The Legend of Drunken Master
© James C. Hess
Of course, given he was a global success before he came to Hollywood has much to do with this.
And if one wants to see where this global success came from look no further than his movie "The Legend of Drunken Master", which is an absolute delight. Perfectly executed, amazingly intricate, and just plain !WOW!
"The Legend of Drunken Master" was made in 1994 but has not seen a North American release until now. Better late than never, because of all the films and movies he has made (70-plus, and counting) this is one of his best to date.
First, though, answers to the criticism of Chan's work:
Yes, there isn't much a plot to Chan's films and movies. But if one wants plot (and a message) go see the latest from Steven Seagal.
Yes, the characters are at best two-dimensional. But when one goes to see a Jackie Chan film or movie characters are not the main interest. The action created, performed, and executed by Chan is.
Yes, there is a lot of violence in a Jackie Chan feature. But unlike the violence found in pure Hollywood efforts, which is deliberately cruel and intentionally nihilistic, the violence in a Jackie Chan work is innocent, harmless. The sort of thing one would find in a three-ring circus.
Or, more importantly, more honestly, a Buster Keaton film or movie, which is what Chan, at his basics, is: The heir apparent to the mantle of Keaton.
Which goes to explain why Chan's martial arts films and movies appeal to such a large audience: His work is broad humor in the tradition of the masters: Keaton, Lloyd, Chaplin.
Yes, there are countless fight sequences in a Chan flick. But these sequences exist not for people to see people get hit and hurt, but to see how Chan physically coordinates and executes them. They are, in essence, the human equivalent of a Rube Goldberg construction.
Yes, there are special effects present, and special effects are not found in pure martial arts cinema. But it is, in large part, because of the special effects that Chan appeals to so many: When Sly Stallone falls three stories through a plate glass window odds are it isn't Stallone. When Chan falls through a plate glass window and lands on flames it IS Chan. And if you need further proof, watch the out-takes at the end of the movie (a Chan trademark) and see Chan, doing the same scene over and over, getting burns and scars for his efforts.
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