Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Most people associate Jackie Chan with the recent smash hit films Rush Hour and Rumble in the Bronx, but there is a lot more of him to see. Jackie learned his trade from the harsh world of Peking Opera School and began to appear in films as a child. He slowly progressed from minor roles to becoming a head stuntman and eventually lead actor in a number of kung fu movies in the 1970s. It was only when he began to direct his own films that the real Jackie Chan film was born. This book looks at his life and career, reviews and analyzes his films, and provides references for further study.
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"Pocket Essentials" is a dynamic new series of books that are short, snappy, and easy to read. Packed with facts, as well as opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, "parapolitics," and more. In addition to an introduction to the subject, each topic is individually analyzed and reviewed, examining its impact on popular culture. There's also a handy reference section that lists related web sites and all the weightier (and more expensive) books on the subject. For media buffs and students, these are great little entry-level books that build into an essential library.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short, Sweet, and SWEET...,
By Matt Kamstra (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jackie Chan (Pocket Essential series) (Paperback)
As a collector of anything Jackie Chan I can get my hands on, I thought this book was a great addition to my collection. It may be small, but had some gems I'd never managed to find elsewhere. It's also just one in a great series of books on related topics that I'd recommend to anyone. Short and sweet, a good pocket companion
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Overview,
By "jcfan54" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jackie Chan (Pocket Essential series) (Paperback)
Mainly, this book is a critique on all Jackie's films. There is a short intro essay, which is a good analysis of WHY Jackie and his films appeal to such a wide range of people. (But read Jackie's own autobiography for a real insight into the reasons for who, why and how). I see the film critiques as a personal opinion only of the authors. As with all Jackie's films, individual opinions differ - everyone seems to have different concepts of them from their own points of view and likes and dislikes. This is great, as it shows that Jackie's films appeal to a wide range of people of different nationalities and gender. It is wrong to accept one person's opinion as the be all and end all and I hope the authors don't expect this. For example, they rate Half a Loaf of Kung Fu below Spiritual Kung Fu. In my opinion (& only mine, mind you!) Spiritual Kung Fu is awful - a waste of Jackie's comedic talents. Half a Loaf of Kung Fu on the other hand shows a glimmer of Jackie's future mastery of comedy in action. The authors are also fairly harsh about Rush Hour (I do however accept most of their criticisms of Chris Tucker!) Jackie was very restricted in what he could do on this American film. Strangely, they rate Rumble in the Bronx on a par with the incomparable Police Story and Project A!! No comparison! Notwithstanding the above, this book is a very good read with some interesting insights on his films (even if you don't agree). It is not very big and has no pictures.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very essential guide actually,
By
This review is from: Jackie Chan (Pocket Essential series) (Paperback)
Just received my copy of this book, amazon service was as good as usual, but the book... I'm afraid i'm quite dissapointed with it. Maybe I was wrong with my expectations, but the book is mostly a compilation of his film reviews and little more. I thought other info and a few pictures could be listed within an essential guide about him. That's all. Appart from that the book is well structured and has some funny points of view here and there.
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