To celebrate his 100th movie, action superstar Jackie Chan has went ahead and directed a big ole war epic. He partners with John Woo‘s Red Cliff cinematographer Li Zhang behind the camera, but also leads on the battlefield. We now have a short teaser and it definitely sells the action moments, but we’ll have to see if Chan can deliver the drama. After starring in crap like The Spy Next Door, he surprised in The Karate Kid update with a tender performance, so I look forward to what he does here. Check it out below via Apple for the film also starring Joan Chen, Lee Bing Bing, Jaycee Chan and Winston Chao.
Synopsis:
At the beginning of the 20th century, China is in a state of crisis. The country is split into warring factions, the citizens are starving, and recent political reforms have made matters worse, not better. The ruling Qing Dynasty, led by a seven-year-old emperor and his ruthless mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen), is completely out of touch after 250 years of unquestioned power. With ordinary citizens beginning to revolt openly, the Qing Dynasty has created a powerful, modern army (the “New Army”) to quash any rebellion. But weapons are expensive, and desperate for cash, the Qing leaders are trading anything they can get their hands on with foreign countries… and selling China
1911 hits theaters on October 7th, 2011.
What do you think of Chan’s war epic? Will you see it?