*Last Updated 7/24/2022
Click Here for the Top Ten Essential Jackie Chan Films (Coming Soon)
Jackie Chan is one of the greatest action stars, directors, and creative minds to ever try their hand at film-making. Some might even say he is the Steven Spielberg of martial arts and action filmmaking - a virtuoso of talent with a natural eye for cinema and a peerless list of accomplishments. He also might be my favorite martial artist of all-time, but the jury is still out for a bit on that one. His first film credit came in 1962 (a bit role) and he made his big break in 1978's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow & Drunken Master. Over the next six decades he had a key role in over one hundred films, became a global film star, created countless classic action sequences, and became one of the biggest influencers of action cinema. As of this writing and though I think he should be hanging it up, he's still going folks! I first encountered Jackie in 1998 when I went and saw Rush Hour and was amazed at how he constructed quick, elaborate, fight sequences with daring stunts and intricate hand and footwork. Here was something completely different than the standard kick and punch of Jean Claude Van-Damme (or kick, punch, & toss if you're Steven Seagal). The next works I discovered were video tapes of Rumble in the Bronx and Police Story IV: First Strike. These was some of his first major American imports and I thought they were incredible. I realized he wasn't just different, he was in a class of his own featuring intricacy over brutality, comedy over seriousness, and cleverness over obviousness. Even my mother enjoyed watching Chan's action films with me!
May 2015 - Meeting a Wax Figure of Jackie Chan
My mindset in crafting this "Top 10 Essentials List" was to do the hard work for you and call out the best of the best of his vast and hard to access filmography. The sequences I've chosen for this list were about boiling down that intimidating filmography to the sequences that best represent the quality, diversity, and creativity that make Jackie Chan one of the best of all-time. In the commentary for each sequence I'll do my best to justify what makes this sequence so special. I'm gonna be honest though, as much as I love Jackie Chan, I have to admit that his movies can often be hard to watch. His films have to be judged on a different scale than regular ones because his films are, in my humble opinion, often really bad. Story, character and themes are just excuses to set up a series of action or comedy sequences - which is where most of his interest lay anyways. Knowing his best action scenes without having to watch the rest of the film is a bit like a cheat code for many of his films - you get all the best stuff and none of the worst. You can read my Jackie Chan film guide (coming soon) for more commentary on that topic, but just know that I think I've done the hard work here of picking the diamonds out of the dirt for you.
As much as I'm making this list for others, I'm making it for myself. I love watching, reflecting, and talking about these sequences. Keep in mind that my own personal enjoyment plays a huge role in ordering this list; the sequences chosen often come down to enjoying one setting, stunt, bad guy, fighting style, or prop better than another. Your opinions may and will likely vary. This is my list after all, but I do see it as a chance to share with the readers what I find to be so great about Chan's work and invite them to enjoy it as well. I hope that this list will let you see the glorious contributions to action cinema he has left behind. Hope you enjoy it and feel free to let me know what you think. Many of these fights you can find with a quick YouTube search. Let's start with two honorable mentions and then get to the top ten.
Top 10 Essential Jackie Chan Action Sequences
Rated, Ranked, & with Commentary
Rated, Ranked, & with Commentary
GRADE: A
Great action sequences that can compete for best of the year and best of all-time.
HONORABLE MENTION: BEST ONE vs. MULTI FIGHT (RUNNER-UP)
"The Second Best Jackie Chan Takes On Multiple Fighters Sequence"
- Commentary: The action finale fight of Jackie’s war against evil monks culminates in a fight against four very large and muscular women wearing all black and high heels (the costumes and large black hair allow them so slip in several stuntmen in certain sequences). This fight stands out not only for the unique opponents but because Jackie allows the choreography to play out in a unique way for him.
The first half of the battle, Jackie allows the four women to really get the upper hand and prove their credibility to the audience. Their beat down of Jackie is pretty awesome as they come at him in highly organized and structured ways with force and power. The editing here has a quick pace and feels somewhat unique to Jackie's other fights. After a quick lecture against the bad guys, the second half of the fight sees Jackie adapt and start to take over with some cleverness – like using an elevated wooden walkway with wide enough slats that the high heels of the ladies get stuck (yeah, that’s a real gag). The fight ends pretty quickly with several brutal looking stunt falls to emphasize that the women are knocked out. It could have had a bit more depth, but this is one of the more creative and unique fights of Jackie’s entire canon.
