I’ve heard from know-hows that jackie Chan was at his absolute peak in the 1980’s. I’ve only seen stuff of his from the past decade or so, but I think he’s still highly capable of very entertaining martial arts choreography, in spite of being around fifty years old.
But what movie should I see if I really want to see Jackie Chan at his finest hour?
Drunken Master 2. No contest.
I like RUMBLE IN THE BRONX … if for no other reason, the fight on the garage rooftop is brilliant, especially the truck full of beach balls…
will second Drunken Master 2, Rumble in the Bronx is a close second…Who Am I takes third.
Drunken Master 2 is a real sight to behold, but don’t panic – it was released in the U.S. as Legend of Drunken Master. (The first one ain’t bad either.)
For martial arts, I would concur with Drunken Master 2. For action, either Project A or Police Story 3 (aka Supercop). Rumble in the Bronx is good, but not in the same league as those two.
Way to get a guy’s hopes up and then crush them. Drunken Master 2? I thought. I loved the first one, and I can’t imagine the sequel being better.
Then it was brought to my attention that Drunken Master 2 is the same Legend of Drunken Master that I own.
At any rate, yes it is a great movie.
Rumble in the Bronx? That is definitely after the decline set in. For Jackie at his peak, you have to look at the films that he directed in Hong Kong. Project A or Police Story, and there is really no contest. What unbelievable things does he do in Drunken Master 2? Scramble across red-hot coals on his hands and feet? I scoff. Compare that to falling off the clock tower and landing on his head in Project A, or sliding down the lighting fixture in Police Story. You have to see them to believe them.
I have a soft spot for City Hunter. Especially the one scene in the arcade. It’s not the best movie, that’s Drunken Master II, but it definately showcases his comedic side.
The first movie I saw was Rumble in the Bronx which I thought was quite enjoyable. The next movie I saw was Supercop which I also thought was quite enjoyable. Honestly, after those two movies I haven’t been able to enjoy a Jackie Chan movie because I get the feeling that I’ve already seen it. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate his hard work and impressive stunts, but it’s all the same thing over and over.
Marc
If you see Jackie mainly as a stunt man, then yeah, the films you noted are better. But if you see him mainly as a physical comedian in the Buster Keaton/Charlie chaplin vein then Drunken Master 2 is his best film, simply because it’s his funniest.
And yet Project A contains a very obvious and deliberate homage to Harold Lloyd.
Who Am I has always been my favorite, because of the sheer creativity in the action sequences – it’s full of memorable settings, choreography, and stunts. It’s the only Jackie Chan movie I’ve bothered to watch more than once. Of course, **Drunken Master ** is great, too.
another thought that occured to me… The Big Brawl… while certianly not his best film (for many, many reasons) it is the first one I remember watching as a teen… there are 4 scenes in it that are exemplory… The training scene with the cane and the tea cup, the backyard fight, the fight against the brothers, and the ally fight against the gangsters… these scenes all have the classic Chan comedy bits. I also remember that when it was released it had an R rating… funny considering todays standards.
And it had Mako in it.
Mr. Nice Guy is also not a bad film.
So there are my top 5, in no particular order
Rumble in the Bronx
Who Am I
Mr. Nice Guy
Drunken Master 2
The Big Brawl
I’m going to have to re-watch the Police Story films… been too long.
I wanted you guys to know that I have put Drunken Master II onto my Netflix queue–in a few days I will watch it again and see what I missed the first time.
Modern “prime” Jackie
Drunkenmaster 2
Who Am I
Supercop
Rumble in the Bronx
Old-school Jackie
Drunkenmaster 1
Snake in Eagle’s Shadow
Project A
Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin
Drunken Master 2, followed by Supercop.
I also have a personal soft spot for Jackie Chan’s First Strike, mainly for the terrifying scenes on the hotel ledges high above Hong Kong.
Of those that I have seen, personally I liked Miracles the best. It is “quintessential” in the sense that it is about the only Jackie Chan film I’ve seen that didn’t seem like a self-parody of a Jackie Chan film. It has a nice, cheasy story, some funny gags, some good martial arts, and some good stunts. But all at the same level, whereas any other JC film seems to just take two of those and just lay it on.
Of course it appears that the film bombed, so what do I know…
I like **Drunken Master II ** (good fighting and funny) Rumble in the Bronx (a story so dumb and acting so bad it almost hurts, but it has great stunts) and I don’t believe anyone has mentioned First Strike. Isn’t that the one that has him in a rain slicker fighting using a step-ladder? It is like ballet, but with baddies getting their butt’s kicked.
I’m adding another vote for Police Story. Nothing else comes close IMO.