By Kevin Wong on Jul 05, 2018 09:54 pm
The 4th of July is the anniversary of America's birth. But in 2018, it also served as the release day for The First Purge, because the filmmakers have the subtlety of a lead pipe. Perhaps if this continues, this will be the new Independence Day tradition, the way the Saw movies always debuted on Halloween. In celebration of America's independence, we're ranking the disturbing, unsettling masks from the Purge franchise. It's the central irony of the films; Purging is supposed to be an annual release of everyone's true selves, but lots of people hide their faces while doing it. Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Stay safe out there. And if you're interested in the franchise's latest movie, you may want to consider checking out our First Purge review, which raises a number of concerns about this entry. "2016's The Purge: Election Year ended on a hopeful note. That movie tried to mirror the real world too, but the real life politics it mimicked turned out much differently than the film's," writes Mike Rougeau. "In 2018, we could have used a movie where, for once, the good guys won. The fact that series creator James DeMonaco, who's written all four entries and directed the three before this, chose to give us a prequel instead is empirical evidence that he may be out of good ideas.
35. The Weird Cone Mask Guy: The Purge: Election Year
He's a member of Uncle Sam's crew from the third movie. I don't even know what this is. It's definitely the worst costume amongst a bunch of fantastic ones.
34. The Demon Mouth: The Purge: Anarchy
Apparently, this guy is a WWE fan and loves Finn Balor. It's nice to know that wrasslin' survives America's collapse.
33. The Raver Skull Girl: The First Purge
From what we can see from the trailer, the first annual Purge started out with a massive rave and not nearly as much killing as one might expect. But take a look at Raver Skull Girl. She definitely knows what's up.
32. Benjamin Franklin: The Purge: Election Year
No doubt, the booziest of our founding fathers would have embraced the annual Purge. Inventing the Franklin stove has nothing on state-sanctioned murder.
31. The Blackface Purger: The Purge: Election Year
This was the first mask in the third movie, and it let us know that Election Year would be a much more obvious satire of America. It's based off a well-known racial caricature, right down to its wide eyes and pitch-black face.
30. The Statue of Liberty (Version 2.0): The First Purge
This was the promotional poster for the fourth movie. But it's more cool-looking than creepy, and it's definitely a step down from the Lady Liberty in the third movie.
29. The Clownface Girl: The Purge: Election Year
She's one of the Candy Bar Girl lackeys from the third movie. She's a typical "scary clown." Other Purgers spent a little more time on their costumes the night beforehand, though. C+.
28. The Mace Wielder: The Purge: Election Year
This is a confusing tangle of metal and wire, like he just walked out of a second-rate Thunderdome.
27. George Washington: The Purge: Election Year
The founding father of our country went from chopping down cherry trees to chopping off heads.
26. Anime Lamb Girl: The Purge: Election Year
A minor member of Candy Bar Girl's crew, Anime Lamb Girl is there in one scene and gone in the next. Maybe she got smart and went home.
25. Patrick Henry: The Purge: Election Year
"Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
24. The Lingerie Model: The Purge: Election Year
One of Candy Bar Girl's lackeys, she was the sexiest Venom symbiote on Purge night.
23. The Salesman: The Purge: Election Year
This guy deserves an elbow to the mouth for jumping in front of and startling his potential customers. It's hard enough to deal with the annual Purge without this guy messing with you before sunset.
22. The Window Man: The First Purge
That's just unwholesome. What the hell is that? We don't know. And we don't want to know.
21. The Deformed School Boy: The Purge
Preppy jock meets Eyes Wide Shut. This was the best screencap of him from the entire film; he took a bullet to the head almost immediately after entering the Sandin household. Unfortunately for him, creepiness doesn't equate to peripheral vision.
19. & 20. The Two Skipping Girls: The Purge
The Purge was the last film cameo for Joan Rivers, seen here with daughter Melissa. (Not really, but can you see the resemblance?)
