Kung Fu
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- DirectorLieh LoStarsChia-Hui LiuLieh LoLung-Wei WangThe monk Hung Wen-Ting fights against the evil priest White Lotus.
- DirectorJoseph KuoStarsJack LongYi-Min LiKuan-Wu LungSupposedly dead, embittered former official, The Ghost Face Killer has returned and seeking revenge on those martial arts masters than once opposed him - his name is infamous and his Five Elements fighting style is deadly. Meanwhile, young Ah Pao joins a martial arts school in order to become a great fighter in order to take revenge on the man who killed his father. He gets very good quickly but timing is everything and his arrival at the school in relation to the return of the Ghost Face Killer sees him suspected of being connected and thus put out of the school. He falls under the tutelage of an elderly chess master in the town while all the time the focus of his vengeance kills his way closer and closer.
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsFeng LuSheng ChiangChien SunCritically acclaimed director Chang Cheh has The Five Venoms turn Shaolin fighters as they challenge the authority of the evil Chings in Invincible Shaolin. Per usual, the fights will knock your socks off.
- DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Hui LiuLieh LoYue WongA man studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government."skills worthy of a general, he should then fight with me , one to one, man to man "
It still is a masterpiece. After all these years. I went from bootleg copy to , the proper release by dragon dynasty.
produced by Shaw brothers
This film starring Gordon liu , lo lieh , directed by Lau kar leung.
is about how the monk san te, went from a student nobody, to being found almost dead on his way to shaolin. Just to learn kung fu, in order to fight the tyrant govt of the Qing.
It shows his success and failure as he takes on the legendary 36 chambers, with determination.
Weather you watched it dubbed or normal cantonese, doesant matter. both ways its a classic.
It needs to be watched simple..., - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsBiao YuenChing-Ying LamSammo Kam-Bo HungA young man discovers that his reputation as a fearsome martial artist is manufactured by his rich father, after meeting a real martial arts master, who's also a master thespian, and is determined to apprentice under him to learn kung fu.Directed by sammo hung , produced by golden harvest.
This film showed wing chun kung fu at its best. The acting , the story , the cast was just brilliant. Not a boring part in this movie.
It showed the quality of the operas, martial artist of the time.
It starred yuen biao , and lam ching ying, who played the true teacher. It showed a teacher student relationship, and reasons to why the student such as yuen biao would want to learn.
The film tackles, ego , arrogance , compassion , forgivness and vengeance.
A masterpiece of its time. - DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsJackie ChanSiu-Tin YuenJeong-lee HwangWong Fei-Hung is a mischievous yet righteous young man, but after a series of incidents his frustrated father has him disciplined by a master of drunken martial arts." kung fu hahah hey ........... looks more like dancing"
Whats to stay , it gave jackie chan more stardom, it was funny, it was exciting, it had style.
simon yuen literally carried the film at times, and the great villain played by huang jang lee - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng ChiangChien SunPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThe sixth and final pupil of a dying martial arts teacher is instructed to find the teacher's five former pupils and defeat any evil ones that are among them.The cult classic itself.
one teacher 5 students with masks who dont know each others identity. And experts in kung fu .
says it all. - DirectorWilson YipStarsDonnie YenSimon YamSiu-Wong FanDuring the Japanese invasion of China, a wealthy martial artist is forced to leave his home when his city is occupied. With little means of providing for themselves, Ip Man and the remaining members of the city must find a way to survive.I know this is a more later one , But its a great film and deserves to be in the top 10 .
starring donnie yen , in one of his best performances, as bruce lees teacher - DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Hui LiuYuka MizunoYasuaki KurataA Chinese man (Liu) marries a Japanese woman through an arranged marriage and manages to insult all of her Japanese martial arts family by issuing a challenge to her that is misinterpreted by the others. He must then prove how good Chinese Kung Fu really is through a series of duels with the seven Japanese martial artists who come to meet the challenge.Heroes of the east
, AKA Shaolin challenges ninja
starring , gordon liu,
directed by lau kar leung
SHAW BROTHERS - DirectorChung SunStarsSheng FuLung TiFeng KuChi Ming-sing is a former disciple of a gang run by overlord Yoh Xi-hung. Yoh's disciples hunt Chi relentlessly as he travels on a soul-searching journey. He comes to the aid of a seemingly bumbling man who hardly takes even life-threatening scenes seriously. The man Chi saved starts following him on the road, explaining that he's looking for someone who committed a grievous, unforgivable wrong. As the two travel on the road, it starts to become clear that Chi's companion is more than he seems: he's actually a very skilled martial artist, and his boots contain short blades that he can attach to his sleeves. Chi finally tells his companion his story: he's seeking out a renowned swordsman named Cheuk Yi-fan... not to kill him, but to die at his hand. Chi is haunted of the last job he did with the gang, slaughtering many of Cheuk's family and friends... and Chi himself slew Cheuk's pregnant wife. Chi's companion agrees to help Chi with his mission. But when the two arrive at Yoh's stronghold intent on killing him, Yoh recognizes Chi's companion as none other than Cheuk Yi-fan himself. Will Chi and Cheuk be able to remain together against Yoh's formidable fighting style, or will Yoh succeed at dividing and conquering his foes?starring Ti Lung and Alexander fu sheng.
The story and action was stunning. It shows TI lung a heartless killer , trained to feel no remorse or feelings for anything. The clan hes part of is a clan with no emotions. Alex fu sheng is on the trial of the gang. However we see a change to TI lung charachter as he begins to develop emotions, and decides to destroy the clan.
a definite top 10 due to its originality, action. Balance, and character development , thanks to a great cast including the main antagonist who is one of the best of hong kong cinema , Ku Feng. - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsKa-Yan LeungHo WangSammo Kam-Bo HungA bank cashier discovers a plot to kill the mayor. His attempt to warn the mayor is foiled, and he almost gets killed, but a mumbling Shaolin disciple rescues him and takes him to his master to teach him a formidable form of kung fu.Warriors Two
Sammo hungs classic on wing chun , and stars casonava wong.
Classic golden harvest - DirectorChang-hwa JeongStarsLieh LoPing WangHsiung ChaoAs two martial arts schools prepare for an important tournament, one school's master is a dishonorable man, and to ensure his son wins the title, he hires three Japanese samurais, who target the rival school's best fighter.KING BOXER , AKA FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH
starring Lo lieh ,
produced by Shaw brothers
This was one of the films which really took kung fu films to the west. It still today is a brillaint film , You can get the dragon dynasty dvd , with quentin tarantinos commentery on the amount of influence he took from this film . A pure gem.
and if youve seen kill bill. then you should definetly give this a watch. - DirectorTso Nam LeeStarsAlexander Rei LoShan CharngHui-Yun LiSkilled fighter Sung Li Ting is looking for a Kung Fu master who can beat him in battle and teach him new techniques. Shaolin monk Shao Si Yer introduces Sung Li to the Shaolin teachings, but Sung Li is not allowed to enter the school until the return of a Lama monk who stole a secret scroll containing every known fighting style from the monastery 12 years earlier.No big budget , no big studio. Just a good director for his genre, with a cast of talent who could pull off some exellent fights, and a good story.
Influenced the hip hop group wu tang clans several songs. This film was a gem. even considered as one of the best by some. - DirectorRobert ClouseStarsBruce LeeJohn SaxonJim KellyA Shaolin martial artist travels to an island fortress to spy on an opium lord - who is also a former monk from his temple - under the guise of attending a fighting tournament.The film that gained Bruce Lee World Wide Fame. He oozed charisma and stole every scene he was featured in.
NO list is complete without this, this film is truly a landmark in Cinema, and at one point i personally considered the greatest kung fu movie ever.
In 2004, Enter the Dragon was deemed "culturally significant" and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Its also worth noting all Three of the famous "Dragon Brothers" make appearances, Jackie Chan as Han's henchman in the cave, Biao Yuen as a Tournament Fighter, & Sammo Hung as the Shaolin fighter Bruce sparred with at the very beginning of the movie.
