58481774cef1014c0b5e4992

Tag: We Do Our Own Stunts

HomeAll PostsTag: We Do Our Own Stunts

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Police Story (1985)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on May 11, 2026 0Comments 0Likes

It doesn’t get much better than this. On a long-awaited WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS Jackie Chan fulfills his long-term goal (devised partially as a response to his experience with James Glickenhaus’ The Protector) to make a different kind of Hong Kong martial arts movie and pulls it off in spectacular fashion with 1985’s POLICE STORY. Containing some of his most celebrated fights (the glass-filled mall spectacular) and stunts (the shantytown car chase, the umbrella assisted bus stunts and – of course – his dangerous pole slide), it changed the game for martial arts films, and launched Chan’s career into the stratosphere. BUT DOES IT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?! On this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS we look at the stories and history behind the film, and where it exists in Jackie’s career.

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Heart of Dragon (1985)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on March 6, 2026 0Comments 0Likes

Before we get to the sublime (POLICE STORY) we need to experience the ridiculous, and it doesn’t get much more ridiculous than 1985’s HEART OF DRAGON which features Jackie taking care of his developmentally delayed brother (played by Sammo Hung) even though he really just wants to be on the SWAT Team.. or a police officer.. or a sailor. While sometimes a total disaster (the Sammo antics are NOT GREAT) it also features some extraordinary choreography (from Yuen Biao), particularly in the Japanese version we watched for this episode that has TWO extra fight scenes and closing credits outtakes. Hear some conflicted opinions on this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Twinkle Twinkle, Lucky Stars (1985)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on November 17, 2025 0Comments 0Likes

It’s the 300th(!!!!) episode of Cinema Smorgasbord! Now, normally we would do a big, special celebratory episode, but.. uh.. I forgot it was coming up so instead we’re back with those pervy Lucky Stars goofballs as they travel to Thailand for some trademark misadventures/sexual harassment. Thankfully these sequences are intercut with some of the most incredible action sequences of the era featuring (naturally) Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao (and also Andy Lau, Richard Norton, Lau Kar-wing, Dick Wei, Philip Ko, and Yasuaki Kurata!). Michelle Yeoh even pops up briefly. It’s a tale of two movies in 1985’s TWINKLE TWINKLE, LUCKY STARS. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – The Protector (1985)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on August 18, 2025 0Comments 1Like

For the final time (until his real breakthrough a decade later), Golden Harvest is trying to make Jackie Chan a star in the U.S. and they’ve signed up U.S. exploitation film director James Glickenhaus to transform Chan into a high kicking Charles Bronson in 1985’s THE PROTECTOR. Playing a hard-nosed New York City cop teamed with Danny Aiello, Chan swears and shoots through a blood revenge film, but  then – thoroughly displeased with the experience – he went and added a bunch of new scenes for the Hong Kong release. On this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS we look at Jackie Chan’s frustrations, the good (and bad) of each release and WHICH REIGNS SUPREME. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – My Lucky Stars (1985)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on June 9, 2025 0Comments 1Like

We’re taking a brief respite from American films on WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS to return to Hong Kong (and Japan!) for the sequel to the wildly popular WINNERS & SINNERS, it’s the even MORE wildly popular MY LUCKY STARS from 1986! Starring the 5 Lucky Stars (minus John Shum, but with extra bonus Eric Tsang), it’s bookended with some wild Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao action sequences and the meaty center is full of silly comedy – and lots of uncomfortable stuff because of course there is. How does it stack up to the first film, and exactly how much Jackie do we get in this one? LISTEN AND FIND OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Cannonball Run II (1984)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on April 23, 2025 0Comments 1Like

Jackie Chan is back in Hollywood (against his better judgment) and is joining a cavalcade of stars including Burt Reynolds, Dom Deluise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Marilu Henner, Shirley MaClaine and MANY MORE – including ol’ blue eyes himself Frank Sinatra – in the cross-country race (?) comedy (?) CANNONBALL RUN II which brings back all the things you know and love(?) about the first film, and.. well, that’s just about it. It’s pretty much the same thing. Except there’s an orangutan this time, and Jackie has been teamed up with Richard Kiel just to make sure we all know he’s extra small and (once again) bafflingly Japanese. Listen to Liam’s blood pressure rise in REAL TIME as he describes his time with the film. ENJOY!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Wheels on Meals (1984)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on February 25, 2025 0Comments 0Likes

Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan are headed to Barcelona, Spain in the 1984 action-comedy spectacular WHEELS ON MEALS, featuring Jackie and Yuen as food truck operators and Sammo as a hapless detective. Of course, we also get a pickpocket damsel in distress (Lola Forner), shenanigans in a mental hospital, car chases, foot chases and one of the best martial arts fights EVER between Jackie and kickboxer Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. We dive into the background and even spend some time chatting about Jackie Chan VIDEO GAMES. Lots to discuss, so let’s get to it!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Project A (1983)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on December 9, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

A seismic shift in Hong Kong filmmaking occurs on this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS with the release of the legendary action-comedy PROJECT A in 1983. Directed by (and – of course – starring) Jackie Chan, alongside his Peking Opera classmates Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, it’s a raucous, often hilarious and stunt filled thrill ride packed with pirates, pratfalls and one infamous fall from a clock tower that has to be seen to be believed. It changed filmmaking forever and sent Jackie’s already ascending star into the stratosphere. But does it hold up? Let’s check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Winners & Sinners (1983)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on September 30, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

CUT THE CRAP! We’re post-American excursion and post-Lo Wei scraps and things are about to POP OFF with the first of the Five Lucky Stars series WINNERS & SINNERS starring Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Stanley Fung and John Shum. Oh, and Jackie Chan is here as well, reconnecting with his “big brother” (and Yuen Biao in a tiny part) for the first time in years and transitioning to martial arts/comedy hybrids with higher production values and bigger stunts. This one might lean a bit TOO heavily on the comedy, but you get roller skating stunts, car stunts, and some dynamite action to whet your appetite for what’s to come. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Fearless Hyena 2 (1983)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on July 29, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

One stage of Jackie Chan’s career comes to an awkward conclusion in FEARLESS HYENA 2, with producer Lo Wei taking old footage (from the first Fearless Hyena, along with some bits from Spiritual Kung Fu) along with some a few new scenes filmed before Jackie’s controversial move to Golden Harvest to create something predictably incoherent. Filled with actors doubling Jackie (in disguise), pieces that don’t quite fit together, and the introduction of Austin Wai as Tung, a mechanical genius with an automatic house, it makes for a bizarre and often baffling viewing experience without ever becoming entirely unwatchable. Have a listen and see if you agree!