18. The Blue-Faced Ape Man: The Purge: Anarchy
This primate with an overbite had a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance, but was definitely scary. The filmmakers paid careful attention to lighting him; the half-in-light, half-in-shadow effect is an oldie but a goodie.
17. The Bird Flipper: The Purge
He's upset, because not only is he deformed, he also has a receding hairline.
16. The Massive Raver Devil: The First Purge
The filmmakers finally got tired of beating around the bush. They put a big ol' Satan head right in the trailer for the new movie.
15. Chainsaw Girl: The Purge: Election Year
Wearing a surgical mask whilst brandishing a chainsaw was a particularly witty, dark-humored joke in the third movie.
14. The Interrupter: The Purge
The design of this guy's mask is actually pretty scary. But The Interrupter lasts too fleetingly to make an impact. He rants for exactly three seconds before Polite Leader gets tired of listening to his crap and shuts him up, permanently.
13. The Hipster Lumberjack: The Purge
Of course the Seattle hipsters are part of our dystopian future.
12. The Flukeman: The First Purge
Apparently, the massive Flukeman from The X-Files took a break from popping out of toilets to star in this new film.
11. The Polite Leader: The Purge
He only wears his mask for a few seconds before taking it off for the remainder of the movie. But the gang's leader probably has the most iconic look, because he was used in all the promotional shots. The actor, Rhys Wakefield, has such an expressive face, that he looks more exaggerated with his mask off than on.
10. The Half-Skull Biker: The Purge: Anarchy
Aside from the God Leader's, this is the scariest mask from the second film. The missing jaw makes him look a bit like Shao Kahn, if Shao Kahn decided to join a biker gang.
9. The Guy in the Hoodie: The Purge
Here's the worst jump scare of the first film--the payoff after stumbling aimlessly in the dark for 40 minutes.
8. The Motorcyclist: The Purge: Anarchy
Vroooooom!! The weird fencing-helmet-meets-motorcycle-helmet looks terrifying.
7. Abraham Lincoln: The Purge: Election Year
Born in a log cabin from humble means, Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, is widely considered our greatest president, thanks to his firm leadership, preservation of our Union, and good humor.
6. Uncle Sam: The Purge: Election Year
Uncle Sam didn't need help looking more freaky than he already is. "I WANT YOU! To participate in the annual Purge!"
5. The Big Pig: The Purge: Election Year
A massive, stuffed, bloody pig costume is disturbing enough. But the oversized pacifier crammed into its mouth seals the deal.
4. Betsy Ross: The Purge: Election Year
After sewing the first American flag, Betsy Ross loved it so much that she painted it on her face.
3. The Candy Bar Girl: The Purge Election Year
This is why you don't piss anybody off the day before the annual Purge. If I had a store, and I saw someone stealing a candy bar? She can take the whole box, as far as I'm concerned. Just don't show up with your fabulous, murderous crew the following day.
2. The Waving God: The Purge: Anarchy
The leader of the main gang from the second movie, he makes the most of his screen-time with a weak, cloying wave that sent chills down our spines.
1. The Statue of Liberty: The Purge: Election Year
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Lady Liberty (Version 1.0) has a DIY, punk rock look to her, with light-up, X-ed out eyes and a burnt looking face. She's a perfect send-up and subversion of America under the New Founding Fathers, and that's what makes her No. 1.
