Some Martial Arts Movies
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Topic: Some Martial Arts Movies
Posted By: Logan
Subject: Some Martial Arts Movies
Date Posted: July 21 2018 at 22:14
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Inspired by Dwill who mentioned The Karate Kid in my Cinema Fantastique poll, here are some martial arts films. Even if you've only seen one of these, feel free to vote, and multiple votes enabled for those who like more than one. I haven't seen all of these, but they are generally well regarded and I had at least heard of all of them (I did do film studies). I had wanted to include Drunken Wu-Tang, but added some more mainstream choices at the bottom of the list instead. Feel free to mention any others not on the list, but mention any that you think you might have seen and like from this list please. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Replies:
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 03:52
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Equilibrium is very cool movie starring Christian Bale, some good gunslinger moves -------------  
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 03:54
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I regard Blade trilogy to be martial art based superhero movies whom is carried on the strength of Wesley Snipes martial art training. And has real martial art movie honorary sequences -------------
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Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 05:42
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From the list: Enter the Dragon Kung Fu Panda (all 3) The Karate Kid A few more: Seven Samurai (consistently ranked as one of the best films ever made)
Above the Law (Steven Seagal) Hard to Kill (Steven Seagal) On Deadly Ground (Steven Seagal) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 07:22
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two words Chuck f**king Norris ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 07:45
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First vote for Drunken Master! I far prefer the days where Jackie Chan just did Kung Fu to the comedy slap stick his style evolved into. Drunken Master contains the best fighting scenes I've ever seen...and they're done in real life without computers and ropes....also I've always had a thing for the original Kung Fu ie the animal styles. It isn't that hard to believe that some skinny guys once sat in a forest and got the idea to protect themselves better by replicating the gnarly ape who coincidentally also seems terribly skinny. Anyways I've always found the movements - not necessarily the hits and kicks, or the katas as they say in Japanese, to be utterly beautiful. Somewhere between meditation and tai chi, perhaps both in motion. Jet Li is one of my modern faves but he so rarely gets to show what he's got without guns, explosions and a great big flashing cornucopia of neon lights, trance music and different camera angles (more is always better). The odd time he has a quiet spot where he is caught training in the morning or some such thing he is graceful in a way that mimics certain birds and ballet dancers. Oh btw where is American Ninja? Michael Dudikoff for the win! ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 10:06
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Love Drunken Master, David. I actually love some of Jackie Chan's Buster Keatonesque comedy choreoggraphy, it's quite clever. My wife's uncle was nicknamed Drunken Master. I have seen American Ninja, and I had been hoping to put various questionable films in the list. Micky, Chuck Norris I thought of, but then I couldn't think of any good movies. In Sociology, I wrote a paper about ideology and propaganda, and that was one of the films that I delved into. Like Charlton Heston, I do find hhis politics rather off-putting, but I still like movies he's in, and unlike Jackie Chan, Chuck Norris doesn't seem a nice person (you can be a sweetheart and do martial arts). One will also notice an absence of Van Damme. Had a friend who loved The Delta Force. That said, I don't have to like a person, mind you, to enjoy their films and appreciate their artistry. I have problems with Roman Polanski, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy his films. My favourites are Kill Bill-- Quentin Tarantino plundered from a few films on this list methinks. Course that's kind of the point. Anyway, I really love it. I think of it as one movie, which is how Taranatino wanted it to be released, but Part 2 is my favourite part. I really like Enter the Dragon -- first film I saw when we got a converter for our TV set which enabled me to see some more channels based in Washington. Drunken Master as said. Also Iron Monkey, Hero, Crouching Tiger, the Bride With White Hair, Equilibrium is cool. I do like the Matrix. etc. Won't vote, though, at least at this time, since that seems kind of weird in my own lists to vote. And Icarium, yep Blade definitely would have fit. I thought of it and then forget. I prepared this quickly Some I remembered, and I used a couple of resources to remember ones since while there are martial arts movies that I love, it's not a really specialty of mine (I know much more about art house and sci-fi films). ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 10:41
