Crazy, Rich, Amazing.
Never count Jackie Chan out. From Hong Kong to Hollywood the megastar has starred in around over 150 films and counting. But you know he's broken even more bones than that...and counting. Worldwide this superstar is one of the most globally recognised icons and idols in all of entertainment. Let alone the acting game he changed, redefining the all action hero to an everyman embrace. This pop star has even made albums...you saw him sing along to The Beach Boys on 'Rush Hour' too, don't deny it. There's a reason this million seller, billion served and counting even has had an honorary Oscar made for him. And this Academy member is the real deal to the award envelope. As 'Crazy Rich Asian' star and 'Supercop' co one (who came up from China with Chan and started this 'Crazy Rich' revolution of the continent you see today from the idols of BTS to Henry Golding even being in consideration for the running of the next, revolutionary James Bond), says Jackie has that, "infectious exuberance". Or as partner in crime stopping 'Rush' motormouth by the hour Chris Tucker simply and poignantly puts it, "I love you (Jackie). You're a part of me"! Even possibly the most recognisable and successful face in all of acting Tom Hanks coins it perfectly when immortalising the man who combined the action heroism of John Wayne with the comic timing of Buster Keaton when it came to making his own Hollywoodland legend, Jackie is just "Chantastic". And still to this day, from 'Police Story' to the 'Shanghai' series of noon and nights and the 'Rumble In The Bronx' to 'Kung Fu Yoga' this man who gave the Schwarzenegger age it's last action hero is far from expendable. No matter how hard Sly tried to get this franchise face in that all action, pension fund series. Chan once in Sylvester's Hollywood home, touched Stallone's Oscar, kissed it and probably held it infront of a mirror whilst rehearsing a speech. And on reflection he was right to. Although Jackie Chan as a moviemaking symbol himself is his own reward. And he's still doing it to this Netflix 'Skiptrace' streaming day. Taking on James Bond Pierce Brosnan in 'The Foreigner' and getting serious in his old age like the time he made you cry out of nowhere in the Smith family 'Karate Kid' reboot remake. But for all the stories this man has and still tells none are as real as the simple ode in his memoir to 'Never Grow Up' from the forever young Peter Pan that is Chan, who also never gives up.
Cannonball Chan. The young kid was nicknamed for running around everywhere with that infectious energy. His humble beginnings saw him bullied at school but he always knew how to fight back with his fists and wrists finding a new way home up in the hills. As his Chinese Civil War refugee parents found refuge working for the French Ambassador as they lived a team trip up Hong Kong's vivid Victoria Peak where a waxwork of him now resides in Madame Tussauds. A perfect, picturesque place where Jackie would look to the stars and the skyline of the city that would eventually belong to him in time. Lost in clouds wasn't the word. He was destined for them. And even when he got bored and boarding school called with a strict decade long institution, he was always going places but taking home with him. Even when his parents relocated to Australia and he'd sometimes join them for months at a time when the acting didn't quite pan out the way he read it in his life scripts before the die was cast. But this man who used to play dead perfectly to get on screen when he broke out as more than Bruce Lee fist of furry cannon fodder. As his entry to the industry in the legendary 'Enter The Dragon' saw him meet his idol face to fist first. Talk about being extra. Chan wanted to show the world the lighter, even realer side of the art he martialed. Bruce Lee looked invincible when he fought. Jackie wanted to show you it really hurt. But that there was a certain humor aswell as heart to it all. And Chan earned all his pain. His reel (you just can't call these things "bloopers") of stunt fails have made the legendary rounds on YouTube long before that video platform was even really a thing. When people were watching on desktops instead of phones. And you know to this day people would look up from their phones, even if they macably used them to point up and film. As Chan the man would fall from rooftops with only two bits of cloth to shroud his fall. Or fireman slide down the lightbulb smashing, electric eel like lights of a pole in the middle of the biggest mall you've seen this side of Christmas, top to bottom. Shutting it and almost himself down for good in the process. And then when his list of injuries medical report up like something out of that old arcade game 'Theme Hospital' his strained reaction always looks more like he stubbed his toe than stunted his whole damn body. This guy's broken everything in your body you could think of...even the stuff you can't...or simply don't want to. He's even nearly lost one of his pupils. And we aren't talking about one of the members of his iconic, family first stunt team (thankfully). But as the eye of Jackie Chan says, "Jackie always Ok"!
Reporting for the 'Police Story' precient franchise it became a whole new story for Jack Chan. He became a megawatt megastar and helped put Hong Kong on the moviemaking map of the planet like its own Hollywood...which he humbly doesn't give himself enough credit for here...so we will. Then came the money, the wining and dining, the women and of course the entourage. Think Jet Li in 'Fearless' when he's on top before he faces his greatest one and great fall. Chan even had his 'Pretty Woman' moment like revenge in a boutique store whose sale assistant looked down on him like Julia Roberts in that infamous, iconic scene. But this time walking down the street with an army of followers he brought out the whole, damn shop. But Jackie admits now that foolish arrogance like that cost him more than Hong Kong dollars. As he also laments with honest beauty of wisdom about standing on the beach watching the tide come in with the one that got away like being lost at sea. And after Hollywood came calling, from 'Rush Hour' to the "WOW" of Owen Wilson, Jackie reached all new levels of hills stardom. Although always remaining true to himself and his art. Even upstaging co-stars like Wilson and the attention chattering one-liners of the one and only Chris Tucker who were meant to do that to themselves to the man who was more than a one dimensional, one man funny fighting machine. Jackie and Tucker even combined for the first big budget, Hollywood blockbuster to feature no white males in the lead. This more than 20 calenders before this years 'Crazy, Rich Asian' revolution. Chan smartened up a previously ignorant industry all the way to the 'Tuxedo'. All whilst promoting positivity in his movies (he turned down Ridley Scott's offer for him to play a brutal Japanese gangster in the Osaka set 80's classic 'Black Rain' starring Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia and Ken Takakura). And he's still doing it today. All whilst practicing the preach of staying loyal to family and where you came from no matter the mistakes you make in this young life. Preserving history more than in movies like the historical drama 'Railroad Tigers', but also actually protecting artifacts from traditional Chinese history and bringing them back to where they belong. So Jackie Chan and the Hong Kong he has forever represented and camera captured to the world with that warm, award winning smiles story is far from over. And as he writes even more chapters to this verse it's great to look back on this perfect preface of decency, integrity, inspiration and dedication in all the rise and fall lessons that come with this life and its many loves. Because wonderfully wrote this is merely a bookmark. The 64 year old and only countryman with both a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and his hands in concrete outside the Mann's Chinese Theatre is just getting started. And like this one it'll be a story like no other. Chapter one. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
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