By Chris Pereira on Jul 05, 2018 04:09 pm
With the start of summer comes Steam's annual summer sale. This time around, Valve has introduced a new theme, dubbing this edition the Steam Intergalactic Summer Sale. Despite the name tweak, you know what to expect: 2018's sale brings discounts on a massive number of games. Valve says more than 10,000 are on sale right now, which is a staggering total. That's far too many for anyone to hope to parse through, but that's where we come in. Rather than wade through countless pages of discounted titles, we've rounded up a selection of worthwhile games that you should consider buying before the sale ends--and that's coming up quite soon. The specific amount you'll save varies greatly, but we've asked GameSpot's staff for their favorite deals, and we've come up with a selection that runs the gamut from big-name, triple-A games to lesser-known (but nonetheless excellent) titles. Whether you're looking for shooters, RPGs, strategy games, or something else, we've got you covered. The Steam Intergalactic Summer Sale, like recent sales on the platform, is relatively straightforward. Valve has done away with the daily and flash deals, as well as voting; you don't have to check in every eight hours to avoid missing out on what you're looking for. That might have done away with some of the excitement of past Steam sales, but it does make shopping much easier, as you can rest assured that anything you buy now isn't going to be discounted more heavily later in the sale. If you're specifically looking for cheap stuff, check out our recommendations for Steam sale games under $5. This sale does feature one wrinkle, which is where the "intergalactic" aspect comes in. Steam's homepage allows you to jump into what's called the Summer Saliens game, which sees you head to planets and save various games that have been abducted by aliens. You'll earn XP and unlock new abilities, RPG-style, although it's all rather simplistic. While perhaps not worth playing for long on the strength of its gameplay, you may want to dive in anyway, as doing so can earn you Steam trading cards. More notably, defending certain planets enters you to win a corresponding game, with your odds increasing as your Salien stays on the same planet for longer. The Steam Summer Sale runs from now until July 5, and a variety of anime is also on sale. Be sure to let us know your picks for worthwhile deals, as well as what you plan to pick up, in the comments below.
Agents of Mayhem - Total Mayhem Bundle | $16.05 / £13.21 (72% off)
Agents of Mayhem takes Saint Row IV's pure insanity and cranks it up to 11. Canonically taking place after the Gat Out of Hell "recreate earth" ending, Agents of Mayhem is a story of bad vs. evil. I loved the diverse range of personalities, races, and sexualities that compose the lovable rogues that make up MAYHEM, an organization set on destroying the evil terrorist group known as LEGION. My favorite agent is Daisy, an ex-roller derby girl with a knack for cussing, drinking, having sex, and handling heavy weaponry, but I also loved the the queer logistics officer Friday, storytelling ninja Scheherazade, and loud-mouthed Safeword (who's this universe's version of Saint Row's Kinzie Kensington). -- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor Agents of Mayhem on Steam
Cities: Skylines | $7.49 / £5.74 (75% off)
Where EA's SimCity (2013) dropped the ball, Cities: Skylines picked it up, and it ran. It ran far, wide, and it's never stopped, even to this day. The city builder has positively delivered everything that anyone has ever wanted out of this kind of game, and has seen a steady stream of expansions over the past three years. But even if you're just interested in trying the vanilla experience during this Steam sale, Cities: Skyline's incredibly accessible modding options, and its amazing community will give you more than enough content to gorge on. There's a lot of joy to be had in city building and management games, and Cities: Skylines is the definitive game in the genre. -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer Cities: Skylines on Steam
Danganronpa 1 + 2 Bundle | $22 / £16.18 (46% off)
Danganronpa is a murder-mystery story taken to the weirdest extremes. When a group of gifted high school students awakes in their new school, they find that all the exits have been sealed. Then, their new headmaster--a robotic bear named Monokuma--tells them that in order to leave, they have to murder a classmate and fool the survivors. It's up to you to successfully investigate each grisly (yet colorful) murder and maybe figure out who's the mastermind behind the sadistic setup along the way. Now mostly concluded after the release of Danganronpa V3, Danganronpa is one of my favorite game series of all time. Getting both Danganropna 1 and 2 for this price is an absolute steal. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor Danganronpa 1 + 2 on Steam