Their appearances are highlighted in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z6z1b-q9u8
TRIVIA:
In their one scene together, Lee actually struck Jackie Chan in the face with one of the fighting sticks he used. He immediately apologized and insisted that Chan would work on all of his movies after that, but he died before he could keep the promise. - DirectorChia-Liang LiuJackie ChanStarsJackie ChanHo-Sung PakLung TiA young martial artist is caught between respecting his pacifist father's wishes or stopping a group of disrespectful foreigners from stealing precious artifacts.Drunken Master II - "Old Wine in a New Bottle."
Rarely does a sequel ever surpass its predecessor. This is one of those rare cases. It's got everything the original had, and more. Anita Mui stands out for her hilarious performance as Wong Fei Hung's Mother, and the fight and action scenes are phenomenal, some of the BEST in the genre for sure. Ive seen this film dozens of times and i just never get tired of it. Its just that good. Keep in mind there are no Stuntmen, Wires, or CGI, everything Jackie does here and in most of his films are REAL. That's what makes him the BEST.
Jackie Chan was named the successor to Bruce, and its not because he copied his style, make no mistake, before the 1st Drunken Master he had his share of failed Bruce Lee Clone Projects, and it wasnt until he smartened up and did things HIS way did his career truly take off, everyone knows, there will never be another Bruce Lee, and as Jackie said himself, "I dont want to be the next Bruce Lee, i want to be the first Jackie Chan." - DirectorRonny YuStarsJet LiLi SunYong DongA biography of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia, who is the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation.Based on the true story of real life martial arts master Huo Yuanjia.
This film is ranked at the # 2 spot after viewing the DIRECTORS CUT. The theatrical version was fine for casual movie goers and if i rank that version of the film on here it'd be at # 5, but if you fancy yourself a "martial arts movie fan" or a fan of GOOD CINEMA in general, pick up the DIRECTORS CUT, the one that opens and ends with a special cameo by Michelle Yeoh, features a deleted fight scene with a Muay Thai Boxer, and additional footage to help flesh out the story more and develop the characters. The Directors Cut in my honest opinion is Jet Li's Masterpiece. In it he expresses in-detail what he believes is the true meaning of "Wushu." It is a story about the journey on takes, Full of Tragedy, Self Growth, Perseverance, and Self Discovery. The Directors Cut is the only way to see this film, the story is alot more complete, the fights uncensored, uncut, and overall the film is that much more Beautiful in comparison to the butchered, dubbed, and dumbed down version released in theaters. I highly recommend you see the film the way Jet Li and the rest of the cast and crew originally intended it to be.
TRIVIA:
-Huo Yuan Jia, the founder of the Jin Wu School, was the deceased master that Chen Zhen, also played by Jet Li in Fist of Legend aswell as Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury, seeks to avenge.
-With Fearless, Jet Li has now been filmed as all of the "big three" amongst the historical martial artists in Qing Dynasty (1645-1911) China, whose exploits has been novelized and dramatized many times. They are 1) Fang Shiyu (c.1700s) in the Fong Sai Yuk series, 2) Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910) in Fearless, and 3) Huang Feihong (1847-1924) in the Wong Fei Hung series. - DirectorWei LoStarsBruce LeeNora MiaoJames TienA young man seeks vengence for the death of his teacher.I know its cliche to have one of Bruce Lee's films at the top, but who can argue with his impact? Seriously. There were martial arts films before him sure, however he is the sole reason the genre exploded in the 70's, and well after his death to even today and for many more years to come, He broke down racial barriers and became the first Asian Superstar the world has ever known, His work ethic and workout regime was ahead of its time, he founded his own form of Martial Arts, and came up with the concept of mixing different aspect from different forms from all over the world to make the most affective use in any situation, basically to adapt to any fighting method, which went on to of course inspire the UFC & MMA in general and for that reason he is being hailed as the "Father of Mixed Martial Arts" and his impact on POPULAR culture is incredible, especially with just 4 completed Kung Fu films under his belt.... Bruce Lee is the KING of KUNG FU Cinema and is arguably the greatest Martial Artist of the 20th century. He is a Philosopher, a Teacher, A Director, A Writer, An Actor, A MARTIAL ARTIST, An Inspiration, A Family Man, and A Legend. Its safe to say he influenced & inspired EVERYONE on this list.
As for Fist of Fury taking the top spot, i can tell you right now, it was a bitch ranking these films, especially the Top 10, they are ALL Masterpieces, and are interchangeable really, it just so happens im in a "Fist of Fury mood" at the moment and any of Bruce's films can and should be at the top anyway, doesn't matter which one, they are ALL land marks in cinema history as far as im concerned. This film may not be as polished as many other films on this list, it had a lower budget too, and sure, it feels a bit dated by today's standards. But there is no arguing at Bruce Lee being a timeless icon. His charisma, influence and overall skill is still unmatched today. Bottom line is, there would be no Jackie Chans, Van Dammes, And/or Jet Lis without this man and his contribution to the Martial Arts World & Cinema.
TRIVIA:
-A Young Jackie Chan appears as an Extra.
-Jet Li Remade the film as "Fist of Legend." He then went on to film a "Prequel" in the form of "Fearless."
-Donnie Yen Also Remade it for TV as "Fist Of Fury: Sworn Revenge." He went on to film a Sequel entitled "Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zen." - DirectorGordon ChanStarsJet LiShinobu NakayamaSiu-Ho ChinIn 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese.INTENSE. That's the word that best describes the fight scenes in this Jet Li classic. FYI this is a REMAKE of Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury." & the unofficial sequel to "Fearless."
- DirectorPrachya PinkaewStarsTony JaaPhetthai VongkumlaoPumwaree YodkamolWhen the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it."Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee are my masters; they're the inspiration for my work. Bruce Lee was a heavy fighter who threw hard punches. Jackie moves very fast and uses a lot of comedy, and Jet Li is very fluid. I've tried to combine all of their styles and added some things of my own." - Tony Jaa
He learned from the best, and has now created one of the Best Martial Arts/Action movies of the decade.... Jaa is fantastic in this film. When i first saw it i truly didnt expect it to be as good as it was, the next Bruce Lee & Jackie Chan? NO! the one and only Tony Jaa! - DirectorStephen ChowStarsStephen ChowWah YuenQiu YuenIn Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious "Axe Gang" while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.Stephan Chow's Comedic Martial Arts Masterpiece. See. it. now.
TRIVIA:
-Bruce Lee Tribute: When the Landlady is seated between the Boss and his assistant, she faces the boss, and mimics the gestures Bruce Lee used while also facing a crime boss in Way of the Dragon. She wags her finger at him, then closes both fists, then just the right (while knuckles cracking can be heard), she jerks her head up, and the boss nods he understands, then she thumbs her nose, exactly like Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon. Chow tends to reference Bruce in ALL of his films.
-As of 2005, this film had the widest cinematic release in the USA of a foreign language film. - DirectorBruce LeeStarsBruce LeeChuck NorrisNora MiaoA man visits his relatives at their restaurant in Italy and has to help them defend against brutal gangsters harassing them.Bruce Lee's baby. He wrote, directed, & starred in this. Not to mention the Roman Colosseum fight scene alone almost made the world explode with its pure badassness. Bruce Lee VS Chuck Norris!
- DirectorPrachya PinkaewStarsJeeJa YaninHiroshi AbePongpat WachirabunjongAn autistic girl with powerful martial art skills looks to settle her ailing mother's debts by seeking out the ruthless gangs that owe her family money.From the Director of "Ong Bak:Muay Thai Warrior" comes the new Martial Arts Sensation from Thailand, Ms. Jeeja (or Jija) Yanin!
