In the documentary, Jackie Chan: My Stunts there's a segment showing some behind-the-scenes work on the 1998 film, Who Am I?, where Jackie fights Ron Smoorenberg. The footage is fascinating in that it shows the always amiable Jackie Chan getting legitimately annoyed. The problem? Real-life martial artist Smoorenberg wasn't executing his moves to Jackie's satisfaction and the scene had to be shot over and over again. The scene struck me for two reasons. The action excellence that Jackie Chan has dished out film after film is far from effortless and that a high calibre martial artist like Smoorenberg could have such trouble "catching up" illustrates just how high the bar has been raised. In a way, Jackie Chan has ruined nearly every movie action sequence since the mid-80s since nothing can really compare. It makes me wonder what Jackie would do if, instead of shooting the scene with Ron Smoorenberg, he was working with Uma Thurman.
I like Kill Bill Volume 1. I like it a whole bunch. But it really forces the issue of how much you can fake your way into making regular people into action superstars. There is no doubt in my mind that upon hearing this argument, Quentin Tarantino would bring up Jimmy Wang Yu, kung fu movie superstar of the 70s who never took a single martial arts class in his life. The difference as I see it is that Wang Yu had different goals for his fight scenes. Yes, he wanted them to be satisfying, exciting and filled with drama, but not necessarily jaw-dropping on their own. When you're watching the finale of Master of the Flying Guillotine, as wonderful as it is, the rush of it comes from the strategy unfolding against the seemingly invincible blind master. You're simply not saying "Oh my god, let me hit rewind so I can see that flurry of action again." In watching the "Showdown at the House of Blue Leaves" in KB1, I can't help but think that's exactly what Quentin wants us to say. It feels like a desperate attempt to make a "classic" fight sequence. During the battle between the Bride and Go Go (Quentin's admitted favorite part in the film) there's no music, which really makes the audience focus on the fight itself. The problem is simply that Ms. Thurman doesn't have the goods (and, with the exception of Gordan Liu, nor do most of the other actors in the film). The result is a lots of quick cuts, which cheat the action. Mind you, this is a Hollywood technique that is becoming more and more common every day, but I was still surprised to see Quentin resort to it so wholeheartedly.
I'm not saying the solution is easy. Yeah, he could have rewritten it for Michelle Yeoh, but although that might solve your action problem, it would completely change the demographic of the audience. Michelle isn't the name Uma is and isn't the babe Uma is. Am I saying that the part should have been changed to a male? Of course not. The story is what it is (and it's a fun, well-told story at that) and rewrites that change the gender of your lead (something I've had to do myself) tend to gut out a lot of why you wrote the thing in the first place. In fact, it's almost a smart move to make your lead in a kung fu/samurai movie a babe. In an age where society embraces endless lies about Title IX, the public kind of wants to see empowered, butt-kicking, girl power in full effect - even if the action is essentailly all the result of smoke and mirrors.
I haven't seen Volume 2 yet, but it should be better (again, I really like Volume One and this entry is just about going off on a very specific problem) because there will be less fighting. And I never thought I'd hear myself say that.
THE SECOND COMING OF JC
In summaries of some of the bigger film festivals last fall, you may have read about the new movie Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. The reviews have been very good, and the action on a level where people can't help but compare it to the Hong Kong films of Jackie Chan. Although that obviously sounds hyperbolic, it's mostly true. Above, I insisted that the action in Kill Bill Volume 1 doesn't deliver the goods. Ong Bak is a relentless goods delivering machine. Let's be honest, this movie wouldn't exist without Jackie and his influence is clearly felt. But there's a huge difference between wanting to make a film like Mr. Chan and being skilled enough to do so. Phanom Yeerum is amazing. Period. He's come out of nowhere, and, right out of the gate, he's one of the best action stars going. If no one has coined the phrase "Phanom the phenom," let me be the first.
I feel the need to respond to the reviews which implied that the story was tired. I disagree. It's about a village where the head of their sacred statue has been stolen. Ting, the young heroic peasant, goes after it and, while trying to retrieve it, gets involved in an underground fighting ring. That isn't a plot I've seen over and over. It's sort of The Bicycle Thief meets Bloodsport. If it were about a martial artist trying to get revenge against the guy who killed his master, then you'd have something. The story is simple, which is fine. I've kind of had enough of Joel Silver action movies that have nineteen double crosses at the end.
In comparing any film to one by Jackie Chan, two elements have to be discussed: Stunts/Chases and Fight Scenes. The chases and stunts do fall short to those of JC, at least to the ones he generated once he reached his peak (where he stayed for years and years). Dont' get me wrong, they are a joy to watch. Ting jumps over cars and through spaces in a way that makes your jaw drop. These are all long takes and you can't believe he's doing what he's doing. Although they are filled with the same amazing raw elements as those in Jackie movies, they don't have the artful, lyrical elegance that Jackie has developed. But again, I'm talking about Jackie as his peak. These chases are much better than anything in Jackie's pre Drunken Master 1 stuff.
The fights? It's too soon to honestly judge, but I think they may be as good as Jackie's best. Part of the reason I'm hestiant to make a definitive comparison is that this is the first time we've seen Phanom Yeerum. He uses a full-on Muay Thai style, which is a completely different fighting pallette than what most kung fu movie junkies are used to seeing. It's filled with elbows and knees and acrobatic jumps and kicks. I wonder if it's "freshness" might make it unfair to compare it to Jackie's films right now. We've been seeing Jackie fights for decades and he's still managed to make them wonderful and exciting even if similar moves (kick high, spin around, kick low and knock the guy over) are employed with regularity. I think only after five or ten more Phanom Yeerum flicks will his fight scenes reveal their genuine excellence.
The big question I have is what is Phanom Yeerum doing next? I haven't heard anything, which is shocking. The obvious project would be something with Jackie Chan. How about some period story where Phanom chases pirates to Hong Kong? Can anyone say Project A, Part III?