Dark Souls III | $14.99 / £9.99 (75% off)
If the recent release of Dark Souls: Remastered hasn't gotten you to try out From Software and Hidetaka Miyazaki's fantastic Souls series, maybe the heavily discounted Dark Souls III will. Dark Souls III takes the dilapidated world of the Souls games and adds new lands to discover, a quicker pace to the combat, and plenty of upgrades to the multiplayer, all while maintaining the strong world and level design that has made the series stand out so much. While I don't personally find the game to be as strong of an entry into the series as Dark Souls or Bloodborne, I could not put this game down when I first picked it up. For players looking for a rewarding game with challenge, I could not recommend the game more. -- Dave Klein, Video Producer Dark Souls III on Steam
Dead Cells | $11.99 / £10.19 (40% off)
Dead Cells takes the DNA of Dark Souls, Castlevania, and a heavy dose of roguelike to create something that's more than the sum of its parts. This addictive and thrilling side-scrolling adventure boasts a bevy of tense moments, challenging bosses, and satisfying combat. The core of the game is based on growing with each run, as every failure brings new lessons to learn, items to unlock, and points to take with you into the next life. With a huge array of weapons, skills and playstyles, Dead Cells is a game that epitomises the "one more try" style of play. After your first few deaths, you'll be hooked and hungry for success. -- Dave Jewitt, Video Producer Dead Cells on Steam
Divinity: Original Sin 2 | $35.99 / £23.99 (20% off)
I have, admittedly, never actually finished Divinity: Original Sin 2, and yet there are few games on Steam (included in this sale or not) that I'd recommend more highly. Like its predecessor, it's such an ambitious game that it's astounding that it's able to pull it off so effectively on all fronts. Original Sin 2 is chock-full of fascinating characters and a seemingly endless array of ways to approach any given situation. While it puts up a real challenge (at least on difficulties other than its lowest), I've not managed to make it to the end because what's most difficult is resisting the urge to restart and try a different way of handling many of the game's scenarios. Original Sin 2 might be more expensive than many of the games on this list, but its combination of an excellent narrative, numerous secrets to uncover, and complex combat--all wrapped in an extremely replayable package--make it well worth the price of entry. -- Chris Pereira, News Editor Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Steam
Doom (2016) | $15 / £9.99 (50% off)
If you haven't played 2016's Doom reboot yet, now's a good time--publisher Bethesda announced a sequel, Doom Eternal, at E3 this year. This new Doom is self-aware in its intensity, with its high-octane demon-slaying madness backed by an over-the-top metal score. It's both a return and an homage to the corridor shooting of the series' past, but modern touches also make it feel like a step forward for the series. As a bonus, the classic Doom levels hidden in each mission are both fun to find and provide the perfect amount of nostalgia. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor Doom on Steam
Everspace | $9.89 / £7.58 (67% off)
I'm usually not a huge fan of roguelike games, but something about Everspace just kept dragging me back for more. Stressing over every jump between sectors, while trying to simultaneously circumnavigate challenging fights and monitor my fuel cost, kept me constantly on edge. The mindless humdrum of outfitting a new vessel would quickly replace every frustrating death, and I'd promise myself I'd get a little bit further on my next excursion. I enjoyed solving the overarching mystery in the main storyline, but Everspace's tight controls and hectic dogfights were what drew me into its quiet beauty. -- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor Everspace on Steam
Forgotton Anne | $14.99 / £11.61 (25% off)
About 15 minutes into Forgotton Anne, I was curled up on the couch and weeping, after mistakenly profiling an illegal immigrant as a terrorist and getting him killed. Forgotton Anne never gave me a chance to catch my breath, though, and continued to dole out emotional punches. This adventure-platformer threw me into a role I've never played before: an officer who enforces border control. Anne must squash a rebellion that threatens her and that of her master, and the player chooses whether or not she goes about that task with any mercy. I'll admit, I was fooled by the pretty Studio Ghibli-style art into thinking this would be a game for kids. I was so wrong. -- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor Forgotton Anne on Steam