Jeeja Yanin, has been described as "the Female Tony Jaa" and i can honestly say its fitting. Like Jaa, she does ALL of her own stunts and fighting, Like Jaa, her films uses little to NO cgi effects and wires, and like Jaa, Jeeja's debut film, 'Chocolate' is mindblowingly good, especially for long time fans of hardcore wireless Martial Arts action. Not to mention theyre both from Thailand and work with the same directors. Thailand is quickly becoming the "new Hong Kong" in terms of the quality of above average martial arts spectaculars coming out in recent years, its very reminiscent to Jackie Chan & Michelle Yeoh back in their prime. And like Jackie & Michelle who joined forces in "Supercop," Tony & Jeeja WILL BE teaming up for the sequel to Tony Jaa's The Protector, The Protector 2... Lets just hope their chemistry is as good as Jackie & Michelle's in that film, because we all know they both have the skills and ability to blow us away with their crazy stunts, action, and fight choreography.
Bottom line, If you love martial arts films, Do NOT miss this, i can honestly say as a long time fan of the genre this is going to be a classic, and i look forward to seeing more of this upcoming star in the near future.
PS the final 30 minutes of the film is non stop action, one of the greatest climaxes of the decade IMO. Like stated earlier, very reminiscent to early Jackie Chan... Stunt wise.
TRIVIA:
The film originally included Zen watching scenes from Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies (in addition to Tony Jaa), but these scenes were eventually cut due to licensing problems. These licensing problems also caused other scenes to be removed from the original movie. The ice factory scene was originally shot as a split screen of Zen imitating the exact same moves she had seen Bruce Lee do in a fight scene from the movie Tang shan da xiong (1971). It showed a clip of Bruce Lee doing his fight moves at the same time as Zen was mimicking Bruce Lee's moves. The warehouse scene was shot in a similar fashion, but this time it showed a split screen of Zen imitating Jackie Chan, wherein she would do her interpretation of a Jackie Chan fight routine. Eventually not only were the split screen scenes removed, but any scenes that involved Zen performing moves that too closely resembled fight sequences from Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan movies were all cut as well. The original full version that included these scenes has not been released anywhere in Thailand. - DirectorWei LoChia-Hsiang WuStarsBruce LeeMaria YiJames TienA young man sworn to an oath of non-violence works with his cousins in an ice factory where they mysteriously begin to disappear.The film was based on the true story of Cheng Chiu-on who fought the tyrants in Thailand. Cheng lived at the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 20th century. A memorial statue of him was erected in a garden in the Bangkok more than 80 years ago.
I dont give a damn what its listed as, this films title is THE BIG BOSS. Calling it FistS of Fury, never made sense to me, all it did was cause confusion with Bruce's follow-up to this Fist of Fury. Same goes for the renaming of Way of the Dragon to The Return of the Dragon in a low attempt at cashing in on Enter the The Dragon. KEEP THEIR ORIGINAL TITLES DAMMIT.
This is Bruce Lee's 1st movie as an adult (he was a child actor some time during his youth). AND the most bloody. It broke box office records in its first release and reintroduced the world to its first Asian Superstar aswell as its first Martial Arts Cinema Icon. - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungFat ChungLung ChanA rickshaw driver's wife and his rich client are secret lovers, and they decide to get rid of him without being implicated, so they hire a powerful sorcerer to kill him, but the sorcerer's colleague intervenes to protect him.A Vampire/Kung fu movie starring Sammo Hung?! sounds stupid, and it is just that. But guess what? its also extremely entertaining and loads of fun.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsJackie ChanBiao YuenSammo Kam-Bo HungTwo Chinese friends, who operate a food truck in Barcelona, Spain, use their martial arts expertise to help their private investigator friend protect the pickpocket Sylvia, who's been targeted by a ruthless gang.Jackie Chan. Sammo Hung. Biao Yuen. - The Gangs all here.
Watching this film made me realize something, that the "dragon brothers" are so much like the Three Stooges in terms of physical comedy. They are their equal in hilariousness. They make me laugh like no other when the three of them are all together. - DirectorYimou ZhangStarsJet LiTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungA defense officer, Nameless, was summoned by the King of Qin regarding his success of terminating three warriors.Like ALL Yimou Zhang films, this is a work of ART. the Cinematography is just masterful.
TRIVIA:
-Jackie Chan was offered the role of the King but turned it down.
-Jet Li reportedly insisted that the role of Sky, which had been tentatively filled by a different actor, be given to Donnie Yen. Li and Yen had not worked together on a movie since Wong Fei Hung II: Nam yi dong ji keung (1992).
-Is the first foreign language film to open at #1 at the US box office. - DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsJet LiBob HoskinsMorgan FreemanA man enslaved by the mob since childhood and raised into behaving like a human attack dog escapes his captors and attempts to start a new life."Chained by Violence. Freed by Music."
This is by far Jet Li's finest acting performance. The only film in his career that demands more range as a "serious actor" than anything hes starred in before or since... And he pulls it off quite well. The Martial Arts arent bad either, Woo Ping And Jet collaborates once again to choreograph some of the most vicious and exciting fight sequences produced.
The supporting cast is all star aswell and hits the ball out of the park. Bob Hoskins, Morgan Freeman, & Kerry Condon were all gave great performances. - DirectorYimou ZhangStarsZiyi ZhangTakeshi KaneshiroAndy LauA romantic police captain breaks a beautiful member of a rebel group out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.Another Yimou Zhang film. Beautiful.
TRIVIA:
-The literal English translation of the Chinese title is "Ambushed From Ten Directions".
-Yimou Zhang conceived the story in the late 1990s as a companion to Ying xiong (2002) (aka Hero). - DirectorStanley TongStarsJackie ChanMichelle YeohMaggie CheungA Hong Kong detective teams up with his female Red Chinese counterpart to stop a Chinese drug czar.Jackie Chan & Michelle Yeoh make for an exciting pair here. Supercop, the 3rd film in the "Police Story" series if my favorite entry so far. Great characters, funny situations, and as always superb action.
What makes it stad out from Jackie's other films is atleast for me, his costar, Michelle Yeoh, who is the first and only one of his leading ladies to perform all her own stunts. That and their great chemistry together! its a shame they havent worked on more films outside of this and the spinoff. I loved watching them work off each other. Great stuff. - DirectorAng LeeStarsChow Yun-FatMichelle YeohZiyi ZhangA young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation.Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a movie sensation, topping $100 million at the U.S. box office, the first foreign-language film to cross that mark. It elevated the Martial Arts epic to serious cinema, catapulting the genre into mainstream Western audiences.
How many martial arts films can you say have won multiple Oscars & Academy awards? Not very much...This however did just that. This is Ang Lee's Masterpiece. A modern-day 'wuxia' classic. Probably the most well known Wuxia Film ever. - DirectorShigehiro OzawaStarsShin'ichi ChibaGoichi YamadaYutaka NakajimaAfter failing to reach a deal with her enemies, a mercenary karateka protects the daughter of a recently-deceased oil tycoon from the evil conglomerate gunning for her inheritance.Do not confuse this with the crappy video game adaptation featuring Van Damme. This one grabs you in the nuts and ripps your balls off. Plus Sonny Chiba makes some of the funniest faces and battle cries since the legendary Bruce Lee. A personal favorite.
TRIVIA:
-The blind assassin wielding a cane sword appears to be an obvious reference to the Zatoichi blind swordsman films starring Shintarô Katsu.
-First film to ever get an X rating for violence. - DirectorJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenFighting against pirates at the turn of the 20th century, the Hong Kong navy are failing miserably. It's up to Sergeant Lung (Jackie Chan) to take matters into his own hands.INCREDIBLE Stunt and fight sequences. Stuff you'd expect from the masterful Jackie Chan. Sammo Hung And Biao Yuen stars as well, so you know youre gonna get some quality physical humor as well as brilliant stunts and action scenes.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineMichael MadsenThe Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.I personally consider Both "Volumes" one long 4 hour Martial-Arts-Spaghetti-Western-Revenge EPIC.
Quentin Tarantino Pays "homage" to Asian Cinema.
This one showcased the 1 inch punch, made famous by Bruce Lee, and the AWESOME Gordon Liu, of 36 Chambers fame as the BEST character in the entire film. PAI MEI.
