Jackie Chan - Tribute to a Great Director

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 28 Oct 2007, 22:18

I thought it was about time that I made a tribute to one of the most exciting directors in film history. I edited a video with behind-the-scenes footage from some of his films.

Hope you enjoy it. 8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKXFYAyajiI

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 29 Oct 2007, 00:40

Nice little video there LD. It was more exciting than most of Jackie's work

. IMO Jackie is one of the most overrated people ever.

To be a great director you need to pay attention to everything not just the aspect which appeals to you most, namely the fight choreography. Jackie is obviously an excellent martial artist and fight choreographer but he doesn't know how to direct for shit.

Also for someone apparently so talented he so often plays exactly the same role. The person who is always in the wrong place at the wrong time and a dimwit who always makes fun of himself.

Story, plot, acting. What the fuck are they? Things that get in the way as far as Jackie is concerned, for the most part. Because Jackie so often completely ignores those by the time the fights come I usually no longer really care.

I've seen way more Jackie films than I normally would for an actor/director I don't really even greatly like. With the exception of Police Story 3, Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2 I have problems with them all. I've seen all his so called classics including Drunken Master, Drunken Master 2, Project A, Police Story, Police Story 2, Gorgeous (I know not a classic) and all of them bored me to a greater or lesser degree. Except for Miracles I think that's considered a classic, oh and any of the Armour of God films.

Who Am I worked to an extent but the decision to film in English was a major mistake, the acting is awful too. The final fight is very good though.

I have the following on DVD unwatched and after I've seen those I really must stop buying his films in the hope I'll like one of them. I do it too often.

Crime Story - This looks pretty good
Dragons Forever - Hmm not sure
New Police Story - This also looks pretty good

Jackie is a better actor when someone else is in charge.

Anyway I've said my bit I don't want to take anything away from those who love his work or LD's You Tube video.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 29 Oct 2007, 01:00

Nice vid, LD. Didnt care much for the song though. A bit... womanly...

I agree somewhat with Brad about Jackie and his abilities as a director and such. Not really gonna go into it all right now, but I feel I've already explained myself on Jackie's efforts enough over the last few years, so I'm sure everyone pretty much knows how I feel about how he's wasting away his talents the last 10-12 years orso...

@ Brad: That unwatched list you still have there, is pretty nice though.

- Crime Story is pretty good. It's not 'great' but still pretty damn good.
- Dragon's Forever is one of the most entertaining Jackie movies out there. Definately my favourite 3 brothers movie. Yuen Biao is very funny and very impressive in this. Sammo is a bit underused and Jackie has some nice scenes, including fightscenes. It's entertaining.
- NPS: It's OK-ish I guess. I didnt care much for it though. Jackie's acting is horrible, the bad guys come straight out of a bad comicbook (rich punks with colorfull clothes and hairdo's, who play videogames and kill police etc for fun... wow...(!)

)
Fight- and actionscenes are decent, but never great. It seems Jackie is trying to go back to his golden years, but he doesnts succeed. The stunts are less spectacular, nothing jaw-dropping and the fights are just 'meh'. It's an OK watch, but afterwards you still feel kinda let down and disappointed.
It certainly isnt among Jackie's worst... but it just isnt very good either. But when you compare it to his recent work, it's at least somewhat entertaining I guess. (It's a fucking Benny Chan movie: how good can it be!?)

Anyway, Crime Story and Dragons Forever are certainly worth a watch.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 29 Oct 2007, 01:55

Jackie's direction on 'Miracles' and 'Project A II' is excellent.

And this is coming from someone who frequently gets shot down on other forums for complaining about poor direction and writing in HK martial arts movies.

'Dragons Forever' is terrific entertainment, and frankly a must-see for action fans. 'New Police Story" is a disappointment, but then as a non-fan, Brad, you may even prefer it?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 29 Oct 2007, 02:23

is terrific entertainment, and frankly a must-see for action fans.

I hear that all the time when it comes to Jackie's films and sadly I find it rarely to be a true statement. Hopefully I'll like Dragons Forever though. I picked it up during the last big HKL sale.

but then as a non-fan, Brad, you may even prefer it.

I was thinking the same

. Ironically I like Jackie as a person though and I am a fan of some of his work.