Grand Theft Auto V | $19.79 / £13.19 (67% off)
There's a good chance that, by now, you're one of the incredible number of people who have bought Grand Theft Auto V. If not, this is as cheap as it's ever been, making it easier to buy a copy for you and a few friends. And you'll want to play with friends, because there aren't many games like GTA Online and its heists. These multi-part missions that have you working in tandem with friends (or strangers, if you're less fortunate) are among the most fun I've ever had with a multiplayer game. Dodging a military jet in your biplane until you can pick up your friends who are breaking someone out of prison makes for an unforgettable, tense experience. GTA 5's single-player remains enjoyable, and buying it on PC gives you access to mods, but this is well worth the price of entry for GTA Online alone. -- Chris Pereira, News Editor GTA V on Steam
Iconoclasts | $16.99 / £14.86 (15% off)
An iconoclast is a person who destroys a religious image or symbol, and that's the exact role you take on in this indie Metroidvania title. I didn't find Iconoclasts' puzzles or platforming segments to be all that challenging, but the game makes up for these faults with dozens of intense boss battles, a wonderful cast of characters, and a nuanced narrative. It's been a while since a video game's story really made me stop and think about the consequences of my in-game actions, and whether I was playing the role of the hero or the villian. Despite the protagonist's silence, Robin also makes for a fantastic hero, whose adorable emotes and expressive poses convey her helpful yet naive nature. -- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor Iconoclasts on Steam
Into the Breach | $11.99 / £9.11 (20% off)
From the creators of FTL comes hands down, one of 2018's best games. Into the Breach is tactical strategy boiled down to its purest elements, with completely transparent mechanics that let you know exactly what the enemy is going to do next, and what effect your hypothetical actions will have before you make them. This alone makes every single turn a satisfying brain-churn that has you poring over all the game's exciting and multi-faceted cause-and-effect systems. With dozens of unique mechs, it's a sincere joy to experiment and replay Into the Breach again and again and again. -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer Into the Breach on Steam
Nioh: Complete Edition | $29.99 / £23.99 (40% off)
As developer Team Ninja admits, Nioh is a game that was deeply inspired by Dark Souls. It combines Souls' mechanics with the action and combo mechanics of Team Ninja's previous franchise, Ninja Gaiden. While the game can be brutal with a steep learning curve, I absolutely loved the depth to its combat and gameplay. The game is set in Feudal Japan, with winding and interconnected level design, and the enemies are various Yokai, or supernatural monsters pulled straight out of Japanese folklore, all serving to give the game a unique style and feel. Souls fans have been split on Nioh, but I found the game stands out on its own, and the moment Nioh 2 was announced at E3 this year, my knee-jerk reaction was: YES! I want more of that! -- Dave Klein, Video Producer Nioh on Steam
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition | $9.99 / £7.49 (50% off)
When pressed for time and trying to explain what makes Ori and the Blind Forest so special, I tell people that it's a Meat Boy-Metroidvania--intense platforming balanced against exploration and wonder. It gets the point across, but the reality is that it's so much more than that. The gorgeous art style and animation mix with fine-tuned controls that make the whole experience feel smooth as silk. The fable-like story is a resonant one about empathy and love. It's one of the best games to have come out in the last few years, and absolutely deserves more attention before the sequel arrives in 2019. -- Steve Watts, News Writer Ori and the Blind Forest on Steam
Papers, Please | $4.99 / £3.49 (50% off)
