Archive: Chan the Man

The lithe physique, the bounce in the step, the mop of unruly hair... As Jackie Chan bounds into the room, it's hard to believe that it was fifteen years ago that this Far Eastern superstar came to fame in Drunken Master, the sequel to which is just coming to the end of a troubled production on the sets behind us. Sing Lung ('Successful Dragon') seems sound of wind and limb, and in good spirits, but the past few years have been a bumpy ride for him, at least in terms of his professional life. Magnum opi Miracles and Operation Condor cost fortunes to produce, and failed to generate the expected box office. Though City Hunter soared, the cop thrillers Police Story 3 and Crime Story didn't perform as well as expected in Chan's home territory of Hong Kong.

Jackie's popularity as a comedian was eroded by the rise of Canton comic Chow Sing Chee, while Shaolin Temple star Jet Lee replaced him as Golden Harvest's number one martial arts star with the success of the Once Upon A Time In China series.

Internationally, though, Jackie's star has never shone brighter. Currently a prophet without honour in his own country, he's held in high regard by American filmmakers including Sylvester Stallone, who gave him a name check in Demolition Man, and by the French movie industry, who were due to fete Chan when lie flew to Paris shortly after this interview was conducted. Sadly, Jackie's last few productions have yet to gain widescale releases in the U.K. or America. Here, then, is a chance for you frantic Chan fans to catch up with the man himself:

Jawaz Illavia: A few years ago, you slowed your pace of production down to make roughly one film a year. After miracles and Operation Condor, you increased the pace drastically. Why was that?

Jackie Chan: When I make those movies, I look at the big American blockbusters. Everything is so BIG. The budget the locations, the stunts. I think that, to compete, you must be the same. So I'm building huge sets mid I shoot in Europe. We spend a lot of time and money. It takes so long to make the money back, so Golden Harvest ask me: "Jackie, please make some films where we can make money quicker!" So I do Police Story 3 and Crime Story and City Hunter. Now this film we are doing, Drunken Master 2, is a big production. We take a lot of time and money.

Jawaz Illavia: What is your opinion of the current state of the Hong Kong film industry?

Jackie Chan: Right now, not good. This is the first year that Hollywood beat us. Films like Cliffhanger and Jurassic Park make more money than the local films. Why? Because the Chinese producers make films nobody wants to see! Also, films that the overseas buyers don't want to buy. All these old style kung fu movies. Everybody flying around on wires. We need to look at our audience and decide what they want to see and give it to them.

Jawaz Illavia: You're critical of the current wave of martial arts movies, and yet you've returned to the genre for Drunken Master 2. Why is that?

Jackie Chan: The Hong Kong Stuntman's Guild want money for new headquarters. Every time anyone wants money for a new headquarters, they always come to me and say: "Jackie, please make a movie for us!" Before, I make Twin Dragons for The Director's Guild. Still, they don't have a headquarters! Anyway, they ask me to make Drunken Master 2. This film will be different. No wires. More real kung fu. Before, I told Tsui Hark, when you do Wong Fei Hung, make it real. Instead, he has everything on wires. It's like a fantasy. So, when I play Wong Fei Hung in Drunken Master 2, I make it real. We only show what I can do. What my stuntmen can do.

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