Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Jackie Chan: My Stunts shows some of the tricks of the trade that Jackie and his stunt team utilize to perform their stunts. This is not an endless gag reel of stunts gone wrong, but an in depth look at how timing and camera placement can make or break a shot. Jackie will show you what is done to enhance fights and protect the stuntmen from getting injured. Of course, if the character you are portraying is wearing shorts and a tank top, you just have to get hurt!
Jackie Chan: My Stunts is a genuinely singular documentary that offers rare insider access to the mechanics of Hong Kong action filmmaking. Jackie's demystification of stunt choreography, camera angles, and protective padding is both educational and charming, making it unlike almost any other behind-the-scenes film. The novelty is high because this level of candid, technically detailed breakdown from a living legend of physical cinema is essentially one-of-a-kind. However, as a documentary it lacks conventional narrative structure, the ending simply trails off without a strong concluding statement, and the 'plot' is more a loose series of demonstrations than a coherent story. Acting is not really applicable in the traditional sense, but Chan's on-camera personality and teaching style are warm and engaging.