"Brother, I appreciate all the opportunities you have given me."

February 5, 2017 3:49 AM

Jackie Chan reunites with his original stunt team In the January 20th episode of the variety show, The Negotiator, a segment that started with Jackie Chan introducing the newest members of his JC Stunt Team, took a heartwarming turn, when it turns out the original team has been standing behind him all along. Singapore's The Strait Times has a summary.
posted by cendawanita (14 comments total)

A heartwarming ten minutes there, thanks for posting
posted by stevedawg at 5:34 AM on February 5, 2017

You know how you always hope that someone is as stellar a person in real life as they promote themselves to be? It's nice to see one so beloved by the people he has worked with because he is.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:38 AM on February 5, 2017 [7 favorites]

That was lovely. The longer I watched the video, the more sure I was that he had to be in on the surprise, that there was no way so many people could come out on stage and rearrange themselves and even embrace and Chan - who wouldn't be as great as he is without an uncanny awareness of his surroundings at all times - wouldn't notice something? He would have a reveal moment and it would be touching, but I just didn't believe it wouldn't be staged.

But the way it was revealed - either he really was genuinely surprised, or he's an even better actor than I thought he was. And that's saying a lot.
posted by Mchelly at 5:39 AM on February 5, 2017 [1 favorite]

I couldn't get the video to play on that link, heres an alternative
posted by Lanark at 7:23 AM on February 5, 2017

That was so lovely. The emotional violin music I could have done without, and the extreme closeups on everyone's weeping eyes felt a little intrusive to me, but I loved their stories and the window on their shared history.

I've loved Chan's movies ever since high school, and the stunts were always a high point (as well as the blooper reels over the credits.) He seems to be a profoundly good person-- his Facebook is a thing of joy and delight-- and I loved the story of him sharing his fee equally with the team.

Time to watch Drunken Master again, I guess. I mean, when is it not time to watch Drunken Master?
posted by Pallas Athena at 9:26 AM on February 5, 2017 [4 favorites]

Did y'all cry? I cried.
posted by stinkfoot at 9:34 AM on February 5, 2017 [3 favorites]

Alas, JACKIE CHAN NAMED IN PANAMA PAPERS OVERSHORE ACCOUNT
posted by Postroad at 9:43 AM on February 5, 2017

More Jackie Chan goodness: getting hugged by Bruce Lee
posted by The otter lady at 9:49 AM on February 5, 2017 [2 favorites]

Alas, JACKIE CHAN NAMED IN PANAMA PAPERS OVERSHORE ACCOUNT

According to the magazine, the documents reveal that Chan owns at least six companies that are managed by Mossack Fonseca, the Panama law firm from which the papers originate. However, just because Chan is mentioned in the documents, it does not mean or imply that he is guilty of any wrongdoing. In fact, the ICIJ specifically wrote in its report that “there is no evidence that Chan used his companies for improper purposes.”

posted by Lexica at 10:11 AM on February 5, 2017

I discovered Jackie Chan movies during one of the worst periods of my life and while it would be hyperbolic to say Jackie Chan saved my life, boy did I need that little bit of joy those movies afforded me.

I've learned to admire his best traits without putting him on a pedestal. Jackie Chan isn't perfect; he has a history of sexist behavior, he's made a number of public statements in support of the Chinese government (and by extension, authoritarianism), he's unafraid to fire his directors and take over production, and had at least one incident of embarrassing public drunkenness at a friend's concert. And yes, surprise surprise, one of the highest-paid actors in the world has taken steps to hide his money in tax havens. Maybe he just got bad financial advice from his accountants but ignorance is used as a shield in these situations a bit too often.

On the flip side, the man's commitment to charity is staggering and not just one pet cause. Education, care for the poor, care for the elderly, water access, the environment...the list goes on. And not just in Hong Kong, not just Pacific Rim Asia but everywhere he travels, he gives time and money and star power to local charities wherever he can.

I dunno. Right now, I'm okay with Jackie Chan in the flawed human category.
posted by Eikonaut at 10:18 AM on February 5, 2017 [12 favorites]

I was thinking, why haven't they given this guy one of those Lifetime Achievement Oscars yet? And then I got to the part with Tom Hanks, and looked it up, and - hey, they did it last year! Good for you, Hollywood!
posted by Guy Smiley at 10:31 AM on February 5, 2017

Jackie Chan works very hard on rehabilitation of this image because . . . he has a lot to rehabilitate. And he's no friend of political liberty or of the US.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/kevintang/jackie-chan-offends-chinese-netizen?client=safari

https://np.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/35fyl8/my_favorite_jackie_chan_story/cr47urw/

Https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/worldviews/wp/2013/01/10/the-anti-americanism-of-jackie-chan/?client=safari

I have heard many stories about his fucked up alcoholic and star behavior over the years; forcing everyone who works with him to call him "Dai Gow" (big brother), challenging stuntmen to fight him (lose the fight or lose your job), insisting on sleeping with all his female co-stars, but the one that makes me saddest is how he has repeatedly denied and refused to support his own daughter by Elaine Ng.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/582166/Jackie-Chan-estranged-daughter-won-t-forgive-him/amp?client=safari

Finally, Jackie has gotten a lot of mileage out of pretending to fight the HK triads and claiming to have been harassed by them, which is deeply ironic given that he has long had an extremely close relationship with and been supported by the leader of the most powerful triad of all. Albert Leung

Great entertainer. Not a great human being.
posted by jfwlucy at 11:21 AM on February 5, 2017 [1 favorite]

I found that video very moving, if only because I got together last October with a dozen friends, most of whom I hadn't seen in over 45 years. Something like that does produce quite a special feeling. I also think it's pretty incredible that a movie stunt man can wear out a whole group of co-workers his age, and then keep going in his profession with an entirely new generation.
posted by LeLiLo at 11:22 PM on February 5, 2017

This was a bit ridiculous, over-the-top, and badly edited (check out the sound at 9:35:). In short, a lot of what I love about Jackie Chan's work.
posted by beau jackson at 8:49 AM on February 6, 2017