March 24, 2000

by Veronica Mixon

Li is one of several Hong Kong movie transplants that have migrated to US shores in the last couple of years. Like John Woo, Chow Yun Fat and Jackie Chan, Jet Li looked west as Mainland China sought control over Hong Kong business. By coming to American, they could continue to have artistic freedom as well as make contact with their enormous fan base.

Producer Joel Silver, the man who brought us the mega-hit, "The Matrix" did an intriguing thing. He persuaded Jet Li to appear as the ice-cool villain in "Lethal Weapon 4" and he stole the movie - even though he was not happy about playing a bad guy.

Jet Li

"Chinese audience know Jet Li and don't want to see the character I play die in the movie," Jet Li explained when I met him in New York. "So, naturally, that part was hard for me. A lot of people approached me on the street and said, 'Oh, you were so mean!' In my real life, I'm very nice, normal guy. So, it was hard."

The 38-year-old actor, who was born Li Lin Gei, is a shy man in person and he's picking up English very fast. Even now, it's obvious that although American audiences loved his performance as the Asian crime lord in "Lethal Weapon 4," he's still uncomfortable with any role that might suggest he's evil. Silver says that Li only took the part because the producer assured him that a more heroic role would be his, too. So, Jet Li is eager for everyone to see him in "Romeo Must Die."

Jet Li in "Romeo Must Die"

"Romeo Must Die" is a fast-paced Hip-Hop action thriller that effective mixes Black and Chinese culture. In the film, Li comes to America after his brother is murdered and meets a beautiful woman played by Rap singing star, Aaliyah. Their families - one Chinese and one African American - are at war but these two form a close bond that upsets everyone's plans. There is one spectacular scene where Jet uses Aaliyah's body to fight a woman assassin. It is one of several well-choreographed martial arts fight scenes that will draw fans back to the theater again and again.

"Aaliyah was so very charming, very talented," said Li. "It was her first time acting but she's very natural, better than me. She did a wonderful job."

Li was born in Beijing and enrolled in the Beijing Amateur Sports School for wushu training at the age of eight. In 1974, during a world tour, he performed for President Nixon on the White House lawn. Director Hsin Yen for the film, "Shaolin Temple", discovered him. This movie and its two sequels propelled him into instant stardom. His leap into the Hong Kong film industry came with the critically acclaimed box office smash, "Once Upon a Time in China."

Joel Silver says he first noticed Li on imported laser discs that someone brought to his office. "They didn't even have subtitles so I didn't know what the hell I was watching. But, when I saw 'Once Upon a Time in China', I never forgot it," explained Silver. "Research shows that Jet has tremendous urban appeal. The urban audience is very intrigued with Jet, liked everything he did and while essentially, these are young male oriented movies, Jet Li can cross over to young females, too."

This fact especially pleases Li. "I like Hip Hop music a lot. Putting martial arts and the Hip Hop together was perfect because the rhythm and the timing of both is so fast."

Now residing in Los Angeles, Li plans to continue working with American filmmakers. He's teaming with Mel Gilbson's company, Icon and will be producing the martial arts action film, "Invincible."

"What I like most about America is it's simple and easy. Chinese will have lunch and maybe, have 30 kinds of food on the table," he says. "So complicated. American culture is easy. You get a hamburger, pay for it and leave. We need a mix of simple in martial arts."