While most A-listers won’t bother risking their lives for a movie, there are two formidable anomalies to this reasoning, and their dominance in showbiz has been second to none. Both Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise have deservedly earned the status of two of the greatest action stars of our time, with Cruise still excelling in the genre with his recent MI releases.
However, partaking in death-defying stunts isn’t the only characteristic that has pushed the duo to the top, especially the Hong Kong legend, as working in front of the lens isn’t his only strong suit.
Performing Death-Defying Stunts Isn’t the Only Thing Jackie Chan Excels At
Although risking his life to ensure fans’ entertainment is one of the most appealing aspects of his work, Jackie Chan’s brilliance isn’t limited to working in front of the camera. After being initially deemed the next Bruce Lee by fans, the Rush Hour Star was adamant about breaking the mold, as he started participating in other aspects of the filmmaking process. In an endeavor to create his own image, the actor exerted full control over his projects, which led him to often directing, producing, and even performing the theme songs for his movies, before breaking out in Hollywood.
Even though Tom Cruise also had a big say in his projects, following his stature in Hollywood, unlike Chan, he mostly let the experts do their jobs while he focuses on elevating his skills as a performer.
Tom Cruise Too Knows a Thing or Two About Singing in Movies
While Tom Cruise hasn’t stepped behind the cameras for any of his movies, like Jackie Chan, the actor does have adequate skills when it comes to singing. And one of the biggest testaments of his singing capabilities came in 2012’s Rock of Ages. Even though the film was one of the actor’s most critically panned works, it did witness Tom Cruise pulling off a wonderful job as Stacee Jaxx, the lead singer of the fictional rock band Arsenal.
With the help of autotune, the actor pulls solo duty on Paradise City and Pour Some Sugar on Me, while also lending his voice to a bunch of other songs in the musical comedy.
Words won’t do justice to Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise’s impact on showbiz. And even though Chan seems to be done with performing life-threatening stunts on a regular basis, his accomplishments over the years continue to inspire millions around the globe.
Source: Ogilvy Asia