I sincerely hope you're skipping this entry because you've already played and finished this game, because Papers, Please is one of my favourite games of all time. It's a modern classic where premise and mechanics marry together beautifully with difficult moral choices, strict consequences, and an unavoidable imperative for self-gain. You play an immigration inspector on a politically tumultuous Eastern European border, charged with inspecting and cross-referencing documents, controlling the flow of people, and correcting following protocol above all else. Hidden amongst civilians are spies and terrorists, but also sympathetic stories of innocent people caught by the riptides of war, trying to hang on to a semblance of life. Where does your loyalty lie: To the job that's keeping your family fed, to the greater good, yourself, or potentially, something else? How far are you willing to push your moral compass? Paper, Please is a masterpiece through and through, and it makes stamping passports feel like the most satisfying feeling in the whole world. -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer Papers, Please on Steam
Prey | $15 / £9.99 (50% off)
Prey is arguably one of the most underappreciated and overlooked games of 2017. It captures so much of what I love about immersive sims, particularly in its environmental storytelling--emails, notes, and other personal items weave the stories of who was on the space station before everything went wrong, and piecing things together takes careful attention to detail. Each part of the station also presents you with multiple ways to solve a problem, be it getting past an enemy Typhon or getting into a locked room, and all those things combined make traversal and exploration rewarding. The new DLC is just one more reason to pick Prey up while it's on sale. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor Prey on Steam
Stardew Valley | $12 / £8.79 (20% off)
I've put around 300 hours into Stardew Valley between the PC and Nintendo Switch versions, and it's become one of my favorite games I've ever played. I'm a big proponent of the Switch version now, but if you don't have one or prefer playing on PC, now's your best chance to try it out. Stardew Valley is everything I ever wanted Harvest Moon games to be, and it's made even better by its complex characters and surprisingly heavy themes. I don't want to spoil anything, but this is a game where you get out what you put into it--and there's a lot to discover. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor Stardew Valley on Steam
SteamWorld Dig 2 | $13.39 / £10.04 (33% off)
On its face, a game like SteamWorld Dig shouldn't have worked, much less warranted a sequel. A modern-day rogue-like Dig Dug, SteamWorld Dig carried an oddly relaxing gameplay loop: burrow your way underground, find some loot, come back up and spend it on upgrades, repeat. Its sequel, SteamWorld Dig 2, improves on the predecessor in every way, offering better upgrades, more character customization options, and challenge rooms for the truly enterprising spelunker. Sometimes you just want more of a great thing. -- Steve Watts, News Writer SteamWorld Dig 2 on Steam
Stellaris | $15.99 / £13.99 (60% off)
The masters of grand historical strategy, Paradox Interactive, released their ambitious spacefaring 4X game Stellaris a couple of years ago, but if you haven't played it yet, you're definitely better off coming into it now. As is typical, the Swedish developer has improved the game significantly with free updates and meaningful expansions over time and addressed many concerns. Beginning with a single planet, you'll expand your empire, discover new galaxies, inhabit new worlds, meet new alien races, and see where your interactions with them may lead. Stellaris is certainly a complex 4X game, but like other Paradox titles, once you begin to internalise it, gain momentum, and appreciate the myriad nuances to its systems, you'll probably never think about playing anything else for a good, long while. -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer Stellaris on Steam
Valkyria Chronicles | $5.94 / £5.09 (66% off)
I hope no PC devotees out there will get upset when I say that one of the most innovative tactical strategy games of the past decade was born as a console game, and is anime as hell. Valkyria Chronicles puts some strange twists on its alternate version of World War II, but that doesn't deny the fact that its battle system is unique and fun. You plan and order troops in a turn-based fashion with a top-down strategy phase, but then need to personally move an ordered troop or vehicle in a real-time third-person mode and line up their shots. It may sound arduous, but it's incredibly satisfying and exciting to actually do. Its beautiful watercolour art direction has aged very well, and with Valkyria Chronicles 4 coming out on PC and consoles later this year, you might as well see what the fuss is all about. -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer Valkyria Chronicles on Steam
Vanquish | $6.79 / £5.09 (66% off)
