Jackie Chan's Top 100 Action Scenes: 80-71

80 - 71

80. Casino Finale: Bomb in the Mouth is worth Two in the Hand
Rush Hour 2 (2001)
Category: Fight - Multiple People

Perhaps an odd choice to put this far down, but I find something so clever about Chan's idea to put the bomb in his mouth and have his hands and mouth taped; he's able to use it for a couple funny gags when someone tries to set it off. Besides just standard good work, there is an absolutely amazing stunt where Jackie fits through the opening on a banker's cage. Just incredible.


79. A Sword Fight for Answers
The Myth (2005)
Category: Weapons Fight



This is a interesting take on the sword fight, where a modern day sword fight mirrors a historical fight and allows Jackie to remember something about his past. It's a technically sound sword fight, but the back and forth between past and present gives it an added edge (no pun intended).


78. Karaoke Bar Fight
Twin Dragons (1992)
Category: Fight - Prop Fight



This is gonna be a genre of fight that shows up a lot on this list, Jackie Chan vs. multiple foes while Chan using various props and items in the room to creatively defeat them. Not the best in the genre, but there is some good give and take, as well as fun use of a microphone. All around good fight scene.


77. Motorcycle Chase in Paris
Rush Hour 3 (2007)
Category: Car Chase



A rare gem to come out of Rush Hour 3 and it's technically an enjoyable little car chase sequence. It's tough to shoot like this in Paris, but to pull off a few stunts like they did, throw in some hybrid fighting, and you have a darn good action sequence.


76. Getting Maggie Back: Fight in the Loft
Police Story (1985)
Category: Fight - Multiple People



This is vintage 80's Chan. Police Story was about making a statement and this scene does it. Every punch and kick results in a dangerous and wince-inducing stunt that wouldn't be matched until Tony Jaa began throwing around his stunt team as well. This scene would rank higher on the list, but its just too short. High intensity, but just too little length.


75. Chasing After the Baby Carriage
Rob-B-Hood (2006)
Category: Car Chase



Forget the stupid title, this is vintage Jackie Chan stunt work mixed with his brand of humor. I'm sure it was ultimately safe, but I don't know how the final close call accidents weren't extremely dangerous for Chan. Another example of stunts Chan pulls off that Hollywood still hasn't been able to match.


74. Fan Fight Against Brother Bill
The Young Master (1980)
Category: Weapons Fight

You've all heard about Snake in Eagles Shadow and Drunken Master, but not many have probably heard about one of Chan's most underrated and forgotten films The Young Master. This film shows off just how intricate and meticulous Chan was at an early stage even without the likes of Yuen Woo-Ping. How long and how many takes do you think it took Chan to master some of those fan tosses?


73. Sword Fight with Rathbone
Shanghai Knights (2003)
Category: Weapons Fight
(The sword fight begins around 5 minute mark)



An extremely impressive sword fight that resists the need to become a 'Hong Kong' style sword fight. It's refreshing to see Chan keep this one more European style, and in essence, not even come out on top. However, Chan cleverly brings the scene to a conclusion.


72. Japanese Horror House Havoc
My Lucky Stars (1985)
Category: Weapons Fight



This isn't the most traditional 'Jackie' sequence and it comes from a film that barely features him at all. It looks like a typical gun and sword sequence (not typical for Hollywood), but turns into a visual treat when the different horror house rooms provide some really clever visual gags. Very inventive and not something you'd see in the filmography of just any action star.


71. Seaboat Fight
Gorgeous (1999)
Category: Fight - Multiple People

This isn't the most epic one vs. many fight Jackie has had, nor is the most technical, it's just fun to watch for me. Hard to explain, but this one has a bit of a looney tunes feel for me, with recurring gags and a kind of in one door and out of the another feel as well. To compare this fight with the more visceral gun and sword fight of the previous one is to begin to get a glimpse of the diversity that is still to come.


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Introduction
100-91
90-81
80-71
70-61
60-51

50-41
40-31

30-21
20-11
10-1

Jackie Chan's Top 100 Action Scenes: 90-81

90-81

90. Chan Takes On Iron Head the Thief
Drunken Master (1978)
Category: Fight - One on One
(The fight begins at 2:20)

This comical fight scene comes from Chan's breakthrough film Drunken Master. Although I feel the film is a bit overrated, this sequence displays some of Chan's burgeoning skills. Lots of fast foot and hand work along with a 'Bruce Lee' moment with a hammer.


89. Drunken Master vs. The Bamboo King
Drunken Master (1978)
Category: Weapon Fight

Another fight from Drunken Master see's our arrogant Chan in a beautifully staged fight featuring bo sticks and a wooden stool. In retrospect, this could be lower on the list, if it wasn't for how much I hate Chan's personality in this film. It makes the fart and poop jokes that much more distateful and just doesn't find the right tone. This is great one on one work though that would make Lau Kar-Lueng proud.

