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Nowadays, when one hears the name Jackie Chan, visions of cheesy over-the-top action comedies can't help but spring to mind (think Chan's most popular popcorn flicks - Shanghai Noon, Rush Hour, or even his more legendary, less cheesy but still way over the top earlier efforts such as Drunken Master). So when we're told he's co-director and star of a deadly serious and bloody epic, which recounts one of the most tumultuous periods in China's history, it's a little hard to wrap your head around, especially considering he's approaching 60 years of age. However, aided by his co-director, veteran cinematographer Zhang Li (Red Cliff), Chan succeeds in shedding his funny guy image both behind and in front of the camera. 1911 works as a heady history lesson delving into a monumental time in China's past, chronicling the long overdue abdication of the Emperor, the overthrowing of the suppressive Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Communist Movement, all of which happened close to a century ago. Given that China's political situation and their Communist roots are still strongly relevant today, 1911 Revolution is a powerful and interesting film. Although the subject matter is grim, the intense battle scenes and sweeping drama transform this into a real epic. As actors run and shout and the unmistakeable clatter of empty shells hit the ground, we are seeing the birth of modern China.

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Chan executes the role of revolutionary leader Huang Xing wonderfully as does Winston Chao (Eat Drink Man Woman) as the selfless first President of the Republic. Lee Bing Bing (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan) brings that something special to the screen as Huang's sacrificing wife, filling the female character void with ease. But it's the close friendship between Huang and Chao's Sun Wen that gives this film its soul. An emotional reunion about two thirds in will melt your heart.

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On May 20, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings hosted leading historians and analysts for a discussion of some of the political ramifications of the 1911 revolution; the roles that the Republic of China has played in the history of China and the world since 1911; and the significance of the Republic of China in contemporary and future cross-strait relations and international politics. Mary Backus Rankin, a leading expert on the 1911 revolution, delivered the luncheon keynote address. Ambassador Jason Yuan, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, delivered opening remarks prior to the beginning of the panel discussion.

Story Line
Being billed as Jackie Chan's centennial film - well it depends on who's counting since IMDb.com listed it as the number 109, but seriously, who's counting? - it was a shrewd career choice to have made it an epic in both scale and story, an extremely well made piece of historical drama filled with political intrigue and a fine cast fleshing out their period roles, and to coincide it with the centennial year of the historical milestone it is based on as well, being the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that ultimately overthrew the Chinese Qing dynasty and ended more than 2000 years of Imperial rule in China. It could have been Rush Hour 4 or Police Story 6, but Jackie Chan had got grander ideas, so good for him.
With the aforementioned centennial celebrations of sorts, there are countless of films being released based on historical characters and incidents in the run up, with big budgeted, and undoubtedly easily labelled as propaganda films like The Founding of a Republic and its sequel The Founding of a Party boasting big name stars in its line up to draw record audiences. The latest yet to hit the big screen here, but soon enough unless the incessant playing of the trailers start to put people off, would be the story of Qiu Jin who was an anti- Qing revolutionary, in a film titled The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake directed by Herman Yau, and it is Qiu Jin who interesting enough, actually opens this film, which may make those unfamiliar with her character scratch their heads for a little while.
1911 challenges Chinese filmmakers to dig deep into their history to tell stories based on its own contemporary, formative years. Even Singapore is finally getting into the act with its own 1965 film project, and I suppose any film industry worth its grain in salt would have these films lined up under its filmography that allows for a critical and artistic look at troubled times before, the ideals held then, and the struggles many took to bring us to where we are today. It may not be Jackie Chan's flashiest role or film, but definitely one of his classiest and dignified one yet. Highly recommended!
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