Jackie Chan is probably the greatest martial arts movie star that has ever lived. Sure, Bruce Lee was technically better and had an on-screen persona that was capable of sending shivers down your spine, but Chan is the sublime all-rounder, and his stunts are awe-inspiring.
However, his acting does leave a little to be desired, especially when he’s trying to do it in a language that doesn’t exactly come natural. Despite this, he has succeeded in Hollywood where many others have failed, by delivering great martial-arts action movies.
One of his biggest American hits is the Rush Hour series of movies, where Chan plays alongside Chris Tucker. There is one problem though, Chan doesn’t actually like the films. He admitted as much in an interview with The Mirror. Not only that but he signaled his intentions to move away from martial-arts movies in order to try his hand at serious acting. Oh dear.
“The thing is, I can’t just make Rush Hour one, two and three and Drunken Master one and two and Police Story one to six. I know I have to change,”
“I’ve wanted to do it for the last few years and I hope people can accept it. I want to play a good guy and a bad guy and would love to be the Asian Robert De Niro or Dustin Hoffman.”
“I don’t like the Rush Hour films but the fact is they generated hundreds and hundreds of millions and they’re paying us really well.”
Wow, tell it like it is Jackie. I’m not sure how this will go down with his fans but as one of them, I’m not too impressed. If there is now a Rush Hour 4, which has been rumored for a while then we’ll all know Chan is purely doing it for the money and nothing else.
Stick with the martial arts Jackie, it’s what you’re good at and it’s why we all love you.
So what if he is doing it for the money? He’s broken every bone in his body for film and his art. If someone offered you 20 million to kiss Michael Moores ass, for two hours, Youd do it. Youd do it for the money. Id do it for half a mill. Anyways, I just watched Shinjuku Inccident or something, and he is doing what he aimed for. Its like one of those films, where everyone starts off innocent, with everything simple, but bad people force them to take the defense. They end up transforming into evil people themselves… you know. Its amazing, and no martial arts. He crys, his hearts broken, he cares, he’s a real actor, and Im proud of him.