Playing Bad Guy

Superstar Jackie Chan usually avoids controversy as nimbly as he dodges flying fists. But when he commented recently on Taiwan's tumultuous presidential election, he executed an unrehearsed pratfall. Talking to reporters in Shanghai, Chan called the election "the biggest joke in the world." In Taiwan, Chan's remarks got supporters of President Chen Shui-bian to stop debating the poll results and focus on savaging Jackie instead. "Old people should retire," vented one furious participant on an Internet bulletin board. "Chan looks limp and wrinkled, lacking proper manners in his 50s." Wrote another: "He's an ignorant person making ignorant comments, and a poor...