Tough guy Jackie Chan has weaknesses and fears - just like the rest of us!

Plugging his latest flick in Beijing at the weekend, the evergreen high-kicking kungfu star revealed that while he'll risk life and limb in his pictures, in real life he's scared to get on a roller-coaster!

Even so, his worldwide fame is such that superstars like David Beckham still approach him for autographs.

The genial star, hoping to secure an even larger slice of the huge Chinese market with The Medallion, attended a special premiere in the capital at the Oriental Plaza Cinema.

It was the first time the Hollywood-based Chinese star had shown up at a mainland screening of one of his films in recent years.

The film is being released a week earlier in China than the rest of the world.

He said: "I came to do the premiere in Beijing, not because the plot caters more to the Chinese audience, but that I see there is a growing, big film market in China. My foreign partners also think so and want to tap this market more than ever."

Flashing his trademark grin, the star looked younger than his 49 years, kitted out in a snow-white vest covered with a short light sky blue Chinese-style gown.

He said: "Everywhere I go, I wear Chinese traditional clothes, for I am proud of being a Chinese. I hope to promote the Chinese culture as well." His massive following is reflected in an estimated 38,000 web sites.

Chan says he's happy to be recognized by people from all over the world: "I was happy to see that even people from Afghanistan and Iraq know me when they meet me in airports.

"I felt happy that stars like Beckham approached me asking for my autograph for his son."

Twenty years on, Chan is still pulling in the punters for his comedy-tinged action adventures. Yet it remains difficult to please everybody: "For example, Rush Hour was a hot seller in the United States, but it got a fairly cold response here in China," admitted Chan. "It is simply hard to cater to both western and eastern tastes at the same time."

Chan admitted too that he did not like the style of Rush Hour, even though the film brought him a breakthrough for his career in Hollywood.

That was also one of the main reasons why he decided to shoot his new film mainly in Hong Kong in co-operation with Chinese directors, although there are also scenes in Ireland and Thailand.

The Medallion, which cost a record-breaking HK$300 million (US$35 million), was invested by Emperor Multimedia Group.

Chan was happy to team up with his old friend Sammo Hung to choreograph the fight scenes. The action choreographer supported director Gordan Chan.

The film combines Chan's kungfu style with computer-generated, high-tech special effects designed by Hollywood experts from the Moving Picture Co (creators of effects in Harry Porter and the Sorcerer's Stone).

As in other films, in The Medallion, Chan's performance is the real thing - something he takes pride in, even as the years advance.

"I want all the moves to be real and look real - If I could not jump three inches, I'd jump one-and-a half inches; if I could not kick three kicks at a time, I'd kick one-and-a-half kicks. But always trying my best."

As always, Chan has been fearless while shooting. Yet he told the audience that in real life he is a very careful person: "I never park my car under a flyover, for fear that it might fall down to crush the car and me," he smiled. "I have never tried riding on a roller-coaster for fun, being afraid of any accidents, just in case.

"Yet once I enter the movie site, I am ready to do any move by myself. I have no fear at all because I know that the camera records everything. It does not matter to me if my arms or legs are broken then."

Adopting a healthy lifestyle, Chan refuses to take negative roles.

He explained: "There are quite a number of kids who are my fans, and I have to behave healthily for their sake."

He admitted to previous "bad boy" movies - in which he'd pull dirty, below-the-belt moves and curse. But he added: "Once a parent came to tell me that my movies were good but not suitable for his kids to view, I suddenly realized this and changed my behaviour for good."

The film sees Chan being rewarded with super powers after a good deed.

To cater to foreigners' tastes, British comic star Lee Evans teams up with the kungfu maestro.

Even so, initial reaction has been lukewarm. The plot seems a bit too easy, the action not as stunning as in times gone by and even the bad guy is unconvincing -despite harbouring intentions to control the world.

Chan, admitting that the genre has by now been well mined, frankly stated: "All I could say is that I have done my best."

The film is to be shown in Beijing cinemas from August 15.

(China Daily Aug 18, 2003)