The Myth

An aging scientist named Jack Chan is asked by a colleague to locate the mausoleum of China's first emperor. As he searches, a cascade of vivid visions drags the present into a real past, suggesting that history is not distant but unfolding around him. These images feel more than dreams, hinting at lost chambers and long buried explanations. Jack teams with Korea Princess Ok Soo and Professor Koo to chase clues that zigzag across time and space, mixing practical science with a touch of mythic mystery. Rival factions close in, and the quest becomes a collision between ambition, memory, and a legacy that could change everything people think they know about the Qin dynasty. Each clue tests trust and courage as the past peels back.

Directed by Stanley Tong and Gwai-Lai, The Myth blends martial arts spectacle with fantasy adventure. Based on material by Li Haishu and Wang Huiling, 2005 production carried a budget 15 million dollars and featured Jackie Chan in a dual role.

Critics praised Jackie Chan's energy and the film's high octane set pieces, while noting the movie sometimes struggles with tonal shifts between slapstick and serious drama. The core idea centers on how science and myth can intersect, turning a globe spanning treasure hunt into a meditation on history, memory, and the value of looking beyond the obvious. Kim Hee-seon and Tony Leung Ka-fai bring nuance to the lighter and heavier sections, giving the film emotional counterpoints to Chan's kinetic energy.

While not regarded as a landmark, The Myth sits among Jackie Chan’s cross genre collaborations that attempted to bridge East and West storytelling. Its multinational cast and blend of action, humor and fantasy reflect an era of big scale co productions and audience appetite for globe hopping adventures. Its visual effects and cross-cultural cast became a talking point in discussions of Chinese action cinema's collaboration with Hollywood styles.