News

Jackie Chan Reflects On Near-Death Stunt (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Jackie Chan’s death-defying stunts have earned him a legendary status in Hollywood, but one scene in Armour of God (1986) almost ended it all. The action star, who’s built a five-decade career risking life and limb, came dangerously close to tragedy during one of the film’s most infamous sequences.

The setup was simple—or so it seemed. Chan was filming a scene where he casually opened a can of beer, froth spilling over, before jumping onto a tree. But things got messy fast. By the time the cameras rolled for the stunt, Chan wasn’t just performing; he was buzzed. “In this day, I’d probably be drinking water,” Chan admitted in a throwback interview.

Jackie wasn’t satisfied with his leap after nailing the first take of the beer shot. Ever the perfectionist, he decided to give it another go.

Jackie Chan is the kind of guy who crosses generations and is still recognized by everyone today. But it’s crazy to think about how he got to where he is, especially since it’s pretty rare for a martial arts star to blow up worldwide like he did. The truth is, from the very beginning, he knew exactly what he wanted, and he never backed down for anyone.

Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon (Credits: Touchstone Pictures)

He had the chance to work with the biggest and best Kung Fu studio, but the terms just didn’t line up with what he wanted. It’s surprising he turned it down, especially since he didn’t have much of a name for himself back then. But looking at how far he’s come, it’s a move that deserves respect.

Jackie Chan Always Aimed For International Fame Jackie Chan in Ride On...

The British Film Institute (BFI) is set to make waves with its upcoming “Art of Action” season, anchored by a re-release of Kathryn Bigelow’s 1991 cult classic “Point Break.”

The U.K.-wide celebration of action choreography in cinema will run from October to December, offering audiences a high-octane journey through the evolution of the genre.

BFI Distribution will bring “Point Break,” starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, back to U.K. cinemas on Nov. 8. The film’s return to the big screen after years of limited theatrical showings is expected to be a major draw for both nostalgic fans and new viewers alike.

The “Art of Action” season, presented by the BFI Film Audience Network using National Lottery funds, aims to showcase the artistry behind action sequences that have kept audiences enthralled for decades. The program will feature a diverse array of films, including silent era classics like Buster Keaton...

The Western audiences became familiar with Jackie Chan’s crazy edge-of-the-seat action sequences and physical comedy from 1995’s Rumble in the Bronx. The film, as the name suggests, was completely shot in the Bronx, New York State. Viewers were surprised by this Hong Kong actor who did everything for his movie, including extremely dangerous stunts.

Jackie Chan in a still from Rumble in the Bronx | New Line Cinema

Interestingly, Chan did much more than acting and stunt work. He also used to write, direct, produce, and most importantly, edit his films. A video showing him at his editing table for Rumble in the Bronx was recently shared on social media.

Jackie Chan Spent Hours At The Editing Table For Rumble in the Bronx Jackie Chan in a still from Rumble in the Bronx | New Line Cinema

Jackie Chan‘s Rumble in the Bronx defined his genre of films for American viewers.

With 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Steven Spielberg and George Lucas reimagined the pulp heroes of the 1930s and '40s and introduced the world to their version in the form of Indiana Jones. Their archeologist adventurer could handle himself in a fight (although he always managed to barely scrape by as opposed to dominating every brawl in which he found himself), was a romantic at heart, and seemed to be perpetually on the hunt for cool artifacts, a combination of character traits that I'm shocked was not blatantly ripped off more frequently by a film industry constantly scrambling to repeat successful formulas. Five years later, that particular formula found its way to Hong Kong when Jackie Chan co-wrote, directed, and starred in "Armour of God," an adventure flick that allowed him to put his own martial arts-infused spin on the concept.

Chan plays Jackie, also known as "Asian Hawk,...

Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service, has revealed its May highlights. The Pluto TV May 2024 schedule includes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month programming, more anime content, new channels, and new film additions.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience.

The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies. It offers a wide array of genres, languages, and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids, and much more.

Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web, and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV’s growing international footprint extends across three continents and over 35 markets.

Pluto TV May 2024 Programming

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month

To pay tribute, Pluto TV...

The anime and manga industry has been shocked by the demise of the legendary mangaka Akira Toriyama, who created Dragon Ball, one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world and also one of the most popular anime series. His work has entertained millions of people and also served as an inspiration for many other manga creators.

Akira Toriyama (credits @YouTube: Mastar)

Fans all over the world are mourning his death and expressing their love for the creator. His influence on spreading the anime and manga industry all over the world can’t be measured. There are still some projects that will be released soon to commemorate the work of the legendary mangaka.

However, many Toriyama fans might not know that the creator who inspired millions and whose work is referenced in many other anime and manga series was influenced by another global celebrity. The individual in discussion is global actor Jackie Chan.

