Jackie Chan Archives | Otaku No Culture

Fans of Chan Can Find Unexpected Family (过家家) Delivering A Different Side of Him to Cry For

Jackie Chan trades swagger for vulnerability in Unexpected Family, a warm slice-of-life drama where mistaken identity becomes a lifeline. As an elderly man’s memory fades and a stranger slips into the role of “son,” the film finds its power in small moments, quiet grief, and the kind of belonging people build when they need each other most.

Chinese Family Jackie Chan Poster Jackie Chan isn’t quite his usual self in Li Taiyan’s quietly charming story about an Unexpected Family coming together. Ren Jiqing (Chan) is losing his memories due to age. He is often unsure who is whom, and seeing him not rise to the occasion, instead playing a befuddled role, is rather amazing. Instead of turning on the charm, he has to dial back the athleticism we know him for.

It’s easy to sympathize with him when Bufan (Peng Yuchang) drifts into town looking for work, only to be mistaken for the old man’s estranged son, Zhuangzhuang. There’s gentle humour woven into this slice-of-life drama, released during Chinese New Year. The festive backdrop contrasts the passage of time as we watch Jiqing slowly deteriorate. It’s heartbreaking, and even when I caught myself thinking, “oh, he knows,” what follows still had me reaching for the tissue box.

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In This Sequel Involving The Magical Tribe, Jackie Chan’s Back For More Panda Plans

Jackie Chan returns to protect Hu Hu in Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe, blending martial arts comedy with adventure spectacle as a lost civilization enters the fray.

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Panda Plan is returning for a sequel, and Jackie Chan is ready to kick up more hijinks protecting Hu Hu from a lost civilization that believes this creature can save them from disaster. Thus begins Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe. The film hits theatres March 13, 2026, and pandemonium is sure to ensue. Between more martial arts chaos and perhaps a message nestled underneath, fans of this charming partnership between man and animal should be pleased.

As for how many years have elapsed since the last film, it’s safe to say not much time has passed. Chan is still playing a fictionalized version of himself, once again recruited to safeguard this massive, cute, and cuddly panda. My review of the first film can be read here. This latest instalment hints at a more Indiana Jones-styled adventure. Although CGI is required to deliver some of the panda’s performances, that’s the only real suspension of disbelief needed.

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Where’s “The” Instead of “A Legend” Hiding in Stanley Tong’s Latest Action-Comedy-Adventure?

When there’s “A Legend” in the making, maybe the word “Chinese” needs to be added, in order to be recognized.

Box Art - A Legend Starring Jackie Chan — **Available to pre-order on Amazon USA**

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Minor Spoiler Alert

Chinese filmmaker Stanley Tong may well be running on fumes when it comes to coming up with fresh ideas. While there are minor elements to like in A Legend, which has been out for a while now and is finally available in North America, the people on the Internet have already spoken–this director relied on too much CGI tomfoolery to finish this movie. He really should have done a casting call to find a young-looking person who almost looks like Jackie Chan instead of relying on computers to de-age the actor.

Not only is most of the digital set design apparent in higher resolutions, but also pixels covered most of Jackie Chan’s screen time! As General Zhao Zihan in the flashbacks, he is 30 something years old rather than 70. We see this younger incarnation enjoying a moment in the grassy foothills of Central China, with Huajun (Lay Zhang) before a lady in distress arrives!

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That’s No Kung Fu “Panda Plan” When Jackie Chan is Involved. At Least the Fun is Amped Up!

When Jackie Chan has a Panda Plan, that’s all fans need to know with this movie now playing at select theatres near you.

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Quite often, the roles Jackie Chan plays are not unique. He hasn’t played some notorious gangster or a bad guy yet. As far as I know, he’s been a random thug, but these were uncredited roles. In his latest, Panda Plan (熊猫计划), he’s simply being himself much like in the cartoon, Jackie Chan Adventures. Since it really is this animated series brought to real life, minus the grandfather and kid side-kick. The only difference is that in this toon, he’s an archaeologist with connections with a secret agency and in this film, he’s an actor/stuntman. Although most of the scenes with the cub are CGI, I bought into the illusion since to have a real one on set would bring out the activists.

The humour is classic; the stunts are over the top, and the situations he ends up in are gonzo! Hu Hu is the star of a local zoo and this cutie pie steals the show (even though most of the scenes are digital). His caretaker is Xiao Zhu (Shi Ce) and although she doesn’t quite get the screen time she deserves, thankfully she isn’t forgotten.

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Jackie Chan’s Ride On, Back in the Saddle Again

For anyone who missed this gem in the theatres, Jackie Chan’s Ride On is now available on home video!

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Available to order on Amazon

Out of all the films Jackie Chan has appeared in this decade, Ride On is simply the best! It’s a very heartwarming family style film that will certainly tug at the heartstrings, and for horse lovers, to learn about everything that went on during production to keep Red Hare safe will have many smiling.

Usually those disclaimers regarding animal handling are added at the end credits without some added thought. And to observe what was done to ensure safety will have some admire this film even more. Some of that discourse from this movie regarding safety versus getting in harm’s way is discussed, and to see how it’s handled is simply amazing. The credit really goes to the CGI experts who remove the trainers in green screen tights during filming. Sometimes, the cinematic background gets very busy, so to find the balance between editing and digitally removing requires careful syncing so nothing is hidden with motion blur.

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When Jackie Chan’s Team-up In Hidden Strike Is No Rush Hour

Not all action-star pairings can work, and Hidden Strike demonstrates why producing a spec script can be problematical when the stars aren’t always on board.

Jackie Chan ‘s films are often entertaining, but in Project X-traction (aka Hidden Strike on Netflix), the movie struggles to make it to first base. I was hardly excited to wonder if this star can make it to second. After his home run with Ride On, his next film can barely get out of the gate.

This action thriller where he meets John Cena appeared on my Netflix recommendation list and I wished it didn’t. That’s because despite some high octane action, not even this former wrestler can steal the show. He has a lot more better moments than Chan, and that’s not saying much. Here, this lead is supposed to be in charge! Instead, he’s just a commander of a rescue team sent to free Chinese workers from an oil refinery in the Middle East. It’s under attack, and although that extraction was successful, getting out of the region will prove difficult. Luo’s team (Chan) he has to blaze through The Highway of Death and it was too Mad Max for me. Continue reading “When Jackie Chan’s Team-up In Hidden Strike Is No Rush Hour”