Jackie Chan: where action meets comedy

Unlike most martial arts action heroes, Jackie Chan prefers his films to add a bit of physical slapstick comedy that is typical of old-time actors like Buster Keaton. For years Chan has enjoyed an incredibly successful career as an actor, director, writer, producer of his own films, but he is also known for his lovable character and for the fact that he usually does his own stunts (and after injuring himself countless times, most insurance companies refuse to insure him now).

His fights, however, are carefully choreographed and he wants people to see his movies as family entertainment rather than violent action films that made Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Segal famous.

Here is a TV interview (the host is German but the conversation is actually in English) with Jackie Chan and a gap-fill activity to practise for the CPE exam.

A film review: vocabulary practice

When we talk about a film, we often need to use some specific vocabulary related to the world of cinema. Read this review and choose the best word to complete each blank. This is good exam practice for advanced students. Then check other suggestions of vocabulary acitivies below.

See also
Movie expressions: a quiz

Film company logos - exam practice

Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Twentieth-Century Fox, Universal, Paramount, Columbia Pictures. You probably recognise their logos immediately at the beginning of each film, don't you? There was a time when film studios were more famous and more important than the actors or directors that worked for them. Here is a text that tells us more about film company trademarks. It is also an exam practice activity, in case you are preparing for the CAE exam.

More exam practice:
How we read (CAE level)
How to irritate people (CAE level)
Passive smoking (CAE level)