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Jackie Chan on The Forbidden Kingdom
By Fred Topel | Image property of Lionsgate
The Forbidden Kingdom
The Forbidden Kingdom features the long awaited cinematic pairing of Jackie Chan and Jet Li. However it will provide another treat for Chan fans, his own return to the drunken fist style since 1994's Drunken Master II (released in America as The Legend of Drunken Master).
Chan Drunk in The Forbidden Kingdom
"Sometimes, I’m very embarrassed," admitted Chan. "I have to do it again? Again and again, why does everyone see me [as a drunk?] When the people know Jackie Chan movies, 'Oh, Drunken Master!' Especially in the west, even Brett Ratner, in Rush Hour 3, there was supposed to be one scene where I get drunk and fight with the drunken master [style]. I said, 'No! Stop! Why does everybody want me to fight drunken master?' But this movie, at the beginning I refuse. Later on, I find out, 'Okay, it’s a purist movie and because the young boy loves it. Then okay.’ Not any more. Not any more."
The film tells the story of a modern day teenager (Michael Angarano) who gets transported to historical China to learn from the masters (Chan and Li). It does feature the cinematic grudge match between Chan and Li, including Chanusing drunken fist against Li.
"I just remember first day we are on the set, Woo-ping and the stunt coordinators had choreographed an action sequence that Jet and I went to take a look. Two stunt guys were doing a demonstration and I’m standing there with Woo. 'You know, I am a fast learner. I have been doing action for so many years. I just look at once, just show me one more time. Show me one more time,' and then after that, I say, 'Let’s shoot without rehearsal.' And then I look at Jet and Jet Li’s like, 'Okay, let’s shoot.' Fighting with him is very, very comfortable. Comfortable is not like I fought so many action villains. They just don’t know how to fight. They just 'Pow' and it makes you get you hurt and it doesn’t look good. Good are like Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, those kind of rhythms I've never had before Jet Li. Wow."
Then Chan started to talk some smack. "I think because I’m good, it makes him comfortable," he laughed. "After first cut, the director and Woo-ping come up and say, 'Good, but can you guys slow down?' Because, he wanted to show off quick, I wanted to show off quick. I wanted quicker! Then 'How quick you want?' The director [says] 'Oh, because of the new technology, you have to slow down.' Then we slow down. And it's fun."
Chan has a unique perspective on films, and often publicly criticizes his American projects. The Forbidden Kingdom is no exception. "Every time I make American film I just trust American directors and American writers. Myself, I would never make this kind of film. For me, those kinds of films are ridiculous. They don’t make sense. But the American way, for American Audience is more interested in this kind of movie. Why drunken master? Why monkey king? All kind of things, but at the end, it’s the children, there is a young boy in New York who loves, just like the writer, he loves American culture. It’s a fantasy just like a fairy tale. It’s Okay. Otherwise, I won’t make this movie, because I know that American people like it. American audiences, even he like it. The Asian like it. So, that’s why Jet and me agreed to make this movie."
The Forbidden Kingdom opens to theatres on April 18th.
For the trailers, posters, stills and more movie info, go to the The Forbidden Kingdom Movie Page.
Fred Topel
Sources: Image property of Lionsgate
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