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well you got Way of the Dragon. What rules more than a bad Chuck Norris v. Bruce Lee. Got my vote but you did forget one of the classics and a Norris one at that. iconic... what kid wasn't trying that after seeing this... ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 11:15
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Your clip convinced me; will watch that one. Thanks. :) Incidentally, some ones that I considered: Gymkata american Commando Ninja: As well as Shaolin Youth Possee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYYbvzz4RsU" rel="nofollow - The Crippled Masters was on my list but I decided against it as I don't know if it's empowering for people with physical challenges or exploitative (could be both). ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 12:43
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Both of Chan's Drunken Master flicks are awesome. Zhang Yimou's Hero and House of Flying Daggers are superb, and Bloodsport is surprisingly good considering it stars JCVD. Voted for Drunken Master 1 and 2 . ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 12:50
Second time you've mentioned a film in these polls that I can't believe I missed. House of Flying Daggers is excellent, and Zhang Yimou is one of my all-time favourite directors, so it becomes a more glaring omission. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Atavachron wrote:Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 13:50
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As an aside or merely a riff on the topic at hand, I would really like to see more flicks using the Keysie fighting style that was populized in a huge way through the recent Batman movies. Personally I'd love to see a more realistic setting for this fascinating and highly efficient style of fighting. Come to think of it, some of the stuff Liam Neeson does in Taken reminds me of Keysie although it most likely has more to do with the Filipino Arnis. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 14:11
Interesting, I'm not familiar with that style, and while my wife was born in the Philippines, I'm not familiar with Arnis. As another aside: The only martial artist that I know or remember that was born in the Philippines is the diminutive Weng Weng. He made a number of Filipino films such as The Cute... the Sexy n' the Tiny, The Impossible Kid of Kung Fu, For Y'ur Height Only, Agent 00, and Chopsuey Met Big Time Papa (as Big Time Papa, cause he's little, get it?) Apparently he was a frequent visitor to the Marcos' residence. Side-note, wish I hadn't named my son Marcus, some Filipinos assume that he was named after Ferdinand Marcos. ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 16:44
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Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 17:15
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"36 Chambers" is the only martial arts movie I ever liked -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 17:37
Great points, I too loved the fighting style and choreography in the Nolan films (almost like 'Jailhouse Rock', a prison style based on having little room for normal martial arts movements and having to react quickly with no time for technique or strategy)-- realistic and great to finally see after decades of chopsocky nonsense. I also love the Escrima/Arnis approach in the Jason Bourne movies. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 17:51
I'm sure he means the Bale-- Dawn of Justice had okay choreography but it was meant more for the camera, whereas the Nolan scenes were unusually realistic for two big guys with body armor like both the main characters wore. Less freedom of movement, so traditional martial arts and the Brazilian-based groundfighting that has become so popular is not practical in the Batman world. Anyone notice the brief rib-check Bane applies during the sewer fight scene? (when Bane says "...but we are initiated, aren't we Bruce, members of the League of Shadows. And you betrayed us."). That's the kind of detail that is easily missed but so great to martial artists, and rarely seen in fight scenes. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: CosmicVibration
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 18:06
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Lots of good movies on the list, hard to pick.. One of my favorites not on the list is Tai Chi II. One of the very few martial arts films where Tai Chi principles
are actually being used in combat scenes. Unlike most other movies where the tai chi
practitioners use very little to no tai chi in battle. There may be scenes where they practice the
tai chi form, but when it comes to the actual fight scenes the principles of tai
chi are abandoned.
