I haven’t seen a single Hollywood movie with Jackie Chan in it, and I think that’s down to the fact that I love his previous movies so much. The amazing stunt work, the fun, a good story, and no visual effects combined to make some amazing movies. Police Story being one of the best.
However, since he came to Hollywood and started churning out the watered down films where he’s just given some token scenes to show his stuff, ably backed by the Hollywood stunt teams, insurance premiums, and the whole machine, there’s just nothing that’s appealed to me. There’s almost a hint of embarrassment or cringeworthiness in it now for me. If his age had become and issue, moving behind the screen would be a better move for him.
I remember his commentary on the Police Story DVD talking about how Hollywood focuses in the component parts of a fight, and therefore is able to break it down and make it safe. Yet that made it far too fast and hard to follow for the audience. A swoop there, a swish there, and that might have been a fist. So he liked to keep the camera back, show everything and make the fight as real as possible. That still hits me today that Hollywood have pushed the camera further and further in and you can’t follow or appreciate the action on screen. Why can’t he take those styles to Hollywood and try making smaller films and retain some of the action and style he was all about?
Now he’s a comedy sidekick performing the odd controlled stunt here and there, instead of the leading talent he was before he came to Hollywood. Sold out? The Guardian have a story on his other business ventures today, and his promise to stay with Hollywood.
Jackie Chan says moviemaking is still his biggest priority despite an expanding business empire that includes a clothing label, fitness clubs, restaurants – and a line of cookies.
“For me the greatest source of income is still movies. Nothing – stocks, financial speculation, real estate speculation or businesses – makes more money for me than making movies,” the action star told a news conference this week.
Chan said he donates the earnings from his businesses to charities, but didn’t give any details.
That is great though, and he’s always been one to donate to charity, look after his stunt teams, his pupils at his stunt school, etc. Yet the first things he said were greatest source of income still being movies. I watched an interview a while ago where he talked about the love of doing the movies, and getting his extended stunt family involved. Finding a solution to a complex stunt, coming up with something new, the challenge and the enjoyment of it all. He looked like he was having fun…apart from when he broke something! Where did that go?
“This proves I succeeded in Hollywood,” said Chan, who has starred in the Rush Hour films, Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Knights and The Tuxedo.
Well it certainly does, but for me, a fan of what Jackie Chan was before, it’s not what I loved to watch about Chan. Sure he’s building a business empire, but what happened to the great movies and not the parts that provide an income?
Dubbing/Subtitling are integral part of cultural transfer between all countries.
Though the debate is always between preference of dubbing or subtitling each of it requires high level of artistic/technical input to ensure the final output is more local in every sense.
Dubbing brings more life to characters of a film than subtitles though a bad dubbed film can be a nightmare.
Most Scandivian countries prefer subtitling over dubbing but now it is most preferred also for Deaf community.Same language subtitling(SLS) is one of essential way to educate people.
whats wrong with Rush Hour 1 & 2?… I thought 2 was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen…I also like his non-wood movies but that doesn’t change the fact that his hollywood movies are good…The Monkey’s could play there instruments but they didn’t stop their producers from creating the tracks for them..think about it.. it makes sense… IT DOES.
Jason says, “But you cant make me dress up as the Princess or as that guy who sat next to Billy Dee Williams in the Falcon in Jedi!!!!. Sorry….I’m not for sale like that!”
LOL See, I knew youre hilarious, and neither will I even if I had the body to wear the Princess Leia bikini costume! *laughs* Oh and a Star Wars fan will always be a blast to hang out with. *winks*
I agree with Rich’s suggestion about working behind the camera instead of prolly making a shmuck out of himself, to put it kindly.
“none of them made money (even with voiceovers)”
Do you mean dubbing? If that’s the case then you have to be kidding because I have never seen a Chinese movie that has EVER had good english dubbing. It’s always so cheesy so I wouldn’t be at all surprised that nobody would want to see a Chinese Jackie Chan movie that’s dubbed in English. The question is who is responsible for the dubbing/translation?
Personally in terms of story, I don’t usually find any of Jackie’s movies to be that great but what I do love is the action sequences and I find that his Hollywood movies in terms of action pale in comparison. They’re not horrible but some of his Chinese movies are so funny and with better fight scenes. Drunken Master 1 and 2 are some of his best work.
Simone: I’m not sure if Im a blast to hang with but I do have my opinions….they tend to make me friends or enemies real quick. As far as Star Wars…..I’m a fan. But you cant make me dress up as the Princess or as that guy who sat next to Billy Dee Williams in the Falcon in Jedi!!!!. Sorry….I’m not for sale like that!
i watched jackie chan’s “who am i?” last night. ha it’s one of those movies where you laugh with your friends at the sheer stupidity of some of the moments.
tagline: FIGHT NOW, ASK LATER. lol
watched New Ploice Story last night. I hope he stays in asia and keeps making smarter movies like this.
I saw him in a commercial for garbage bags today.
Hey Jason. I would class those as the start of his Hollywood failure, not as proper Jackie Chan.
I’d like to see him behind the camera putting the asian cinema rules into a Hollywood film, not trying to recreate a Jackie Chan Asian hit formula using Hollywood money, which is basically what he did with these movies.
It’s been done properly with Ring, and we’re going to be hit with Dark Water, Chaos, Old Boy and The Eye which are fully Hollywood remade but with the Asian talent behind the scenes.
LOL
Know what Jason, I think youre hilarious, you must be a blast to hang out with, youre a SW fan too arent you? *winks*
HOLD UP! Keep in mind that “Hollywood” tried to release his Asian Films here….remember? Rumble In The Bronks”,Super Cop,the medallion,Ect….none of them made money(even with voice overs) rememeber the tag lines? “Jackie Does his own stunts” with shots of him jumping from one window…across an alley to another fire escape? Remember all the out takes of him getting messed up? THOSE MOVIES MADE NOOOOOOO MONEY HERE! What did make money? Rush Hour 1($141) and 2(226 mill),Tuxedo($50 mill. pretty bad but better than Rumble’s $32 mill)Super Cop?(16 mill) 1st Strike($14 Mill),Ect……..And before someone says it….yes I know about Budget VS box office. But still……Jackie wanted to break into the Hollywood scene…..Thank Brett Ratner for that(actually I think he begged him to be in Rush Hour)……this isnt the Asain Kung Fu Market and Voice Over Movies dont do well here….as evident by what the Asian Movies he did that got a Theatrical Release here did…..Nothing…I mean lets not talk about Jackies Integrity to the ART FORM…….my 6 year old watches the Jackie Chan Cartoon for God’s sake!
Hey Rich, not even the smorgasbord “The Cannonball Run”? I loved that when I was a kid, with Roger Moore and everybody else!
Anyways…
I think the only Jackie Chan Hollywood film I have seen of late was Rush Hour, and because I was forced to see it. I remember enjoying his films before Hollywood because my dad and brother loved his films, so I would always see videos of it burning on our betamax machine. I guess its for the same reasons youve mentioed Rich why I just chose not to watch a lot of the films he made in Hollywood.
Dont get me wrong, I am a big Hollywood-made films fan but there’s just something about the Hollywood machine that seems to exploit talents such as Chan. Well he seems compensated well for it.
Jackie Chans is an honory citizen of S.Korea, this honor was given to him some years ago, after his many contributions to charities in S.Korea