Movie of the Week: Traces of a Dragon: Jackie Chan & His Lost Family

So something I don't normally talk about, my love for kung fu movies. I get great enjoyment out of them, and there are quite a few action stars that I watch. Jackie Chan is one of the first for me. I'd seen his movies before, but it wasn't until I saw Rumble In The Bronx on the big screen that I really came to under just how awesome Jackie Chan was. And that wasn't his best work, I came to find that later. My friend Eric and I would watch these great kung fu movies and  it was the best of times. 

Now I say this to point out my own naivete when it can to Asian culture and lack of knowledge in the subject of a kung fu movie. I've been watching collections of great stars, trying to enjoy them with subtitles and not badly dubbed. Jackie Chan's weren't as bad because he spoke English and dubbed most of his works. Now I've come accustom to both formats and don't mind either. Years ago, I would have hated this documentary.

Ugh, I have to read!?

So I saw this documentary was added to Netflix and saw Jackie Chan's name. I read the info about was intrigued. It wasn't about Jackie's rise or his childhood per se. It was about him finally learning about his parents past and that he had four siblings he didn't know; as well as a different sir name. It's an emotional ride as you learn the super rough time his dad had growing up and trying to make it in war torn China. You learn with Jackie about his dad's past, and his brothers from another mother. Then you hear the tale of his mother who had it equally tough and find out about Jackie's two sisters from another father. Both stories are heart wrenching, and tragic tales of just how hard it was growing up, raising a family, and the painful choices one makes for family in those times.

Jackie's Dad is a badass.

Not at all what I was excepting from this documentary, but it was amazing. I love learning about the past history of other countries. My ignorance to what the rest of the world has or is going through gets cleared up a little more with just taking the time to listen and understand why things happen. I really recommend this, you should check it out. 3 out of 5.