Jet Li vs Jackie Chan: Who's Better for the Asian Image | Asian American Issues

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JET LI vs JACKIE CHAN: DUELING IMAGES
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:56:24 PM)

n late July 2001 the world's two top martial arts stars announced a deal to co-produce and co-star in an action flick to be filmed in late 2002 for a 2003 release. The question naturally arises: what kind of movie could do justice to two such divergent types? Jackie Chan is a highly acrobatic clown who has built his following on a self-effacing counry bumpkin image. Jet Li is a deadly serious warrior who finds it easier to crack a man's neck than a smile.
Now that both global megastars are releasing big-budget Hollywood films at a breakneck pace for seven-figure salaries, they are the most visible Asians in the American filmgoing consciousness. Whether we Asian Americans like it or not, our image is shaped more by the screen exploits and antics of these two broken-English speaking foreigners than by any dozen Asian American actors. In the filmgoing psyche the sober, chaste and deadly-efficient Chinese cop in Kiss of the Dragon is pitted against the nimble goofball in Rush Hour 2.
Which Hong Kong star is better for the image of Asian Americans?

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WHAT YOU SAY

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Even though Jackie Chan and Jet Li are not asian american (and their characters are always straight out of HK) the fact is when white people see asians/asian americans, they can't tell the difference. That's why their image matters. When they see Jackie Chan smiling and taking crap from Chris Tucker and they see an asian american guy walking down the street they see the same people. This would explain why black dudes and white dudes are always walking up to asian people I know going WHAAAAAAAA ching chong ching and doing karate moves. Where do you think they get that? from the movies.
I understand the point FOP is trying to make about Jackie Chan and martial arts movies in HK Cinema, but isn't it true that although in the movies Jackie Chan is funny, and there are jokes and all that, he isn't the brunt of such demeaning humor?
kris Friday, August 10, 2001 at 08:53:10 (PDT)

I'd like to put it Short 'n Sweet: RUSH HOUR 2 is so obviously a comedy of fools and neither Chris Tucker nor Jackie Chan came up short. While the majority of the compliants may be steered towards Jackie's "shuckin' and jivin'" to get a laugh, I realize that no one believes this is disgraceful of Chris Tucker(!!)

He was the loudest thing since the sonic boom. When he wasn't being led by his voracious 'Mandingo dick' behavior, he was constantly scheming to hit anything w/an XX chromosome. And he was always trying to threaten someone w/that fake-@ss kung-fu. As a black woman, I cringed everytime he opened his mouth. I was embarrassed in general for black men, knowing that everyone else was just laughing at another clown.

The entire plot of RH2 was built around poking fun at the formerly somber Chief Inspector Li and the obvious letting down of his guard so he could mack the ladies w/fast-talking larger-than-life Detective Carter. As long as you keep your mind numb to the indignation, it's funny. When you stop to think, Carter is just another Minstrel 'playa' pimped out in leather.
Short 'n Sweet DBL_DRGN@hotmail.com Thursday, August 09, 2001 at 23:42:21 (PDT)

ASIANMAN, WHY DID YOU SEE THE DAMN MOVIE? don't you know that you're supporting more of the same being made? rush hour 3 is already on the drawing boards, so don't give your money to help perpetuate those media stereotypes. i don't think any asians here should complain about jet li or jackie chan when they're supporting more "chop-socky" movies being made by giving money to them. just a bit ironic in my view.
villageidiot Wednesday, August 08, 2001 at 21:46:20 (PDT)

I thought that Jet li and Aaliya in Romeo Must die were absolutely excellent in as their characters shed light on many stereotypes that are publicly held about the cultures they respectively represent.
Besides Jet Li is Cute.
Aaliya was voted most sexxiest by Black Men magazine.
We should stop being so hard on our own, we don't give the red light on wether a script is turned into a movie, anyway.
I am just glad that the actors are keeping it real in "reality".
babydoll ramdenmor@msn.com Wednesday, August 08, 2001 at 19:02:40 (PDT)

i found rush hour 2 to be very degrading for asian men...how they show that asain men are small endowed at the massge parlor wasnt even funny but everyone laugh because that is already a an annoying stereotype we asian men been putting up with and how chris tucker kept on calling asian men midget consistingly throughout the entire movie was irritating...i dealt with all these steretype through my highschool years and my college years and to hear ir as a joke in the media just hurts.....we asian needs better image especially in the media....who all agree...?????
asianman Tuesday, August 07, 2001 at 17:18:06 (PDT)

Whine! Whine! Whine! Typical Asian American whiners. Jackie & Jet do not represent Asian Americans (you wish!). They represent us FOP (FOP, not FOB cos we are now fresh off the plane). Martial arts action movies always have a huge presence in HK cinema. These two guys only extend the phenomenon to the US. Jackie has always been a clown in his movies and we like him this way. Jackie is being himself. He would not be an American and he never will try to act like one. Why would he? The guy grew up in HK. In Asia, American movies that score big are always those action packed movies or sci-fi flicks. Asian people are not interested in stories about some suburban domestic crises in the Midwest. So it is a fair trade.
FOP Tuesday, August 07, 2001 at 13:03:37 (PDT)

To I love meat on a stick,

True. They are action stars...and lets accept them as that...and not call them good actors. If we accept them as that...which I do...and expect only kung fu and action...then we have no problem.