HONORABLE MENTION: BEST PROP FIGHT SPECTACULAR (RUNNER-UP)
"The Second Best 'I Can Use Anything As a Weapon' Jackie Chan Sequence"
- Commentary: I often feel like this sequence (and the movie itself) doesn't quite get the hype it deserves. It's another one of those major set pieces that Jackie does so well where he takes a unique environment (in this case a building under construction) and creatively uses everything in it to his advantage against the bad guys. The premise here is that Jackie sneaks onto this site in order to get his kidnapped girlfriend back. Shes being held by a gangster looking to ensure his deal with another gang goes through okay. Starting off this sequence is a doorway sequence that would make 'Looney Tunes' writers proud. The unfinished building has multiple hallways and the newly installed doors are a bright blue so it becomes this kind of labyrinth where people come and go through doors never knowing what they will find. This kind of live action comedy just isn't done by anyone else, certainly not this well. Kudos to Jackie and Sammo on this sequence alone.
Immediately following it is a masterpiece of prop fighting in a construction site using numerous different tools. I remember walking through a Home Depot as a kid and imagining what a fight sequence would look like in a store like it and I think this sequence tops anything I could've dreamed. Some of the highlights here include Jackie coming close to a table saw twice, ducking under a grinder being wielded by a henchman, sliding down some rollers with style, and causing mayhem with a firehose and a cement mixer. There's some unfortunate cutting to a separate plotline with some annoying female characters (just how they are written) that brings this sequence down a bit for me, but that storyline is thankfully short and only barely detracts from run of great gag after gag. This sequence never fails to put a smile on my face.
10. THE AMERICAN SEQUENCE
"The Best Jackie Chan American Produced Sequence"
- Commentary: Choosing the best out of Jackie's American productions is a bit like getting to the grocery store after there's been a panic: slim pickings. Still, despite not having full creative control or not always working with super talented creatives, Jackie was able to put out some good sequences; I think there is none better than this one from Shanghai Knights. The fighting isn’t as hard hitting or as stylish as others on this list, in fact, there really isn’t even all that many punches and kicks in this “fight” yet I find myself returning to this one to re-watch over and over again. Why? Well, throughout Shanghai Knights there are tips of the hat to silent film characters and moments that pay homage to their style of gags and humor. It feels like that reaches its pinnacle in this sequence – which very much plays like Jackie's ode to Old Hollywood – from silent film comedians to early musicals.
It begins with the goal of retrieving a stolen watch, which becomes Owen Wilson’s main strand in this sequence. Jackie however, ends up losing his jacket and must get it back; this strand comprises 90% of the sequence. Along the way is one comedic gag or homage after another and they are basically all hits. There are three standouts to me – first is the use of market awnings as a trampoline to propel opponents off of. It feels like something I would watch Bugs Bunny do. Second is an umbrella fight Jackie has at a street merchant. He flings umbrellas, uses one as a weapon, and opens it up to cover himself up from projectiles. Third, is the wonderfully inspired “Singing in the Rain” tribute that follows organically from the umbrella sequence. Jackie dances up and down several boxes with the umbrella in his hand. He gracefully fights with “Singing in the Rain” lightly playing in the background. This is hands down my favorite sequence to come out of Chan's American efforts. Its the epitome of the light-hearted prop heavy work that marked his American efforts and it also plays like a greatest hits of Chan prop gags. It's hard to pull off self-conscious sequences like this one without coming off arrogant or prideful, but Chan is able to make reference of many of his inspirations, while humbly showcasing how he has put his own spin in it.
9. BEST ONE vs. MULTI FIGHT
"The Best Jackie Chan Takes On Multiple Fighters Sequence"
- Commentary: It was a tough choice between this fight or Jackie's brawl with the Amazonian women was the better "One vs. Multi" fight, but this finale set piece from Who Am I? is just lengthier and features a final stunt that puts it over the top. When it comes to his contemporary fights, Chan can often be overlooked because when he isn’t using props he employs a more slapdash kickboxing style with a lot of blocking as compared to the slicker, more aggressive, and stylish kung fu based movesets of Donnie Yen, Jet Li, and Yuen Woo-Ping. When you want to show your friend who prefers more straight up fighting and less gimmicks – this is one of a handful of Chan fights you should show dig out.
