E Taiwan News

After making their name in Hong Kong, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat and John Woo all made the leap to Hollywood.

But Hong Kong's top actors and directors are now either returning home for projects or seeking inspiration from their cultural roots, with some citing creative restrictions and cultural differences in the United States.

Chan has been prolific in the U.S. but he still films movies in Hong Kong. Chow is slated to appear in the upcoming Ann Hui film "My Aunt's Postmodern Life" and plans to collaborate with famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou in an adaptation of a Chinese play.

Woo is due to begin filming "Battle of Red Cliff," a joint Sino-U.S. production about an ancient Chinese battle. Li's upcoming movie "Fearless" tells the story of Chinese kung fu master Huo Yuanjia.

Chan said he's well-paid but artistically unfulfilled in Hollywood.

"I make a lot of money in the U.S., but I can't make films I like," he said during a recent interview with The Associated Press.

Chan says Hollywood movies are so costly that they seldom take creative risks, and that's why his U.S. films are so similar in genre.

Chan's Hollywood works haven't veered from the formula of interracial action comedy, a genre he's excelled in with Chris Tucker in the "Rush Hour" series and with Owen Wilson in the 2000 "Shanghai Noon" and "Shanghai Knights" in 2003.

But his Hong Kong productions are more diverse. He plays a tragic hero in "New Police Story" in 2004. Chan's new film "The Myth," tracks the journey of man who seeks his lost love from a previous life.

The same trend is seen in other Hong Kong talents who moved on to Hollywood.

Chow has reprised the role of gun-toting hero repeatedly, in U.S. movies like "The Replacement Killers" in 1998 and "The Corruptor" in 1999. But before he left for Hollywood his body of work included romance and comedy.

Chan says Hong Kong actors' roles are inherently limited because of their poor English.

"Today when our actors go to the U.S., what movies can they make? Can they appear in 'Titanic?' Could they do 'Kramer vs. Kramer'? No. No actor could do it," Chan said.

Veteran Hong Kong director Tsui Hark says Chinese actors simply aren't convincing in Western roles.

"They can't be viewed as Americans," he said.

But Tsui thinks Hong Kong's entertainers have already surpassed expectations in Hollywood.

"Be it Chow Yun-fat, Jet Li or Jackie Chan, the proportion of dialogue and drama in their movies is heavy. They use their dialogue to show their acting skills a lot," Tsui said.

Indeed, the Hong Kong actors have broken new cinematic ground, especially when it comes to interracial collaboration.

In addition to the Chan-Tucker and Chan-Wilson comedy duos, Jet Li and late pop singer Aaliyah star in "Romeo Must Die" in 2000, a modern telling of "Romeo and Juliet." He also appears in "Cradle 2 the Grave" in 2003 with hip-hop star DMX.

Chow's roles haven't all been one-dimensional. In "Anna and the King" in 1999, he played an authoritative Thai king who grew fond of his children's private tutor, played by Jodie Foster. Chow is majestic as king in a performance that matches, if not outshines, Foster.

While Chow is all guns blazing in "The Corruptor," his portrayal of a corrupt New York Chinatown police officer who handles thugs ruthlessly steals the show, overshadowing co-star Mark Wahlberg.

Chow's biggest U.S. hit by far is a kung fu movie in 2000 directed by Taiwan's Ang Lee. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" netted four Oscars and became the most popular foreign film in U.S. history.

While Hollywood's Hong Kong stars are signing up for projects back home, they aren't abandoning their U.S. careers altogether.

Chan has maintained his profile in America with a steady stream of U.S. movies. Woo's production company Lion Rock Productions is based in Los Angeles. Chow will start work on the third installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean" later this year.

Director Stanley Tong is a rarity in that he relocated back to Hong Kong after a brief stint in Hollywood, where he shot the 1997 comedy "Mr. Magoo" and the TV series "Martial Law" starring Sammo Hung.

Tong said there's no point in staying when he's absorbed all the movie knowledge he can, because he can't make authentic American movies.

While the prestige of working in Hollywood is tempting, Tong said he likes working in his own culture better.

"I don't like living abroad and I really like my own Chinese culture," he said.

i think chinese cinema has just progressed so much in the last couple of years and is getting the long overdue attention of the Western world. it's good to see that the Chinese actors haven't been just lured away by the glamour and money in Hollywood and are coming back to HK to work! can't wait to see more awesome movies from these guys!

i'd rather see chinese stars maintain their dignity and not play stereotypical roles that western audiences expect. if that means staying in asia to act, then so be it. unfortunately, tsui hark is right that american audiences can't look at a chinese actor and accept him as american.

people from hong kong will always go back to their own roots, cause that's where they all began. i wish there was more of the asian american like lucy lu who can show their talents.

i am so happy that chow yun fat is acting in chinese shows again
when they go to the states, they always cast them in these kung fu type role which doesn;t suit them at all

yea i think that their most memorable roles were always hong kong movies, i'll always remember jackie chan in his drunken master roles, jet li in the wong fei hung roles, and chow yun fat as the god of gamblers! im glad they're coming back!

