Goodmorning all. Well, it’s with some, but understandable, surprise to hear that Jackie Chan really hasn’t cared much for the “Rush Hour” franchise which catapulted his career in the states. According to the article, Chan mentioned that he initially starred in the first “Rush Hour” to test the American market which he didn’t have high hopes for to begin with. He got involved in the 2nd installment because he was offered an “irresistable” amount of cheese and he decided to give the fans what they wanted by doing a 3rd and final act.
Although he has willingly participated in the humour that drove the success of these movies, he still does not understand much of the comedy and feels that the action scenes were too “Americanized” for him. He has also stated that much of the money he’s received from these movies have gone to fund “Chinese-language projects that truly interest him.”
What’re your thoughts about Chan’s smiting of the industry that broke him in the American audience. Is it the proverbial, “biting the hand that feeds you” or is it merely exploiting the industry that exploited you and your “martial arts” to begin with? It’s not too often that you hear any kind of backlash from Chinese actors. Do you think there are more “Jackie Chans” in the industry that are not speaking up on their distaste or do you think Chan is simply an ingrate?
~Thesis
Reecie
thehonorable
He probably feels like he sold out to America for money while he has a big audience at home that he wants to bring quality films. Asian actors are the most typecast actors in hollywood, so i am assuming that he rather do films in china than america where he probably broader than kicking someone and cross cultural humor.
He’s probably hating on Chris Tucker’s pay check vs. his pay check.
Uhh, I really don’t think that’s the reason.
As a huge fan & frequent watcher of Asian cinema & Kung Fu, I can understand his distaste for his American movies. The American style of storytelling & humor is vastly different from the style that he grew up doing. Also, considering that Jackie Chan has always done his own action directing and stunt coordination since he was in his early 20s, it’s understandable that he isn’t a fan of the action scenes in the Rush Hour franchise. He actually spoke a long while ago how he didn’t appreciate he wasn’t given enough respect as an action director while working on those movies.
Take our money and then talk shit about us…. That’s the ‘Anti-American’ Way!
I see nothing wrong with critiquing the industry. It’s exactly the same as anyone else evaluating the playing field, and quite honestly, it probably helps propel the standards in an upward direction the next time around.
“Although he has willingly participated in the humour that drove the success of these movies, he still does not understand much of the comedy”
I don’t understand the comedy in those movies. Also, I thought he was launched in America well before Rush Hour. So, I don’t think any of his critique is off-base, and he has admitted that he willingly took the jobs. I just don’t see why anyone would create a fuss over this.
i just got a chance to look at rush hour 3 and its lame as fuck. i kinda understand chans sentiments. hes a better actor than most people credit him for and for him to mumble around in films like this is unsettling. compared with his 80s n 90s hong kong films, his americans ones are subpar. his shanghai franchise is much better than the rush hour to me IMO. you have to understand that asian and western culture are not parallel…even in movies the subtleties and nuances are widely different and can be misinterpreted. i dont think many of us would appreciate the humour say in some martial arts movies.
theres always stigma and the inhrent racism attached to being asian and how hard it is for these kinds of actors to break into hollywood. in china and some parts of this world, chan is a massive film star.
look at the adversity bruce lee faced and the magnetism and on screen presence he has - not only championing a unity between blacks, whites and asians but promoting asian culture too. in chans instance youd take anythnig if you were offered it and hopefully you can break down that barrier.
as for the quote, i think a lot it is misinterpreted and out of context. what i recall him saying a while back was that he was not partiularly impressed with the insurance in hollywood films and the lack of control in action scenes. for someone who can barely seak english, hes done well for himself in hollywood and hes just being honest.
Uh, have any of you actually seen his other movies? Most are EXACTLY like the Rush Hour series in plot and character. The only difference is he doesnt speak english, but his character (via subtitles for me) is almost always the same bumbling-but-generally-nice-guy who happens to kick ass all over the room in ‘zanny’ situations. The man has been famous in America for two decades but he speaks hardly any English.
Not sure what his motivation was to say those comments, maybe it was translated poorly, or he’s just feeling bitchy.