The sequence begins with a fight against two of the elite henchmen of the film's villain. They henchmen take turns trying to best Chan, treating essentially as a game for their own pleasure. The dustup with the first henchmen is a bit average, but the second is against Dutch martial artists Ron Smoorenburg who is an excellent kicker. While not quite as thrilling as Ken Lo in The Legend of Drunken Master, this is high quality stuff. Eventually, the little game these two henchmen are playing gets messed up by Chan and they go at him 2 v 1 and this is when the fight really turns into a spectacle as they go at it near the edge of the high-rise building. There are a couple moments of genuine vertigo inducing fight beats that still get to me every time I watch this. If the fight wasn't enough, it's capped off by one of Chan's most incredible stunts ever as he slides alongside the angled plane of a high rise building that looks to be some 20-30 stories high. I don't care if he used wires here, this stunt takes courage and bravery, and is filmed perfectly as he controls his descent and then tumbles and flips his way down. All in all, a masterpiece of fight cinema.
8. BEST SHOOTOUT / CAR CHASE
"The Best Jackie Chan Take on the Traditional Shootout & Car Chase"
8. “Opening: Shanty Town Shootout and Bus Chase” -Police Story (1985)
- Commentary: Films like Police Story where a bunch of people who are hungry to prove to the world they are the best action filmmakers all come together in one place don’t come around that often. Jackie Chan was the most creative and ambitious action star in Hong Kong for some time, but was frustrated that he was not offered roles in America that matched his ability and hunger…so he decided to make a role and movie that would live up to his huge ambition. This is the opening sequence in Police Story and immediately sets the tone – this isn’t a traditional police film with its little modest shootouts and chases. This sequence begins with a police force on a stake out of a major crime deal going down alongside a shanty town built on a hillside. The police have all the exits blocked off, but their large presence is soon discovered and a shootout begins. The gunplay here is fairly standard, but takes advantage of the tight little alleys of the slum and this gives the film a chance to demonstrate some emotion with some police officers running into the scrum and others shaking with fear; Jackie Chan is one who jumps in. Once the bad guys get free of the gunfight and realize their vehicular escape is blocked, they decide to drive right down the hillside through the shanty town – Chan follows in his own car. The stuntwork here is legendary, as they really drove three cars right through the shanty town they built. Filmed up close and afar, the cars leave a path of destruction in their wake. Not happy with just the images of carnage, the sequence has clearly visible people (who would be done with CGI now) a.k.a stunt men scattered throughout the rooftops highlighting near misses by the cars. It’s one of the best stunt scenes of all time – a true classic that even big budget Hollywood films fail to replicate. (Bad Boys II did try and copy this sequence, but did not have quite the same results.)
Hitting the bottom of the hill, the bad guys get hold of a bus, commandeer it, and try to escape. Chan, giving chase to the bus, runs up behind it and uses the handle of an umbrella to connect himself to the bus and gets dragged along the road. He pulls himself up and stretches (barely reaching) to hold onto a second story window. What an athletic stunt! The bad guys inside the bus work to knock him off the side and eventually do. Thankfully, Chan is able to run down the side of a hill and cut the bus off. He stands tall with his gun and forces the bus to a sudden stop that launches a few bad guys through the windshield. Incredible stuff here. This is the kind of large scale, yet intimate athleticism that Jackie Chan accomplishes that few others can even imagine, much less execute.
7. THE HYBRID CHASE
"The Best Jackie Chan Sequence that Blends Fights, Comedy, Chases, & Stunts"
- Commentary: I may enjoy some other fight sequences in Chan’s career more than this, but I’m convinced there might not be a better primer on Chan’s full arsenal of cinematic talents than this mammoth chase sequence from 1983's Project A. Think of this chase like a survey course on Jackie Chan’s strengths (with a few of his weaknesses showing through as well). The central setup here is that Jackie and his pal Sammo Hung are wanted by both a group of gangsters and the police (and they have a bit of a argument amongst themselves as well). This leads to a series of chases and fights over a twenty or so minute section of the film that culminates in one of Jackie’s most insane stunts ever. Now, the sequence does play out over several scenes so you kind of have to have some patience as it starts, stops, starts, stops, as different sections have some pauses between them. If you are willing to give the sequence some grace there then this might be the single best action comedy foot chase (hybrid chase really) ever set to film.