Yeah I admire their kung fu prowess.

But from a bigger perspective "meat" (sorry don't want to write out the full name) if that's all everyone else wants to see (including caucasian, and other ethnicity)then its safe to say that the greater society only wants to see you (assuming your asian) in a limited fashion...and assume your just a kung fu kickin dude. You're a funny clown (ala Jackie) or you are honorable and stoic (Jet Li).

I just want the greater society to know that asian americans are more than that. Doesn't have to be Jackie or jet Li acting... but at least lets put something out there...something else for people to see that would be entertaining other than kung fu. Asian Americans have more to offer in entertainment than just kung fu on the cinema.

But if you're content with that that's your perogative..and I'm cool with that. You are right I shouldn't be completly bagging on the two. But they are contributing to what I see is the overall problem.

Enoch Tuesday, August 07, 2001 at 09:57:36 (PDT)

I think the are both great guys! I love them both equally. Even though they don't portray the total asian population, they are actors so they are there to entertain us. Jet Li was so cute on Jay Leno the other day! :) And Jackie is such a crack-up....he's so cool.
Delanee Tuesday, August 07, 2001 at 02:35:24 (PDT)

Before answering this question, I want to say that in general, I am disappointed with the way that Asians are being shown in American movies. I don't think I could really say who would be better. Either way, with either movie, I still see many people walking around doing silly imitations of kung-fu. Unfortunately, with the way the movie industry is, I don't think Jet Li or Jackie Chan have much say when it comes to their 2 newest (American) movies. And I am still wondering whether the sudden high popularity of these 2 actors will help to bring more curiousity to Asian culture. Which could in turn help open the door for more serious, non-martial art movie making. However, that is not an excuse for the sterotypical stuff we are still being fed to by the media. When I saw Rush Hour 2, I was a little surprised (maybe I shouldn't have been) that there were so many derogatory/sterotypical remarks about Asians. I think some would say that those remarks were all in good fun or those remarks have to be taken in the context of Chris Tucker's character. Yes, that may be but for how much longer should anyone be allowed to use that reasoning? It is still laughing at and perpetuating the stereotypical Asian culture. I think there are two things that could happen. It could be an opportunity to do something positive or negative. Say nothing and let it continue...and for how long will anyone want to keep seeing martial arts movies?
Use this chance to change the image, get well written stories that will elevate Asian American's above the stereotypes. It is my hope that the Asian actor's that have the chance to speak out will now do so.
Does that sound to hard to ask?
Mei meimeiji@excite.com Monday, August 06, 2001 at 20:35:28 (PDT)

The paragraphs to our left have said it all.

None of these guys are cool. Listen, I mean NONE. It's same old martial art crap beginning with Bruce Lee. At least Bruce was an Intellectual and Renaissance Man in addition to being a Martial Artist and an Actor. Bruce was also a writer, now how many Asian Men really like to write, writing cutting edge stuff? Now I am not talking about the Asian Identity Crisis/Mommy's Boy garbage we like to read. None as of now, isn't that right? People now are discovering Bruce's other talents besides his fighting skills. If Bruce wasn't a kung fu man as we all know him to be, we would have known him through some other arena such as Philosophy or Literature? Why? Because he was multi-talented and multi-faceted. Jet Li looks more like a robot than a human, very very stoic, another negative attribute that stereotypes Asian Men. Jackie Chan on the other hand, quite the contrary, is a FOB clown, he should be in the Chinese circus and not on the movie screen. Gosh, wake up! These two guys are not inspiring to anyone, let alone Asians. We need a guy who is more balanced and well rounded in their personality.
Disappointed Friday, August 03, 2001 at 10:53:33 (PDT)

My making the clown / killer comparison, you are forgetting that Jet Li's early career also includes a healthy comedic element in the Wong Fei Hong / Once Upon A Time In China films.

