It tells the story of an archeology professor, played by Chan, who discovers mysterious antiquities that transport him to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-9), where he fights to protect his country and embarks on a romantic journey.
A big selling point and a major technological leap in the film is the use of AI technology to digitally alter Chan’s face, presenting him as the 27-year-old version of himself.
Film director Stanley Tong Kwai-lai welcomed the technological advances.
“AI technology has broken the limitations of traditional special effects, bringing endless possibilities to filmmaking, it allows actors to relive their youthful days.”
Yu Dong, the film’s producer and CEO of Bona Film Group said that the use of AI makes the story more realistic and engaging.
“It’s the perfect combination of technology and cinema,” Yu said.
The producer also confirmed this A legend would be Jackie Chan’s best film in a decade.
Chan, 70, is a globally recognized Chinese film icon and martial arts master. He has a string of accolades, including an honorary Oscar he won in 2016, under his belt.
However, his recent films have not been met with critical acclaim and recent photos on social media have led some to comment on his age.
The innovation effort using AI technology in A legend similarly failed to impress.
Some online observers said the “rejuvenated” Chan looked more like his son, Jaycee Fong Jo-ming, than the younger one.
Many say the technology makes Chan seem unnatural and unable to convey emotion properly, sometimes inadvertently turning serious scenes into comedy.
“Sorry, but this AI is very distracting. When Zhang Yixing dies in the ancient setting, Jackie Chan’s AI face looks like he’s smiling. It made the whole cinema laugh,” said one commentator.
The film’s heavy reliance on artificial intelligence has also raised suspicions of overuse of stunts.
Some people defended Chan by sharing behind-the-scenes footage of him wearing armor and riding a horse, demonstrating his active participation in the film.
Others, however, offered images of the duo used for long shots as evidence of his “laziness”.
“An older actor using a stuntman for dangerous scenes is acceptable, but if audiences buy tickets expecting to see 70-year-old Jackie Chan perform stunts, only to be introduced to a new-faced duo of digitally altered, they will feel cheated,” said one critic.
The film’s Chinese distributor declined to comment on the controversy when approached by the Post.
Meanwhile, the production continues to face criticism.
“Not only is there an AI Jackie Chan, but also a Zhang Yixing enhanced by plastic surgery. With the female character choosing Chan over Zhang in the romantic love line, the film really illustrates that AI is replacing humans,” said one critic.
While another added: “This is a failed film experiment with AI and proves that AI cannot replace real acting. It lacks any sense of vitality.”
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