tony Jaa even decades after his untimely death. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Internationally famed action star Jackie Chan tones down his usual martial arts pyrotechnics for a more traditionally dramatic role in this police drama. Crime Story finds Chan portraying a Hong Kong police detective, an honest cop guilt-ridden over his participation in a recent shoot-out. He is absolved of wrong-doing by the force, however, and assigned to protect a major real estate developer. Despite Chan's best efforts, though, the man under his care is soon kidnapped. The criminals demand millions in payment from the developer's wife, and Chan takes it upon himself to try and foil their plot and rescue the developer. His job is made more difficult by the fact that his new partner on the case, an esteemed detective, is secretly in cahoots with the criminals. Though there are a number of martial arts sequences near the film's climax, much of the action is more typical of Hollywood than Hong Kong, consisting of shoot-outs, explosions, and extended car chases. The ample amount of blood and the overall gritty tone combines with Chan's restrained performance to create a darker experience than most other Chan films familiar to American audiences. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Kent Cheng, (more)
This 1992 film is a live-action version of a popular Japanese comic book and animated series, transformed into a vehicle for international action hero Jackie Chan. Ryu Saeba (Chan), a womanizing private detective, is hired to find the runaway daughter of a wealthy businessman. Ryu's pursuit of the girl leads him to a cruise ship. Through coincidence, and a plot device borrowed from Die Hard, the ocean liner is hijacked, leaving Ryu to contend with the hostage takers as well as the elusive daughter. The action is satisfying, but standard fare for Chan, highlighted by a scene in which an onscreen battle between Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabar from the film Game of Death plays on a movie screen in the background, while Chan and his opponents mimic the fight in the foreground. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
Chu Yen-ping directs this all-star cast prison flick about cop Huang Wei (Tony Leung Kar-fai) who goes into the clink undercover to figure out how the fingerprints of a long deceased death-row inmate ended up at the scene of a recent murder. There he quickly runs afoul of gangland powers, making his life a living hell. His fellow inmates include Lung (Jackie Chan) who killed a card sharp to pay for an operation for his girlfriend; Triad (Andy Lau Tak-wah) who looking for the guy who killed his brother in jail; and Lui (Sammo Hung Kam-po) a sadsack con who regularly breaks out to visit his son. Later, Huang kills a prison guard and is sentenced to death. He soon learns that the jail's crazed warden is using supposedly executed criminals to kill crime bosses who are beyond the law. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Kar-Fai, (more)
