Monday, July 5, 2010

Jackie Chan's Top 100 Action Scenes: 60-51


60-51


60. Bench Fight Between Chan and Biao
The Young Master (1980)
Category: Weapons Fight
(The fight spans both videos)




Another fight from the exemplary Young Master. It's always fun to watch part of the original trio of stars (Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, and Sammo Hung) get to fight against each other, and this intricate pole and stool fight is a lot of fun. It's a bit slow and some might question it being this low on the list, but the reason this fight scores so well is because I find myself watching it again and again.


59. Capturing Chan Ho in a Club
Project A (1983)
Category: Fight - Multiple People



After a string of intricate 'fight' focused films earlier in his rise to stardom, it seemed like Jackie used Project A to focus more on his comedic abilities and (as evidenced in this fight scene) his athleticism & stunt work (and more appropriately, stunt team). A great fight here is capped off with a couple brutal falls from the top of the stairs that few teams are still willing to take.


58. Teaching a Lesson to Stalkers in a Restaurant
Police Story II (1988)
Category: Fight - Multiple People



The follow-up to Chan's immensely successful Police Story (1985) features a type of fight that Chan pioneered with this series of films. This fight, like the loft fight included earlier in this list, is brutal where each punch and kick results in a stunt of some kind. Unfortunately, this fight is also very quick. If Chan could sustain this intensity over a four to five minute fight (which he would in further scenes) then this would rank higher. Still, as is, it's great to watch.


57. Fighting for the Baby in the Villain's House
Rob-B-Hood (2006)
Category: Fight-Multiple People




About as vintage Jackie Chan as contemporary Chan gets. Had this sequence been considered outside of the context of Chan's career work, then it could be very high on this list. It's a longer fight with lots of the elements you want: comedic gags, stunts, good back and forth fighting. The only thing holding it back, is that Chan has done this kind of sequence before, but faster and better.


56. Barn Fight for Father's Honor
Dragon Lord (1982)
Category: Fight - One on One



This is practically the lone redeeming sequence to Chan's Dragon Lord and it's quite an epic fight. I've labeled it as one on one, but it's essentially a two on one fight. Although longtime Chan stunt man Mars begins the fight, the real meat of the fight is really a one on one event. Its long, brutal, and exhausting. My only complaints are that it's probably a bit to long for my tastes, and there is too much of a sloppy feel to the fight, like Chan is throwing everything at the wall here. I know thats what he was going for, it's just not my preference.


55. Chan vs. Whong in Sik
The Young Master (1980)
Category: Fight - One on One




This fight is very similar in nature to the previous one, but even more brutal and long (if that can be believed). My same complaints still stand of the previous one also stand for this one. What these two fights, and this one in particular, show though is Chan being able to pull off long and brutal fights (with brutal combat) in the traditional kung fu format of one on one fights against a kung fu master. Perhaps it doesn't bear the full artistic stamp of Chan, but it bears the stamp of Chan taking a genre tradition and giving it his own take.


54. Monk Cafeteria Fight
Armor of God (1987)
Category: Fight - Multiple People



This is a great sequence seeing Chan take on multiple people with some Looney Tunes gags and the requisite stunts included. I especially appreciate the gag where the secondary characters continue to find their exit ways blocked while Chan is forced to fight the men singlehandedly. Also, look out for the final stunt where a monk does two 360 flips after a kick. Incredible.


53. Cornered Upstairs and Fighting his Way Down
Miracles (1989)
Category: Fight - Multiple People



Here is another case of a fight scene that I'd love to see more of. At just 96 seconds, it really lacks enough breadth to become something of more substance, but does it really pack a punch in those 96 seconds! Some of my favorite Chan stunts are in this little scene, including the splits down a circular stair and falling from the second level loft to a desk on the first floor!


52. All Parties Fight in an Apartment for the Baby
Rob-B-Hood (2006)
Category: Fight - Prop/Multiple People



Chan's third re-teaming (and not his last) with Yuen Biao in this posting is a better and more concise sequence than the finale fight of Rob-B-Hood at #57 on this list. In its shorter running time (but not too short) this sequence (like the other one) contains all the right elements without wearing out it's welcome. Welcome also, is a lovely little handcuff sequence that is the physical equivalence of Groucho and Chico bantering back and forth.


51. Rickshaw in the Alleyway Fight
Miracles (1989)
Category: Prop Fight - Multiple People



I really wish I could've fit this one into my top 50, but it just missed out. Here is a sequence that pound for pound is as great as most anything you'll see, but I do think it's still too short. Now, it's two and a half minutes, but every time I watch it, I feel like there was so much more potential for this to be a true great. As is, I adore the rickshaw sequence and find the move where Chan gets a crotchshot to be one of the funnier and more sophisticated crotch shots in cinema. Now there's a sentence I didn't expect to ever write!

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