Another Top 10 Jackie Chan Moments

Towards the end of “City Hunter,” Jackie Chan’s character faces off against a criminal henchman named Kim. In the tussle, Jackie gets thrown into a “Street Fighter II” arcade machine, of all things, and suffers quite the shock. But it’s all good because the resulting hallucinatory fight is one for the history books: Kim takes on the look of Ken from the game, Jackie’s allies appear as Guile and Dhalsim, and Jackie himself: he’s Chun-Li. It’s a wonderful nod to “Street Fighter,” and the whole thing plays out as though it is a video game – although that makes this scene no less bizarre. Or excellent.

Jackie’s penchant for prop comedy is shown off and then some in this sequence. Jackie Chan plays a cop from Hong Kong who, while visiting New York, gets caught up in a rivalry with a gang. Jackie goes to their hideout looking for a fight, and he finds some suitable opponents, starting with gang leader Tony and then moving onto his subordinates. What’s most interesting about this fight is how Jackie uses the environment around him; whether it’s a fridge door or a footstool, the man finds a way to work it into his fighting technique.

Well, here’s a rather unexpected reference. While strolling through the streets of London in “Shanghai Knights,” Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson come to blows with a group of ruffians. Jackie draws a number of these foes away, as always using his environs to their full advantage and even fighting them off with umbrellas. But the real treat is an extended tribute to the classic Gene Kelly film “Singin’ in the Rain,” with Jackie nimbly dancing his way through some obstacles, while still remaining on the offensive. Who says shout-outs can’t be fun?

You just know that when this film was announced, millions of action movie fans across the world cheered at the thought of this matchup. Here’s the setup: an American teen finds an ancient golden staff, one that’s sought after by various groups, including Jackie Chan’s drunken scholar and Jet Li’s (almost) silent monk. Within moments, a flurry of grabs, kicks, punches, and strikes occurs as these two veteran martial artists go at it. While it’s not filled to the brim with Jackie’s usual prop comedy, the scene succeeds thanks to its effortless energy and the spectacle of watching two icons finally meet in an epic showdown.

This fight is quite the sticky situation for Jackie Chan, you might say. Bad puns aside, this sequence from the 2005 movie “The Myth” is quite possibly the film’s highlight, as Chan and his co-star Mallika Sherawat battle with some pursuers over an ancient artifact and end up at a rat paper factory as a result. Improvisation is key to the sequence, with Jackie using every tactic and every article of clothing possible in order to keep moving and fight off his foes. Equal parts amusing and clever, this is certainly a moment to remember.

We have to wonder if anyone was harmed during the filming of this sequence. It’s certainly possible, given that it starts with Jackie leaping over a group of bystanders at a roller-skating race to chase after a group of criminals. Watching him skate down a busy street is engaging enough, but engagement turns to fear – and amazement – when the chase leads Jackie to a highway. With all his near-misses and astounding dodges, it’s no surprise that everything leads into a massive pile-up.

Take a picture; it’ll last longer. While in Turkey, Jackie’s character Buck gets involved in a chase through a market. The twist here, however, is that he’s stark naked. Buck’s predicament allows Jackie to pull off some incredible fast-paced combat, though, as he must balance his attempts to defend himself against the criminals pursuing him with his effort to regain some sense of decency. Spices fly, towels are ripped away, and many people are likely left scarred for life. Still a lot of fun, though.

Talk about commitment to the art. One of the most talked-about stunts from Jackie Chan’s film “Armour of God” – and maybe his entire career – is a scene near the start of the film, where Jackie leaps from a stone wall to a tree in a bid to escape angry natives. The scene itself seems rather straightforward and relatively restrained by Jackie’s standards – except that this stunt very nearly cost the actor his life. During one take of the scene, the branch Jackie grabbed onto snapped, sending Jackie plummeting. The result was a cracked skull, a permanent hole in his head and some loss of hearing. Yikes.

“Ouch” may not be strong enough of a word here. At the very end of “Drunken Master II,” Jackie’s drunken hero Wong Fei Hung is barely holding his own against a pair of thugs. During the battle, he faces a barrage of fast kicks… one of which sends him flying onto a bed of hot coals. Nothing is quite as terrifying as watching Jackie Chan hastily crabwalk backwards across burning rocks, getting covered in soot in the process. And to think: Chan himself actually ordered a second take of this scene because he didn’t think he got it right the first time! Fortunately, with a quick swig of alcohol Jackie manages to turn the fight around.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Boxing

“Gorgeous” (1999)

- Pachinko Hall

“Thunderbolt” (1995)

- Clinging to the Ladder

“Police Story 3: Super Cop” (1992)

- Boiling Point

“Crime Story” (1993)

- Through the Glass Pane

“Police Story 2” (1988)

Out of everything we’ve seen so far, this has to be the most jaw-dropping sequence yet. At the end of “Police Story,” Jackie as a detective on the Royal Hong Kong Police Force chases down crooks in possession of a significant briefcase. The whole sequence is marvelous, as Jackie alternates between close-quarters fighting and pursuing his targets. However, what takes it from intense to outright awe-inspiring is Jackie’s decision to slide down a multi-story pole, bursting exposed lights before crashing through a pane of glass. The stunt left Jackie with second-degree burns, a back injury and a dislocated pelvis – quite the price to pay, but the resulting scene is hella impressive.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Jackie Chan moment? For more action-packed Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.