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The Forbidden Kingdom

 

Jackie Chan Interview

- I know you can be very critical of your own work.  So are you pleased with the way this has turned out? Is it as you imagined it?

(Jackie Chan) I dunno. Every time I make American film I just trust American director and American writer. Myself, I would never make this kind of film. For me, those kind of films are ridiculous. They don't make sense. But, turning to...(Laughs.) Ha, ha, ha. But the American way, for American Audience is more interested in this kind of movie.

- I'm surprised, because it feels like you with the drunken fist scene and stuff. Which part did you think didn't make sense?

(Jackie Chan) No, the whole thing. (Laughs.) Why drunken master? Monkey king? All kind of things, but at the end, it's the children, there is a young boy in New York who loves, just like the writer, he loves American culture. It's a fantasy like a fairy tale. It's OK.  Otherwise, I won't make this movie, because I know that American people like it. American audiences, even he like it. The Asian like it. So, that's why Jet and me agree to make this movie. Now, I hear so many good things about this movie and everybody talk about it, I still worry. Just like 'Rush Hour' one. After I finished 'Rush Hour' one I said, 'My career finished.' A second time I try to get in American market and now I'm finished.  I go back to Asia and that's all. Then 'Boom!' big hit. This is ridiculous. Why, why, do people like these kinds of things?  Then 'Rush Hour 2,' da da da da da da. So, now, whenever  American writer or director come and present a script, nobody against it, for American market, yeah.

- You are in your 50s now.  What kind of adjustments have you had to make with your martial arts at your age?

(Jackie Chan) I think the last six or five years that you can tell I have changed my style. Right after, I dunno, 'Around the World in 80 Days' and then I go back to make 'New Police Story,' 'The Myth,' 'Rob B Hood,' 'Rush Hour 3' and "Forbidden Kingdom" Right after "Forbidden Kingdom"I just finished a movie called 'The Shinjuku Incident.' It's just totally, one percent action, heavy, heavy drama. The next one will be big action! Then maybe a love story. I want to change. I want to be a real actor. Not just action style. I am the myth.  Jackie Chan is a myth. I am still survival right now. More than 30 years. I am the only one.  How long cannot I keep fighting? So this is why I have to change, change, change. I have encouraged a director for my next film, it's a good idea for him. He been working on, not a new idea, it's about Chinese culture and combined with European (American). More those kind of situations.  I'm not like I used to be like 'Drunken Master 3' or '4.' No, I'm tired. (Laughs.)

- Happy birthday to you. Wanted to ask you about the wig. Did it cause any problems?

(Jackie Chan) Yes, especially when shooting time was so hot in the desert.  It's so itching. And probably for a young girl they are used to it. I always like. Very slowly just do this (twirls fake hair with his fingers). So itching! But there were things, the old guy, the old hawk.  Wow. I wanted to kill the director. (Laughs.) For five days I get a phone call in the morning. Makeup until 12:30.  After lunch first shot. Two shots, wrap. I said, 'No, shoot more.' Take off all the makeup for two hours. Everyday? Almost 11 hours in makeup.

- I grew up with your movies and - you guys used to be student. Now master? How is that feeling?

(Jackie Chan) I just don't believe it's so quick, now, that I'm becoming a master. Then I realize, 'Wow, 'Drunken Monkey' was 30 years ago.' My master has already passed away. Now, I am the master. Feel funny. But, yeah, what can you do? That's a human being life.

- Heard you got hurt quite a bit. Safer to do 'Kung Fu Panda?

(Jackie Chan) Kung Fu what? (Laughs.) Yes.

- Did you like that?

(Jackie Chan) Yes. I forget. Making a Hollywood film you don't have a very big movie. Because they have a Safety Captain, insurance people on the set. They have to check first. 'Don't do it. Lemme check. Make sure everything is safety.' And I really think that John, the director and also, Disney and DreamWorks they are making Chinese culture movies like 'Mulan,' 'Forbidden Kingdom,' 'Kung Fu Panda.' All those years, I always think, 'Whenever the Western people make anything we know, 'Superman,' yeah we know. 'Spider-Man,' well we know. Whenever you make 'King Arthur,' we know.' But whenever we try to make something Chinese culture overseas, nobody knows. But if I make (don't understand the Chinese) nobody knows.

When we make Chang Dynasty, who is Chang? When we make some very famous Chinese story, nobody knows. Even Mulan, Disney makes 'Mulan' and now the whole world knows Mulan. So, we need American famous director or non-famous director or famous studio to help us make some Chinese traditional culture movie. The history brings you to wall. Then the people more understand China. More understand china, then more people will have interest in China and more people will come to China to visit us because I am a tourist ambassador. (Laughs.) Really, thank you. Really, thank you. Please write more Chinese things, yes.

- What was the first movie you wanted to make with Jet Li? You said you didn't want to make this one you wanted to make another one.