TRIVIA:
-In order to achieve the specific look of Chinese "wuxia" (martial arts) film of the 1970s, Quentin Tarantino gave director of photography, Robert Richardson, an extensive list of genre films as a crash-course in the visual style they used. The list included films by genre-pioneers Cheh Chang and the Shaw Brothers. Tarantino also forbade the use of digital effects and "professional" gags and squibs. As such, he insisted that bloody spurts be done in the fashion made popular by Chang Cheh: Chinese condoms full of fake blood that would splatter on impact.
-Part of the movie was shot at the legendary The Shaw Brothers Creative Group studio in Hong Kong. Quentin Tarantino has seen so many movies made at the studio that he felt it was important for him to work there.
-Quentin Tarantino had intended for three actors of different nationalities to represent their respective countries. Chia Hui Liu represents China, Sonny Chiba represents Japan, and David Carradine represents the United States. Tarantino said that had Bruce Lee still been alive he'd have been asked to appear in Kill Bill as well.
-The Character Pai Mei is based on Pak Mei, the originator of the "White Eyebrow" kung fu technique. According to legend, Pak Mei was one of the few masters left following the decimation of the Buddhist temples, and later sold out other masters to save himself and his team during an attack they had mounted that subsequently went wrong. For this reason, Pak Mei Kung Fu has always been known as the "forbidden technique," and Pak Mei himself has been a villainous figure in Chinese folklore and film for hundreds of years. - DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsRongguang YuDonnie YenJean WangA martial artist/doctor steals from the corrupt authorities as a masked thief to give to the poor while another martial artist/doctor is forced to hunt him down. But a major threat unites them as a powerful and traitorous shaolin monk takes over the authorities.Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. This is Pure Wire Fu Greatness. Its kinda like a prequel to Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China Series. A young Wong Fei Hung is featured here before he went on and became an legendary figure in martial arts history.
This could also be described as The Chinese Robin Hood. - DirectorJohn LittleBruce LeeStarsBruce LeeKareem Abdul-JabbarPeter ArcherA documentary showing the life of Bruce Lee up-close.Features Bruce Lee's COMPLETED Game of Death Sequences FULL & UNCUT. NO *beep* stand ins, cardboard cut-outs and/or look a likes, this is the real deal.
Forget the abomination the studio glued together called the "Game of Death" and see this version instead, its the way Bruce intended G.O.D. to be... or the closest we will ever get to it really. - DirectorHark TsuiStarsJet LiRosamund KwanBiao YuenLegendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung fights against foreign forces' plundering of China. When Aunt Yee arrives back from America, Wong Fei-Hung assumes the role of her protector.Based on the Real Life Story of Legendary Folk Hero and Martial Arts Master Wong Fei Hung.
The Once Upon A Time in China Series is seriously EPIC. An All time Great.
TRIVIA:
According to the commentary on the Region 1 DVD, this movie started out as a proposed new film to star Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao. Jackie would have played Wong, (which he'd previously played in Drunken Master), Sammo would have played Butcher Wing (as he did in Lin Shi Rong), and Yuen would be Lueng Foon (who played the role in Lin Shi Rong). This idea fell through and only Yuen Biao made it into the finished film. - DirectorPrachya PinkaewStarsTony JaaNathan JonesXing JinA young fighter named Kham must go to Australia to retrieve his stolen elephant. With the help of a Thai-born Australian detective, Kham must take on all comers, including a gang led by an evil woman and her two deadly bodyguards.I consider this the true sequel to Ong Bak more than the actual sequel to Ong Bak. The one shot upstairs fight sequence is amazing. The Stunts? Incredible. Jackie Chan can rest easy and retire with the thought that Jaa will continue on in his place for the next generation of Action Movie fans.
The final 20 minutes are Bone Crushingly spectacular. - DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Hui LiuYuka MizunoYasuaki KurataA Chinese man (Liu) marries a Japanese woman through an arranged marriage and manages to insult all of her Japanese martial arts family by issuing a challenge to her that is misinterpreted by the others. He must then prove how good Chinese Kung Fu really is through a series of duels with the seven Japanese martial artists who come to meet the challenge.the concept of displaying Chinese martial arts vs Japanese martial arts is extremely interesting. Plus the chemistry Gordon Liu & Yuka Mizuno share is fantastic. A Must See for fans of either Martial Arts Forms, Chinese, Japanese, or otherwise.
And yes, im aware most "Martial Arts Movie Purists" would give the nod to The 36th Chamber as Gordon Liu's finest work, and while i LOVE that film to death, i personally prefer this one. - DirectorWilson YipStarsDonnie YenXiaoming HuangSammo Kam-Bo HungCentering on Ip Man's migration to Hong Kong in 1949 as he attempts to propagate his discipline of Wing Chun martial arts.ALMOST as good as the first, not quite as awesome but still awesome none the less. A young Bruce Lee even shows up at the end. :-D
Plus Donnie Yen Vs Sammo Hung go for Round II! (they went head on in a little flick prior to this called Kill Zone.) - DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisSisca JessicaChristine HakimA young man from the countryside uses his skills in silat martial arts to survive the slave trade.At first glance this looks like an Ong Bak ripoff. The main actor even resembles Jaa, however this isnt from Thailand and it doesnt showcase Muay Thai at all. Its Indonesian and i think its stands on its own and is pretty damn good. Give it a shot.
- DirectorCorey YuenStarsJet LiJosephine SiaoMichelle ReisMartial artists join Red Lotus Flower Society to overthrow evil emperor. Governor hunts society members. Kung fu practitioner falls for merchant's daughter amid kung fu contest for her hand. Gender role reversal comedy ensues.Balances Martial Arts, Sappy Romance & Humor Perfectly.
Josephine Siao steals the show as Jet's Mother. SO HILARIOUS! - DirectorWilson YipStarsDonnie YenSimon YamSammo Kam-Bo HungA near retired inspector and his unit are willing to put down a crime boss at all costs while dealing with his replacement, who is getting in their way. Meanwhile, the crime boss sends his top henchmen to put an end to their dirty schemes.No wire-fu, super-slo-mo, or metaphysical metaphors to be seen here, just straight in your face martial arts brutality. Two of the greatest fight scenes ever filmed is featured here back to back.
Which FYI are:
Donnie Yen Vs Jacky Wu
&
Donnie Yen Vs Sammo Hung. - DirectorJimmy Wang YuStarsJimmy Wang YuTien Wu ChuKang ChinAfter his students are killed by the One Armed Boxer, a vengeful and blind Kung Fu expert travels to a village where a martial arts contest is being held and vows to behead every one armed man he comes across.GREAT over the top B-Movie Kung Fu Fun.
- DirectorChia TangStarsLung TiTe-Lo MaiLeanne LauA Kung Fu master finds out that an opium den is destroying the lives of the town he lives in, and vows to put an end to the den, but first he must try to defeat the strongest enemy he has ever faced: his addiction to the drug itself.Another Underrated Gem.
- DirectorRob MinkoffStarsJackie ChanJet LiMichael AngaranoA discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King.Jet Li VS Jackie Chan. Nuff said.
I can look past the cliches and predictable story lines just to see my two favorite ass kickers on the planet square off on film for the very first time.
