In the mid-nineties, I was dragged to an art-house movie theater by a friend to see some Hong Kong Kung Fu films. We sat through Drunken Master II and Super Cop 2. I was blown away. The movies were funny, touching, and had kick-ass (literally) fight scenes. I came out of that theater with a new hero—Jackie Chan.
Oh Jackie, what hath Hollywood done to you? Rush Hour 3 is released today, but I won’t be in line for that stinker. Chan brought a great comic sense to martial arts films. Bruce Lee was the master, and Jet Li does that leg split thing, but only Jackie Chan brought a intentional sense of humor that martial arts films need so badly.
When I saw him all those years ago, I thought, what is Hollywood waiting for? What I forgot was the complete lack of cojones Hollywood has. Let’s look at Chan’s American films: the Rush Hour series, Shanghai Noon, The Tuxedo, and other embarrassments. What is the problem here? The studios are too timid to let Chan man his own film. They pair him up with Chris Tucker, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Love Hewitt?!? Oh the humanity.
He still makes Hong Kong films, and I’m sure they use his talents much more then the American films do. I just wish to God they would write a film that is tailored to his talents. Let’s look at the reviewers say about Rush Hour 3. Here’s the New York Times review:
Given how much pleasure both have provided over the years, especially Mr. Chan, here’s hoping they were paid by the truckload. Mind you, it would be nice if they could find mainstream projects that didn’t insist that the only way an Asian man and an African-American man can hold the screen together is if they engage in mutual abasement and self-humiliation. It would be nicer still if Mr. Chan didn’t have to play the sexual neuter and Mr. Tucker stopped popping his eyeballs.
And here is Salon.com’s review:
But it's frustrating that no Hollywood…has been able to showcase his subtler qualities as a comic performer. Tucker and Chan are a strange mix to begin with, and not just for the dumb, obvious reason: Tucker is an overbearing actor, the kind who'll run off with every big line without even really intending to. Chan is a charming and wonderful comic actor, but he needs room to breathe, and that's the last thing Tucker is capable of giving. So while Tucker grabs laughs with the silliest, most obvious gags -- he woos Genevieve, stroking her skin and murmuring "Jay tam!" and "Voolay voo!" -- Chan is most often left looking as if he doesn't know what movie he has stumbled into. No one has bothered to write a real scene for him, and that's a drag.
That is a drag. Tucker is lucky that Chan is around. Who would pay to see him screech like he does? Chan is getting older. I don’t see how he can do his stunts much longer. If Hollywood is smart, they would scan the world looking for the next Jackie Chan. But in the meantime, let this man star in his own vehicle for the love of sweet and sour Jesus.
Oh Jackie, what hath Hollywood done to you? Rush Hour 3 is released today, but I won’t be in line for that stinker. Chan brought a great comic sense to martial arts films. Bruce Lee was the master, and Jet Li does that leg split thing, but only Jackie Chan brought a intentional sense of humor that martial arts films need so badly.
When I saw him all those years ago, I thought, what is Hollywood waiting for? What I forgot was the complete lack of cojones Hollywood has. Let’s look at Chan’s American films: the Rush Hour series, Shanghai Noon, The Tuxedo, and other embarrassments. What is the problem here? The studios are too timid to let Chan man his own film. They pair him up with Chris Tucker, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Love Hewitt?!? Oh the humanity.
He still makes Hong Kong films, and I’m sure they use his talents much more then the American films do. I just wish to God they would write a film that is tailored to his talents. Let’s look at the reviewers say about Rush Hour 3. Here’s the New York Times review:
Given how much pleasure both have provided over the years, especially Mr. Chan, here’s hoping they were paid by the truckload. Mind you, it would be nice if they could find mainstream projects that didn’t insist that the only way an Asian man and an African-American man can hold the screen together is if they engage in mutual abasement and self-humiliation. It would be nicer still if Mr. Chan didn’t have to play the sexual neuter and Mr. Tucker stopped popping his eyeballs.
And here is Salon.com’s review:
But it's frustrating that no Hollywood…has been able to showcase his subtler qualities as a comic performer. Tucker and Chan are a strange mix to begin with, and not just for the dumb, obvious reason: Tucker is an overbearing actor, the kind who'll run off with every big line without even really intending to. Chan is a charming and wonderful comic actor, but he needs room to breathe, and that's the last thing Tucker is capable of giving. So while Tucker grabs laughs with the silliest, most obvious gags -- he woos Genevieve, stroking her skin and murmuring "Jay tam!" and "Voolay voo!" -- Chan is most often left looking as if he doesn't know what movie he has stumbled into. No one has bothered to write a real scene for him, and that's a drag.
That is a drag. Tucker is lucky that Chan is around. Who would pay to see him screech like he does? Chan is getting older. I don’t see how he can do his stunts much longer. If Hollywood is smart, they would scan the world looking for the next Jackie Chan. But in the meantime, let this man star in his own vehicle for the love of sweet and sour Jesus.
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