There’s at least four different sections of this chase and it covers tons of individual comedic gags, athletic stunts, and fights. I love how the first section sees Chan trying to outrun gangsters by doing a bunch of stunts that give him a shortcut but that his female partner can’t do so he has to keep doubling back for her. The second section is a masterpiece of silent comedy that sees Chan being chased on a bike and coming up with hilarious and creative ways to take down his enemies. My favorite beats see Jackie using a wooden pole in a kind of jousting match and losing his seat cushion giving us one of Jackie’s best reaction shots of all-time. The third and fourth section feature some strong fight beats in a restaurant (alongside Sammo) and a clocktower. The fights are nice, but act as background for the true highlight – the finale stunts. The sequence culminates with Jackie being handcuffed to a flag pole and having to climb the flag pole up to the top of a clocktower to get away from some gangsters.
After a short fight, Jackie finds himself hanging off the clock hand facing a 30-40 foot drop. Inspired by the silent comedy Safety Last featuring Harold Lloyd (who never fell from the clock tower), Jackie eventually lets go with only a couple fabric overhangs to lightly break his fall before he hits the ground with a thud (basically right on his neck). Its an insane stunt that Jackie did at least three times for the cameras. Jackie can be compared to Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and other martial artists, but to do so is to really miss out on what made him so unique. Yes – Jackie is a good martial artist and I’m sure his ego would insist he be compared punch for punch and kick for kick. However, it is a sequence like this where you truly find him differentiating himself from any other martial artist at the time.
GRADE: A+
An all-time great action sequence. This does not mean it is a technically perfect action sequence, just that it is "perfect" to me. This is one I can watch over and over and it doesn't lose its power.
6. THE ATHLETIC STUNT SHOWCASE
"The Best Sequence to Perfectly Mix Jackie Chan's Vision Comedy & Action"
6. “Finale: Rope Factory Showcase” -Miracles: The Canton Godfather (1989)
- Commentary: In Miracles: The Canton Godfather Jackie accidentally becomes accidental mob boss. The finale sees him captured by a gang and taken to their base in a rope making factory. Chan finds himself in a situation where he must fight for his freedom. What follows is about an eight minute action sequence featuring a bravura performance from Chan where he throws the entire kitchen sink at the wall. Like Project A 2's stunt extravaganza finale, but much much better, this sequence features a little bit of everything in Chan's athletic repertoire. Coming out in 1989, this sequence is like a perfect thematic bridge perfectly straddling two periods in Chan's filmography; his hard hitting and risky stunt filled films of the mid to late eighties and the more comedic, prop-driven and choreographed films of the nineties.
- Commentary: In Miracles: The Canton Godfather Jackie accidentally becomes accidental mob boss. The finale sees him captured by a gang and taken to their base in a rope making factory. Chan finds himself in a situation where he must fight for his freedom. What follows is about an eight minute action sequence featuring a bravura performance from Chan where he throws the entire kitchen sink at the wall. Like Project A 2's stunt extravaganza finale, but much much better, this sequence features a little bit of everything in Chan's athletic repertoire. Coming out in 1989, this sequence is like a perfect thematic bridge perfectly straddling two periods in Chan's filmography; his hard hitting and risky stunt filled films of the mid to late eighties and the more comedic, prop-driven and choreographed films of the nineties.
Leading the crew of thugs here is martial arts legend Billy Chow (General Fugita in the finale fight of Jet Li's Fist of Legend). Chow and his gang chase Chan all over the rope factory. The factory itself is a unique set that's probably three or four stories tall and is surrounded by large spindles of rope with ladders, stairs, and old timey elevators providing the vertical transportation. What sets this one apart is that it isn't a medley of interesting gags that couldn't survive well on their own, but a greatest hits collection of one homerun gag, stunt, and fight beat after another. The chase around the factory provides beat after beat of athletic feats, daring stunts, comedic gags, and small inserts of fights. Some of my favorite moments here include Chan using a really tall ladder for a quick and scary getaway, having to play jump rope four stories up, falling several stories with a rope tied to his leg then using it to wrap up several goons, and of course the hard hitting quick fights with Billy Chow interspersed throughout and completing the sequence. Any action star would be proud to have this one man show on their resume and this doesn't even make it into my top 5!
