Jackie Chan Slams CGI Stunts: "They Lack Realism"

Jackie Chan, the action film legend who is famous for his awe-inspiring, sometimes bone-crunching stunts, has criticized the contemporary film industry's overdependence on CGI (computer-generated imagery) for action scenes. In a recent interview, Chan talked about how the world of stunt work has evolved during his 64-year career, contending that while CGI has made it safer on the sets, it has also removed action scenes from the visceral reality that made vintage martial arts and action movies so thrilling.

Chan, at 71 and still doing his own stunts, said, "In the old days, there was only one choice: be there and jump; that's it. Now, with computers, actors can do anything, but there's always something you feel is lacking in reality." He called CGI a "double-edged sword." It is a great way for filmmakers to do things they could never do before and keep actors safe from mortal wounds. On the other hand, it smudges the lines between what is real and what is created, numbing the audience's perception of risk and thrill that comes from seeing real risk.

Chan fears that this excessive dependence on CGI has rendered audiences "numb" to the risk and work involved in action scenes. "Danger and limit become a blurred concept and the audience becomes numb to it," he said, adding that tension and reality of actual stunts are lost on audiences when they realize that what they witness can be easily replicated by computer-generated effects. He is quick to add, however, that he does not advocate for other people to endanger their lives like he did. "I'm not saying anyone should put their life on the line to perform the stunts that I did; it's really too risky," Chan reiterated.

A career long, Chan has been identified with high-risk, innovative stunt work, ranging from sliding down a 70-foot pole covered in light in "Police Story" (which ended in third-degree burns) to intricate fight choreography that displays athleticism and comic sense. Having suffered many injuries over the years, he has remained adamant about doing his own stunts, having the belief that the realism and risk are the things that appeal to audiences truly. "Of course, I always do my own stunts. It's who I am. That's not changing until the day I retire, which is never! And to be honest, when you've done it for 64 years straight, there's no physical preparation anymore.". It is all in your heart and soul; it is muscle memory," he asserted.

Chan's methodology is in sharp contrast to the prevalent practice in Hollywood today, where CGI and wirework are de rigueur, even in the case of martial arts and action movies. He admits the artistic license and security that technology offers, but regrets that "the realism and physical danger which characterized my career are becoming rarer and rarer.". As a mentor to the future generation of stunt performers via his JC Stunt Team, Chan remains an advocate for balance between innovation and authenticity, instructing young actors in the importance of actual physicality in action cinema.

Chan's remarks come as he is set to return to the big screen in "Karate Kid: Legends," reprises his role as Mr. Han. He guarantees that, though the movie will certainly incorporate some contemporary technology, viewers can continue to anticipate true action, authentic storytelling, and the type of commitment that has characterized his career. "That's part of my identity. That won't change until the day I retire, which is never!

" he explained, reiterating his devotion to real stunts and the timelessness of authentic action.

For Chan, the essence of action cinema is not spectacle for the sake of spectacle, but the actual sweat, danger, and craftsmanship that goes into each and every punch, leap, and fall. As CGI remakes the industry, his words remind us of what makes action films so indelible in memory: the fact that, somewhere out there, someone actually did make that jump, absorb that punch, and get back up for another take.