88. Draggd Behind a Hovercraft & Stopping it in the City
Rumble in the Bronx (1996)
Category: Chase/Stunt



Just an absolute stunt fest and the first action clip that really shows the difference between Chan and all his action counterparts. From huge jumps (jumping onto the hovercraft broke Chan's ankle), to skiing behind the craft, to all the ridiculous hanging on, this is just one beautiful stunt after another. I particularly love the bit where Chan gets crushed by the hovercraft and rises out fo the sand in it's aftermath, I couldn't imagine Keaton with a straighter face.

87. General Fights His Own Army to the End
The Myth (2005)
Category: Fight - Weapons Fight

The Myth was Chan's attempt at an epic period piece (like Hero) mixed with an Indiana Jones adventure story. While its clearly in the 'superhuman' realm of fighting, I think Chan is able here to pull off this one man vs. hundreds feel he is going for. Again, it's a different style of fight than Chan is exploring and his creativity comes through here as well, see how he uses his spear to send rock projectiles into the oncoming calvary. It's not perfect, but I find it inventive and effective.

86. Exploding Tanker Truck Finale
The Accidental Spy (2002)
Category: Action/Stunt/Car Chase
(It doesn't really begin until 0:15 in)

Few people could blend the different categories of action scenes like Chan can. In this epic scene here we have elements of a car chase, fight scene, and thrilling disaster piece. There's ample practical stunts, practical destruction, and it's filmed pretty well to boot. The only real negative are the clearly CGI flames on the tanker. In the end, its forgiveable for such a great real explosion in the end though.

85. Final Fight in the Museum
Rush Hour (1998)
Category: Fight - Multiple People / Stunt
(The scene begins at 7:31)

Another great hybrid action sequence from Chan. What starts out as a shootout becomes a fight and ends with parkour (not seen in the clip) and one incredible stunt. What helps this scene is that it fits really well as the finale of the film. While there are plenty of problems with the film, this finale does a good job in brining it all together and wrapping it up with action. Chan uses a gag here that he exploits in several of his fights, watch how an enemy will discover a soft spot of Chan's (in this case, the fact they don't want the vases broken) and exploits it for laughs. A very clever gag.

84. Circular Door and the Police
Shanghai Knights (2003)
Category: Fight - Multiple People
(Unable to embed compatible video but LINK is here. Video starts at 8:00)

It's such a frivolous little action beat that you may not think twice about the creativity and cleverness on display. It's only a minute and twenty seconds long, but there is a grace to every step Chan takes here; notice he slides out the door at the last second getting his hat stuck, something he finishes the scene by putting on. He would keep the same theme in the next action scene that see's him lose his jacket in the beginning and then put it on at the end. Who else puts together such a sublime piece of wackiness, grace, and wit? I think the music just underscores it perfectly.

83. Snowmobile and Helicopter Shootout
Police Story IV: First Strike (1997)
Category: Action/Chase
(All 3 videos combined only equal a little over 5 min.)







James Bond gets the Jackie treatment here in another one of Chan's shootout/fight/chase/stunt hybrid scenes. Leave it to Chan to take what is essentially a Bond ripoff (the skiing henchmen) and turn it into a self-deprecating (the silly hat is from a souvenir shop) scene of humor. See for instance Chan's ungloved hands, which remain ungloved the whole sequence, even after he takes an icy dip. Add snowboarding to his resume alongside skiing behind a hovercraft.

82. Lu Yan and Jason fight Soldiers in the Restaurant
The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
Category: Fight - Multiple People
(Unable to embed compatible video, but LINK is here)

Essentially The Forgotten Kingdom was written off because it was directed at a family audience. It's a shame because two of Chan's best action sequences came from that film, including this scene that allows Chan a few moments to really shine with a wooden bo. You get the feeling here that Chan was able to use the young boy in much the same way he integrated Tucker in his Rush Hour sequences. It's too bad it's the forgotten film, because this sequence here deserves to be remembered.


81. Chinese Village Fight w/ Sammo Hung
Around the World in 80 Days (2004)
Category: Weapons Fight - Muliple People
(Unable to embed compatible video, but LINK is here. Video starts at 4 min.)

Another forgotten and overlooked film in Chan's career, features a couple imaginative sequences by Chan. While the film is suspect, at the very least Chan was able to demonstrate a couple of exemplary scenes like the one above.


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Introduction
100-91
90-81
80-71
70-61
60-51

50-41
40-31

30-21
20-11
10-1

Jackie Chan's Top 100 Action Scenes: 100-91

100-91

100. Fighting together for the first time

Rush Hour (1998)
Category: Fight - Multiple People

(fight begins at minute 6)

Although I didn't intend this to be, I'm delighted that the first Jackie Chan film I saw lands the first action sequence on the list. It's kinda short and features several gags he's done better in other sequences, but it's still a fun sequence thats different because Chan is attempting to work Chris Tucker into the fighting, including a memorable moment when they finally click and score parallel jump-kicks. Notice how Chan uses the chairs and rugs in this scene. Very creative. In a scene that didn't make the list, Chan uses this rug gag to hilarious results in Operation Condor.