5. THE COMEDY ACTION SEQUENCE
"The Best Sequence to Perfectly Mix Jackie Chan's Vision for Comedy & Action"
- Commentary: Jackie Chan has publicly made known how his action comedy has been influenced by the silent comedian greats like Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chaplin. I believe that this sequence is his greatest gift to the genre of comedy action and that it’s likely better than anything his influences could have ever imagined (that's right, fight me!). When I created a previous Jackie Chan fight list I didn’t give this an A+, but over time I think the sequence has continued to stand out as a unique masterpiece. Chan plays the titular accidental spy in the film and while relaxing at a Turkish bath he is chased and cornered by bad guys. The simple gimmick behind this chase is that Jackie has to not only get away from the bad guys, but try to keep his towel on or his private parts covered.
The chase begins in a Turkish bath (with the slippery floor, water pans, and soaps bringing lots of gags), leads to the rooptops, the street below (in a great stunt with Chan floating down using a set of umbrellas), and most memorably in a densely populated market. It’s the marketplace that Chan loses his towel and must go to very creative lengths to keep himself covered, using a bevy of props that includes spices, baskets, brooms, hats, plates, blankets, serving trays, a newspaper, and tambourines. It could've been a scene of one thing covering him after another, but Chan isn’t satisfied with that, he actually decides to try and use these props to fight against his attackers as well. This mixture all comes together in a sequence that would not just make those silent comedians immensely proud, but I think jealous. I think there’s a touch of Looney Tunes humor here that would also make Chuck Jones proud. This is an all-time great comedic action sequence that could have only come from the genius of Jackie Chan.
4. THE ONE vs. ONE FIGHT
"The Best Jackie Chan vs. One Person Fight Sequence"
"The Best Jackie Chan vs. One Person Fight Sequence"
4. “Finale Fight: Jackie Chan vs. Bennie 'The Jet' Urquidez” -Wheels on Meals (1984)
- Commentary: Jackie Chan vs. Bennie Urquidez is one of those legendary cinematic fight sequences, like Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris, where fans of fight cinema just can't stop talking and sharing about it. That's because this fight lives up to every bit of the hype that it is one of the all-time great one on one fights. It has a speed, quickness, and legitimate "real fight" feel to it that few others can match. I'd like to quickly walk through four reasons this fight turned out feeling so real. First, the abilities of the two fighters. While Jackie isn't a competitive fighter, he was trained in the Peking Opera, he came of age with the world's best Hong Kong fight choreographers, and just a quick scan of his filmography shows his athleticism, quickness, and toughness are not just found in the editing room but come from the man himself. Bennie Urquidez is a legit competitive fighter, trained primarily in kickboxing, who helped to pioneer full-contact fighting. Bennie has 67 wins in his career and 57 of those by knockout! These two are the real deal. In Wheels on Meals, Jackie and Bennie meet each other for one of the key fights in the finale - Bennie plays one of the lead henchmen. The fight takes place in a castle dining room with a sitting area to one side and a long dining table flanked by a fireplace to the other.
The second reason is that the basic style of the fight is practical kickboxing - there's no artistic kung fu touches here (though Jackie does get a few comedy bits in). This helps the fight feel less choreographed and more like something you'd see in an arena or even on the street. There's a realness to this fight that few can match. The third reason is the story the fight tells through its choreography. The fight begins with each fighter feeling out the skill of the other. In these opening sequences, Jackie allows Bennie to really shine. There are a couple of fight beats between them that I think are some of the best ever filmed. - I can just watch them on repeat. Bennie really gets to look like a beast here and so when Jackie begins to adapt and adjust, it makes Jackie feel like a legit fighter as well. Additionally, most of the fight is shot in a wide or medium shot, but when we need a real impactful turn in the fight, such as a finishing blow, we get closeups and slow motion. Additionally, after it provides the goods, it doesn't linger with any filler. It feels like a full meal while still having a somewhat relatively short runtime.
3. BEST PROP FIGHT SPECTACULAR
"The Best 'I Can Use Anything As a Weapon' Jackie Chan Sequence"
*A Member of My Top 25 Essential Fights List HERE
- Commentary: Outside of his Drunken Master films, this might be the most popular fight in Jackie's filmography and there's good reason for it. As Jackie became more of a global star, his fighting style took on a more universal appeal: gone was the emphasis on longer stylistic fighting sequences punctuated by bruising stunt falls - in was efficient, creative, and humorous prop driven fight beats. It makes sense as the shift plays to all of Jackie's strengths, differentiates him from other action stars, and has universal appeal across languages. You don't have to speak Chinese, catch that Chan's outfit is a nod to Bruce Lee's iconic yellow jumpsuit, or be a fan of Hong Kong humor to enjoy a physical fight like this. Of all the prop heavy sequences he has done (and there are a ton of great ones to choose from) I think this is Chan's most intricate, efficient, hard hitting, and entertaining prop fight ever. The setup for the fight is that Jackie is a wanted man and needs to clear his name. He heads to an old building under repair to try and find the man who can help him, but they decide to beat him up instead and a fight ensures. I won't claim there's any creative genius in that setup!
