Welcome to another in our series “Cuz It’s Good For You,” movies from the Criterion collection. This week we’re testing our fighting skills against a Jackie Chan Classic, “Police Story 2.” In researching this film, and its director/star, I came across an interesting tidbit: Jackie Chan’s father was named Fang Daolong, but his English name was Charles Chan This is true!. I never knew: Jackie Chan is the son of Charlie Chan! Can you imagine the family conversations they must have had?
“Dad, I . . . I don’t want to be a famous detective based on a Chinese stereotype. I want to be an actor and a singer!”
“WHAT?! No son of mine is going to be an actor! In this house, we speak in fortune-cookie aphorisms in slightly broken English! The way God intended! You’ll join your brothers and sisters in the Chan Van and start solving mysteries immediately!”
“Dammit, Dad! I’m not you! I’m actually Chinese! You’ve only been portrayed by Japanese, Korean, or Caucasian actors!”
“Ha! A lot you know! What about Xu Xinyuan? He portrayed me in five films!”
“Yeah, but they were all produced in Shanghai and Hong Kong! No one outside of those places saw them! And what about Manuel Arbó?!”
“ . . . how DARE you say that name in this house . . .?!”
“ Manuel Arbó! Manuel Arbó! He played you in 1955 . . .” *SLAP*
“Oh God, son, I didn’t . . . I’m sorry . . . I can’t believe I . . .”
“It’s ok, Dad, it’s ok. I have a supernaturally high pain threshold. Look, this is who I am. I never wanted to hurt or disappoint you. I hope you can accept that someday. I’ll just leave through this plate glass window.” [sound of glass shattering]
“Jackie . . . son . . .”
*Sniff* . . . I hope those two will work it out over time . . .I hope so . . . I hope they’ll be ok . . .”
What? Oh right, like you’ve never created an entire head-canon about Jackie Chan’s relationship with a fictional character who shares his father’s name? I’M the weirdo, huh? Well, anyway, I think Jackie’s dad would be proud to see the kind of honest, surveillance-expert, bomb-defusing cop Jackie becomes in this week’s movie. And even more so in the “Police Story 3” when he’s promoted to Super Cop! Give a listen!
Poll question: what is your favorite martial arts movie, if any? Leave a comment or call our full-contact Hotline 617-398-7266 and leave an ass-kicking message!
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There was a martial arts movie I saw a few times at a cinema in Boston’s Chinatown area I just loved… don’t know the name or remember anything about it except the scene where the mean soldiers invaded a small village and the villagers fought back, including the old grandmother and an infant less than a year old that leaped from its pram and flying-kicked the soldiers. Other than that, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon really captured me even though I had seen similar films; the higher budget and Michelle Yeoh took a real star turn when she made it.
Speaking of Madame Yeoh, Mike will have another thing to be ambiguous about. I know I am! She is in a new series called “Blade Runner: 2099” and sure, I’ll watch it, but I have a bad feeling about this.
Hmmm. The only martial arts movie involving a fighting baby that comes to mind is a parody called “Kung Pow: Way of the Fist.” I think it also involves a cow doing Kung Fu. Of course, there are probably others. Thanks, Vince, Master of The Penguin Style!