Jackie Chan’s Sleeper Kung-Fu Western Hit Features 1 of the Wildest Saloon Fights of All-Time

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Westerns have always borrowed from other genres, whether it’s through supernatural elements in films like Pale Rider, comedies such as Blazing Saddles and Shanghai Noon, or other combinations. By mixing with these different themes, Westerns can attract a wider audience than more dramatic films like Hostiles. A particularly unusual example is a comedy Western starring Jackie Chan that came out twenty-five years ago.

Jackie Chan became famous for his exciting action and thriller movies in Hong Kong. He then successfully transitioned to Hollywood, quickly gaining a large American fanbase. Like Bruce Lee before him, Chan became known for blending stories about different cultures with fun, action-packed films. One of his most unusual roles was in Shanghai Noon, where he combined his martial arts skills with a Western setting alongside Owen Wilson.

Shanghai Noon Was A Western For Rush Hour Fans

I remember when Jackie Chan really broke through with American audiences – it was the late 90s! He’d already been gaining fans with films like Rumble in the Bronx, which was so fun because it played with the humor of different cultures clashing. That really set the stage for the Rush Hour movies, and that trilogy is what made him a huge star here.

Following the success of his first buddy cop film, he used a similar approach when he took on the role in the 2000 movie Shanghai Noon. Paired with the popular comedic actor Owen Wilson, he delivered a performance that many consider to be one of his most underrated comedies.

In Shanghai Kid, Jackie Chan plays Chon Wang, a royal guard tasked with protecting the Chinese royal family. When Princess Pei Pei is kidnapped while trying to reach the American West, Chon joins the group sent to rescue her. Once they arrive, they’re ambushed by a gang of outlaws led by the refined Roy O’Bannon. After the gang’s plans fall apart, they abandon O’Bannon, leading him to unexpectedly reunite with the heroic Chon Wang.

Roy and Chon form an unexpected friendship when Roy agrees to help Chon on his mission, hoping to get a share of the reward money. Their journey brings them into conflict with a dishonest sheriff, Nathan Van Cleef, who is secretly working with the person holding the princess captive. Throughout this, Chon, who is trusting and inexperienced, is forced to learn some difficult lessons about who he can rely on.

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of stories about people thrown into unfamiliar worlds, and this film definitely follows that tradition. It takes its hero, initially a very traditional warrior – they call him the Shanghai Kid – and slowly molds him to fit this new, wild landscape. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of films like Blazing Saddles – it’s got that same energy and finds a lot of its fun in the rough-and-tumble frontier setting.

Shanghai Noon Delivered An Unforgettable Saloon Fight

Saloon brawls are a classic climax in Western films – think of movies like Unforgiven or Rio Bravo. Shanghai Noon puts a unique spin on this tradition. When a card game is rigged and Jackie Chan’s character exposes the cheat, a simple bar fight explodes into a spectacular Kung-fu battle. Tables flip, fists fly, and Chan showcases his incredible martial arts skills as everyone fights for themselves, creating an action-packed scene for viewers.

Rather than a serious, tense showdown, this scene leans into the wacky and humorous side of the Old West, quickly growing from a personal fight between two people into a chaotic brawl involving everyone in the saloon. It feels less like a traditional Western and more like a hilarious clip from Blazing Saddles, becoming even more enjoyable with each watch. Just seeing the character Chan show off his martial arts skills is captivating and perfectly captures the lighthearted spirit of the whole movie in a few minutes.

Saloon scenes are a classic part of many films, often showcasing a town’s most troublesome individuals. In serious movies, a well-executed tense showdown can define the scene’s success. In Shanghai Noon, director Tom Dey benefits from impressive fight choreography and a more playful approach to the genre, letting both him and the actors enjoy the sequence.

It’s rare to see a Western quite like this – think Jackie Chan doing incredible stunts, like swinging through a saloon and kicking bad guys, while Owen Wilson gets caught in a brawl. The scene, capped off by Xander Berkeley’s arrival, is a real treat for fans of both Kung-Fu and classic Westerns.

Shanghai Noon is a Love-Letter to Classic Westerns

Shanghai Noon openly celebrates classic Western films, borrowing heavily from their familiar storylines, characters, and themes. The movie’s plot is particularly inspired by a story of a Polish Jewish man, played by Gene Wilder, who travels to America to become a rabbi in San Francisco.

He encounters a good-natured thief, portrayed by a young Harrison Ford, who strongly resembles Owen Wilson’s character in another film. The similarities between the two are obvious to anyone who’s seen both movies.

This movie delivers everything a Western fan could want. It hits all the classic notes – encounters with Native Americans, a thrilling train robbery, and a final showdown – all while beautifully capturing the American landscape. Even the traditional saloon brawl gets a fun, fresh twist, blending the energy of Kung-Fu with the film’s comedic style.

The movie’s title is a reference to the classic Western High Noon. The villain, Nathan Van Cleef, is also a deliberate echo of that film. This movie was also an early Western role for Walton Goggins, a genre he’s become well-known for in shows and films like Justified, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, and Fallout.

Shanghai Noon is a fun movie that cleverly mixes parody, buddy comedy, and action – it even shares a story element with The Mask of Zorro. The film uses the classic ‘rescue the princess’ plot, and it works really well, authentically capturing both Western and Eastern cultures. Despite being somewhat overlooked, it’s a genuinely enjoyable film.

Shanghai Noon Came Along at the Perfect Time

The Western film genre experienced a major shift in the 1990s, essentially ending one era while simultaneously starting another. Traditional gunslinger stories seemed to conclude, creating space for new approaches. While films like Tombstone and Dances With Wolves offered familiar Westerns, the decade ultimately saw more innovative and unusual films take center stage. These movies, such as Wild Wild West, Ravenous, From Dusk Till Dawn, and The Mask of Zorro, moved away from the serious tone of past Westerns and paved the way for a variety of new subgenres and styles.

The year 2000, marking the turn of the millennium, saw a wave of creative films. Shanghai Noon was part of this trend, capitalizing on the growing popularity of over-the-top comedy that started in the late 90s, and featuring a winning combination of fresh faces and established stars.

Tom Dey’s film arrived at a great time, as a fresh wave of Westerns was emerging that aimed to offer audiences something different. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson were a perfect fit for this new Kung-Fu Western style, and Shanghai Noon cleverly built on the popularity of Rush Hour.

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2025-12-09 02:45