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List Price: $6.99 | | Publisher: Ballantine Books
Salesrank: 235216
Released: June 28, 1999 |
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| Used Price: $0.50 |
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| Media: Mass Market Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
As one of the biggest stars to burst into U.S. theaters, Jackie Chan has wowed audiences with death-defying stunts. But who really is this lightning-fast Charlie Chaplin of martial arts moviemaking? Now, in I Am Jackie Chan, he tells the fascinating, harrowing, ultimately triumphant story of his life: How the rebellious son of refugees in tumultuous 1950s Hong Kong became the disciplined disciple of a Chinese Opera Master. How the dying art of Chinese opera led Jackie to the movie business. And how he broke into Hollywood big time by breaking almost every bone in his body.
Description of I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action:
Since his first role in 1962 at the age of 8, Jackie Chan has appeared in more than 70 movies. For more than 20 years, he has been the biggest star in Asia, but in the West he remained a secret, his movies passed around on tape and his fame growing by word of mouth alone. In the '90s, with the success of crossover movies like Rush Hour and the support of a new generation of filmmakers who grew up watching Jackie Chan videotapes, his star finally rose in the West. But where did he come from, and how did he achieve so much?
His autobiography, I Am Jackie Chan, answers those questions in an engaging, almost novelistic style. When his father moves to Australia to take up a new job, the young Jackie is placed in Hong Kong's China Drama Academy under the tutelage of Master Yu Jim-yuen. For the next 10 years he is trained in martial arts, dance, acrobatics, singing, and comedy, while suffering extraordinary hardships, including regular beatings and near-starvation. Yet he can look back on this period of his life with considerable affection, not least because it taught him the skills, and provided him with the network of friends, that would sustain his film career for decades. Chan has always earned the respect of his fans by committing himself wholeheartedly to creating the most death-defying stunts possible. His achievements seem even more remarkable when set against the struggles described in this book. In the Drama School, as a young stuntman, in his first troubled attempts to make movies in America--Chan's personality shines through, and I Am Jackie Chan can only enhance his reputation as one of the most likable and admirable movie stars in the world. The book also includes Jackie's comments on all of his movies, lists of his favorite stunts and fights, and an astonishing catalog of all his major injuries. Can you imagine what it must feel like to dislocate your cheekbone? --Simon Leake
I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action Reviews:
Excellent service 
2009-05-27 - My granddaughter needed this for school and I could not find it locally. Ordered and had trouble getting the online issues done and was afraid it would not arrive in time. How surprised when she called to let me know her book was here with time to spare. Thanks for the save!
Even Better Than His Movies
2009-02-15 - I admit I might be a little biased on this review as I'm a bit of a Jackie Chan fan; however, you don't have to be one to enjoy this book. As one might expect from a biography, Jackie details his life from childhood in an opera academy to junior stuntman scraping by to making it in Hollywood with Rush Hour. Like his movies, Jackie Chan's life is very entertaining. The man certainly packs a lot of adventures into one lifetime. And though it may not be intended as such, but this to me is also a very uplifting and inspirational read. Many know Jackie today as the successful action movie star, but few realize the hardship that he had to go through and things he had to overcome to be where he is today. And this is where this book shines. It takes you on a ride of his life. You're there with him when he gets dumped, when he fails at acting, when he makes it big...And you'll identify with his struggles and hardships and perseverance. You'll be rooting for him to try harder to succeed. All in all a very enjoyable read.
Chans the Man
2009-02-01 - The Autobiography is very well written, and is full of classic Jackie Chan humor! His story is something so amazing it sounds like a work of fiction. After the Autobiography is done he gives a filmography of all the films hes worked on, so its a great shopping list for the Chan completest too!
If you are a fan of Jackie Chan, you must own this book.
a great read
2008-12-28 - I have read this book more than 10 times and it never gets old. The stories are incredible, told by Chan himself. Although it doesn't go as deep as a big Chan fan might hope, it is funny, smart and very entertaining. There is information about all his movies up to 1999, including great information about his stunts and filming adventures.
" So you play Kung FU"
2007-12-28 - I Am Jackie Chan My Life in Action 1998 5/5
Written by :Jackie Chan & Jeff Yang
Easily one of the best books I have ever read. This books contains 398 pages of pure joy. Seriously I read this book In one sitting . I was already a fan of Jackie Chan now I have so much respect for him. The copy I own includes a extra chapter, I would say it's worth buying again to read that extra chapter. Jackie Chan had a very interesting upbringing filled with beating and let downs. I mean he was abandoned by his parents who essentially sold him to the Peking Opera. Where they had the power to punish him up till death.
In here Jackie talks about the makings his earlier films. I really enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy his movies. Jeff Yang has said in interviews that there is works to release a second volume. Lets hope for that!