Good to see that they return to hong kong, maybe they can revive the almsot dead industry over there... IMO it's not strange that they can't get the big roles in hollywood. It's just not possible with their english... it's just weird to see for example chow yun fat in Titanic. It's just not right. Like a very famous hollywood star can't play in a triad movie as the main actor etc... Still suprised that Jackie Chan does so well in hollywood. On the other hand chinese directors does have the chance... but sadly they just don't meet the expectations. John Woo only directed 2 really good movies, his work now in hollywood is just average stuff... Hopefully he will return to Hong Kong too

Good to see that they return to hong kong, maybe they can revive the almsot dead industry over there... IMO it's not strange that they can't get the big roles in hollywood. It's just not possible with their english... it's just weird to see for example chow yun fat in Titanic. It's just not right. Like a very famous hollywood star can't play in a triad movie as the main actor etc... Still suprised that Jackie Chan does so well in hollywood. On the other hand chinese directors does have the chance... but sadly they just don't meet the expectations. John Woo only directed 2 really good movies, his work now in hollywood is just average stuff... Hopefully he will return to Hong Kong too

"Chow will start work on the third installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean" later this year."

does this mean that he would be filming "Pirate Of The Caribbean II" or something? would be interestign to watch!

Agreed, great that they are returning to the entertainment industry in HK. It would be good to see them in HK movies again. But it is great that they came over to the U.S. and made names for themselves here. They helped bring HK into the picture within the US entertainment industry. Way to go!

Sorry to said , i cant deny that now days quite number of HK movie really crappy
it is better to have all the 'legendary' actors / actress / director back to HK and make HK movie

I see what they mean by that, HOME is always better, and filming under their standards would be better. But dang, it seems like there ALL going back to HK, that movie that Chow is going back to HK to film sounds like a artistic film. Got to used to seeing him with a gun or playing cards. haha

they shud not give up hollywood...but at d same time they shud also b active at home. strike a balance in this kind situations. both sides can help them in their career. then can film wat they like, as well as introduce hk films to d western world.

wats chow yun fat doing these days? i hvnt heard of him in the western or the eastern showbiz in a while

Chow yun fat is going to star in pirates of the carribbean 3. that's cool. i wonder if he is going to be a pirate.

Its good to see these actors and directors going back hme..what they have learn in USA they can bring back and educate others. Besides the top guys as some of u might have heard Tony Leung is heading to USA too...another great star in the USA..hopefully he can bring another side of acting to USA.

CC

it's just great that they had the chance to breakthrough into hollywood, it opens up a small path for later generation.

i appreciate how actors/actressess are willing to work in interiacial projects because it makes me respect them more to acknowledge that it's not just chinese with chinese, instead, it's chinese with anyone of different background--relationship/friendship wise.

I'm gald to see that HK stars that made it big in the United States still remember where they started off. I agree with your guys...no matter how well these actors are going outside their native country....their best works are their orignal works

its pretty cool how alot of white ppls accepted them into hollywood after the breakthrough.....it feels good to know that they can make it in the white world as well

hope they new movie they are making are good, i've missed those real chinese style actor. You can see their is a difference between american style and hk style.

i think its a good thing. jackie chan did new police story and i really enjoyed it

Its a good thing most of them are working back in Asia. Thats where there best movies came from.. I hope all of them make more of it. John Woo and Chow Yun Fat they were the best team in action flicks when I was younger.. Jet Li and his kung fu movies... Those were all great classics. Wouldn't it be great if John Woo makes a movie with Jet Li, Chow Yun Fat, and Jackie Chan in it. Then we can all see who is the best action star between all 3 of them.

This post has been edited by dasnataku: 30 August 2005 - 10:08 PM

o wow can't wait to see new productions from them...so excited ..hehes

i think that their most memorable roles were always hong kong movies, i'll always remember jackie chan in his drunken master roles, jet li in the wong fei hung roles, and chow yun fat as the god of gamblers! im glad they're coming back!

Hong Kong is a good place to earn big money.

i agree..all the HK actors should come back to hk cause hollywood would only give them one kind of genre.. jackie chan - comedy, jet li and chow yun fat- action...thats about it...more of a variety is given to them in HK..WAHOO

Agreed, great that they are returning to the entertainment industry in HK. It would be good to see them in HK movies again. But it is great that they came over to the U.S. and made names for themselves here. They helped bring HK into the picture within the US entertainment industry. Way to go!