If you're a fan of over-the-top action games and you haven't played Vanquish, then you haven't lived. Directed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, the magnum opus of PlatinumGames' resume contains incredibly fast-paced shooting with an emphasis on movement. Equipped with a high-tech battle-suit with jet-boosters, you'll charge head-first through bullet-hell scenarios, gunning down robotic foes as you constantly dodge, vault, slow-down time, and famously, butt-slide at great speed. It's one of the most invigorating actions games of the past decade, and it has a dedicated command to smoke a cigarette. You owe it to yourself to play Vanquish. -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer Vanquish on Steam
The Witcher 3: Game of the Year Edition | $19.99 / £13.99 (60% off)
If you ask me (and many others who have played this remarkable action RPG), The Witcher 3 is the best game of this generation. It's huge, gorgeous, well-written, mature, and exceedingly fun to play. The dark fantasy world it's set in is perfectly rendered and unlike any other you'll find in all of games. Despite its sense of finality, here's hoping it's not the last game we'll get to play in this world, with these characters. It's a great ride. -- Chris Reed, Commerce Editor The Witcher 3: Complete Edition on Steam
By Dan Auty on Jul 05, 2018 01:16 am
With Mission Impossible: Fallout hitting theaters later this month, there has been much focus on the next batch of crazy stunts that Tom Cruise will be performing. But as impressive as Cruise's willingness to put himself in danger is, he's hardly the first major star happy to risk his life on a film set for the sake of our entertainment. Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan might have initially emerged in the 1970s as just another martial arts actor, but his incredible physical ability, comedic skills, and emerging talent as a director saw him quickly ascend to something far more than just another Bruce Lee clone. For more than a decade in the '80s and '90s, Chan delivered a run of incredible action classics, in which he performed some of the wildest stunts ever filmed. This was an era before CGI and green screen, and with his legendary stunt team on hand to assist, Chan continued to push his body is a series of an increasingly dangerous ways. Broken bones and hospital visits during production became a commonplace occurrence. Chan often replayed the stunt scenes within his movies, usually in slow motion, to leave the audience in no doubt as to who was performing them. These days, the 64-year-old has, of course, slowed down, but his legacy as one of cinema's greatest action stars is assured. So with his latest movie, the sci-fi thriller Bleeding Steel, in theaters this weekend, we take a look at Jackie Chan's greatest stunts.
11. Police Story 4: First Strike (1996) - Snowboard Jump
The fourth Police Story movie isn't one of the best in the series, but it has a cool Bond-esque opening sequence in which Jackie is pursued by bad guys on snowboards. At one point, our hero zooms off the side of the mountain towards a hovering helicopter, and manages to grab the landing skids on the bottom of the 'copter. As ever, Jackie shows the stunt from multiple angles and allows us to see that the stunt was 100% Chan.
10. Rumble in the Bronx (1995) - Alley Leap
Rumble in the Bronx was Jackie's second attempt to break into the US market, following an unsuccessful go in the early '80s. This time it worked, and would soon lead to American success with the Rush Hour movies. Sadly Jackie was never able to perform his own stunts in quite the same way when he hit Hollywood, but there are some flashes of the good stuff in this Vancouver-shot movie. The best moment sees him jump a 28-foot gap between tall buildings while being chased by villains--no harness, no wire, just skill and a bit of luck.
9. Who Am I? (1997) - Skyscraper Slide
This 1997 movie is hardly remembered as one of Jackie's best films, and at 43, the star was clearly slowing down when it came to pushing himself physically. But there's one scene which showed that the star could still deliver the dangerous goods. With villains hot on his trail, Jackie slides down the sloped glass side of Rotterdam's famous Willemswerf Building. He descends 21 stories, at one stage flipping up on his feet and repositioning himself headfirst, all the time moving forward at increasing speed. Plus, the different camera angles throughout the scene make it clear that he didn't just do the stunt once.
8. Winners and Sinners (1983) - Traffic Skating
Winners and Sinners saw Jackie team up with fellow action stars Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao for a silly action comedy. With the bigger cast and lighter tone, there's not quite as much room for many wild stunts. But there is a standout, in which Jackie navigates heavy traffic in a pair of rollerskates, weaving through the vehicles before skimming below the underside of a huge lorry.