Oh and another thing i really liked was the opening title sequence, call me a major nerd but it was a thrill to see all those Shaw Bros & Bruce Lee homages. :-D - DirectorNorifumi SuzukiStarsShin'ichi ChibaYutaka NakajimaMakoto SatôSonny Chiba plays the character referred to as "Mr Soh", who is based on the true life founder of Shorinji Kempo, Doshin So. Mr Soh has been acting as a secret agent in Manchuria during the Japanese occupation. He is first seen spying on a meeting of Chinese soldiers as they plan a surprise ambush on the retreating Japanese Army. He is discovered and has to fight his way out, using fists, feet and then a machine gun. He rushes to inform the Japanese commanders of the plot, but is horrified to learn that Japan has done the unthinkable by surrendering unconditionally. Soh returns to his homeland to find a ravaged land of beaten people. Victimised by gangsters, occupation forces and corrupt local officials, the poor and the disenfranchised have lost the will to fight back. Using his "Shao Lin" skills (subtitle translation of Shorinji Kempo), he regularly champions the weak and teaches the black market thugs the error of their ways, becoming a regular guest at the local prison. He is seen to assist a former soldier, Otaki, who is seeking his lost wife at the bottom of a bottle, a fallen woman (Kiku) who has turned to prostitution after suffering rape by Russian soldiers, her little brother Kimio who gets injured by some American G.I.s who subsequently try to flee from accident. The Prison Governor warns him that the US Administration will not be so tolerant now that he has "crippled" the troops, suggesting a likely death sentence. He helps him to "escape" the jail and Soh leaves town in a hurry, pausing only to give advice to the band of orphans that he has befriended. Soh leaves the city of Osaka (central Japan) to go to the rural island of Shikoku where he finds a similar situation. He determines to bring new hope to the locals by teaching his martial arts skills to a growing band of followers. He gathers the loafers, ruffians and aimless, teaches them Shorinji Kempo (referred to as "Shao Lin" in subtitles) to build them up to be stronger physically and mentally. He meets some new characters, who he soon enlists in his school; Tomoda the young ex-soldier and his sister Miho. When the noodle-stall girl Noriko is raped by a gang of yakuza thugs, Soh and Tomoda dish out some rough justice (with some sharp scissors to one of the miscreant's tenderest flesh). Later, Tomoda and Miho are attacked and Tomoda has his arm cut off with a katana (Samurai sword). Soh avenges that with a visit to the local yakuza boss that leaves the boss with a dislocated arm and his minion missing a digit. Otaki, the former drunken soldier from Osaka joins the group, then in an emotional scene, discovers his wife is alive but has re-married after he was reported dead in the war. When the small-time local yakuza gangs are joined by familiar faces from Osaka seeking to expand their activities, it is time for action with a capital A. Before the final climactic face-off between Soh's students and the yakuza mob, there is time for Soh to receive an urgent message to see Kiku in Osaka. He returns to find the orphans caring for a terminally ill Kiku, who had turned to prostitution to help support them all. Soh experiences an epiphany and comes to recognise that "Strength and Compassion must be together" (Riki Ai Funi). In a typically cinematic finale, Soh's friend Otaki dies is killed by yakuza thugs paid to clear the honest poor from land to be used to build brothels and gambling dens. Soh goes on a final rampage to clear the yakuza right out of town forever. The epilogue reveals how Soh's school has flourished and spread across Japan (circa 1975), with scenes filmed at the organisations magnificent headquarters still based in the town of Tadotsu.Another one from Sonny Chiba.
- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossWhen a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.There is only 1 true Matrix Movie.
This is Arguably one of the Greatest Martial Arts flick the West has ever produced besides Kill Bill and Enter the Dragon.
And one of the major reasons why is, 2 of those 3 films were choreographed by Hong Kong legend Woo-ping Yuen. (While Enter the Dragon was choreographed by Bruce Lee.)
TRIVIA:
-In the combat training program before Keanu Reeves starts his furious attacks on Morpheus, he rubs his nose with his thumb and finger, a similar mannerism of Bruce Lee before he attacks on his opponents. The move was improvised by Reeves.
-When Tank is uploading the Martial Arts training to Neo, there is a shot of the computer screen as it scrolls through the various Martial Arts styles. The graphics have a computer image of a person and the title of the style below. The fifth one on the screen is entitled "Drunken Boxing". Woo-ping Yuen, the fight choreographer for this movie, was director and fight choreographer for Jackie Chan's early hit, Jui kuen (1978) in which Jackie Chan's character masters the style of Zui Chuan, or Drunken Boxing. Some of the other Martial Arts fighting styles being downloaded are Ju Jitsu, Savate, Kempo, Tae Kwon Do, and, of course, Kung Fu. - DirectorPanna RittikraiStarsNappon GomarachunSantisuk PromsiriDan ChupongA group of athletes helping a poor village must stop an evil tyrant and his men from terrorizing the village.From the People who brought you Ong Bak & the Protector.
- DirectorChris NahonStarsJet LiBridget FondaTchéky KaryoA betrayed intelligence officer enlists the aid of a prostitute to prove his innocence from a deadly conspiracy while returning a favor to her.One of Jet Li's better NON Chinese efforts.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungCorey YuenStarsJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenThree successful Hong Kong lawyers are hired by a chemical company of questionable ethics and must eventually make a difficult decision when their employer's motives become clear.When the Dragon Gang gets together Magic Happens. The chemistry these three martial arts legends have are unmatched. This flick is hilarious & the fight scenes? good lord they rocked.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsJet LiMichelle YeohSiu-Ho ChinTwo friends, ex Shaolin monks, part ways as they brush with the ongoing rebellion against the government. The ambitious one rises up to be a powerful military commander, while his betrayed friend resorts to learn the calm ways of Tai Chi.Jet Li + Michelle Yeoh = WIN.
This is a tale of Friendship and Betrayal. One of the best ever.
One thing you'll notice while watching this flick is the Matrix borrowed heavily from this, sure Woo Ping choreographed both films, but its pretty obvious how the fight scenes in both film are pretty similar... except that the ones featured here are superior in every way. - DirectorStephen ChowStarsStephen ChowWei ZhaoYat-Fei WongA young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage.Hilarious movie. a great parody/mix of the Martial Arts & Sports Genre, often copied NEVER duplicated.
TRIVIA:
-This was the most successful Hong Kong-made movie ever in Hong Kong, making HK$60 million (about US$4.7 million) at the local box office.
-The Shaolin goalkeeper is a humorous homage to martial arts legend Bruce Lee. H develops a Lee-style haircut and wears a Game of Death (1978) yellow jumpsuit. - DirectorNewt ArnoldStarsJean-Claude Van DammeDonald GibbLeah Ayres"Bloodsport" follows Frank Dux, an American martial artist serving in the military, who decides to leave the army to compete in a martial arts tournament in Hong Kong where fights to the death can occur.This is pretty much an 1980's "update" of Enter the dragon. (Then again there are literally a TON of other movies just like Bloodsport that directly rips off of Enter the Dragon, this just so happens to be one of the better ones.)
Although the film claims to be based on "real events" its been debunked as a load of bullcrap. But that doesnt really matter, because who the hell gives a crap in the first place? we just wanna see some ass kickery. And the film delivers. - DirectorBenny ChanJackie ChanStarsJackie ChanMichelle FerreMirai YamamotoA Secret Agent loses his memory after falling from a crashing helicopter. He is then chased by several other agency operatives, but he has no idea why.Not one of Jackie Chan's best, however all is forgiven in the final 20 minutes, because thats when things get kicked yo high gear, fight scene and stunt wise.
The Final Fight is definitely one of Jackie's BEST. - DirectorRashane LimtrakulStarsJeeJa YaninKazu Patrick TangNui SaendaengA violent gang is abducting and killing women around Thailand. Sanim and his friends, having had loved ones abducted, have joined together to break the gang of kidnappers. In a botched kidnap attempt, Deu is saved by Sanim's crew. After learning their unique martial arts style, Deu helps lure the gang into an epic battle to save the women across Thailand.Jeeja Yanin's 2nd film release. NOT as good as her debut, CHOCOLATE, but good nonetheless, its weak on story and character development, but it features some GREAT fight sequences.
Jeeja shows alot of potential, with the write script, director, and choreographer, i can see her making future classics. Much better than this disappointing sophomore effort. - DirectorRyûhei KitamuraStarsAya UetoKenji KohashiHiroki NarimiyaRaised to deal in cold blooded death, the teenage assassin girl Azumi must defeat three evil warlords while also battling her own heart.Lots of sword fighting, blood, and over the top fun here. its based on a Manga & spawned a sequel. Check it out.
