30+ Martial Arts Films to appreciate
I'm convinced that a Kung Fu movie was playing in the delivery room, the day i was born. I put this list together to highlight my favorites.
(in no order)
(in no order)
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- 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.The story telling, character development, and acting in this movie is outstanding and almost outweighs the martial arts. Good movie about a great man.
- DirectorAndrew LauStarsEkin ChengShu QiKristy YeungHero Wah goes to study under Master Pride. When he returns to his parents, he learns that they have been murdered by a band of evil Westerners. After impregnating his wife Jade, he ventures to New York in search of his parents' killers.This was my first Ekin Cheng/Andrew Lau movie and I was immediately blown away. To this day i consider it one of the pioneers of movie that understand how to perfectly blend real action and fantasy. (unlike Crouching Tiger).
- 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.R.I.P. Bruce Lee! Nothing can surpass such a classic movie.
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsTien-Chi ChengTien-Hsiang LungMeng LoA Chinese martial arts school is infiltrated and destroyed by ninjas. Tian Hao survives the massacre and seeks to uncover the trickery of ninjutsu in order to beat the Five Element Ninjas and avenge his family.The movie that started it all for me. I was about 5 or 6 when I first saw this movie. And right after, I saw Five Deadly Venoms. I'm waiting for a remake, because i think that with today's technology someone can deliver an excellent copy. After hunderds of movies, I say this probably has the most sentimental value to me and will always be #1.
- 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 Venom Mob explodes onto the scene in an undeniable display of martial arts skill and "who done it" suspense. An instant classic for me.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsJackie ChanSiu-Tin YuenJeong-lee HwangAn orphan who has been raised at a kung fu school, where he is treated as little more than a dogsbody and practice target for the students, has a life-changing experience after helping an old peripatetic beggar.Chan's first hit. And honestly, it's his best display of raw natural talent. For about 5 years i thought the "Cat's Craddle" was the best fighting style of them all LMAO. (20 years later, i say Tai Chi is the best).
- 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.A lot of my friends who were into the "old school" style of hand-to-fist combat finally crossover to the modern age because of this story. Donnie Yen steals the show but many battles can't compare to the first fight between Iron Monkey and Donnie.
Also, IMO, this is the movie that Slouching Tiger tried to copy (at least the jumps). - DirectorHark TsuiStarsLeon LaiDonnie YenCharlie YeungSeven warriors come together to protect a village from a diabolical General.This movie (but really Red Cliff) made me start appreciating good story telling in Martial Arts cinema.
- 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.Chan's second hit. I challenge you to name 3 fighters who can do a better drunken style.
- 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.People don't give this movie enough credit. Yes, it was a satirical story, and yes, there were some cheesey moments. But some of the fight scenes were spectacular.
- 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.Introducing Wong Fei Hung!!! I just sat down and watched all the Once upon a times in one sitting. The first one always brings me back to the good times.
- 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.Imagine a video game where you can place Jet Li's Mízōng style versus Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury style. Lee wins 10 out 10. But loooove this film.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsWenzhuo ZhaoXun ZhouAndy OnChina, 1861: After rescuing the Qing prince from rebels, General Su retires to start a martial arts school. His foster brother betrays him and Su barely survives. Su has a new enemy to defeat.The build up of this movie was a lil over-hyped. I thought they had a great cast (especially the lead actor) and an okay story but they were calling this the best ever before it hit the big screen. I didn't see the 3-D version either.
Aside from the trailers, this was a heartfelt story with great fighting scenes. However, I couldve did without David Carradine. - DirectorAndrew LauStarsAaron KwokEkin ChengShin'ichi ChibaAn evil warlord takes in 2 students (Wind & Cloud) in an effort to become invincible so he can take over the world.Much like "A Man Called Hero," here is when Comics/Video Games come to life for me. They finally got it right. And the sequel, Storm Warriors was pretty good too.
- 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.Not quite 5-deadly venoms worthly. But again an amazing display of talent, athleticism, and acting (similar to great improvs).
- DirectorNgai Choi LamStarsSiu-Wong FanMei Sheng FanKa-Kui HoRiki-Oh, a young man who has superhuman strength, is incarcerated in a private prison, where inmates are treated like slaves. He is forced to use his unstoppable form of martial arts to destroy the corrupt officials and their lackeys.Someone hand me a napkin. The TV screen is bleeding.
What teen didn't enjoy watching Riki punch THROUGH people's skulls. - 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.I saw Spawn and watched a bunch of Youtube movies to respect MJW as a bad ass fighter. But not until Blood and Bone will you realize that he is 1st and foremost a gifted Martial Artist. Check it out.
- 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.Good flick. Some people get drawn into the story more than I do.
- DirectorJo Dong-ohStarsJung Woo-sungKim Tae-heeShin Cheol-jinIt is AD 924, at the end of the United Shilla Dynasty. Continuous riots sweep the land ruled by a corrupted government. Evil forces are rampant and malicious demons roam the land. YI Kwak, born with the powers to see spirits, joins the royal demon hunting squad, 'Chuh-yong-dae' after losing his fiancée, Yon-hwa to evil demons. YI Kwak excels as the most talented warrior of Chuh-yong-dae and the royal squad seems to gain momentum as powerful fighters against the forces of darkness. Then one day, YI Kwak drifts into Joongcheon, the world of the dead through a strange shrine. Joongcheon, the intermediate world between Heaven and Earth, a place souls remain for 49 days, preparing for reincarnation.If you've ever played the PS3 video game "Heavenly Sword," then remember the end when you're fight endless foes with all your powers unleashed. That's how i think of this movie. Great story, fabulous cinematography, oh and the leading actress is hot.
- DirectorMichael SchultzStarsTaimakVanityChristopher MurneyIn New York City, a young man searches for a Master to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as the Glow.LEROYYYY.....KISS MY CONVERSE! You may laugh but this movie made me wanna kick every converse wearing Mo-fo's butt. This was one of my childhood faves.
- DirectorWilson YipStarsYuk Long WongLouis KooIsabella LeongThree young martial arts masters emerge from the back streets of Hong Kong to help the powerless fight injustice.Non-stop action, good flick
- DirectorKuo-Ren WuStarsAlexander Rei LoKuan-Wu LungWilliam YenAbbot Withe of the Wu Tang clan has teamed up with the Ninjas in order to destroy Shaolin this making him the most powerful fighter in the Martial world.Man, i love the classics. To this day, i've been trying to do handstand-pushups on my index fingers.
- DirectorTen ShimoyamaStarsYukie NakamaJoe OdagiriTomoka KurotaniStar-crossed lovers must fight on opposing sides in a battle that will determine the next Shogun.Based on the cartoon series Basilisk. This films brings a Bad Ass Romeo and an Unbeatable Juliet together while leading hot-tempered Ninja clans. The cartoon was better but Gennosuke's and Oboro's gifts were AMAZING once revealed.
- 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.I saw The Evil Cult before this movie and thought Evil Cult was Jet Li's best Tai-Chi movie. Then I saw Tai-Chi master.
- DirectorJing WongSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsJet LiSharla CheungChingmy YauA wild, rollicking martial-arts fantasy extravaganza that features prized swords and swordsmen, a crazy monk attached to a rolling boulder (yup!), serious clan and cult rivalries, and lots of magic and flying.I don't know what it is about 1993 Jet Li movies but this movie has 2 spots in my top 5 for best fight scenes. 1 for the fight between Li and the Shaolin monk and another, the last fight against the Xuanming Elders (the freeze brothers is what i called them) all while not using his powers and learning a skill simultaneously. Definitely a kick-ass moment if i've ever seen one.