Martial Arts Movies

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

Lately, I feel like I hijacked the Foreign Film thread with kung fu films when it shouldn't be so singular. For that reason, I thought it was about time for a separate thread for this topic (which seems to include a few of us here).




So, here it is. The thread for Martial Arts Movies. Here we can discuss this wide range of movies. News, reviews, debate. Kung Fu, Karate, or brawler, come here. As far as I'm concerned, this can be whatever you want: wushu (wire epics), wuxia (kung fu), karate, samurai, ninja. From Kirosawa to the Shaw Brothers. From Bruce Lee to Jet Li. From Gordon Liu to Van Damme. Sonny Chiba to Chuck Norris.

[JohnnyV Pictionary Master Find all posts View Profile Close JohnnyV]

I recently watched the IP Man movies, and loved them. Probably the best martial art flicks I've seen since Chocolate, a great Pinkaew Thai martial arts film.

I really wish Tony Jaa would get back into his movie making form, I thought he was one of the most impressive martial artists actors ever. With his turns in the first Ong Bak and Protector. Some of those stunts he pulled off just didn't look like they could be possible by any human.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979)

"Once a whore, always a whore."

So, this kung fu (with a little ninja thrown in) flick was in my queue but I moved it up at Tazer's request. The interesting part about it is that it's an early John Woo movie but against his type (not a single gun!). It feels more like your standard (though upper tier) 70s wuxia flicks and that may be appropriate since he was purposely styled it after Cheng Cheh and to a lesser extent Akira Kurosawa. Nonetheless, some trademark Wooisms appear like slow motion, swelling music, the double agent, and attention-getting scene transitions (including slow wipes).

I recently watched the IP Man movies, and loved them. . .

Those are in my Instant Queue. Now that I have some time to watch them, I'll have to do so.

[Tazer That Evil, Yellow Bastiche Find all posts View Profile Close Tazer]

Yo.

*does a sliding "No Shadow Kick" into the thread....*

ok, if were gonna do this thread, then lets do it right.........HERES A MINI-POLL!!

who do U think would win in both a movie fight and IRL: Chuck Norris or Sonny Chiba?






Tazer

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

You like that pairing?

Movie fight? My guess would be Chiba would get cast as the baddie and lose (perhaps winning an early "round). Really life? In their prime? Maybe Chiba. He'd probably fight dirty.

[Frank Castle Alpha-Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Castle]

In my school days all I did was watch loads of kung fu tapes from my local rental shop. This thread should be good, I know theirs quite a few into this. I don't know where to start....hmmm.

Heroic Trio

An invisible woman is kidnapping newborn babies who are destined to be emperors and delivering them to the mysterious subterranean supernatural Evil Master. The police are powerless, and the city must be saved by three very different women who share a terrible past. Anita Mui plays the mild-mannered wife of a police inspector who is also the mask-wearing, sword-slinging and knife-throwing crime fighter, Wonder Woman. Maggie Cheung plays the shotgun-toting, hard-boiled bounty hunter, Thief Catcher. Michelle Yeoh is Invisible Girl, the troubled but determined strong right arm of the Evil Master.

It's probably my favourite fantasy (wushu) kung fu flick. I think if you're into superhero stuff you might like it as well. I remember the FX in there were pretty good for there time, and you can perhaps still appreciate it now. Visually the film is almost like a dream state, it's hard to explain, but it works great, it's just a fun movie with over the top fight scenes, but it all works. It is choreographed by Siu-Tung Ching (A Chinese Ghost Story, A Better Tomorrow 2, Swordsman 2 and many more) This guy knows how to make wire fu great. I tend to stay away from wire fu, but when he does it, I don't mind it.

Yes there is a sequel to this as well, but I didn't find it as good, but it's by no means crap. I'll save that for another time.

who do U think would win in both a movie fight and IRL: Chuck Norris or Sonny Chiba?

You see this is the problem with dream fights, I don't want the other guy to lose, I'd say it ends in a draw with a giant building falling between them and they just glare at each other and go off in there own directions, kind of like Godzilla vs King Kong

[Tazer That Evil, Yellow Bastiche Find all posts View Profile Close Tazer]

Yo.

You see this is the problem with dream fights, I don't want the other guy to lose, I'd say it ends in a draw with a giant building falling between them and they just glare at each other and go off in there own directions, kind of like Godzilla vs King Kong

BOOOOOOOOO!!! Frank is a no-good poll-ruining spoilsport!!




Tazer

[Sylent_Asassin Black Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Sylent_Asassin]

I like Tony Jaa's flicks, but the stories are usually weak, borderlining on ridiculous while the sparring action is top notch.

One underrated martial arts flick is Showdown in little Tokoyo. Too bad Brandon Lee died. He could have made a huge footprint in the world of martial arts flicks.



Everyone seems to forget that Wesley Snipes is an accomplished martial artist. Art of War was pretty good.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

Heroic Trio

Everything you said about that sounded cool. Just added it to Instant Netflix. Hmm. I had other plans for tonight, but maybe I'll change them.

...I tend to stay away from wire fu, but when he does it, I don't mind it.

I used to shun them (grew up on Bruce-Lee style), but I've come to incorporate them for what they're worth. Nowadays, it's more about mood. Do I feel in the mood for a balls-to-the-wall fist fight or am I in the more dreamy, balletic sword opera mood? I'll unashamedly own up to having Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Hero; House of Flying Daggers; and Iron Monkey in my collection.
There's also the "problem" that wire vs. no wire isn't that clear cut. For most of Shaw Brothers of early Golden Harvest, for instance, they'd use wires sparingly, but no one would call those movies wushu or wire epics.

I don't want the other guy to lose, I'd say it ends in a draw with a giant building falling between them and they just glare at each other and go off in there own directions, kind of like Godzilla vs King Kong

I know what you mean. Even in Return of the Dragon, I kind of hate to see Norris lose despite the fact that he's bad and I like Bruce Lee 10 times more.

One underrated martial arts flick is Showdown in little Tokoyo. Too bad Brandon Lee died. He could have made a huge footprint in the world of martial arts flicks.

Hmm. I vaguely remember seeing that when it was new. I'll have to check it out again. Yes, that was a sad loss. He didn't get to prove his heritage as well as he should have.

Everyone seems to forget that Wesley Snipes is an accomplished martial artist. Art of War was pretty good.

Not me (despite not listing him in post 1). The dude has something like 7 black belts. If you ever get a chance to listen to the Blade commentaries, you'll find out just how knowledgeable he is in martial arts and fight choreography.

[Frank Castle Alpha-Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Castle]

Originally Posted by Space Cop
Everything you said about that sounded cool. Just added it to Instant Netflix. Hmm. I had other plans for tonight, but maybe I'll change them.

Yeah that's cool, I hope you like it, when you watch it, post in here what you thought.

Originally Posted by Space Cop
I used to shun them (grew up on Bruce-Lee style), but I've come to incorporate them for what they're worth. Nowadays, it's more about mood. Do I feel in the mood for a balls-to-the-wall fist fight or am I in the more dreamy, balletic sword opera mood?

I think that's pretty much spot on. I think I much prefer the hard hitting stuff, the wire fu seems to be paper thin punches and hits, with people floating rather than been moved by extreme force after a massive punch.

Brandon Lee was a better actor than his Dad. It's just nobody has that on screen presence that Bruce had. Of course it's shame that they both died. I remember liking Rapid Fire, haven't seen that in years, but will have to give that and Showdown in little Tokoyo a watch sometime soon.

Wesley Snipes is great, and hopefully with him out from prison, he will start kicking more ass in new movies starting with Expendables 3.

If you want to talk about under rated martial art stars then Mark Dacascos is the winner. How this guy isn't bigger news I dont know. Cradle 2 the Grave, Crying Freeman, Only the Strong, these are all great action movies. Then we have the cream of the bunch, Drive. Easily for me one of the best action movies ever made. Yes I'm putting it up there with DieHard, Lethal Weapon, Hard Boiled etc. It's got everything you want from an action/kung fu movie. So it's budget is not as big, but big deal, the film is pure awesome.

+ YouTube Video

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

This came up on YouTube recommendations, so I watched it.

Raiders of Wu Tang (1983)



Includes a lot of familiar kung fu tropes, but they're used better elsewhere. The rather ridiculous premise here is that a secret room in the Shaolin Temple with mechanical horses would teach one to be unstoppable.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

The Heroic Trio (1993)

Yeah that's cool, I hope you like it, when you watch it, post in here what you thought.

Took me a little longer, but I did get to watch it. It was OTT and outrageous, but also fun. It would've been nice if they did a sequel. The characters (Mercy was my favorite) have a lot of potential.

[Frank Castle Alpha-Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Frank Castle]

Took me a little longer, but I did get to watch it. It was OTT and outrageous, but also fun. It would've been nice if they did a sequel. The characters (Mercy was my favorite) have a lot of potential.

They did do a sequel. It's called The Executioners. It's been some years since I watched it, but I remember I did not like it as much. If I remember right, it was a little more serious than the first. It still has OTT moments though. Worth checking out for sure if you want more from that universe.

How about that bit in Heroic Trio with the bike and train? Crazy or what? As I said very impressive effects for the time.

[Space Cop The Dandy Find all posts View Profile Close Space Cop]

They did do a sequel. It's called The Executioners. It's been some years since I watched it, but I remember I did not like it as much. If I remember right, it was a little more serious than the first. It still has OTT moments though. Worth checking out for sure if you want more from that universe.

Cool. I'll look for it. I always start with lower expectations for the sequel anyway.

How about that bit in Heroic Trio with the bike and train? Crazy or what? As I said very impressive effects for the time.

Yeah. I liked the bit where Mercy is introduced, throws some firecrackers (or whatever) in a garbage can, and rides it like a rocket to take out the hostage takers.

As far as fights, the one between Tung and Mercy where the baby is always in their hands or the air was impressive.

[GreenLantern2816 Guy's Drinking Buddy Find all posts View Profile Close GreenLantern2816]

My favorites - The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Shaolin Challenges Ninja, 5 Deadly Venoms, Kill & Kill Again & of course Revenge of the Ninja.