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 18:09
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^ I've seen Taichi in competitive combat and it is surprisingly intense, nothing like the slow fluid movements one sees elderly people practicing in parks. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 18:23
ahhh... *sounds of beer spray hitting monitor and Micky pissing himself and hitting the floor* God bless this forum... it took that to surpass the Diet Coke of Evil.... I can now make it official.. this thread rules... ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Larkstongue41
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 19:15
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Was hoping to see some Kurosawa in there. I'm not too big on action films; haven't seen any of those listed. ------------- "Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot. They're lovely. Dromedary pretzels, only half a denar." |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 22 2018 at 20:39
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I also give a lot of credit to Crouching Tiger. It was knocked by some wuxia fans for being ordinary and overrated, but to everyone else (including me) it was spectacular. The martial arts weren't anything special but what an eyeopening piece of filmmaking. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Prog Sothoth
Date Posted: July 23 2018 at 08:32
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I voted for The 36th Chamber option. It was compelling and Gordon Liu was excellent. At the same time I didn't think much of Executioners From Shaolin and didn't bother finishing it. I'm a longtime fan of wuxia HK flicks from 80's and 90's, and while Zu is a landmark flick and a lot of fun, my personal favorite is A Chinese Ghost Story from 1987. Great storyline, Wu Ma was cool, Jacky Cheung was always great and Joey Wong was the most beautiful ghost in film history. So good. Swordsman II is another one, with Jet Li, Briggite Lin (the Bride with White Hair) and lots of absolute insanity, creativity and violence. I could go on...
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Posted By: CosmicVibration
Date Posted: July 24 2018 at 14:48
The closest thing to real combat in tai chi would be push hands. Also known as sensing hands, it’s used for sensitivity training and wouldn’t be considered as a way of ending a conflict. I can’t really fathom using tai chi in a competitive combat scenario; it’s much too deadly. There are no techniques such as different blocks, kicks or punches, there are only principles in tai chi. The slow fluid movements for the most part are to learn how to move the body as a single unit; no limb or joint moves independently. The internal aspects of tai chi can take decades of diligent practice to grasp. However, it’s really not necessary when faced with ruthless violence. Knowledge of human anatomy (targets) and how to strike using one’s entire body is really what’s essential. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 27 2018 at 14:14
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^ Mostly true. But there is combat Taichi, it's just very fast-paced and somewhat resembles normal gongfu competition, e.g. Sanshou, etc. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 27 2018 at 19:18
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Not a fan of martial arts films in general but Bruce Lee was amazing to watch....but for interesting acting and quirky entertainment I'd go with the Kill Bill films. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 27 2018 at 19:21
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Those KB movies are great. And yeah Bruce was awesome, maybe the only martial arts film star who could fight as well as he could perform fighting, two vastly different things. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: noni
Date Posted: July 27 2018 at 19:37
| I'm quite a fan of Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris & Jean - Claude Van Damme movies. |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: July 27 2018 at 22:10
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The ending of Hero is fantastic... ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: hieronymous
Date Posted: July 27 2018 at 22:41
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Cool poll - I was fortunate to be introduced to Hong Kong martial arts films in Berkeley, California at the UC Theater on University - big old unconverted movie theater - instead of the original room being chopped up into smaller rooms to make more money, this was in its original form. They had Hong Kong Thursdays and showed two films each week - I would go to the matinee and soak it up! So I don't remember names or details of some, I think I saw Iron Monkey there but none of the others on the list. I chose Drunken Master because I like the films of that era best, and yet I think my absolute favorite martial arts film is Duel to the Death. A gathering of martial arts masters vs. evil ninjas & Buddhist monks from Japan! Wires, special effects, and a late-analog synth-soaked soundtrack, ultra-violence - actually, I usually don't go for violence but there's something about this film. I could go on and on but I'll leave it at that. I also liked Close Encounters of the Spooky Kind and films with the hopping vampires. Shaolin monks cool too (they're in Duel to the Death). Forbidden City Cop is awesome too - not so much martial arts perhaps but definitely parody of the genre. I also would record "Kung Fu Theater" when it played on Channel 26 in the San Francisco Bay Area - it wasn't on until 2 am so didn't watch it that much - this is back in the days of VHS and I don't think I set the timer very often, I'd have to be up to start it.
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 28 2018 at 11:45
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Oh god I loved Kung Fu Theater-- that host was hilarious, and the movies...well, just the best of the worst. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: July 29 2018 at 20:24
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Hi, I probably am not one for these films. I always thought that they were way too cartoonish for me, and the appreciation went down from there. For me, it was the Asiatic side of Hollywood, and even though I saw some of these (less than half!), I did not review a bunch of them. I saw no point in reviewing "Kill Bill" for example, and the like. Everyone else already had! The Bride with White Hair -- was very enjoyable, and I think there were two films, not just one. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |