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, 05:56:17 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 like Jet Li and all but he needs to stop having matrix on his movies, He will never be as good as Jackie Chan, not even in his dreams. The movie Kiss of the dragon is the best movie jet li have ever made. Rush Hour 2 was funny but not as good as the kiss of the dragon. In real life or in the , movies Jackie Chan is the man, jet li is a bussycat. you should know that Jackie will kick jet lee's ass,
Yaseen Musa Iamaskater2003@yahoo.com Friday, May 24, 2002 at 18:21:19 (PDT)

I agree with lacey I think both are good actors and should be enjoyed by people, but about the vs part I think jackie would win of course he does have more years of expirience. And its true about Jet Li he does have more atitude in his movies but I relly dont like that I like movies that make me smile. But of coure Jet Li also has his good, and bad movies as jackie.
Age 12
Diana Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 20:23:37 (PDT)

after reading the biography of Mr Chan one has to realize the extent of his training and what he had to endure. He is very aware that he is portraying comedic roles in the style of Buster Keaton and that is what makes him great , that he has incredible comedic timimg and is a suberb martial artist...on the other hand there is a marvelous movie that shows Jet Li as a young boy and that is just awesome.. I think it is Dragons of the orient...it is obvious from that footage of him as a child competing that he is a master at Kung Fu.
People need to get beyond Bruce Lee and realize that these two are great martial artists in their own right.
Jay Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 19:57:02 (PDT)

I think they both kick ass, jet li plays more serious roles but ability wise i think they both could show major skill. What's annoying though is when they put a skilled martial artist like jackie chan in a 'laugh at the chinese man' role. He should demand more serious parts, on the other hand jet li has a more serious appearance which cannot be said for chan. if you are looking for image then it's li, if you are looking for comedy and lots of circus like amazing acrobatics then it's chan. But off screen i think that they are both evenly matched. (even though jet li went through a the toughest training regime and was the only one to graduate in his kung fu class out of many.)
dan Saturday, May 18, 2002 at 18:19:29 (PDT)

i think that jackie chan's rush our two is not a great film but i think it is better than jet lee's kiss of the dragon i think jackie chan's stunts are undoable no one can do them. jakie chan can rip jet lee's ass in a real fight or in stunts in films. it's true it's dame true!!!!!!
iori yagami yasri.com Friday, May 17, 2002 at 03:02:25 (PDT)

I really respect Jackie Chan's fighting skills, and I enjoy his movies too. But since Bruce Lee's death there hasn't been anybody who can fill the emptiness he left behind. And nobody can subtitute him, but if someone out there who can bring the martial arts movies at least close to Bruce Lee's level of fighting and acting, then it has to be Jet Li not Jackie Chan. When I watch a Chinese martial arts movie I expect skills and attitude that I am sure Jackie Chan don't posess to the audience but if Jet Li decrease the use of computer effects and fictional movements, he surely can be the next icon to present China.
Fadi Lee Saturday, May 11, 2002 at 14:22:28 (PDT)

I agree with Ong. Obviously most people that posted opinions, don't know much about Jackie Chan or Jet Li. I would have to go with Jet Li if the two had a bout in their best fighting shape. But I would say Chan is the better entertainer. Both definitely are qualified to represent asia. And, as Ong points out both achieved great success inspite of obstacles in their lives. Either way they are both great guys.
Zai Jian Thursday, May 09, 2002 at 04:57:54 (PDT)

Jet Li is the better of the two. His style of martial arts is incredible! Jet is also a better actor and has a better character than Jackie.
kazuya mishima Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at 23:57:21 (PDT)

I think Jackie Chan is sooo funny and cute and he has worked very hard for some 20 years to make it in Hollywood that he deserves his success. Jet Li is exciting and I have seen him also in some of his Hong Kong films and he shows his highly stylized talent in both serious roles and comedies. They both have the right to be enjoyed equally, however it is too bad that they promote the idea that Asians should only be noted for their martial art skills and not as other actors for their acting ability. Only when some Asian actor such as Chow Yun-Fat or some other Asian actor becomes popular will it open the way for other serious actors to be accepted playing such rolls as doctors, (Chow will play one in "Men of Destiny") and other professions in films. Only then will the old steriotypes of Asians be changed.
Lacey Lacyguymon@aol.com Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at 20:41:42 (PDT)

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