99. Helping Panther Escape from Prison

Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)
Category: Chase - Fight/Action
(sequence begins right away and ends at 5:40)

Not exactly a stunner sequence, but Jackie presents some really quick and crisp fighting that is typical of his eighties and early nineties output. Jackie is playing a cop undercover attempting to win the trust of an inmate by helping him breakout. There is a hilarious beat where after a beautiful display of kung fu Jackie remembers he has to look non-police like and hams it up with a weird pose. The sequence is topped off by an incredible slide down the side of a mountain on a rope. The stunt is great and no doubt incredibly dangerous.

98. Speed Boat Chase in Hong Kong

Twin Dragons (1992)

Category: Chase - Boat

How many great speed boat chases are there in film? Okay, I hear you John Woo and Michael Mann fans. Besides Face/Off and the Miami Vice series, Chan pulls off a fun and believable boat chase here. What separates it from your typical boat chase is that twice, the opposing boat literally comes on top of Jackie's boat, WHILE Jackie is driving and in shot! Incredible.

97. Raiding a Money Laundering Outfit

Crime Story (1993)

Category: Action/Fight

(Scene covers two videos, but only lasts about 3 min.)

Crime Story was Jackie Chan's attempt to do a 'gritty' police drama rather than the more light-hearted affairs he was doing. The results were mixed overall, but this was the best sequence to come out of the film. Chan's emphasis on 'gritty' comes across as things are less acrobatic and comedy filled than they are high-wire and brutal. The real heroes of this sequence is the Jackie Chan stunt team that takes numerous 15 foot falls that look very real and very painful.

96. Mr. Han Takes on a Gang of Kids

The Karate Kid (2010)

Category: Fight - Multiple People

(there is no video available yet for this one)

Probably the single best sequence Chan has put out since 2008's Forbidden Kingdom. It's a tricky sequence because it essentially boils down to a grown man beating up a gang of kids. They are aggressive and mean, but they are still kids. Chan gets around this by cleverly crafting the fight to where he only redirects the attacks of the kids to where they attack themselves; Chan essentially never attacks the kids himself. Very clever and creative, a small example of what is to come later in the list.

95. Cop Team is Ambushed and Strung Up

New Police Story (2004)

Category: Action - Shootout

(There is no video available)

Another attempt by Chan to return to a 'grittier' and more grounded police drama. The arrogant Jackie leads a young SWAT team into a trap set by young bank robbers. Essentially it's an ambush that features a good shootout sequence followed by some decent fighting. It's different for Jackie because the sequence see's Jackie lose his whole team as well as lose the fight with the young kung fu expert. Few action stars would take risks like this.

94. Showing Off by Fighting a Gang Member in a Temple

Dragon Lord (1982)

Category: Fight - Multiple People

(Fight begins at minute 4)

Dragon Lord (1982) came after Chan's big breakthroughs in 1978, but before he really established himself as THE superstar with 1983's Project A. Dragon Lord was a bit of a let down, as it featured most of Chan's unfortunate indulgences and little comedy or creativity. Still, it produced two scenes on the list. He's an arrogant punk in this scene trying to show off his kung fu skills in front of the ladies. It's unfortunate his character has little skills, but its a fun sequence to watch him try and take on and outwit clearly better opponents. Chan's quickness and overall flexibility really come across well in this scene.

93. Swinging a Good Horshoe

Shanghai Noon (2000)

Category: Weapon Fight

(I couldn't embed the right size video, here is the LINK to view it)

Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan are an infinitely better pairing than Chan and Tucker in the Rush Hour series in my opinion. From their first pairing comes this creative sequence where Chan creates a rope dart out of a horseshoe and a length of rope. You might argue that it's not the most incredible sequence or even that long of a sequence (I've seen much better technical use of the rope dart before), but there is just something so memorable about the way Chan uses it here.

92. Massage Parlor Scuffle

Rush Hour 2 (2001)

Category: Fight - Multiple People

It's essentially a re-mix of my #100 fight scene, but this one is definitely better. Chan gets a bigger chance to shine here, combining some great acrobatics with a couple great sequences where he fights two at a time. Chan is also able to integrate Tucker better here, it seems as though he finally was getting the hang of how to use him. I think Tucker's "You all look alike" line after punching Chan is great as well.

91. Military Hospital Fight

The Accidental Spy (2002)

Category: Prop Fight

(I couldn't embed the right size video, here is the LINK to view it)

In what was otherwise one of Chan's most forgettable films (still scored 3 scenes on this list though), this funny prop fight ranks in at 91. It starts out as an interesting, "What's he going to use next" kinda prop fight that ends in one of Chan's most hilarious bits, making genius use of a defibrillator. Again, what other action star would allow himself to be the butt of an excellent joke like that? Chan's influence by Keaton and Chaplin is evident in that joke there.

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Introduction
100-91
90-81
80-71
70-61
60-51

50-41
40-31

30-21
20-11
10-1