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, 05:56:21 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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I don¥t remember the name, but a very good kung-fu master in China said that we don¥t know the real power of Jackie Chan, because he is a lot more than a martial artis than an actor... and even with out that, everything that Jackie does in his movies is real, not like Jet, who uses special efects... and about that seriuos image of Jet, the people how dosn¥t know much about, think that it¥s an original image, and is not, that is Bruce Lee¥s image.
Beside, look at the age of Jackie, and see the way he moves, then, see Jet¥s age... and he alrready needs to speed up the movie so he can look fast!!! I go for the real thing... JACKIE CHAN all the way!!!

Alejandro Thursday, December 13, 2001 at 13:58:24 (PST)

It has to be Jet Li. Jackie Chan is good however he's more of a stunt man than martial artist (he is good at his art though, don't get me wrong). Jet Li focuses more on the fighting. Jackie Chan focuses on stunts and laughter. If you saw Jet on "Lethal Weapon 4" and "Kiss of the Dragon" you would understand. Another thing that Jet might get a better advantage is that he is younger than Jackie so that might help as well. Although this my opinion I still believe Jet has the upper hand.
Ryu15G ryu15g@yahoo.com Monday, December 10, 2001 at 11:27:12 (PST)

I feel that both martial artists are positive role models for Asian Americans. Personally, I feel Jet Li is a better martial artist. Jackie gets points for doing his own wireless stunts(his earlier movies did have wire stunts in them,but so what!). But his goofy, prop-fu routine is getting old fast.The tecniques used by Jet in his movies are both flashy and efficient. The moves used by Jackie in his moveis are flashy, but unnecessary. It doesn't matter if Jet's movie has wire-work (Tai Chi Master)or not(Fist of Legend),because Jet always does a great job. Also in terms of technique Jet Li does a far better job of correctly portraying traditional chinese Kung-Fu. In all his movies thus far his form has been perfect, his handwork flawless and his kicks, well they speak for themselves. I have studied a little internal kung fu and when he uses a palm or other internal move not only are his hands perfect, but so is his stance and his stature. Jackie Chan on the other hand has either for the sake of entertainment or simplicity used moves which were not appropriate for the form he was using. Let us not forget that the original purpose of the chinese kung fu movie was to portray to westerners an accurate idea as to what proper hand forms and stances in kung fu were because of the lack of appropriate masters. If that idea still holds true the Jet Li is, by far the superior martial artist.
Darren onkey82@yahoo.com Sunday, December 09, 2001 at 19:00:14 (PST)

WEll i like both jackie and jet but i think jackie is better both have different styles. while jackie can be more of a comedian its for entertainment.jet however tries to superceed bruce lee's image and people new to martial arts movies think that this is new and jet is cool and a bad ass etc. jackies comic martial arts has not been done b4 and its become its his art. and 1 thing that annoys me is that jet relies too much on strings in nearly all his films whereas jackie does not so y is this? ask ur self? also jet was a champion of wushu wen he woz a teenager not an adult unlike bruce lee who was fightin competitions throu out but his skills are good im not denying that. also some of his fights r speeded up in a way to fool people. my last comment is that the jackie vs benny the jet fight in wheels on meals is the baddest fight ever period the most realistic and true to life fight!
Solid Snake Saturday, December 08, 2001 at 17:29:13 (PST)

I think that Jet Li would win but you cant hold Jackie Chan down because no one has seen either of them in a real fight only movies but jackie Chan knows way more stiles than Jet Li or hey i could be wrong but nobody will ever know until they have a real fight and if they do I'll have a front row seat hey mabye I'll fight the winner he he he!

and all of you that said Jackie Chan is a clown you people are whack and you dont know anything just watch his old school movies and you will see a real martial artist in action
IWKU420 iwku420@aol.com Thursday, December 06, 2001 at 12:57:20 (PST)

i like jackle but i like jet li more cuz he a better martal astist, jackie is fast and stong but not powerful jet li is more powerful with lighting fast speed kiss of the dragon he don't use specal efects or no wires and he still fast as hell and yes he is the serious type that better about him it seen to me that jet is a bit faster then jackie, jackle is not that good in defense and jet is jet is like the next bruce lee and people need to stop hateing on jet efests or not that don't mean nothing jet is more powerful then jackie, jackie well get beat by jet li all the way plus jackie always get his ass kick.
knuckles nuckles-2000@webtv.net Saturday, December 01, 2001 at 08:47:27 (PST)

Hey! People Bruce Lee Is Coming To The Xbox.
Xbox Friday, November 23, 2001 at 22:48:32 (PST)

I love them both, but Jet Li, being a martial arts champion when he was young, is probably a better martial artist than Jackie Chan overall. However, I think that audiences like each actor in terms of their respective qualities, like Jackie Chan being funny and being able to do his own stunts, versus Jet Li being just plain cool with his martial arts prowess and the ability to beat people up. I feel this one's a draw: people like humour, and Jackie Chan can deliver that. People also like action, and Jet Li can provide. We have some great actors here to represent our nationality and to fulfill most aspects of filming. I just hope that in their movie, one of those guys can bag a Caucasian female star and actually kiss them and/or do more.
The Assassin Friday, November 23, 2001 at 07:50:12 (PST)

I think Bruce Lee is the best one. You know his Kungfu is a mix of Shaulin, Japanese and Korean, but the most is chinese Kongfu. Neither Jackie Chan nor Jet Lee can compare with Bruce Lee. Only Asians can know about this. As real chinese people, when we talk about the best Martial Art, we just only think that is BRUCE LEE. White people don't know about chinese kung fu much, they always think the best are Japanese and Korean, but they are really not.
Bruce is eternal in the world..
An Asian Girl annielam80@hotmail.com Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at 17:01:44 (PST)

I am not a proficienato in MArtial Arts Films, but if these two were go face to face, I think JEt LI would get his ass handed to him. HE seems so dour he will dismiss Mr Chan's skills as just that of a country bumkin, who knows jack. Then again Mr Li could also just take everything so seriously he'll knock off JAckie Chan's head in a matter of seconds, only to have the man who does all of his own stuns get up staple it back on and continue to fight. Nuff said, Jet Li may be one bad mother, but JAckie Chan is one crazy one. And its always better to be Crazy tough than phony brave
Polibius Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at 10:20:59 (PST)

I think JET LI is the better image, as you have seen him in THE ONE, he has great acting skills and unquestionable action scenes. He works really really hard to cope with the American film industry and I loved THE ONE sooooo much that i saw it twice! Jackie Chan however is great too, except he relies his movies on comedy, never once have i seen him serious. So, that's my opinion.
JADE Pham caprichik@hotmail.com Tuesday, November 20, 2001 at 17:55:05 (PST)

Jet Li and Jackie Chan are both very famous actors in the field of action. Yet they differ in that Jackie is also a comedian and sometimes doesn`t show how serious he is in his movies. Jet Li on the other hand shows his anger and is more of the serious type. I prefer Jet Li more because I like almost all his movies and his style is unique. If you haven`t seen some of Jet Li`s old movies like Fong Sai Yuk, Fist of Legend, and Tai Chi Master, then your missing his abilities which are much stronger than jackie chan. Some people prefer Jackie Chan but in my opinion, I think its because Jackie Chan aired his movies in Canada longer than jet li. Therefore, you know him longer and you know his movies. But Jet li has really been out there for a long time, since Jackie Chan.
Xtremeknight Xtremeknightz@yahoo.com Tuesday, November 20, 2001 at 11:31:11 (PST)

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