Hollywood Stuntmen React To Jackie Chan
From January 17 through January 21, Neon Splatter is celebrating all things Jackie Chan. His movies, his many other projects, and his impact on film as well as film lovers. This is #JackieChanuary.
This week’s celebration of Jackie Chan has often discussed the filmmaker’s stunt work (alongside that of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team) in his many titles. They are synonymous with the multi-hyphenate threat not just due to the fact that he is the one performing them (and often getting injured by them) but due to their inventive natures. But you don’t have to take OUR word for it!
On Omar Zaki’s YouTube Channel, American stuntman Zaki watches and analyzes moments from three of Chan’s films alongside fellow Hollywood stunt performers Brett Metter and Nathan People. The trio go through scenes from POLICE STORY, RUMBLE IN THE BRONX, and FIRST STRIKE to breakdown what makes them stand out from the rest of the pack.
There is a lot to these sequences beyond the “gimmick” that Chan himself performs all of this intricate choreography (not to mention designing much of it, too). The three performers show how pacing, working with environments, athleticism, and subverting expectations unify (with many more facets) to create moments that will stay with audiences forever. As Zaki, Metter, and People point out, Chan and his stunt team don’t just put together these exquisite arrangements, but also use them to imbue the film with specific tone and character so viewers are impressed by the spectacle while becoming invested in the storyline. The fact that Chan plays the hero and will always make it out of these situations isn’t interesting—it’s how he finds his way out of these dangerous predicaments and what toll it will take on him to do so.
It’s a very entertaining analysis and discussion that also branches into Omar Zaki, Brett Metter, and Nathan People figuring out how they would attempt to create a similar scene that mirrored the same energy that Jackie Chan brings to all of his amazing stunt work.