Jackie Chan is recognized for his slapstick acrobatic fighting style, innovative stunts which he is known to perform on his own, and comic timing. The actor is one of the most influential action stars who’s had a global presence in both Eastern and Western industries. Without a doubt, the influence the actor has had over the years on pop culture is very hard to match and he is known to be the most recognized star in the world.

The actor who has appeared in near about 150 movies in his career has a reputation for performing his stunts with a lot of preparation but injuries are inevitable. Jackie Chan has managed to not only survive but also thrive after taking tons of knocks, which could probably knock down an average person easily. Jackie Chan’s injuries have outdone Sylvester Stallone’s injuries; who is also regarded as one of the...

Co-produced by Corey Yuen and Yuen Biao, with the two of them also function as action director, and the first being credited as the director and the second as the protagonist, “Righting Wrongs” is considered one of the best movies of the latter and has now reached the status of cult for a number of reasons.

Buy This Title

by clicking on the image below

In that fashion, some trivia regarding the production are definitely interesting to mention. According to Rothrock, Golden Harvest originally signed her to play the villain opposite of Jackie Chan in Armour of God, but when production halted due to Chan's near-fatal filming accident, the studio reassigned Rothrock to Righting Wrongs with Biao. While practicing her moves for the film, she injured her right Acl; rather than take time off to undergo surgery, she proceeded to shoot her scenes using her left leg for her kicks.

A journey through the iconic and enchanting musical compositions that have graced the silver screens of Asia. From the lively streets of Bollywood to the poetic landscapes of Japanese cinema, from the poignant stories of South Korean movies to the tales of Hong Kong and Chinese films, and with a pinch from the Philippines and Thailand here 35 great songs found in Asian movies.

1. Remioromen by Konayuki 2. A Petal by Woong San 3. Chavoret's Theme by Joe Cummings & Scott Hess 4. Ruined Heart by Khavn, featuring Bing Austria & The Flippin' Soul Stompers 5. Chitchana Toki Kara by Maki Asakawa 6. これさえあれば by Tjiros 7. Nounai Shoukyo Game by Brats 8. Romanticist by The Stalin 9. High Upon High by Jackie Chan 10. Jason Bill by Texaco Leatherman The article continues on the next page...

Jackie Chan contains multitudes.

Although many American filmgoers know Chan best for his Hollywood blockbusters and family-friendly fare, his profound impact on global cinema cannot be denied. A martial arts master who has battered his body for decades doing his own stunts in his signature comedic style, Chan has acted in over 150 movies, making him one of the wealthiest and most globally recognizable stars of all time.

With martial arts films having a moment in the spotlight in 2023, with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” landing the Best Picture Oscar and “John Wick: Chapter 4” becoming a series-high box office sensation, it’s fitting that Shout Select has released their two part “Jackie Chan Collection” Blu-ray box sets, which are a great starting points for novices and worthy purchases for die-hard fans as well.

The first set, which was released in January and covers his work from 1976 – 1982, which ranges from lively...

While Donnie Yen is about to turn 60 and is showing no signs of slowing down — in career or fight speed, Jackie Chan is nearing 70 and doesn’t look interested in throwing in the towel as well. The action legend had once said his last all-out action movie was to be 2012’s Chinese Zodiac, the third film in the Armour of God series. However, he has since made a smattering of movies with some of his signature style. Chan recently announced he would be doing a new Rush Hour with Chris Tucker. Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Chan is officially launching the sequel to the 2004 reboot of his famous Police Story series, New Police Story.

Jackie appeared at the Filmart market alongside his New Police Story co-star Nicolas Tse as the Chinese movie studio Emperor Motion Pictures announced their slate for 2023. The duo made an appearance to help launch the sequel to their 2004 film.

Every kid of a certain age grew up wanting to be Jackie Chan. A legend in Hong Kong and most of the world from the late-seventies on, Jackie Chan also, at long last, became a superstar in North America after the release of his 1996 classic Rumble in the Bronx. Supercop, First Strike and more dubbed versions of his Hong Kong movies would follow, but it was 1998’s Rush Hour, which paired him with Chris Tucker, that made him a phenomenon in the United States. It was as if, at long last, the United States was let in on a secret the rest of the world already knew.

Jackie Chan emerged in the late nineties after a failed attempt to make him into a Bruce Lee clone. Never wanting to be a typical martial arts star, Chan opted to mix comedy and martial arts in a way that made him a...

