Jet Li: A Biography [Paperback]

James Robert Parish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2002

Jet Li is part of a crew of new Asian stars taking Hollywood by storm. Along with Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Jackie Chan, and Maggie Cheung, Jet Li has kicked and punched his way out of the cult-film underground and into mainstream superstardom. With his performance in The One, Li becomes the first to prove his power as the top-billed draw. Jet Li, the first book published in English about the thirty-eight year-old "Gene Kelly of the action film," follows him from his days in Hong Kong as an extraordinarily successful actor in classics like Once Upon a Time in China and his overlooked work as a director and producer. Special attention is given to his Hollywood debut alongside Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 4; his recent star turns in the gangland fable Romeo Must Die and the sci-fi blockbuster The One. Jet Li looks at the actor's fiercely protected private life and explains the broad appeal of Hollywood's new Bruce Lee to fans of all ages—from Hong Kong chop-socky cultists to Blockbuster families, to the new Hollywood that has eagerly embraced him. A complete filmography of Jet Li's screen work in Hollywood and Asia as well as 30 never before published color and black-and-white photographs are included.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Once a fledgling Hong Kong actor and now a martial arts Hollywood superstar, Jet Li has been called the new Bruce Lee. Parish (Gus Van Sant) delves into the 39-year-old's life and career in this biography, analyzing his films from the little-known The Shaolin Temple to blockbusters like Lethal Weapon 4 and Romeo Must Die. Li was born in Beijing with the birth name Li Lian-jie. He began studying wushu (martial arts) at age eight and still adheres closely to traditional Chinese customs, which dictate complete respect for the martial arts school and its master. The book includes dozens of b&w photos.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

What Bruce Lee was to kung fu, Jet Li is to wu shu. The star of Romeo Must Die and The One was born into humble surroundings as Li Lian-jie. Small for his age, he had a gift for martial arts and stayed the course in the brutal Beijing Sports and Exercise School. He was already winning major competitions by the age of 12 and by 17 would emerge as Jet Li, Action Hero, in Chinese film. But he did not become widely known to Western audiences until he starred opposite Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon IV. Parish, the author of several books on Hollywood, does a good job of chronicling Li's early career but does not reveal much about his private life. Yet as with books on Bruce Lee, there is a big audience for this type of well-illustrated title (it includes 30 color and black-and-white photographs, never before published), especially among YAs.
Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Libs., Salinas, CA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (June 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560253762
• ISBN-13: 978-1560253761
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,616,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have the privilege of doing work (i.e., writing books) that I thoroughly enjoy, so it is no real chore to be active on my book projects seven days a week. Doing research is much like being a detective, bringing as many elements of the subject's life to light and assessing how each piece fits into the puzzle of a celebrity's biography.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good overview marred by sniping at other HK stars, August 31, 2002

By 

Lisa A. Adolf (Everett, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jet Li: A Biography (Paperback)

I found this book to be basically well written and a good overview of the career of Jet Li. While not as in-depth as a reader could wish, career highlights are covered and each of his films discussed briefly, including box office success, Jet's views on each and a run down of critical reaction.

The author has a tendency to snipe in his narrative which is highly unfortunate and which is completely at odds with Jet Li's personality and philosophy as described. An example: he claims (regarding Li's turn as a villain in Lethal Weapon 4) "unlike such peers as Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat, Li had no qualms about playing a screen villain for the first time". Jackie has based his career in action/comedy playing "average joe types" to great success--if it ain't broke don't fix it! More mystifying is using Chow Yun Fat in this example as Chow HAS played "villains" frequently in his Hong Kong films--as often playing a triad gangster or hitman as he does a cop or straightforward, stereoptypical hero. That his "villains" are not stereotypical, but are complex and conflicted makes this breezy comparison odd and seems to reveal the ignorance of the author about any other HK stars than his current subject. They are also jarring and not particularly relevant.

Jet Li, a gracious, spiritual man would certainly not approve of this type of cheap shot. Likewise Parish's insistence that Chan and Chow are somehow Li's "rivals" is strange. Chan has long since carved out his unique comedy niche, Jet Li is forming his own as a martial artist cum action star--and Chow Yun-Fat (who will cheerfully tell you he is NOT a martial artist, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon notwithstanding,) holds the distinction of being the first Asian star who has broken into Hollywood on the strength of his acting alone. Different strengths, different men, none better than the other.

While this may seem a minor point and isn't belabored by the text, it creates a subliminally contentious picture that can only serve to mislead the casual reader.

Otherwise this is a slick volume which can serve to introduce the casual fan to the life of a fascinating and talented man. Hopefully it will inspire neophytes to Asian cinema to explore more of the literature devoted to HK cinema in general, and its crossover stars in particular. Once so directed, they can then form their own opinions about all the parties in question.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good overview marred by sniping at other HK stars, August 31, 2002

By 

Lisa A. Adolf (Everett, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jet Li: A Biography (Paperback)

I found this book to be basically well written and a good overview of the career of Jet Li. While not as in-depth as a reader could wish, career highlights are covered and each of his films discussed briefly, including box office success, Jet's views on each and a run down of critical reaction.

The author has a tendency to snipe in his narrative which is highly unfortunate and which is completely at odds with Jet Li's personality and philosophy as described. An example: he claims (regarding Li's turn as a villain in Lethal Weapon 4) "unlike such peers as Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat, Li had no qualms about playing a screen villain for the first time". Jackie has based his career in action/comedy playing "average joe types" to great success--if it ain't broke don't fix it! More mystifying is using Chow Yun Fat in this example as Chow HAS played "villains" frequently in his Hong Kong films--as often playing a triad gangster or hitman as he does a cop or straightforward, stereoptypical hero. That his "villains" are not stereotypical, but are complex and conflicted makes this breezy comparison odd and seems to reveal the ignorance of the author about any other HK stars than his current subject. They are also jarring and not particularly relevant.

Jet Li, a gracious, spiritual man would certainly not approve of this type of cheap shot. Likewise Parish's insistence that Chan and Chow are somehow Li's "rivals" is strange. Chan has long since carved out his unique comedy niche, Jet Li is forming his own as a martial artist ... action star--and Chow Yun-Fat (who will cheerfully tell you he is NOT a martial artist, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon notwithstanding,) holds the distinction of being the first Asian star who has broken into Hollywood on the strength of his acting alone. Different strengths, different men, none better than the other.

While this may seem a minor point and isn't belabored by the text, it creates a subliminally contentious picture that can only serve to mislead the casual reader.

Otherwise this is a slick volume which can serve to introduce the casual fan to the life of a fascinating and talented man. Hopefully it will inspire neophytes to Asian cinema to explore more of the literature devoted to HK cinema in general, and its crossover stars in particular. Once so directed, they can then form their own opinions about all the parties in question.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jet Li aka Li Lian-jie, April 17, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jet Li: A Biography (Paperback)

This biography offers an indepth look at Jet Li's life. We see a humble little chinese boy from a poor family who through rigorous wushu training transforms from a martial artist into an action movie star. We also get an overview of his films and situations that lead up to him filming them. The book even manages to reveal personal things about this famous yet somewhat shy man. The only part I did not enjoy was when it implied some sort of rivalry between Jet Li and fellow martial artist turn movie star and friend Jackie Chan. Based on commnents from Mr. Li on his official website Jackie Chan is a friend of his and they socialize regularly. However overall this is a good book to buy if you want to learn more about this amazing man.