Jackie Chan met the press two months before the release of Rush Hour 2 because it was
the last weekend he had free for the next year! Immediately following this
interview, he flew back to Hong Kong to begin his next film, Highbinders,
the first of four back-to-back productions in which Chan will star.
Rush Hour 2, opening August 3, brings back Chan's character Detective
Lee, working with Agent Carter (Chris Tucker) to solve another mystery. This one
takes them from Hong Kong to Las Vegas and features more lengthy Hong Kong style
fight scenes than its predecessor.
Chan entered the press room wearing a suit from his own Blanc de Chine
clothing line and took questions about the sequel, the controversial Drunken
Master III and his future projects.
When did you know there would be a sequel to Rush Hour?
I knew
there was a sequel going on after part one finished. I don't think part one was
a success. When I look at the film, [compared to] others, I don't like it. Just
different. I am from Asia. I only know Asia. Rush Hour in Asia isn't a
success compared to my old Jackie Chan films, not funny, the action not good.
For myself I look at it and see another Big Brawl [from] 20 years ago.
Then just boom, a big hit and I just don't know what happened. Then I realized
oh, that's a very typical American film, very local. The dialogue was "What's up
Nigger?" In Asia the whole theater - huh? In the United States - Ha Ha,
everybody clap. From that time I know I have to make two kinds of films, one
film for American market and one film for my own market. My own market has been
watching Jackie Chan films so many years.
Did they let you do more of your Hong Kong style fighting than on the
first Rush Hour?
Yes. Now because in the last couple years, with the
new directors, the new generation, they really like Asian films. And also the
way they make them is almost like Asian. They are not prepared on the set. Not
like the old days when everything was scheduled. Now no. I design the fighting
on the set just hurry, hurry up. I can change everything when I want. This is
not like the old days with two months of rehearsal and you have to show
everybody. And on the set you have to do exactly what you did. Now I can change
everything.
Is it easier to work in English now?
Yes, much, much easier. Before it
would drive me crazy that we couldn't change the dialogue. Now I can change the
dialogue. If I cannot speak - Chris you speak. Anything. Okay, let me speak this
one, that's the easy one. "I'm the detective from Hong Kong, he's the detective
from U.S." If it's difficult I let him say it. I just say the easy things. Brett
Ratner is more Asian in style now. He's changing. He's very flexible.
How is he Asian?
Before I could only star. I could not do this, I
could not do that. Now on the set I can watch the camera and tell the cameraman
how to move this shot. Because you are talking about action. I'm the best - at
least on the set. I tell you how to move one, two, three, bang. Before I just
sit there and the stunt coordinator teaches me how to punch. I had to follow
them. Right now it's more flexible.
How is your relationship with Chris Tucker evolving?
Good. With this movie we were becoming buddies. For part one I didn't really
know him and I was hiding from him. When he came to talk to me I would just hide
from him because I didn't know what he was saying and I had to respond. But my
English is not good enough so how could I respond? So, I'd hide in my motor home
and only see him on the set. Slowly we would get to know each other on the
promoting tours. In Japan, Hong Kong and Korea we stay together, we ate together
and became good friends. Now we are buddies.
He's getting top billing on some of the posters and trailers for Rush
Hour 2. How did they talk you into accepting that?
With Rush Hour 1, I was the leading actor but for Part Two, they
suggested Chris Tucker have leading too. Half of 5,000 posters Jackie first,
5,000 posters Chris first. Then I said okay. For me that really doesn't matter.
As long as we are becoming buddies. For the first one - no. Now, yes. It really
doesn't matter who is leading. Most important is if the movie is a success. All
those years I don't just care about the name. The audience knows what happens.
Do you like this film better than the first?
Definitely I like it better than the first one but still I say that's an
American film. That's an American film, I have to go back and make an Asian
film. Now, getting more and more like Asian.
Speaking of your Asian films, is it true you were temporarily paralyzed on
the set of The Accidental Spy?
Paralyzed? I do get hurt on every movie and I almost
get used to it but not paralyzed.
So, is the hole in your skull still the worst injury? Yeah, there's
holes. So many I can't remember.
Did you get injured on Rush Hour 2? On the bamboo scene, yes.
They made the bamboo scene raining and every time we had to whack the bamboo. It
was slippery.
Speaking of sequels, I saw Drunken Master III... Two!
Drunken Master II is excellent but somebody made a part three
without you that's horrible. How did they get away with it?
I never mention
there is a Drunken Master III because it's the same director. He
originally made Drunken Master II. Later on, because the movie is a
donation for the Stuntman's Association, a committee looked at the film,
[thought it was] terrible and fired the director. So I directed the whole thing.
We cut out about 5,000 feet, we re-shot all the things. Then as soon as he got
fired, he got angry, he go out, "I want to make Drunken Master III. I
want to show you what is Drunken Master III." He was angry about the
stunt unit and he made part three.
How are you balancing all the movies on your schedule for the next year?
Highbinders is a friend of mine who wants to get into the film
business and he called me up. I said if I have time I'll do it. Before I made
the Rush Hour film, he said, "There is a strike going on, right?" I said,
"Maybe, yes." "Okay, while the strike's going on, we have a few months holiday,
we do Highbinders." Then I promised him. Now it looks like the strike is
not going to happen but I already promised him and they are in production
already. Tuxedo I promised to start September the first so my friend
knows that we will just film until I go start Tuxedo. Then the whole crew
stops and goes back to Hong Kong until Christmas. I get ten days holiday from
Tuxedo and I'll go back to film Highbinders. Then I'm coming back. I
have to finish as soon as possible Tuxedo. If I don't have time to go
back, I start Shanghai Knight right away. Sometime between then, I go
back to finish Highbinders. Then June we start Bellboy. We are not
talking about coming back to promote the film and the junkets. We are not
talking about going back to China to help the charity things. When I look at my
schedule, there's not one day to rest. Highbinders, seven days a week,
nonstop because they know any time an American production calls me, I have to
go. I'm happy but I wouldn't mind having a vacation right now.
Tell us about The Tuxedo.
It's an American film. Dreamworks. Spielberg, he asked me to direct and I
don't like. I said, "Why don't you direct?" He said, "No, I'm producer." I said
okay. We found a director. Kevin Donnovan who is starting in September 1st until
February the 4th. Tuxedo is what I want. More acting with a little
special effects, with my own action and more acting, drama, because I don't want
to be an action star. An action star, their life is so short. I want my life to
get longer. I want my career to be longer.
What is the story of Tuxedo?
They won't let me say much. I'm a taxi driver and I help somebody and he was
a spy. He was in a coma in the hospital and I go back to his house to help him
get some things like a toothbrush and underwear. Then I find the tuxedo and the
story begins.
Besides Spielberg, are there any other people you hope to work with?
Stallone. He's been my hero for a long time. I admire him because he wrote
the script, he directs, he acts and he does everything. I admire people who have
talent and it's not just that you are handsome. Handsome, there are too many
handsome men and pretty girls every year. Talent keeps your career forever. I
tried to make a movie with Stallone for so many years but he still changes the
script right now. He wanted to do Rambo IV. He wanted me to be a drug
dealer. But a good bad guy. Before bad, but later on becoming a good guy. But
all my fans wrote me letters no, you cannot be a drug dealer. So I know I cannot
do a drug dealer.
What will be the story of Shanghai Knight?
I start from China again, my sister and father have some problems. You know,
all the scripts always I'm from China, I'm from Hong Kong. I cannot be born in
the U.S, my English. Not like Big Brawl 20 years ago, I'm ABC, American
Born Chinese. My kind of English, how can I? Wrong script. Now, they have to
[say] I'm from China. My sister comes to Carson City, looking for me to help my
father. Then I know Owen Wilson in New York. I have to go to New York. I thought
he was rich but he's just cheating people. I'm helping him and then we take the
boat to England and to Ireland and then we start the story. It's a fun story.
Check back with Action/Adventure Movies all month for more Rush Hour 2
interviews including Chris Tucker, Zhang Ziyi and director Brett Ratner.