- DirectorJames McTeigueStarsRainRick YuneNaomie HarrisA young ninja turns his back on the orphanage that raised him, leading to a confrontation with a fellow ninja from the clan.I always thought Korean star Rain was a big fat pussy. I still think he is, although ill give this movie props for hiding that fact. Because this film is BRUTAL. Lots of Blood & Violence just the way i like it. Its amazing what movie magic can turn a person into, in this they managed some pretty boy like Rain into an ALMOST convincing cold blooded ninja assassin.
- DirectorTakeshi KitanoStarsTakeshi KitanoTadanobu AsanoYui NatsukawaThe blind masseur/swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda.Takeshi Kitano takes on this iconic character and makes it his own.
-The blood in the film has been described by many as being "too CGI". Kitano did this intentionally, wanting to "soften the shock to the audience" due to the high body count. Kitano told the CGI artist he wanted the blood to "look like flowers blossoming across the screen." - DirectorWilson YipStarsDonnie YenLouis KooRay LuiA hot-headed inspector takes on a small but powerful Vietnamese-Chinese gang, after a series of crimes and murder attempts committed and putting an undercover cop and his girlfriend in great danger.Donnie Yen VS Collin Chou. Thats reason enough to see this.
Awesome choreography. The Final Fight sequence was incredible. Donnie Yen has mentioned being a fan of American Mixed Martial Arts action, utilizes some of the grappling moves hes seen them use in this. Good stuff. - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsKa-Yan LeungChia-Yung LiuBiao YuenTwo brothers and small time crooks Yipao and Taipao convince a martial arts expert to take them on as students, completely oblivious to his sordid past.Biao Yuen is extremely underrated. The most acrobatic man in Martial Arts cinema needs more praise and exposure than he gets. See this film and hopefully you'll agree with me.
Seriously though, once you get to the training sequences the things he pulls off gets insane. - DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Hui LiuSheng FuLily LiMongols with the help of an insider, ambush the influential Yang Family, defenders of the dynasty. The Mongols must hunt down all Yang survivors so their insidious plot to overthrow the dynasty will not be uncovered.The Yangs are a well-known family of soldiers in the service of the government but are betrayed by a government official conspiring with the Mongols. All of the Yang family males except the 4th, 5th, and 6th brothers are killed (played by Hsiao Ho (actor), Gordon Liu and Fu Sheng respectively). 4th brother is captured by the Liao and is not mentioned again (in the source story he marries a Liao princess and returns). Fu Sheng loses his mind after the death of his family, while the other brother (Gordon Liu), takes refuge in a temple to put his anger and past behind him. Liu’s superb martial arts skill, particularly with the quarterstaff, impress the temple’s senior monks. After refusing to leave the temple at first, Liu later fights for the right to depart after he learns that his sister has been captured by the conspirators and a senior monk is killed by the Mongols. Liu confronts the Mongols and during the ensuing battle to free his sister, the monks from the temple arrive to lend support and help him to defeat the Mongols.
- DirectorShunichi NagasakiStarsAkihito YagiTatsuya NakaYûji SuzukiA Karate master's three students join the army and go their separate ways, later to unite to battle together against corruption and uphold tradition.Real Fight, Real Karate, Real Japan.
- DirectorBen RamseyStarsMichael Jai WhiteJulian SandsEamonn WalkerIn Los Angeles, an ex-con takes the underground fighting world by storm in his quest to fulfill a promise to a dead friend.Michael Jai White is a BadMoFo. Check him out in Black Dynamite after this just for the LOLZ.
- DirectorPierre MorelStarsCyril RaffaelliDavid BelleTony D'AmarioIn the ghettos of Paris in 2010, an undercover cop and an ex-thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb.Great Fight Choreography, Jaw Dropping Stunts & Action Sequences, & Bad English Dubbing. This film has all the elements of a typical Hong Kong Action Classic.
Because that's precisely what this is, Well not really, its got all the elements except actual Hong Kong Actors. Like Ong Bak did before, French director Pierre Morel took cues from Action Classics such as Jackie Chan's Police Story Series and paste em on here with their own special twist to create a thrilling, action packed, flick that's definitely worth your time. Its got it all, "free running," (which Jackie Chan popularized in the 80's and early 90s.) gun fights, hand to hand combat, gangs, car hopping, fence jumping, and the mandatory fight with an unnaturally tall enemy. (well in this case Cyril takes on a tall fat guy.)
Cyril Raffaelli who i was already familiar with prior, thanks to his phenomenal fight scene with Jet Li in Kiss of the Dragon is definitely a rising star to keep an eye out for. This is the first flick ive seen him in as a lead and i hope to see more. - DirectorJackie ChanChi-Hwa ChenStarsJackie ChanMaggie CheungBrigitte LinA virtuous Hong Kong Police Officer must clear his good name when the drug lord he is after frames him for the murder of a dirty cop.I can honestly sum up the reason why you NEED TO SEE THIS FILM in three words:
THE. MALL. SCENE.
It has got to be one of the most incredible fight/action scenes of ALL TIME. Not to mention Jackie literally destroys an entire small village in the first major action scene alone. A Must See indeed. - DirectorStanley TongStarsJackie ChanAnita MuiFrançoise YipA young man visiting and helping his uncle in New York City finds himself forced to fight a street gang and the mob with his martial art skills.An Updated remake of Bruce Lee's Way of the Dragon. And Jackie Chans introduction to western audiences. The Only film ive seen him use the Martial Arts style of "Wing Chun." (Mixed in with his trademark Use of object in his environment of course.)
- DirectorCorey YuenStarsHiroyuki SanadaConan LeeJeong-lee HwangTwo rival warriors, a Japanese and a Chinese, are forced to work together after their master has been killed by a mighty enemy.The only reason to see this really is for Hiroyuki Sanada. Everything else isnt anything we havent seen before and done better. The Chinese lead in this flick is nothing but a Jackie Chan imitator, but pales in comparison. Like i said. Mr. Sanada is the ONLY reason, hes fantastic.
- DirectorJames WongStarsJet LiCarla GuginoDelroy LindoA rogue Multiverse agent goes on a manhunt for alternate versions of himself, getting stronger with each kill. Only the last version of himself, an LASD cop, can stop his crusade before he becomes "The One".More Like a Dragon Ball movie than the actual CRAPPY Dragon Ball adaptation movie. (The fight sequences i mean.)
- DirectorCharlie NguyenStarsJohnny Tri NguyenVeronica NgoDustin NguyenFrance employs local secret agents in Vietnam 1922 to eliminate resistance. The rebel leader's pretty daughter gets captured. Later an agent seems to have fallen in love with her and helps her escape. He flees, too. Lots of martial arts.Vietnam's Answer to Ong Bak?
Id say so. Except it isnt as accessible to Westerners as Ong Bak due to Ong Baks simple story and unbelievable stunt work. This actually tries to tell a real story, the fights although not as up to par as Thailand's recent releases are still pretty impressive.
I recommend giving this a go if you enjoyed Tony Jaa & Jeeja Yanins flicks. - DirectorSteve WebbStarsKareem Abdul-JabbarJackie ChanMargaret ChoHow Bruce Lee Changed the World explores the amazing multitude of ways that Bruce Lee - the first international Asian superstar - has influenced pop culture.HONORABLE MENTION:
Very Insightful on the impact of a legend. - DirectorVincent KokStarsJackie ChanShu QiTony Leung Chiu-waiA romantic girl travels to Hong Kong in search of certain love but instead meets a kind-hearted professional fighter for whom she begins to fall instead.While the film as a whole could be a let down for those of us expecting the "typical Jackie flick" full of death defying stunts, fights action, and quirky humor, now while 2 of those three Jackie tradmarks ARE present, this film is a diferent direction and isnt your "typical Jackie Chan flick, when it comes down to it, its a romance. And this might put viewers off, however i urge you to endure some cheese because its well worth the view simply for the two rounds no holds barred fight between Jackie Chan VS Bradley James Allan.
