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scorlantino99's review against another edition
4.0
Some very good life lessons. Now I need to watch all he's movies
library_ann's review against another edition
4.0
It's not a life story, but a series of essays that explore different areas of his past, based on themes, often with a little moral at the end, which often implies "Don't be like young Jackie," when he spent too much money or got so wasted at night while gambling that he could barely come in to work the next day.
The anecdotes about young Jackie often reveal him as having bad character, or the obstinance of youth, which mistakes he learns from and grows out of.
This is not a technical book about his fight training, although there are several chapters devoted to his time in the fight school where he grew up. Nor does it go into depth about movie-making, although there are a few chapters which touch on setting up some of the stunts. More often, the stories are about how scared he felt before attempting something that could easily end with his death.
The anecdotes about young Jackie often reveal him as having bad character, or the obstinance of youth, which mistakes he learns from and grows out of.
This is not a technical book about his fight training, although there are several chapters devoted to his time in the fight school where he grew up. Nor does it go into depth about movie-making, although there are a few chapters which touch on setting up some of the stunts. More often, the stories are about how scared he felt before attempting something that could easily end with his death.
eskay1891's review against another edition
5.0
For someone who grew up watching his movies, this book is an absolute must-read. It offers a unique glimpse into the life of a beloved figure, much like the entertaining fights depicted in his films. The author narrates his tough journey with a casual and comedic touch, making it an engaging and enjoyable read. It's a delightful reminder that despite the challenges faced, there is always room for laughter and resilience.
nabilahs's review against another edition
3.0
"I've said in interviews that I've done well by a lot of people, but not my own family. That I haven't been a good father or a good husband, but I did my duty to my son and his mother"
Will I continue to rewatch his movies? YES.
Will my perspective of my favorite Asian action star change? DEFINITELY YES.
Will I recommend this memoir to everyone especially Jackie Chan's fans? NOPE.
Throughout this memoir, I would say Jackie Chan was brutally honest about his life, his failure to fulfill the time with his parents, wife, and son. He had been going through poverty since he was a kid, so he kept trying to become a big star and treat other people nicely.
At the early of his involvement in the industry, people keep comparing him to Bruce Lee. He was trying hard to go down an entirely different path. I love how he put in detail how he was scared to shoot an iconic clock-tower jump scene in Project A for 6 days. On day 7 (1983), he finally managed to film the difficult scene.
I would love to read more about his family, especially his wife and his son. I become a fan of his son (Jaycee Chan) since The Twins Effect 2. I do some searching about his wife and Jaycee after I finished this book, why do I feel Jackie hates his son?
Will I continue to rewatch his movies? YES.
Will my perspective of my favorite Asian action star change? DEFINITELY YES.
Will I recommend this memoir to everyone especially Jackie Chan's fans? NOPE.
Throughout this memoir, I would say Jackie Chan was brutally honest about his life, his failure to fulfill the time with his parents, wife, and son. He had been going through poverty since he was a kid, so he kept trying to become a big star and treat other people nicely.
At the early of his involvement in the industry, people keep comparing him to Bruce Lee. He was trying hard to go down an entirely different path. I love how he put in detail how he was scared to shoot an iconic clock-tower jump scene in Project A for 6 days. On day 7 (1983), he finally managed to film the difficult scene.
I would love to read more about his family, especially his wife and his son. I become a fan of his son (Jaycee Chan) since The Twins Effect 2. I do some searching about his wife and Jaycee after I finished this book, why do I feel Jackie hates his son?
austinbaker11's review against another edition
3.0
The Good: Jackie Chan has had an incredible life. His biography includes many interesting and funny stories. If you are a fan of Jackie Chan's work, especially his earlier work, you are really going to get a kick out of his behind the scenes stories. Jackie Chan is also not afraid to shy away from his short comings. It's clear that Jackie has reflected on what parts of his life he is most proud of and which aspects he truly regrets. Despite the title, this story really is about Jackie growing up.
The Bad: Unfortunately this extraordinary story is not extraordinarily told. Jackie himself says that he has never been a strong writer and struggled with reading until adulthood, but that's where his co-author Zhu Mo comes in. I suspect most of the shortcomings fall with the translator. The writing and prose is extremely basic uses a very limited vocabulary. As a result, some fairly exciting or emotional stories feel anticlimactic and even comes across as glib at times. The stories being told are very personal, but you still feel a barrier between yourself and the author. I kept getting the sense that Jackie was trying to say more than was on the page or that something was lost in translation.
The Bad: Unfortunately this extraordinary story is not extraordinarily told. Jackie himself says that he has never been a strong writer and struggled with reading until adulthood, but that's where his co-author Zhu Mo comes in. I suspect most of the shortcomings fall with the translator. The writing and prose is extremely basic uses a very limited vocabulary. As a result, some fairly exciting or emotional stories feel anticlimactic and even comes across as glib at times. The stories being told are very personal, but you still feel a barrier between yourself and the author. I kept getting the sense that Jackie was trying to say more than was on the page or that something was lost in translation.
doublearon4321's review against another edition
4.0
A really good read.Came across as a very humble guy. Packs alot into his life story and he's still working, I also didn't know he is a singer.
zoes_human's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. It reads easily and quickly, but it's not particularly well written. Or, maybe it was well written in Cantonese but the translation is missing something.
It was interesting and shed new light on who Jackie Chan is for me, but I'm not so certain I wanted that light to be turned on.
It was interesting and shed new light on who Jackie Chan is for me, but I'm not so certain I wanted that light to be turned on.