The best thing for Aisan Americans would be a dissociation from martial arts. It is a one trick pony that has gone on far too long.
Adam Keen Friday, August 03, 2001 at 08:31:07 (PDT)

To enoch,

It would be nice to see these two superstars to star in a more sentimental movie, but come on. Could you imagine Jackie Chan crying, or not performing any of his insane stunts. Their Martial Arts mastery is the reason their famous, and thats what they are...action stars.
I love meat on a stick Thursday, August 02, 2001 at 02:17:51 (PDT)

I think both of them are cool, i mean, jackie chan may be funny, and jet li may be serious, but they are both respected everywere, jackie chan can show he is serious when he does his stunts, and in Rumble in the Bronx, he shows he can act without being very silly, and jet li, he isn't always serious, i mean, he smiles alot at the beginning of Twin Warriors. I think it would be cool if they both were in the same movie, because their opposite characteristics can be balanced out and make a great movie
tk Wednesday, August 01, 2001 at 07:20:07 (PDT)

I think Jet li He represents a more traditional chinese man, YOu know like Very Serious, Cunning, Honor. Unlike Jacky Chan He is an embarresment to Asian Americans, did you see him on MTV Top 10? He does not know how to act ok he is making himself look like a fool. Where as Jet Li knows what he is doing. Jacky Chan just doesn't have that image. I think Jet Li fits it better.
Jamal Lee Tuesday, July 31, 2001 at 14:56:36 (PDT)

I think many of you have outlined some strong qualities of both Jackie Chan and Jet Li. And its important to acknowledge those good qualities as entertainers.

For some, (like me) it is very frustrating to see only limited elements of one culture..ie kung fu. Certainly Jackie brings comedy, Jet Li brings a certain nobility. But wouldn't all of you think it would be cool to see a mainstream picture that explores other elements of life. What about "Eat man Drink Woman." (I think thats the name of the film.) or films that wrench your heart when you see the depth of love a father has for his son or child..like "Life is Beautiful" Yeah that's a foreign film which depicts a Jew and his son in an internment camp. Well let's see films like that but with say the setting takes place in America during the Transcontinental RR. building days where many Chinese workers came over to work.

Let's see that side of Chinese America. Let's see how dedicated to their families they were or the type of racism they dealt with. And maybe we might discover something about ourselves and the environment we live in today.

Sure lets not be too hard on Jackie and Jet because America wants kung fu action. But I think Jackie and Jet could "sneak" some real deep stuff into their movie as well...that's all I ask for.
Enoch Monday, July 30, 2001 at 22:02:40 (PDT)

I think both of them are really cool guys.. both with good qualities... the only thing I wish both of them would do would be to get rid of the racist/stereotypical jokes and scenarios in their films.. I think being asians, and not asian americans, perhaps they might not always realise how derogatory certain comments or jokes are, or maybe given they are relative newcomers to hollywood filmmaking they might not have much control over the dialogue/jokes/storyline.
ken Sunday, July 29, 2001 at 09:48:41 (PDT)

First of all, they agreed to write a story together not star in a movie together (although there still lies the possibility that it could happen). Sencondly, the Asian Americn image in not shaped by Jet-li nor Jackie Chan. It is true that Chan likes comedies but in the Accidental Spy he showed himself as a very good actor. And as a Jet-li fan, he also does comedy and HE IS A GOOD ACTOR. yes their movies contain kung-fu, in the end it's about doing being honest and doing the right thing. So what's the problem?
windandcloud Sunday, July 29, 2001 at 03:16:13 (PDT)

My pick is Jet Li. I think he is serious, so cool, smart-looking, and handsome. I would like to have that kind of image for Asian Americans or Asians in this country. I think Jackie Chan is funny, but a little silly sometimes. Although he can be entertaining, but I do not want Asian Americans/Asians to be sterotyped as entertainer-type of people.
Jeniffer Lee Jserendipity@yahoo.com Wednesday, July 25, 2001 at 20:17:06 (PDT)

Criticizing Jackie OR Jet for "promoting the stereotype of the asian martial artist" is pretty ludicrous. For all of y'all's info, these two practically GREW UP learning kung fu. Their whole lives revolved around it, and back in Asia that is where the two achieved their greatest success and fame, through their tremendous martial arts skills and action flicks. Like it or not, Americans have always been fascinated by martial arts movies, so why shouldn't Hollywood producers be interested in bringing the best talent over?
AA Wednesday, July 25, 2001 at 19:28:50 (PDT)

I think that they both show great Asian charateristics. Jet Li shows honor and strength while Jackie Chan shows a flexibility and noblility in a more human light. Jet Li is not without humor and Jackie Chan is not without honor. I think they would compliment each other nicely in a film and that they don't show a completely negative view of Asians. These movies are now taking steps beyond martial arts and into romance (Kiss/Dragon) and morals; good guys win in a good way Romeo Must Die); thus we will soon see Asian films not about martial arts. It is my opinion that these actors and others will bring the changes of good. Besides- films aren't supposed to show the true side of events or people so don't make them out to be that way.
Nieth Wednesday, July 25, 2001 at 16:55:05 (PDT)

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