Oh and be sure to pick up the original cut, and NOT the dubbed version, the original cut is longer, more fleshed out, more action, and has a special and amusing cameo by the always hilarious Stephen Chow. - DirectorIsaac FlorentineStarsMichael Jai WhiteScott AdkinsBen CrossSequel to the 2002 film. This time, Heavyweight Champ George "Iceman" Chambers is sent to a Russian Jail on trumped-up drug charges.Michael Jai White VS Scott Adkins.
- DirectorTony JaaPanna RittikraiStarsTony JaaSarunyu WongkrachangSorapong ChatreeA young Thai boxer learns the skills and inner meaning of martial arts.NOT as good as the first. But the Muay Thai still kicks ass.
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsChow Yun-FatGong LiJay ChouDuring China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.Visually Stunning.
- DirectorHsin-Yen ChangStarsJet LiHai YuChenghui YuA young man, hounded by a psychopathic general, learns martial arts at the Shaolin temple to avenge his father's death. To achieve this he forgoes a budding romance with his kungfu master's daughter, a shepherdess.Classic Jet Li. His debut film.
- DirectorRonny YuStarsBrigitte LinLeslie CheungFrancis NgCho Yat-Hang, the unwilling successor to the Wu-Tang clan throne and the unsure commander of the clan's forces in a war against an evil cult, falls in forbidden love with Lien Ni-Chang, a killer for the evil cult.Inspired the villain featured in the Forbidden Kingdom.
- DirectorDwight H. LittleStarsBrandon LeePowers BootheNick MancusoWhen student Jake Lo witnesses a killing, he finds himself caught between two feuding drug lords. Betrayed and set up by the federal agents, the only person he can trust is Ryan, a Chicago cop who reminds Jake of his deceased father.Like Father, Like Son.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsMichelle YeohDonnie YenKing-Tan YuenWing Chun's village is yet again being plundered by bandits. This time she uses kung fu to defeat them. The fighting doesn't end here.Loosely Based on the life of Yim Wing Chun, Founder of Wing Chun Kung Fu.
There are many schools of Chinese martial arts and their history date back to decades, if not centuries. Among the different sects, Wing Chun is one of the most popular and widely practiced. Wing Chun tells the story of the Founder of the Style. (Some famous Wing Chun Students & Masters include Bruce Lee, Yip Man, Biao Yuen, Sammo Hung, & Jackie Chan. Among many others.)
Donnie Yen stars aswell but as comic relief for a change. Highly recommended.
TRIVIA:
-An unofficial prequel/remake has recently been released also based on the life of Yim Wing Chun titled: "Kung Fu Wing Chun" starring: Bai Jing, Yu Shaoqun, Kara Hui, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Colin Chou, so go pick that up ASAP, Because it actually features Wing Chun Martial Arts ALOT more than this film, which is my only complaint for this Michelle Yeoh Gem.
-Pei-pei Cheng, Who stars here as Wing chuns Sifu (Teacher) was a huge female martial arts action star of the 60s and 70s, she was like Michelle Yeoh is today back in the 60s, casting her as Michelle's Wing Chun instructor is sort of like the "passing of the crown." - DirectorCorey YuenStarsShu QiWei ZhaoKaren MokA conflict of interest between two high-kicking assassin sisters is complicated as they're pursued by the criminals who hired them and an equally high-kicking female cop.*beep* Charlies Angels! These lovely ladies show those hollywood skanks how its done and done right!
- DirectorHa YooStarsKwon Sang-wooLee Jung-JinHan Ga-inBy "Fist of Fury", Kim Hyun-Soo (Sang-Woo Kwone) addicted to Bruce Lee. Year 1978. Hyun-Soo moved to KangNam, Seoul. Hyun-Soo transferred to JungMoon High, Maljuk Street, Kangnam, Seoul. He goes schooling by No.78 Bus. First day a senior male took Hyun-Soo's collar and made Hyun-Soo being punished inside JungMoon playground because of forgetting collar Hyun-Soo made friends with Kim Woo-Sik (Bruce Lee fan) and Hamburger. Hamburger always bring adult magazines to school and was always being found by the school soldiers. Hyun-Soo father had his own TaeKwonDo Dojo - his wish is to see Hyun-Soo being the top 5 in his JungMoon High class, and got himself promoted to University. One day inside #78 bus, Hamburger and Hyun-Soo met Kang Eun-Ju (EunYang Female High), a female Bruce Lee fan who looks like "Olivia Hussey", whose music favorites are Agaetha (ABBA) and Celsia Chan, Hyun-Soo began to fall in love with Eun-Ju. Hyun-Soo and Woo-Sik became rivals of Cha Jung-Hoon (Triad Head, JungMoon High) when Jung-Hoon took Eun-Ju's schoolbag inside #78 Bus, and Woo-Sik settled everything. Woo-Sik tried flirting Eun-Ju but she refused him because she loves Hyun-Soo. On a Rainy day, Hyun-Soo talked with Eun-Ju in #78 Bus, knew that Eun-Ju keep listening to a midnight radio program, and she had even wrote postcards to that program but it didn't speak out her postcard messages. Hyun-Soo lent Eun-Ju his black Umbrella and ran to home. Eun-Ju ask Woo-Sik to return the umbrella to Hyun-Soo, Hyun-Soo wrote postcard to the radio program and it spoke the message at 2am when Eun-Ju was in #78 bus. Hyun-Soo invited Eun-Ju to listen to his guitar playing. Eun-Ju asked Hyun-Soo to return Woo-Sik's pen. She even wrote her reply to the radio program. Woo-Sik and Hyun-Soo were being punished inside a wardrobe, with the soldier telling them how many Viet Congs he had ever killed in Vietnam War by himself without any comrades to help. Hyun-Soo went to library and heard Eun-Ju's postcard message in the radio program which both Eun-Ju and Hyun-Soo always listened to. Eun-Ju regret asking Woo-Sik to return umbrella and she promised Hyun-Soo that she won't ever disappoint him anymore. Then, Hamburger became Jung-Hoon's gang member. Woo-Sik tore Hamburger's adult photos, Jung-Hoon challenged Woo-Sik to roof battle. Finally Woo-Sik was defeated and was carried by Hyun-Soo. Woo-Sik even left JungMoon High without contacting Hyun-Soo anymore. Eun-Ju was being rumored to leave with Woo-Sik but later Hamburger found that she had not left with Woo-Sik, but was being suspended one year for bad results. One day, Hyun-Soo met Jung-Hoon's gang. they threatened to remove Hyun-Soo's eyeballs from his eyes. Hyun-Soo decided to train himself for any further struggle with Jung-Hoon's gang. On the day of Hyun-Soo's battle, a classmate threw his milk to Jung-Hoon. Jung-Hoon's gang ran into Hyun-Soo's class and ask who did that. Hamburger tried pacifying Jung-Hoon but failed. Hyun-Soo stood up and challenged Jung-Hoon at roof. Hyun-Soo used his double-stick to hit Jung-Hoon when they went upstairs. Finally, in great resistance, Hyun-Soo won the battle and went downstairs. Soldiers stopped Hyun-Soo, but he escaped, destroyed 2 windows and spoke, "F**k all schools in Korea!" Hyun-Soo father talked to Jung-Hoon's mother but she blame Hyun-Soo for destroying her son's face. Hyun-Soo said sorry to father, father asked Hyun-Soo if Bruce Lee had ever studied into University. Hyun-Soo smiled, father knew no. Hyun-Soo studied in G.E.D. (General Education Diploma) and met Hamburger when Hamburger sold his adult magazines to classmates for 2 bucks. Hamburger told Hyun-Soo that Eun-Ju also studied this GED center. Hyun-Soo waited Eun-Ju but failed, got up to #78 Bus. Hyun-Soo missed Eun-Ju until females said "Bye-bye, Eun-Ju!" Hyun-Soo turned his head and saw Eun-Ju alone. Eun-Ju said that Korea weather is colder than before, Hyun-Soo said yes. Eun-Ju got off in HanNam station. Hamburger ask Hyun-Soo to watch Jackie Chan movie, "Drunken Master" and even said Bruce Lee is already outdated. Hyun-Soo kicked to revenge for Bruce Lee outside the cinema door.Otherwise known as "Once Upoan a time in Highschool." - A Bruce Lee fanboy from Korea trains hard, falls in love, gets his heart broken, and then beats the crap out of the school bullies and teachers.
