Initially one of many claimants to Bruce Lee’s throne, Jackie Chan broke through by establishing himself as Lee’s antithesis: if Lee kicked high, Chan kicked low. Chan then consolidated his position by emphasising comedy and death-defying stunts.
Drunken Master
Yuen Woo-Ping | Hong Kong | 1978 | 111 minutes
Directed by The Matrix‘s fight choreographer, Chan’s breakthrough is an irreverent portrayal of cultural hero Wong Fei-Hung.
Friday, 15 January at 8.00pm
Project A
Jackie Chan | Hong Kong | 1983 | 105 minutes
Chan and his Seven Little Fortunes cohorts Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao go up against pirates in this late 19th century-set spectacular in which the actor-director recreates various Buster Keaton/Harold Lloyd stunts.
Friday, 22 January at 8.00pm
Police Story
Jackie Chan | Hong Kong | 1985 | 99 minutes
Chan’s Hong Kong cop must clear his name after his is framed for murder by drug lords. Maggie Cheung co-stars.
Friday, 29 January at 8.00pm
City Hunter
Wong Jing | Hong Kong | 1993 | 105 minutes
Trash auteur Wong Jing directs Chan in a manga adaptation set aboard a luxury cruise liner. What more do you want? If that’s Chan as a Streetfighter character you’ve got it!
Friday, 5 February at 8.00pm
New Police Story
Benny Chan | Hong Kong/China | 2004 | 123 minutes
Chan’s hero cop leads his team into a trap from which he is the only survivor. Drowning his sorrows, he is eventually assigned a new partner who has his own secrets.
Friday, 12 February at 8.00pm