(Jackie Chan) 15 years ago I write a script with him and the script was very interesting. Listen, and I am the bad good guy, he is the cop. He had to catch me around from bottom of Russia all the way back to Beijing Between something happen even the police looking for Jet Li, the bad guy looking for Jet Li then the police looking for me. And then Jet Li couldn't catch me, I had to get rid of him. And we cannot take the plane, we cannot take the train, we cannot take anything. No transportation. We have to walk on the mountains, cross the river. Different reasons of Chinese. Different dialects. There is a lot of comedy going on. Lots of travel going on. Lots of great action.

- What's going on with that?

(Jackie Chan) When I present the script to American writer, he doesn't like it. (Laughs.) The company had spent another million for him to rewrite the script. After he write the script, I don't like it. And he writes the script it's two brothers. Somehow I don't know he's my brother, somehow I know he's my brother.  The two of us... he just want money. Don't pay me the script copyright. So, this is why it doesn't happen. And I think also, we don't have the middle guy. Every time I see Jet it's like, 'Let's do it when' And he's like, 'Yeah, let's do it!'  And then 'Dead, boom, gone.' Because this time it happened, because Casey, in the middle, all those years, every ten days he give me a call. The script, 'No, it's not done.' 'Jet, sent him the script.' He was the one flying back and forth, back and forth. Then, it makes the whole thing happen.  Thank you.

- Old classic favorites?

(Jackie Chan) Classic movies? 'Drunken Master.'  (Laughs.) Director Woo Shanu, 'King Hu.' Shan Nu. (?) 'Dragon Inn' and 'A Touch of Zen.' 'Young Master.' 'Police Story.' (Laughs.) 'Rush Hour.'

- I have a question for Jackie.  Hello? (Laughs.)

(Jackie Chan) I have been taking care of all this. I make sure everyone is looping.

- You guys know each other along time, but you guys have a different background. He is a different style of martial arts. How were the action sequences working with him? Everyone was anticipating you guys fighting each other on screen and it's very 'wow,' but what was it like behind-the-scenes?

(Jackie Chan) Behind-the-scenes? I just remember first day we are on the set, Woo-ping and the stunt coordinators had choreographed an action sequence and Jet and I going to take a look.  And two stunt guys was doing a demonstration. And I'm standing there with Woo. 'Y'know, I am a fast learner. I have been doing this action for so many years. I just look at once, just show me one more time.' And then I say, 'Let's shoot without rehearsal.' And then I look at Jet and Jet Li's like, 'OK, let's shoot.' Then, I suppose - just to make fun of him - and all the cameramen were like, 'What? No rehearsal. OK, let's do it.'  After first cut, the director and Woo-ping come up and say, 'Good, but can you guys slow down?' Because, he wanted to show off quick, I wanted to show off quick. I wanted quicker! Then the director [says] 'New technology.' We had to slow down a bit and then we slow down. Fighting with him is a very, very comfortable. Comfortable is not like some action villain. They just don't know how to fight. It's 'Ow' and it gets you hurt. And it just doesn't look good. I have never fought so many other actors and villains, and it's boom and it - good, those kind of rhythm. Wow. I think because I'm good, it makes him comfortable. (Laughs.)

- You mentioned the Olympics before.  This week has not been the best PR week for China. Will you be in Beijing? How would you like people to be able to see the Olympics?

(Jackie Chan) I am the Olympic Ambassador. I always promote Olympics. I just want to tell, Olympics is Olympics. Cannot mix with politics. Olympics for me is love, peace, united. Every for years is Olympics no matter what country.  Every country when they have Olympics a lot of people come out opposed. Like, LA, same. Russia, same. Some other, same. But this year everyone is just concentrated on China. It just doesn't happen in China, it happens everywhere. I just want to say, please, understand, they are just some naughty boys. They are doing it for no reason. They just want to show up on TV. They know if I can get the torch then I can go on the TV for the news. That's the wrong things. They misunderstand. And like I said before, more making Chinese films, more tourists come to China and watch the Olympics and welcome.  I am standing in the airport and bowing. Welcome, welcome, ]welcome.

- How did it feel to do 'Drunken Fist' after all these years?

(Jackie Chan) Sometimes, I'm very embarrassed. I have to do it again. Again and again. I said, 'Why does everyone have to see me?' Like I said before, when the people know Jackie Man movie, 'Oh, 'Drunken Master!' Especially in the west, even Brett Ratner, 'Rush Hour 3,' there is one scene where I get drunk and get in a fight with a drunken master and I said, 'No! Why does everybody want me to fight drunken master?' But this movie, at the beginning I refuse. But later on, later on, I find out, 'Ok, it's a purist movie. And the young boy, love it. That's OK.' Not any more. Not any more.

- I think it's because it looks so special. Unlike anything else. That's why we like it.

(Jackie Chan) Really? OK. That depends. The box-office. If the box office is good, the next one will be 'Forbidden Drunken Master.'

-On whether there is a sequel?

Yeah, just like 'Rush Hour' Boom!  'Rush Hour 2,' then 'Rush Hour 3.' Now,'Rush Hour 4.' I mean, 'Shanghai Noon' and 'Shanghai Knights.' 'Shanghai Dawn!'  'Forbidden Kingdom,' 'Forbidden' what?  'Return to Forbidden Kingdom.'