I found Police Story 3 easily the most enjoyable out of the three despite it being considered by everyone else the weakest. That's even when I appreciate artistically it doesn't come close to Police Story.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 29 Oct 2007, 11:53

I don't see what all the fuss is about in regards to Dragons Forever

I personally think it'll bore Brad.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 29 Oct 2007, 14:06

Crime Story is among Jackie's best overall work IMO with "Heart of Dragon", they are great serious films (though they do have great fightsn' stunts), and "Dragons Forever", "Miracles", "Drunken Master II" and the "Police Story" series were his most entertaining movies IMO.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 29 Oct 2007, 15:23

Heart of Dragon does sound interesting as for once Jackie isn't playing his "usual happy-go-lucky action persona". That does wear thin.

Then again it's not one that gets mentioned very often, unlike Crime Story which I have seen mentioned a fair few times. I'm sure I could find a better film that covers the same basic subject matter.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 29 Oct 2007, 15:41

Guess JC just isn't your cup of tea, brad.

Jackie has often been criticised for being too 1-dimensional when it comes to his films. But that's the types of films he liked making the most. The only reason he made "Miracles" was because film reviewers didn't stop criticising him and he just wanted to prove that he is indeed able to make films in a different way.

Oh, and thanks for the comments about the video. Appreciated!

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 29 Oct 2007, 15:50

thelostdragon wrote:The only reason he made "Miracles" was because film reviewers didn't stop criticising him and he just wanted to prove that he is indeed able to make films in a different way.

Yet he considers it his favourite of all the films he has made...

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 29 Oct 2007, 16:03

Depends on the mood he is in. Sometimes he says it's "Police Story" and at other times he claims that "Police Story" is only his favourite in terms of the stunts in it. Well...

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 29 Oct 2007, 16:15

He also tends to diss anything he didn't have creative control over, even if the result was pretty damn good - IMHO, at least!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 29 Oct 2007, 16:29

Jackie is a perfectionist though. I always thought Jackie liked Police Story best.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 29 Oct 2007, 17:14

Fantasy Mission Force is Jackie's best film closely followed by Killer Meteors.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 29 Oct 2007, 17:24

Hey, I liked Killer Meteors. A little

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 29 Oct 2007, 17:47

I always thought Jackie considered "Miracles" his favourite film, thats what he said in his autobio

"Police Story 2" has a special place in my heart though as it was the first JC film I saw in Cantonese (!) (I think).
I love Jackie Chan

His best works are works of genius IMO.
Heart of Dragon is a drama with some action in it, Jackie is very good in this and isn't happy-go-lucky "Jackie" either.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 29 Oct 2007, 18:06

It has a special place in your heart yet you're not actually sure it was the first Cantonese version you saw???

Very talented yes, genius no.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 29 Oct 2007, 18:28

saltysam wrote:Fantasy Mission Force is Jackie's best film

Criterion should finally come to their senses and pick this classic. New transfer, original mono audio and 50 page liner notes as extras.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 29 Oct 2007, 18:31

All right Brad, it was - at least it was the first I can remember (in 1999).

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 29 Oct 2007, 21:45

HungFist wrote:
saltysam wrote:Fantasy Mission Force is Jackie's best film
Criterion should finally come to their senses and pick this classic. New transfer, original mono audio and 50 page liner notes as extras.

i totally agree-maybe in a deluxe 2 disc set with Bruce Li's Secret Of Bruce Lee

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 30 Oct 2007, 09:28

Secret Of Bruce Lee is naff. Bruce Lee Fights Back From The Grave, now THAT should get a deluxe DVD

Ricochan38 · Post by **Ricochan38** » 13 Mar 2008, 11:35

nice video ! 8) Chan is the man 8)

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 13 Mar 2008, 13:47

Thanks, mate!

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 14 Mar 2008, 03:24

Brad, how many times do I have to tell you about mixing up 'The Tuxedo', 'The Medallion' and 'The Snake Fist Fighter' with 'Police Story' and the others you mentioned?!

:mrgreen:

I think if you watched the shorter international versions of those movies Brad (with some of the comical shit removed), then you might like them. I find myself like that (even though I insist on the uncut ones at times). His recent Western movies are embarrassing to watch because of the childish values and inability to move (using the 'Look busy and throw lots of shit around whilst using wires to ridiculously kick people around' method).

I recommend you watch the 'Made In Hong Kong' dub of 'Drunken Master' and you might like it

. You know about DM2

.

Ricochan38 · Post by **Ricochan38** » 14 Mar 2008, 08:05

DM and DM 2 are the best martial arts movies ever made by human. 8)