The sequence is relatively short, registering in at no more than four minutes, but it is packed with greatness. It's a bit like an all-time classic vinyl album - it may have had a limit to the number of songs it could hold, but the best albums were all killer and no filler. That's this fight. It's short, but each action beat engages the viewer and leads organically to the next, ramping up to a supremely satisfying climax. In so many great fights there are still a lot of filler moves to get to the next big moment, not this one. The pacing, the angles, and the editing perfectly cohere to make each shot a perfect complement to the one before and the one after. Despite it's relative shortness, it tends to feel longer due to a three act structure. The fight covers the use of tables, chairs, a scaffold, drywall, a parade lion head, brooms, and ladders and each is a memorable moment that doesn't outstay its welcome. Of course, it culminates in the prop that everyone remembers best: the ladder. Chan accomplishes moves and feats with a ladder that would make even WWE Money in the Bank ladder match contestants think twice. I never get tired of watching it. This has to be, second for second, Chan's most packed masterpiece.
2. THE SERIOUS ACTION SEQUENCE
"The Best 'I Don't Need Comedy' Serious Jackie Chan Action Sequence"
*A Member of My Top 25 Essential Fights List HERE
2. “Finale: Mall Brawl” -Police Story (1985)
- Commentary: Watching this near ten-minute finale sequence for the first time was just jaw-dropping for me. The whole thing still feels raw to this day. As I said before about Jackie and some of his best sequences, it represents not just someone working at the top of their own game, but the work of someone pushing all boundaries and executing such unique vision that it bypasses mere entertainment and becomes an inspiration. This is easily the most brutal fight Jackie has produced and the best display of how he envisioned an all-out cop vs. thugs finale should be. The setup here is that Jackie is trying to protect a female who has important information in a briefcase that could bring down a big crime boss. The boss has henchmen trying to catch her in a mall and Jackie needs to stop them. The chase aspect throughout the multi-level Hong Kong mall allows for some great parkour moments that no other action star would be stupid enough to attempt. Multiple times Jackie makes multi-story jumps and at one point just takes a spine-busting fall a whole story down landing flat on his back. Chan’s stunt team is no slouch here either – they take several brutal falls – including one down several stories off an escalator and onto a table/box waiting below. Once Chan catches up to the henchmen, then we get fight sequences.
- Commentary: Watching this near ten-minute finale sequence for the first time was just jaw-dropping for me. The whole thing still feels raw to this day. As I said before about Jackie and some of his best sequences, it represents not just someone working at the top of their own game, but the work of someone pushing all boundaries and executing such unique vision that it bypasses mere entertainment and becomes an inspiration. This is easily the most brutal fight Jackie has produced and the best display of how he envisioned an all-out cop vs. thugs finale should be. The setup here is that Jackie is trying to protect a female who has important information in a briefcase that could bring down a big crime boss. The boss has henchmen trying to catch her in a mall and Jackie needs to stop them. The chase aspect throughout the multi-level Hong Kong mall allows for some great parkour moments that no other action star would be stupid enough to attempt. Multiple times Jackie makes multi-story jumps and at one point just takes a spine-busting fall a whole story down landing flat on his back. Chan’s stunt team is no slouch here either – they take several brutal falls – including one down several stories off an escalator and onto a table/box waiting below. Once Chan catches up to the henchmen, then we get fight sequences.
The fighting is quick and utilitarian (while still being perfectly cinematic), but the choreography here takes a back seat to the stunts. Each fight encounter is punctuated by some kind of stunt – most often into glass panes. The crew workers apparently joked that the film should actually be entitled "Glass Story" because of how much glass they end up breaking in this finale. I could name all my favorite moments, but they are too numerous to share as this sequence is just one highlight after another.