Stuntman J.J. Perry, director of Day Shift, joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss his favorite action flicks.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

You Only Live Twice (1967) – Dana Gould’s trailer commentary

From Russia With Love (1963) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Day Shift (2022)

Big Trouble In Little China (1986) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary

The Lost Boys (1987) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s review

Fright Night (1986) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s review

The Evil Dead (1983) – Fede Alvarez’s trailer commentary

Zombieland (2009)

Traffic (2000)

Spectral (2016)

Spectre (2015)

The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Peli’s trailer commentary

Enter The Dragon (1973) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Way of the Dragon a.k.a. Return of the Dragon (1972) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

Rocky (1976)

Rocky II (1979)

Rocky III (1982)

Rocky IV (1985)

Rocky V (1990)

Creed (2015)

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)

The Tournament (2009)

The Shepherd: Border Patrol (2008)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

F9: The Fast Saga (2021)

Samaritan (2022)

Safe (2012)

Warrior...

Four years after the second installment to arguably Jackie Chan’ most popular franchise, the actor would reprise his role as police inspector Chan Ka-Kui in “Police Story 3: Supercop” (or just “Supercop” in some areas). Perhaps due to his busy schedule in front and behind the camera, working on other projects such as the equally successful “Armour of God”-films, Stanley Tong took over directing duties from Chan, who would still be a producer for the project. This collaboration turned out to be quite fruitful for both them, setting the foundation for features such as “Rumble in the Bronx”, which would give the actor the breakthrough with US-American markets after years of trying. Although the previous entries into the franchise had already set quite a high level when it came to action set pieces, “Supercop” would see Chan in the middle of some of the most ambitious and costly action scenes of his career,...

The London Action Fest’s weekend events kicked off on Saturday at Picturehouse Central with a screening of Chia-Liang Liu’s phenomenal The Legend of Drunken Master (Aka Drunken Master 2), a highly sought action classic that’s overdue a remastered Blu ray release.

Following this was the first panel event: The World in Action- Celebrating Asian Action Cinema with Joey Ansah, Mike Fury (journalist and author) and Jude Poyer.

The guests talked about what drew them to Asian cinema, citing early exposure to ninja films on VHS, a martial artist Pe teacher, and sneaking into late night screenings of Hong Kong films, in Soho.

A sequence from Sammo Hung’s Dragons Forever, starring Jackie Chan, was then presented, and the panel discussed why the film is so special, citing hand-to-hand combat and frenetic editing. They also talked about how Hong Kong cinema was better than American action films of the time,...

You know those moments when, either purely by accident or based on a singular person’s word of mouth, you stumble across a film that ends up blowing your mind? A film that you are sure is a hidden gem and makes you wonder why it is not spoken of by a larger audience in the same breath as some of the classics of its genre? This is exactly how Tsui Siu-ming’s “Mirage” is going to make you feel like.

Tong is a photographer and adventurer who often takes on missions to accompany caravans through China’s famed Silk Route, where the fear of bandits always lurks. On one such mission, the caravan is attacked by bandits but with Tong’s fighting abilities and the caravan’s firepower, they are able to thwart them. Soon after however, a mysterious image of a walled village and a beautiful woman fills the sky.

The most wonderful time! The Terracotta sale is already on. Visit the store and you can see we have 10-50% off classic and new must-own Asian films.

Coming soon to pre-order: Crazy Thunder Road, Legendary Weapons Of China and Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon. Happy shopping – treat yourself, get your friends something nice. Thanks for supporting the Terracotta Store!

10% Off All Third Window DVDs

DVDs (not blu rays) – 10% off has already been taken off for you on All Third Window Films DVDs. Some real treats for Japanese quirky comedies, tense thrillers and outrageous cult films.

10% Off All 88 Films

Including pre-order titles like Armour Of God! Delve into the extensive catalogue of 88films kung fu films as well as contemporary action films like Andy Lau in Casino Tycoon.

20% Off Various Titles

Some real gems that we have pulled together for you:

The Bride With White HairThe Millionaire’s Express (Sammo Hung)Duel...

The Fighting Spirit Film Festival is a unique festival dedicated to Martial Arts films. Through martial arts cinema the organisers aim to entertain and inspire people, promote martial arts culture, and support those who have chosen it as a career. Now in its sixth year, the London edition returns with a full action-packed weekend at Stratford East Picturehouse! The 2021 edition and its poster are dedicated to martial artist Max Repossi and filmmaker/musician Steven Santa Cruz, who prematurely died this past year.

In addition to screening five feature films, it will also be showcasing 32 short films by independent film makers and artists from all over the world. On top of that, there will be live Martial Art demonstrations from various clubs throughout the two days. Attendees will be able to meet and mingle with all the performers, and also with actors and production staff from the films who will be at the event.

