This document provides a compare and contrast essay analyzing the two Jackie Chan films "Little Big Soldier" and "Chinese Zodiac (CZ12)". It summarizes the genres, storylines, characters, atmospheres, and endings of each film. The genres of both films include action, adventure, and comedy. "Little Big Soldier" tells the historical story of a soldier capturing an enemy general, while "CZ12" is about recovering stolen Chinese zodiac heads. The characters and endings depicted in each film also differ, with "Little Big Soldier" providing a sadder conclusion. Overall, the document analyzes the similarities and differences between these two Jackie Chan action-comedy films.

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
NAME: LEE LIN HUI
STUDENT ID NO: 0322797
FILMS SELECTED: LITTLE BIG SOLDIER & CHINESE ZODIAC
WORD COUNT: 973 WORDS
ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY
LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA
SUBMISSIONDATE: 1st
OCTOBER2015

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Based on action-comedy films that I have watched, first actor who come in my
mind is Jackie Chan. Yes, the Chinese Actor who took different kinds of action movie
with comedy as well. Although JC(Jackie Chan) produced 100 films and most of his
films are really memorable and I found two of his films which related to my essay
required. In this essay I will be comparing two films, “Little Big Soldier” and “CZ12”. I will
discuss the storyline, the genres of the films and ending. I will also look at the
characters, atmosphere of films created and the target of film’s audience.
First of all, a frequent contrast from movies nowadays is the genre in movies.
Genres are categories of movies that consist of action, comedy, adventurous, etc. This
shows what the movie is basically about or what style it will be throughout the film.
According to IMDd, Little Big Soldier and CZ12, both of them are action, adventure and
comedy film. CZ12 shows these genres mean the film relies on action and humor to
make audience burst in to laughter while also sticking to being a bonding movie with
morals & life lessons that the whole family can enjoy viewing it together. Conversely,
Little Big Soldier obviously shows a historical storyline and the language used which
targeted towards older audience or audience who are interested on history epic films. It
also sticking to introducing the morals and life lessons – living in peaceful life compare
to CZ12 shares the perseveration on country’s civilization. Recent films of history
battlewards will often suffer from uninspired photography and cheap-looking sets and
costumes, but it is definitely not the case here. “Little Big Soldier” almost filmed totally
outdoors in stunning scenery locations, it never feels anything less than completely real.
However, “CZ12” seems more to a good commercial films as it have stunning high-tech
costumes, big fights along the film and stars acting completely surround for the story. It
really disappointed some of the Jackie Chan’s fans like me as it did not surprising and
looks like Chinese version of James Bond films.
Let’s talk about the storyline. “Little Big Soldier” tells the story of a result of
playing dead on the battlefield and a survived foot soldier from Liang captured a living
defending young general from country Wei. The soldier began the journey back Liang
Country with the general (Prince of Wei) hoping to use the enemy as his ticket to
freedom – by handing the general to warlord, soldier could be remit from war and return
to his hometown with rewards for peaceful life. Then, two men started loggerheads
during the journey back to Liang Country. Meanwhile, “CZ12” also known as Chinse
Zodiac tells about a global treasure hunter and his team set out on a quest to find a
collection of stolen zodiac busts (12 bronze heads) that looted by European soldiers
from Beijing Summer Palace during middle of nineteenth century. When the wealthy
antiques businessman collector offers a temptation reward for recovery of zodiac busts,
the hunter raced to find all the bronze heads back to ensure the China’s history is
preserved. In a contrast, “Little Big Solder” shows the historical battle epics, a buddy

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road movie and easily understandable whereas “CZ12” shows the high-tech gadgets
and give the adventurous feeling to audience. Both show difference theme although
they are in the same genre.
Next, a good movie should show specific characteristic and control the number of
actors involved. A good character will make the audience remember the film they have
watched. Besides, number of actors in a film is important too. For example, film like
“CZ12” have more than 10 actors in the movie will make the audience confused and
less interested compare to “Little Big Soldier” who only main focus on 2 actors that can
easily show the characteristic of a character and understand storyline as well. JC as the
main character, in two different films shown different characteristics. In “Little Big
Soldier”, JC plays as foot soldier who seems to be die and play tricks on battlefield. He
is wistful, unassuming dream of owning his farm and living peaceful which shows the
privilege to be a “little man”. In a contrast, in “CZ12”, Jackie Chan plays as a treasure
hunter who is greedy, friendship but have patriotism and justice in this mind. The two
characters show the different contrast; soldier shows the farmer who dreams to live in a
peaceful life and hunter shows brave of a treasure hunter, willing to sacrifices life to get
the antiques for nation civilization.
Last but not least, the ending of two films give different feeling. A sad ending
makes audience easier to remember. The sad story ending happens in “Little Big
Soldier”. The film ends with the soldier dies in his country after let go the general. The
soldier dies as he found his country have already counter by another country and he
was shocked and refused to surrender thus killed by the new country soldiers.
Conversely, “CZ12” have the happy ending. The films ends with the hunter, JC and his
hunter team save the zodiac bronze from the entrepreneur and return it to China. The
reason why sad ending will be easier to be memorable because it does not fulfil
people’s ending hope – live happily forever.
As conclusion, Little Big Soldier and CZ12 have differences because different
people who enjoy different storylines or genres, either ancient or modern story.
However, I personally think people should watch more movie like Little Big Soldier
which really inspired and entertaining by JC’s wonderful performance and gain great life
lesson – “My father told me, nothing is better than alive” compare to CZ12 is more to
commercial film with difference actors acting and unrealistic scenes. No doubt that
Jackie Chan known as best known film star ever.

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References:
1. Rotten Tomatoes, Little Big Soldier (2011), retrieved 20 September 2015, from
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/little-big-
soldier/?search=little%20big%20soldier
2. IMDb, Jackie Chan biography, retrieved 23 September 2015, from
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000329/
3. IMDb, Little Big Soldier (2010) from IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1319718/
4. IMDb, Chinese Zodiac (2012) from IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424310/
5. Twitch, Little Big Soldier Review by James Marsh. Retrieved February 5, 2010,
from http://twitchfilm.com/2010/02/little-big-soldier-review.html
6. The Hollywood Reporter, Little Big Soldier – Film Review by Maggie Lee.
Retrieved October 14, 2010, from:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/little-big-soldier-film-review-29363
7. Flixist, CZ12 (Chinese Zodiac) by Hubert Vigilla. Retrieved October 18, 2013,
from http://www.flixist.com/review-cz12-chinese-zodiac--216599.phtml