The end comes when the important briefcase is thrown down to the lowest floor of the multi-level mall. Chan on the highest floor can’t get to it before the bad guys so he must take the extreme measure of sliding down a pole (like a fireman) several stories high busting through Christmas light strands all along the way. It’s an absolutely mental stunt that looks fantastically brutal on camera. The most impressive part of the stunt for me, isn’t the initial jump, or braving the lights on the way down, it was hitting the landing and then getting back up immediately to stop the bad guy without the camera cutting! He did the stunt and then got up and continued the shot! What a legend.
1. “Drunken Finale: Factory Fight Extravaganza” -The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)
- Commentary: This is Jackie Chan's greatest masterpiece. This over fifteen-minute multi-phase finale is not only the perfect introduction to Chan’s genius, it is also one of, if not the greatest, fight sequences ever put onto film. It's said that it took nearly four months to film this sequence alone, and every bit of it shows on the screen. When it comes to fight scenes, this is every bit as epic as it gets. The premise here is that the bad guys in the film are trying to use a steel factory as a front for smuggling out priceless Chinese artifacts. Jackie leads a small group of people to break into the factory and stop the goons before the shipment leaves. The finale has five distinct sections to it – each one giving the audience a different kind of action. Think of it as going to an action buffet but instead of filled with low quality food, each selection is of the highest quality!
1. THE MVP SEQUENCE
"The Best All-Around Jackie Chan Action Sequence"
*A Member of My Top 25 Essential Fights List HERE
- Commentary: This is Jackie Chan's greatest masterpiece. This over fifteen-minute multi-phase finale is not only the perfect introduction to Chan’s genius, it is also one of, if not the greatest, fight sequences ever put onto film. It's said that it took nearly four months to film this sequence alone, and every bit of it shows on the screen. When it comes to fight scenes, this is every bit as epic as it gets. The premise here is that the bad guys in the film are trying to use a steel factory as a front for smuggling out priceless Chinese artifacts. Jackie leads a small group of people to break into the factory and stop the goons before the shipment leaves. The finale has five distinct sections to it – each one giving the audience a different kind of action. Think of it as going to an action buffet but instead of filled with low quality food, each selection is of the highest quality!
The first section of the finale is the group confronting the factory gates and we get a decent, but brief, multiple person fight while friends of Jackie’s take out the guards. The second section of the fight sees Chan go into the factory and fight a major henchmen swinging a long chain he often puts into the fire to heat up. Jackie looks a lot like Jet Li here in his white outfit and more traditional style, fighting with a calm confidence. That’s over toward the end of this fight as the comedic gags start to come out.
The next section is a bread and butter of Chan’s – fighting multiple people using the any props he kind find in his environment. Before he takes on the main two villains Jackie fights 4 lower goons with pipes. This is where the finale kicks up in pace and begins to move with some speed. Taking out these four goons features incredible beat after incredible beat. If Jackie isn’t doing some kind of cool attack then he is dodging a dropping steel bucket, blocking a hook swinging at his face, enduring a ton of sand being dumped on him, or a stream of fire shot at him. This section is incredible and I think it’s Jackie, at his best as a martial arts choreographer.
In the fourth section of the fight, Jackie finally gets to fight the two main villains, one of them being Ken Lo his real life personal bodyguard. This section is more hand to hand and is the classic slapdash punch/kick/funny face style of Chan’s he is famous for. Ken Lo’s kicks here and the presence of a second goon get the better of Chan and he is tempted to use drunken boxing but he ultimately fails and is kicked into a bed of coals (real coals!). Chan is forced to realize that he isn’t getting the job done.
The last section of the fight sees Chan resort to using industrial grade alcohol found on the walls to get drunk and maximize his drunken boxing skills. What follows are perhaps the most intense 5 minutes of fighting ever filmed. Fully red faced and going insane, Chan unleashes his full drunken style upon Lo to the amazement of even the most cynical of fight fans. After stringing together 3 or 4 full-on attack combo's the fight comes to a satisfying conclusion more than 15 minutes after it begun. This final section is Jackie as his best as a creative action-comedy performer. This is a fight fan's dream. Although the fight was released in 1994, it contains highlights from his output in the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's. What is given to us is not merely a dance of kicks and punches, but a message to its viewer that when one calls upon all the fullness of their faculties, executes with all their abilities, and employs their grandest of visions, they can accomplish something that speaks beyond language barriers and simple entertainment, and can inspire the world over. It's the single best cinematic contribution Jackie Chan has given to the world.
THE END!
“For the last 20 years, I tried to let the audience see, I can do so many different things.” -Jackie Chan
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