The martial arts icon talks about some of his favorite action movies. Josh challenges him to a fight.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Armaggeddon (1998)

Innerspace (1987)

The ’Burbs (1989)

Matinee (1993)

The Debt Collector (2018)

Triple Threat (2019)

Avengement (2019)

Ip Man 4: The Finale (2020)

Masters of the Universe (1987)

Debt Collectors (2020)

The Three Musketeers (1973)

Rocky II (1979)

Rocky (1976)

Rocky IV (1985)

Paradise Alley (1978)

First Blood (1982)

Rambo — First Blood Part II (1985)

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Giant (1956)

Game Of Death (1978)

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

Marlowe (1969)

Road House (1989)

Grosse Point Blank (1997)

Hard Boiled (1992)

The Killer (1989)

Death Wish (1974)

Seconds (1966)

Face/Off (1997)

Heat (1995)

Under Fire (1983)

True Lies (1994)

The Wild Bunch (1969)

The Raid (2011)

The Raid 2 (2014)

Die Hard (1988)

A History Of Violence (2005)

Munich (2005)

Point Break (1991)

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Armour of God (1986)

The Protector (1985)

Under Siege (1992)

Hard To Kill (1990)

Billy Jack (1971)

John Wick (2014)

Other Notable Items

Michael Bay

Our Jesse V. Johnson podcast episode

The Ip Man franchise

Donnie Yen

Dolph Lundgren

Anthony De Longis...

Stars: Vitaliy Khaev, Aleksandr Kuznetsov, Evgeniya Kregzhde, Mikhail Gorevoy, Elena Shevchenko, Igor Grabuzov, Aleksandr Domogarov, Ilya Gavrilenkov, Vasiliy Kopeikin | Written and Directed by Kirill Sokolov

Do you remember The Raid? If you’ve seen it you probably won’t ever forget it. Now imagine taking the brutality and physical violence of that film and transpose it to one apartment and only a handful of people. That’s Why Don’t You Just Die! in a nutshell.

The film tells the story of Matvei, who ends up at the door of corrupt detective Andrei after his resentful daughter asks Matvei to kill him for her. The reason? She claims that her father has repeatedly raped her since she was a child. Now Matvei does what every longing boyfriend would, he says yes. Only Matvei doesn’t bank on things going south quite so fast. He also didn’t bank on Andrei fighting back,...

All the world loves Jackie Chan, whose cinematic action pictures bridge the gap between silent-era virtuosity and slick modernity. As light comedy entertainment these first two Police Story smash ‘n’ bash epics of eye-popping jeopardy are suitable as ‘family entertainment’ as well. Jackie is a marvelous hero, while Maggie Cheung is an old fashioned girl who doesn’t mind being threatened, kidnapped and occasionally having her scalp split open. You will believe that men can tumble from high roosts onto concrete, and smash through acres of glass countertops without receiving a scratch necessarily going straight to emergency surgery. Criterion has created beautiful new masters, with original soundtracks and extras to make every foolish Jackie Chan fan try some ridiculously dangerous stunt for themselves!

Police Story / Police Story 2

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 971, 972

1985 & 1988 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 100 and 122 min. / Ging chat goo si / Ging chaat goo si juk jaap /available through The Criterion...

Stars: Jean Reno, Qi Shu, Andy Lau, Tony Yang, Jingchu Zhang, Eric Tsang, Karel Dobry, Gen Seto, David Bowles, Yi Sha, Tianyi You | Written by Chi Kwong Cheung, Stephen Fung, Steve Ha, Andy Lo | Directed by Stephen Fung

Infamous and charismatic thief Cheung Tan (Andy Lau) has recently been released from prison. Cheung immediately plots a heist with his former partner in crime, Po (Tony Yang), and beautiful chameleon Red (Qi Shu), in order to pull off the heist of a lifetime – and steal precious jewels in Europe. Meanwhile, French detective Pierre (Jean Reno) has been hot on Cheung’s trails for many years. This time, he decides to capture Cheung and his gang of thieves for good… which means Cheung and co. will have to take their game to the next level.

Who doesn’t love a good heist movie? When the genre is done right you get fantastic and intriguing films like Flypaper,...

Legend is a much abused word in the movie business – but Jackie Chan really is a legend. The undisputed king of martial-arts movies kicked up a notch with slapstick and jaw-dropping stunts, the star is acrobatic poetry in motion. American audiences know him best from his three Rush Hour action comedies with Chris Tucker (No. 4 is on the drawing board), but true aficionados rightly point to Chan's death-defying Hong Kong cinema epics – see Drunken Master, Police Story and Armor of God – as pinnacles of the form. The lifetime achievement Oscar...

Once it gets rolling, the exceedingly silly Kung Fu Yoga made me very happy. Jackie Chan stars as an archaeology professor, and if that puts you in mind of Chan's role as a globe-trotting treasure hunter in Armor of God and Operation Condor, rest assured that's intentional. The early films were directly influenced by Raiders of the Lost Ark and spun tales revolving around bigger and improbably wild stunts. Unlike Cz 12 (aka Chinese Zodiac), Chan's 2012 attempt to resurrect his Armor of God character in a new adventure, this time around the directorial reins have been handed off to Stanley Tong. While it's true that Tong co-wrote and co-produced Cz 12, the change in approach is noticeable. For one thing, Tong is solely credited...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...