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsKuan Tai ChenFeng LuPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThree men who have been physically disabled by an evil warlord and his physically-disabled son become friends and learn kung fu so that they can seek revenge with help from an elderly martial-arts teacher and his mentally-disabled pupil.Classic 70's kung fu flick.
- DirectorTeresa WooStarsHideki SaijôAlex FongMoon LeeA crimefighting organization called the Angels goes up against a drug-smuggling ring headed by a female kung-fu killer.These beautiful ladies can kick your ass.
- DirectorToshiya FujitaStarsMeiko KajiToshio KurosawaMasaaki DaimonA strikingly beautiful young woman is trained from birth to be a deadly instrument of revenge against the swindlers who destroyed her family.She spells out revenge with strokes of gushing blood. Her name is Yuki, Japanese for “snow.” Born to be a child of hell, walking the path of vengeance…
Most don’t realize that the film is based on the 1972 Manga of the same name. Writer Kazuo Koike, of Lone Wolf and Cub fame, creates his ultimate revenge epic, with Kazuo Kamimura drawing the art. The manga series had never been published in English before despite the pop culture influences of film (Kill Bill for example), probably because of its hyper-violent and hypersexual adult content.
The title character of the series is Syura-Yuki Hime, a cold-blooded assassin-for-hire, who lives only to find and kill those who destroyed her family. Her dark adventures take place during an interesting era in Japanese history called the Meiji Period (1868-1912). It is a time of drastic change as old, traditional customs are torn away by western influences. The age is analogous to the Victorian Era or the old west. The film The Last Samurai would be a good visual frame of reference, note, I say “visual.”
Although her name, Syura-Yuki Hime, is translated as Lady Snowblood, it has several deeper meanings as with all things Japanese. Syura is another way to say cursed or wicked. Snowblood can also be seen as an inverse of Snow White, as her life is the opposite of a fairy tale. A fitting moniker for a woman who carves a bloody course through the Japanese gilded age. - DirectorKim Sung-suStarsJung Woo-sungAhn Sung-kiJu Jin-mo1375. Nine Koryo warriors, envoys exiled by Imperial China, battle to protect a Chinese Ming Princess from Mongolian troops.Ziyi Zhang stars in this South Korean Epic.
- DirectorFeng HuangStarsAngela MaoCarter WongSammo Kam-Bo HungThree graduated Hapkido students return to China from Japanese-occupied Korea in order to set up their own school. However, problems start to arise when a local Japanese martial arts school tries to run the new school out of town.Angela Mao & a young Sammo Hung is kick ass in this.
- DirectorFeng HuangStarsAngela MaoJhoon RheeCarter WongDuring the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930's, the leader of a small resistance movement attempts to get information to sympathizers in China.Reminds me of a female version of Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury."
- DirectorTeruo IshiiStarsMeiko KajiHoki TokudaMakoto SatôThe head of a yakuza gang is being trailed by a mysterious, vengeful blind woman.otherwise known as BLIND WOMAN'S CURSE is a must see for fans of Meiko Kaji.
The film is beautifully shot. - DirectorJohn WooStarsPai WeiDamian LauKong LauA son tries to avenge his father, and gets two sword fighters to help him.Astonishing Swordplay.
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsJimmy Wang YuChiao ChiaoChung-Hsin HuangA noble swordsman, whose arm had been chopped off, returns to his former teacher to defend him from a villainous gang of rival swordsmen.Chang Cheh's Early Masterpiece.
- DirectorMark OsborneJohn StevensonStarsJack BlackIan McShaneAngelina JolieTo everyone's surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley's arch-enemy is on his way....For the Kids.
TRIVIA:
-The characters of KG Shaw and JR Shaw are a reference to The Shaw Brothers Creative Group, who created many 1970's kung fu movies. Tai Lung is named after Shaw star Lung Ti.
-The film was originally going to be a spoof of the kung-fu genre, but John Stevenson wanted to have a blend of comedy and action to make the film more epic: "I wasn't interested in making fun of martial arts movies, because I really think they can be great films, they can be as good as any genre movie when they're done properly."
-The filmmakers cite the martial arts films Croutching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hero(2002), House of Flying Daggers (2004) and most of all the action comedy Kung fu Hustle (2004) as an influence on the film. - DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsKoji YakushoTakayuki YamadaYûsuke IseyaA group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.A classic samurai tale that, while very similar to Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” in spirit, is actually a remake of the 1963 film by Eiichi Kudo. It’s a first for Miike, but he still puts his stamp on the material with some great visuals, buckets of blood, and one of the best (and without a doubt longest) fight sequences of the last 30 years.
- DirectorJackie ChanStarsJackie ChanAnita MuiAh-Lei GuaA country boy becomes the head of a gang through the purchase of some lucky roses from an old lady. He and a singer at the gang's nightclub try to do a good deed for the old lady when her daughter comes to visit.'Miracles' was made to prove to Jackie Chans critics that he can indeed make a movie with extravagant sets and costumes, with complicated/elegant camera shots resulting in one of the most beautifully crafted Martial Arts pictures ever.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungChun YangRoy ChiaoAn apprentice farmer (Sammo Hung) ventures to the city and helps his family battle a gang of thugs.Aka "Enter the Fat Dragon."
Take note this is NOT a parody of Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" its about a heavy set man who just so happens to be obsessed with Bruce and his films, and can imitate his moves quite well for a fat dude. Its hilarious and as usual Sammo delivers top notch action scenes. - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungSiu Chung MokHoi MangLo Tung and his friend Malted Candy, pedicab drivers working the streets of Macao, have both fallen in love. The problem is that both their objects of affection--one a baker, the other a prostitute--are working under cruel and lecherous bosses. Somehow, the pair must find a way to win the ladies' hearts and free them from their unpleasant jobs.Sammo Hung proves here that he's probably the best fight choreographer in the business. The action is simply amazing.
- DirectorChia-Yung LiuStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungKa-Yan LeungChia-Yung LiuThe self proclaimed 'king of sabres', and 'king of spears', decide to settle whose weapon is better by each taking a student and training them in the use of their favorite weapon, and whoever students' comes out on top is the winner.Aka "Odd Couple"
Skillful balletic duels between the sword and the spear rival even the best work of Jackie Chan and Liu Chia Liang in their intricacy - DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Liang LiuHou HsiaoKara WaiA disgraced former Kung Fu expert makes a living as a merchant with the help of a hot headed friend. When the men are harassed by gangsters, the merchant decided to teach his friend monkey boxing so they can defend their business.the kung-fu is top notch.
- DirectorJackie ChanStarsJackie ChanCarol 'Do Do' ChengEva CoboJackie is hired to help the UN find Nazi gold hidden in Sahara. He's accompanied from Spain by 2 (later 3) cute women. As there are others wanting the gold, lots of kung fu fighting and comedy follows.Jackie Chan does Indiana Jones!
- DirectorKar-Wai WongStarsTony Leung Chiu-waiZiyi ZhangJin ZhangThe story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee.I was actually really disappointed with this film. Judging from the films descriptions and trailers youd expect it to be a film about Ip Man, but it is not, at least not entirely. The fight scenes were well done, and the visuals of course, but all in all it was a muddled and choppy mess of a film that failed to keep me engaged all throughout.
- DirectorMichel GondryStarsSeth RogenJay ChouChristoph WaltzFollowing the death of his father, Britt Reid, heir to his father's large company, teams up with his late dad's assistant Kato to become a masked crime fighting team.Meet the "new" KATO.