7. Police Story (1985) - Bus Hanging
For many fans, Police Story was the movie that truly revealed the lengths to which Chan would push himself for sake of our entertainment. It's packed with insane sequences, and one of the best involves Chan hanging off the side of a speeding bus using just an umbrella. Not only that, but the scene ends with the bus coming to an abrupt halt, causing two villains on the top deck to crash out of the window. They were supposed to hit the parked car in front, but they fell short and instead smacked into the ground hard. And of course, Jackie chose to keep that take in the movie.
6. Drunken Master 2 (1994) - Hot Coal Crawl
In 1994, Jackie returned to the movie that helped make him a star, and delivered an incredible sequel to his '78 martial arts classic Drunken Master. It's very bit as good as the original, and features some of the greatest fight sequences of his career. The most eye-watering moment occurs towards the end, when our hero is knocked backwards into a pit of red-hot burning coals. Jackie crawls backwards through the pit using his bare hands as flames lick up around him, before climbing out and getting on with the action.
5. Armour Of God (1987) - Wall Jump
This wildly entertaining comedy adventure features one of Jackie's most notorious stunts, and the one that put him closest to death. In the opening sequence, Chan's treasure hunter character is attempting to escape a gang of angry natives. The stunt itself involved Jackie leaping from the ramparts of a castle wall to a tree, but while the first take went fine, ever the perfectionist, he demanded a retake so he could do it faster. This time however, the tree branch snapped, sending Jackie plummeting five meters to the ground. He cracked his skull on a rock and was airlifted to hospital where a piece of bone was removed from his brain in an emergency operation. Chan was left with a metal plate in his head, but he also included footage of the accident and its immediate aftermath in the outtakes at the end of the movie.
4. Police Story 3: Supercop (1993) - Helicopter Hanging
While the Police Story series has continued over the years, in terms of stunts, it peaked in 1993, with the third movie. As well as giving Michelle Yeoh her breakout role, it ends with a ridiculously dangerous-looking scene in which Jackie clutches a rope ladder, hanging from an airborne helicopter, which just keeps climbing higher and higher. Supercop indeed.
3. Police Story 2 (1988) - Bus Jump
Never one to do things the easy way, Jackie uses the top of a moving bus to gain access to a building in this sequel to the classic Police Story. First, he runs and leaps from the top of one bus to another. Next, as the vehicle speeds through traffic, Jackie spins and dives under several overhanging billboards before he jumps again, launching himself from the bus and through the huge glass window of a building. But as Chan later revealed, it was actually the wrong window: "Unfortunately, I chose the wrong window as my target, and instead of hitting prop glass, I smashed through a real pane. Which left me in real pain."
2. Project A (1983) - Clock Tower Fall
This riotous period adventure, in which Jackie faces down a gang of nasty pirates, is one of his best, most endearing movies. There's a ton of wild action, but while the best known scene is perhaps the exhilarating bicycle chase, the clock tower stunt is the craziest. Chan falls from a clocktower and drops three stories through two awnings, before hitting the ground. The scene was shot several times and Chan simply included two of the takes--you see him fall once, then we see it again, with his body twisting in a different, no less alarming way before slamming into the dirt. And then, just to prove that it's really him, without cutting away, we see Jackie stagger to his feet to deliver a silly joke.
1. Police Story (1985) - Pole Slide
The first Police Story saves the best for last, and in typical style, Jackie allows us to watch this stunt several times from different angles. During the final shopping mall-set final confrontation, Jackie descends from an upper level to the ground using a giant pole that covers the entire height of the mall. He slides all the way down it, smashing through dozens of electrified glass lights that are strung all the way down the pole, before finally crashing through a glass pane at the bottom. Without cutting away, Chan then grabs a shard of broken glass and races towards the main villain to arrest him. Unsurprisingly, the shocked man doesn't put up much of a fight.
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